[ProjectDenz]

I am looking for a new dap that sounds significantly better than the Sansa Clip, which I have enjoyed immensely.

There are a few things that I look for in a dap:

- Clarity, the more clarity the better.
- Separation, love to be able to distinguish between different instruments.
- Doesn't sound closed in, some players I have tried in the past sound really closed in, which frustrates me. The clip does not sound closed in to me.
- Does not colour the sound of my iems TOO MUCH. I like to listen to my iem the way the engineers designed it to sound like.
- No eqing required, I don't like to use eq.

My two primary iems are the TF10 and SE530.

Budget is roughly $200.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I am tossing up between the HiFiMan HM-601 and the S:Flo2.
 

 

[ProjectDenz]

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[ProjectDenz]

plz halp!

 

[tds101]

Really, the clip+ might be a step up, especially if you Rockbox it. Test Rockbox out on your current clip, see if you like it. Then, if it's for you, upgrade to a clip+ and a 32gb microSD card. You just might find happiness.
 
BTW: The narrowness of sound stage and lack of separation sounds more like a headphone/IEM thing - you might try upgrading those as well (maybe the IEM's you own just don't work for you).
 
As for the s:flo2 or hifiman, I can't help you here.