DrGonzo
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 13, 2011
- Posts
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So after a couple days with the DX80.... So far I am really please, much preferred over over the FiiO X5II and AK Jr. Just recently sent the FiiO X5II back so sound is still pretty fresh in my mind. I really liked the sound and build quality of the FiiO X5II. I've always been a big fan of FiiO products and if the DX80 had not come along I would probably still be rocking the X5II. I think the sound of the DX80 provides better extension of the low and high frequencies and provides a better soundstage. I much prefer the touch controls, physical buttons, and UI of the DX80 over the X5II. I have never been a big fan of FiiO's physical scroll wheel and have always felt that would be a point of failure. One thing I did prefer the X5II over the DX80 is that music scan performed much quicker on the X5II than on the DX80 (less than 10 minutes with the X5II vs about 26 minutes on the DX80 scanning about 5500 files).
Now it's been a couple months since I've had the AK Jr, but right off the bat, having the dual SD card slots on the DX80 is a much improvement of the single of the AK Jr. I like to have my entire music library on my device and the DX80 gives me plenty of storage space using (2) 128gb microSD cards with plenty of room to add plenty more music. With the AK Jr I could barely store all my music and definitely could not fit any more. Sound wise both units were comparable (best that I can remember), however I believe the DX80 provides a little better soundstage and instrument separation. I have not experienced any lag or sluggishness with the DX80, but I did with the a bit with the AK Jr, but never enough to complain about (keep in mind I have a little over 5500 FLAC files on the DX80 and had about 5300 on the AK Jr). Again I have no problems getting to my music library from the 'My Music' screen whether I'm accessing it through 'Album' or 'Artist' view. And scrolling is very smooth and fluid. Now I'm not saying its perfect, but it is very good. Just don't try to compare against navigating a new smartphone, because the DX80 does not have near the processing power of new smartphones.
I've read some here on the DX80 threads experiencing issues with udating firmware and media scanning. I have not had any issues. I use a blank 4gb microSD card to load the update file. FW1.1.4 is successfully loaded on my DX80. I have also not experienced any issues with media scanning; now this may be due to the fact that I have an extremely clean music library. What I mean is that my files are all FLAC and a few AIF; all album art is JPEG embedded in the music file, and all tags have been accomplished using MP3Tag. There are no other file types in my music library.
I also do not hear any hiss, except for certain tracks (which I believe is the result of the recording). None of my 24bit files have any hiss.
The past 2 days I've been listening to the DX80 through Audio-Technica ATH-IM03 (which are posted in the For Sale/Trade section, if anyone is interested). With the IM03 IEM's I have not heard the so-called 'Thump'/'Blob'. However, today I have received my Shure SE535, which will be replacing the ATH-IM03 and I do faintly hear a slight thump, only when un-pausing a track. It is very faint and definitely not painful or an annoyance. I don't hear it when skipping tracks forward or back and I don't hear it when I pause a track, only resuming it and it does not happen on all tracks. Again with the SE535 IEM's I hear no hiss, only on the same tracks that I heard with the IM03's.
Anyways, that's my brief review of the DX80. I am really happy with it and believe that it is a keeper until I get tire of it and want something else, LOL
It really is a great DAP! Highly recommend!!!!
Now it's been a couple months since I've had the AK Jr, but right off the bat, having the dual SD card slots on the DX80 is a much improvement of the single of the AK Jr. I like to have my entire music library on my device and the DX80 gives me plenty of storage space using (2) 128gb microSD cards with plenty of room to add plenty more music. With the AK Jr I could barely store all my music and definitely could not fit any more. Sound wise both units were comparable (best that I can remember), however I believe the DX80 provides a little better soundstage and instrument separation. I have not experienced any lag or sluggishness with the DX80, but I did with the a bit with the AK Jr, but never enough to complain about (keep in mind I have a little over 5500 FLAC files on the DX80 and had about 5300 on the AK Jr). Again I have no problems getting to my music library from the 'My Music' screen whether I'm accessing it through 'Album' or 'Artist' view. And scrolling is very smooth and fluid. Now I'm not saying its perfect, but it is very good. Just don't try to compare against navigating a new smartphone, because the DX80 does not have near the processing power of new smartphones.
I've read some here on the DX80 threads experiencing issues with udating firmware and media scanning. I have not had any issues. I use a blank 4gb microSD card to load the update file. FW1.1.4 is successfully loaded on my DX80. I have also not experienced any issues with media scanning; now this may be due to the fact that I have an extremely clean music library. What I mean is that my files are all FLAC and a few AIF; all album art is JPEG embedded in the music file, and all tags have been accomplished using MP3Tag. There are no other file types in my music library.
I also do not hear any hiss, except for certain tracks (which I believe is the result of the recording). None of my 24bit files have any hiss.
The past 2 days I've been listening to the DX80 through Audio-Technica ATH-IM03 (which are posted in the For Sale/Trade section, if anyone is interested). With the IM03 IEM's I have not heard the so-called 'Thump'/'Blob'. However, today I have received my Shure SE535, which will be replacing the ATH-IM03 and I do faintly hear a slight thump, only when un-pausing a track. It is very faint and definitely not painful or an annoyance. I don't hear it when skipping tracks forward or back and I don't hear it when I pause a track, only resuming it and it does not happen on all tracks. Again with the SE535 IEM's I hear no hiss, only on the same tracks that I heard with the IM03's.
Anyways, that's my brief review of the DX80. I am really happy with it and believe that it is a keeper until I get tire of it and want something else, LOL
It really is a great DAP! Highly recommend!!!!