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best standalone MP3 player with good EQ flexibility

post #1 of 27
12/27/11 at 10:53pm
Thread Starter 

I've been generally happy with my Hifiman HM801, but the EQ on it is really awful. I like to EQ to change the sound of my phones to different music (eg. add bass to r&b), so I would like an alternative solution. No amps/dacs combos please, I have many portable amps but nowadays am too lazy to connect them. Just want one box, with good EQ.

 

Any suggestions?

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post #2 of 27
12/27/11 at 11:37pm

Cowon J3, Sony A867/ Sony Z1000

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post #3 of 27
12/28/11 at 4:17am
Thread Starter 

Thanks. Which has the best SQ/ EQ?

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post #4 of 27
12/28/11 at 4:26am

Its cowon j3 or x7 for me.

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post #5 of 27
12/28/11 at 4:28am
Thread Starter 

Hm, another choice. :) X7 has the same great EQ? I'm also leaning more towards them, than to Sony.

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post #6 of 27
12/28/11 at 4:46am

x7 is supposedly the most powerful cowon presently available even with more memory (hdd) and some people claim it to sound superior to j3. I think thats the whole package if the size is no constraint to you.

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post #7 of 27
12/28/11 at 4:51am

and top that with that ever lasting battery life

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post #8 of 27
12/28/11 at 5:43am
Thread Starter 

Thanks. :) Having used a HM801, I doubt size will ever be a concern for me in other DAPs...

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post #9 of 27
12/28/11 at 7:21am
The Sony X1060 has amazing soundquality and EQ settings sound great on it, Cowon X7 are great sounding DAPs and offers lots of EQ setting to play with and they sound natural.
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post #10 of 27
12/28/11 at 1:55pm

I also have the Sony X1060 and am very happy with it.  It especially shines for female vocals but everything played from the X1060 will sound smoother and more enjoyable.  The X pairs best with warm headphones.

 

The X has a very good built-in amp, I tried amping via line-out with a Headstage Arrow, but the improvement is not big enough for me to use it  everyday.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZARIM View Post

The Sony X1060 has amazing soundquality and EQ settings sound great on it, Cowon X7 are great sounding DAPs and offers lots of EQ setting to play with and they sound natural.


 

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post #11 of 27
12/28/11 at 2:05pm

By the way, the X1060 pairs very well with the EX1000 IEMs

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post #12 of 27
12/29/11 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 

How about ability to drive my JH13s? Will both be fine? If so I may just go with the cheaper one. Natural is good, but the whole point of EQ is to be able to match to what I want to hear :)

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post #13 of 27
12/29/11 at 8:03pm

Yea I need a new mp3 player that is good as a stand alone player as well. I'm a little hesitant to buy the J3 now because I feel like the upgrade version for J3 is coming out any time soon with better UI / hardware etc.

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post #14 of 27
12/29/11 at 11:23pm
Thread Starter 

The iBasso DX100 also looks interesting.

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post #15 of 27
12/30/11 at 12:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jelt2359 View Post

The iBasso DX100 also looks interesting.



Yep, can't wait until a few reviews come out.

I might switch to it from the J3 as the J3 is not OSX friendly. :(

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