Little Dot DP_I Unboxing and Initial Impressions (Black Player Pics Added) - Page 3

     Quote:

Originally Posted by kellzey 

Hmmm....  any more updates?

 

This looks to be promising.

Little Dot just posted a new firmware update on the web page.  It takes a little finagling to get the update working, but I managed.

I will report my impressions of the update (soon) at the beginning of the thread (not the drastic changes I was hoping for).
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by estreeter 

I'll wait for a Mk II. I think early adopters of any Chinese DAP must be up there with vulcanologists and swingers as folk who like to live dangerously. 

After my experience with the DP_I, I won't disagree.   Also, you need the patience of Job...
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hemshemems 

Hello

 

There are some better detailed pics outthere of the pcb, i find the soldering very sloppy and the use of smd devices is a fine option, but if there is a point to getting a short signal path, u better have facilities to make this right...

The unit I received has soldering that looks much cleaner and well done than the PCB pics on the site (my camera shots at the beginning of the thread doesn't do the PCB justice).

Cheers!

-HK sends

 

      Quote:

Originally Posted by estreeter 

HK_Sends, thanks for the work you have put into this, but for ~$500 I have to question whether this thing is a viable option for anyone other than the recipients of Trust Funds and relatives of one Bernard Madoff ?

Well, Uncle Bernie wanted to know what I wanted for my birthday...

I have to agree on some points based on my experience.  I have been (and remain) a loyal customer of Little Dot, but I think they really didn't realize what developing a DAP was going to entail.  All of the issues I identified (resolved or yet to be) are things that should have been addressed in development.  I think they also got bitten by development costs which is why it's being advertised for $429.

At the risk of burning bridges, it's an unfinished product (especially with respect to firmware) that really needed to be refined prior to release.  Cowon at least offers more functionality out the gate with its players (except, perhaps the D3) and then refines and adds features (and squashes the occasional bugs).  Unless the next few DP_I firmware changes make significant progress addressing the interface and functionality, I won't be able to recommend it.

Disclaimer:  I pretty much knew what I was getting into...  Sometimes you just have to give things a chance.  I still believe new firmware can make this a great player, but Little Dot better put more effort into it and not take six months for the next update.

The hardware is great...the software is killing it.

Cheers!

-HK sends

PS - Still missing gapless flac playback...

Those that are following Little Dot developments may be interested to know a couple of things I found on ERJI.net.  One was mention of a replacement enclosure for the DP_I.  I assume it is to address issues with the finish on the original enclosures (the black finish easily comes off the edges).  Little Dot is also going to release a DP_II (it is supposed to available in China now).  The DP_II looks similar in build to the DP_I but doesn't include a DAC or amp section.  It is a pure digital source with optical, small coax and USB ports on it.  It also retains the SD card slot.

pictures courtesy of ERJI.net

Lastly, there is a new amplifier card available for the DP_I that uses the AD8620BR op amp.

If you are interested in any of these, David Zhe Zhe at Little Dot (www.littledot.net) may be able to provide some more info.

Cheers!

-HK sends

     Quote:

Originally Posted by a_tumiwa 

a direct competitor to QLS QA550??

then the price should be around QA550 

I'm not familiar with the QA550, is it a good player?

Cheers!

-HK sends

     Quote:

Originally Posted by ficklecycler 

Oh my god it is so ugly. That is a festering turd of a design.

It won't win any beauty contests to be sure, but one person's turd is another person's "industrial design"...

Cheers!

-HK sends

      Quote:

Originally Posted by a_tumiwa 

a direct competitor to QLS QA550??

then the price should be around QA550 

I just looked it up, it is an interesting player.  However the DP_II (and DP_I) support multiple lossy and lossless audio formats so I can see the price being a bit higher than the QA550.

Cheers!

-HK sends

Quote:

Originally Posted by aphroti 

HK，
you should try the DP II with DAC M and enjoy the balanced cans......

I asked David Zhezhe at Little Dot when they would be available in the U.S. but I hadn't gotten an answer.  How do you like the user interface?  What's the firmware number and date?  Have they figured out gapless flac playback or do I need to rip the CD as a single file to avoid the breaks between songs?  I really am interested how much the DP_II has evolved as a digital source over the DP_I.  I am currently evaluating a iHIFI960 and Dugood HDAP-01 and let's just say...their firmware needs tweaking.

If you could provide some pictures, that would be great!

Cheers!

-HK sends

Well folks,

I am moving away from portable audio and will be selling the Black-cased subject of this review for a pretty decent discount.  If you have any interest in Chinese-made DAPs, the Little Dot DP_1 is not a bad one to try.  Just keep hassling the Little Dot folks to release the latest firmware outside China...  TBH, it's not their fault, they have to cater to the whims of the Rockchip software developers.

I'll list it in the for sale section soon...

Cheers!

-HK sends