Just got the Ariaz a few hours ago for use as a (backup) DAP. So far, SQ has been really good, though hardly exceptional compared to some others that I've tried (most notably a Voodoo-mod Galaxy S and a Sansa something, maybe a clip+). Anyway, I'm going to let it burn in for a few hours before making any final judgments.
The only negatives impressions I've had so far are the following:
1. The CPU feels anemic, making navigating the UI a bit of a pain in the rear.
2. The UI itself, while not hellishly difficult to adapt to, is somewhat counter-intuitive (especially for an Android user).
3. The build quality is a bit iffy; The unit looks really nice, but it feels kinda cheap in the hand. I'm thinking of getting a carrying case for it, or something along those lines.
4. Though it's explicitly stated that the model supports FLAC, 96kHz/24-bit is a no-go. <--- This makes me a bit sad :(
5. So far, I have yet to find a way to keep the unit from automatically shutting down after a set amount of time. Booting up doesn't take very long, but it's a nuisance all the same. A very big one.
6. Uses mini-USB, meaning that if I inadvertently lose the came-with USB charger, I'll have to go out of my way to buy another cable specifically for it. (Everyone else moved on to micro USB, so why not Philips?)
7. It HAS to charge out of a USB port, as the unit doesn't come with a USB-to-wall outlet adapter.
... There are probably a few more issues, but those are the ones off the top of my head at the moment. The only real solace I have is that I bought this as a *backup* DAP.
That's not to say that it isn't a GOOD DAP. All those critiques just mean that the Ariaz didn't quite meet my expectations. Sorry if I'm being too picky. Nevertheless, it's a bargain at 3800 PHP (around 90 USD), so for someone looking for good SQ at under a hundred bucks, it's a viable option. Not the best one perhaps, but a viable one nonetheless.
P.S.
Yeah, just a bit disappointed. Just a tiny bit.
EDIT:
Booted it up again after posting the above, and just had to add this:
8. The sluggish UI is made even more unbearable due to the fact that around 90% of the songs have duplicates; In the "All Songs" List, the vast majority of files appear twice in a row, making the list that much longer. I'm not 100% sure that it's not due to an error on my part, so I may do a follow-up to this post.
Either way, purchase with trepidation.
Edited by ZetsuBozu0012 - 5/28/12 at 7:46am
