Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › New DAP with HUGE storage
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

New DAP with HUGE storage

post #1 of 18
12/20/11 at 7:11am
Thread Starter 

Hi to everybody guys, I've decided to upgrade my portable audio system (DAP and earphones), a Cowon J3 16 GB and my HifiMan Re0 Limited Edition. I own some GB (60 Gb more or less) of liquid music (FLAC and ALAC), most of them are albums from HDTracks (both 24/96 and 24/192 and 16/44 Khz). Now, to play on my Cowon this songs I'm forced to downsampling to 16/44 Khz all this tracks with Foobar. Considering the dimension of the library (60 GB) i need a DAp of minimum 64 GB. My choice will be between the iPod Touch 64 Gb, the iPod Classic  160 GB and the HiFiMan 602.

 

The iPod Classic because of the storage (160 GB) would be a perfect choice. But I've heard such a bad things about the new Cirrus Logic DAC, and i don't want to downgrade the sound quality of my Cowon J3. So i thought to buy an amplifier/DAC and a LOD to connect my new DAP with my new headphones. In this case the Cirrus will be bypassed by the external DAC right?

 

Is this a right choice in terms of sound or not? Thanks to all. :)


Edited by Godwyn - 12/20/11 at 7:16am
Reply
post #2 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:24am

i was thinking to buy an 160 classic too,but then after some research i will probably going to buy the ipod touch,because his non-moving magnetic harddrive (if you are moving a lot,the classic one maybe will start to do funny things),it have a flash memory instead.

then because the touch is newest aswell,and have a little more battery,and i dont care if ta have 100 gigabyte less,is not a problem if i have to delete something and put some new album instead.

Reply
post #3 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:37am
Thread Starter 

Thanks a lot for your reply :)

 

64 Gb for me sounds good too. it's not FUNDAMENTAL having 160 GB (although would be perfect not to replace every time some albums) but i was wondering about quality sound. Pretty much the same or not?

 

And what about if buy an amplifier/DAC and a LOD to connect my iPod with my headphones. In this case the iPod DAC will be bypassed by the external DAC right? This is a fundamental question because in this case the iPod would be only a "storage" and of course, my choice would be the Classic.

 

Thanks a lot!!

Reply
post #4 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:45am
the newest Classic actually sounds very good, compared to the model before. And to bypass the internal DAC you need a cypher labs algo rhythm solo or Fostex HP-P1 which are both very pricy. Using the LOD just bypasses the internal amp. And the classic sounds very good with a LoD and adequate amp. And what wrong with a harddrive, plenty of people here on head-fi have them, as long as you dont constantly drop/throw them about they last a long time.
Good luck
Reply
post #5 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by antberg View Post

i was thinking to buy an 160 classic too,but then after some research i will probably going to buy the ipod touch,because his non-moving magnetic harddrive (if you are moving a lot,the classic one maybe will start to do funny things),it have a flash memory instead.

then because the touch is newest aswell,and have a little more battery,and i dont care if ta have 100 gigabyte less,is not a problem if i have to delete something and put some new album instead.


I am a big fan of SSD's -- in fact I am adding a 240GB SSD to my 11" MBA to be largely used as a portable music server when I travel.  That said, I have had exactly zero problems with the hard drives in the Classic models I own.  Classics will not "do funny things" when moving around.  Battery life is also quite good on these.   SSD is still pricey and its benefits are far more relevant to computers given the cost per GB.

 

Reply
post #6 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomkid View Post

the newest Classic actually sounds very good, compared to the model before. And to bypass the internal DAC you need a cypher labs algo rhythm solo or Fostex HP-P1 which are both very pricy. Using the LOD just bypasses the internal amp. And the classic sounds very good with a LoD and adequate amp. And what wrong with a harddrive, plenty of people here on head-fi have them, as long as you dont constantly drop/throw them about they last a long time.
Good luck


Sounds good? Great! Sorry, I'm a newbie and I'm still confused about using of an external DAC. Which are , in your opinion, the best solution with the iPod Classic in terms of quality sound?  Using it with a LOD + external AMP, or better, using it with a LOD + external DAC and AMP (same object)?  Thanks a lot...



Quote:
Originally Posted by Il Mostro View Post


I am a big fan of SSD's -- in fact I am adding a 240GB SSD to my 11" MBA to be largely used as a portable music server when I travel.  That said, I have had exactly zero problems with the hard drives in the Classic models I own.  Classics will not "do funny things" when moving around.  Battery life is also quite good on these.   SSD is still pricey and its benefits are far more relevant to computers given the cost per GB.

 


Agree with you, I also prefer, considering my use, a normal HDD magnetic drive.

 

Reply
post #7 of 18
12/20/11 at 8:56am

 

Sony Z1070 64GB, iBasso DX100 64GB, Clip Zip with 64GB MicroSD(?).

 

 

Reply
post #8 of 18
12/20/11 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

 

Sony Z1070 64GB, iBasso DX100 64GB, Clip Zip with 64GB MicroSD(?).

 

 



Thanks for your advice. :)  I don't really like Sony because of FLAC support, the iBasso would be a great choice but what about the price??

 

And finally the Clip Zip sounds very good but the Micro Sd of 64 GB would be very expansive, and with a little more money i can buy an iPod Classic. It seems better, isn't it?

Reply
post #9 of 18
12/20/11 at 9:10am

iBasso, my guess is $500.

 

Sony... no FLAC... really? FAIL!

 

Clip Zip... hmm 32GB is cheap, only $1 per GB.

Reply
post #10 of 18
12/20/11 at 9:17am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kiteki View Post

iBasso, my guess is $500.

 

Sony... no FLAC... really? FAIL!

 

Clip Zip... hmm 32GB is cheap, only $1 per GB.



All Sony series in Italy (where i come from) don't have FLAC support. Gorgeous sound, but not many Lossless codec supported. I imagine same thing on Z series. iBasso, If price was 500$ would be perfect. But I'm not so sure about the price.... When the release of DX100? January 2012? :)

 

Otherwise, the choice is finally between iPod Classic (+ external DAC and AMP) and iBasso (good DAC and AMp included) i think.

 

 

Reply
post #11 of 18
12/20/11 at 9:31am
using LOD + Amp is good, but if you have the money, DAC + Amp is better. But be willing to pay 600 USD at least.

What headphones do you have to use with it?
Reply
post #12 of 18
12/20/11 at 10:08am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by randomkid View Post

using LOD + Amp is good, but if you have the money, DAC + Amp is better. But be willing to pay 600 USD at least.
What headphones do you have to use with it?


Thanks! DAC + Amp included in one product so... Great!

 

Now I'm using a pair of HifinMan Re0 Limited Edition, but i want upgrade also these with a pair of portable headphones. I don't know what model yet. :)

Reply
post #13 of 18
12/20/11 at 2:34pm
Thread Starter 

Here it is: final choice between:

 

- HiFiMan Hm-602 8 GB + MicroSDHC (max 40 GB)

- HiFiMan Hm-801 + MicroSDHC (Max 32 GB)

- Apple iPod Touch 4th Gen 64 GB

- Apple iPod Classic 160 Gb

 

Still in doubt, damn... I certainly prefer the iPod Classic because of the storage, but i'm very doubtful because of the sound. Same thing on the iPod Touch... These players could become "audiophile" with a pair of great headphones and maybe a good amp? Sincerely... :)

Reply
post #14 of 18
12/20/11 at 2:45pm

Get the iTouch and the best pair of IEMs you can afford. Ignore the 'Wolfson vs Cirrus' crap and make up your own mind - if you aren't 100% happy with the sound, you can build on that platform (albeit expensively if you insist on portable use) : you cant do that with the HM-602.. End of the day, you will have a very capable PMP that lets you do a host of things beyond listen to music, has fantastic battery life and a gorgeous, slick UI. I have wanted the HM-801 for some time, but I just don't see it as the player for everyone. Similarly, iBasso's new DAP (price unknown) is unlikely to be anything more than a niche product for obsessive audiophiles - for me, iTunes is the only fly in Apple's ointment, but many dont share my aversion.

 

Whatever you buy, there will ALWAYS be something better 'just around the corner'. The beginning of the year seems to be the time for many of the usual suspects on Head-Fi to announce 'killer' new product, and I expect that January will see some impressive gear rolled out here. Just be aware that they call it the 'bleeding edge' for a reason, and at least one big name on Head-Fi has foundered in their attempts to produce a commercial DAP.

Reply
post #15 of 18
12/20/11 at 2:46pm
there are so many iPod users on head-fi, what do you think, i think they are great, easy to use and with a LOD they are very good players.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Portable Source Gear
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › New DAP with HUGE storage