Best overall DAP/PMP out in the market now? - Page 2

You know I also forgot to mention the amp3 (sp?) DAP.  But, for myself from what I've read, cowon would probably be my top pick.  Great SQ, EQ, file playback, great battery life, and excellent design and good interface and a great price for the overall package. 

T51, Amp3 are great DAPs, but touchy interface and battery life are their down fall.

It's hard to determine what's "best" because that's a very subjective terminology. A lot depends on the user's preference and musical background.

Some might prefer clarity over bass; whereas some others might swear by neutrality. 

I think a list of PMP/DAPs one has used before should be posted before one proceeds with recommendations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythless 

You know I also forgot to mention the amp3 (sp?) DAP.  But, for myself from what I've read, cowon would probably be my top pick.  Great SQ, EQ, file playback, great battery life, and excellent design and good interface and a great price for the overall package. 

 

T51, Amp3 are great DAPs, but touchy interface and battery life are their down fall.

Even with battery life, what is unacceptable for some is okay for others. Yes I don't think the battery life is great (and isn't great regardless of format, where as other players typically drain much quicker playing lossless but are more forgiving with lossy), but then I don't listen to music on it for 6-8 hours a day. I can get a couple of days with the T51/S:Flo2 on the commute, then listen to stuff on my computer and charge it overnight. In that sense it's acceptable, not great, but decent enough for me. Some people listen to their portables all day long, so for them yes, it's not good enough.

It's the same with my iPhone, I have to charge it most nights but I don't really mind. For some it's a deal-breaker since they want something they can leave lying around for days on end. Would I like better battery life on both? Yeah sure. Is it sufficient based on how I actually use both? Yep.

EDIT - reaching verdicts on 'bests' are always tricky since budgets, preferences and other factors vary so much. Budget is always the most sensible place to start though, then you can start narrowing your choices based on your needs/tastes.

if movies, s:sflo2 wins. This thing is an mp4 player. Chinese people know what an mp4 player is.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danneq 

If we are to include movies in the equation (PMP:s should be able to handle that pretty well) the Cowon S9/J3 or the Sony X ought to be the best choices. That is, DAP:s/PMP:s not only based on SQ. Those AMOLED screens sure look nice.

 

EDIT: the title is a bit misleading as is asks for the best DAP overall and then the first post focuses on SQ. So what is it - best SQ or best overall DAP/PMP?

I have switched from Cowons to iMods.  The Wolfson DAC is pretty great, so 5.5 Gen 80 GB iPods (used off eBay) converted to iMods by RWA (or someone, I prefer Vinnie ... Craig at Whiplash is another possible choice) really hit all the right notes: tons of storage, best interface, fantastic SQ with the right LOD, excellent battery life, a little large by today's standards but still easy to pocket lashed to your favorite small amp (Predator?  Shadow?  Pico?  iQube?  Mini^3?), what's not to love?  (I have had all those but the Pico.  Sold the Predator and still listen to the other 3, but only the iQube and Mini^3 have dedicated iMods, the Shadow is strictly for micro size, mated to a 2 Gen 8 GB Nano, not modded, regular LOD).

iMods are expensive but will last a long time, worth it IMO.

With 24/96 digital files down-converted carefully to 16/48 ALACs, RWA iMod+ALO LOD+iQube held together with the black band supplied by iQube, and Shure 530s ... OMG, I had SQ approaching my home 'stat rigs.  I sold the 530's and will move to JH's I hope soon, after more reviews of their new amp with DSP come in.

I use a PC and FB2K and/or XPlay 3 to manage my iMods ... never touch iTunes.  I use SOX in FB2K to make 16/48 FLACs from my 24/96 files (adding cover art via MuvUnder Cover), then the amazing Xrecode II to make the ALACs (which preserves album art, FB2K does not).  I know others use MediaMonkey, dbPower Amp, etc. instead.  To each his own!

Choice of IEM/phones trumps all this talk of the PMP SQ.  And I agree with other posters: user interface, touch control sensitivity, battery life, form factor ... all should weigh heavily.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavoman 

 

Choice of IEM/phones trumps all this talk of the PMP SQ.  

That's a variable and not a constant.  It depends where the weak link in the chain is.  If you have a JH13 hooked up to a shuffle it probably makes little sense to upgrade to a JH16.  Although that's more of a sidegrade perhaps.