Lotoo Paw Gold

INTRODUCTION:
Paw Gold is a high resolution music player from the brand Lotoo, owned by, Beijing Infomedia Electronic Technology Co. Ltd.. The device sports an industrial looking design, with a focus on functionality. The gold accents suggest the premium stature of the product. Given the fact that, the device has been around for 2 years, and quite a lot of information on the device can be found on the internet (LPG Thread, Head-Fi Reviews, Manufacturer’s Website), let me take the liberty, to jump straight into the sound impressions of the device.
 

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SOUND:
LPG has a dynamic and full-bodied sound. Lotoo calls the Paw Gold a Reference Player. While it has many qualities to be a reference player, it is not one in the strictest sense, because it’s not completely neutral in its tone and presentation. While shooting for an honest rendering of music, it leans towards excitement and precision of individual notes, with its neutral-bright tone and a forward presentation.
 
SIGNATURE:
The bass on the LPG is neutral in quantity, but is powerful in impact. The device is able to render layers in the bass, while keeping it quick and clean, resulting in a clean stage. If the bass is not sufficient to the listener’s preference, the EQ helps add ample of bass. Despite being neutral in quantity, it still provides the necessary body and warmth to the lower midrange. 
 
The lower midrange is neutral, in line with the lower frequencies. But there is a lift in the center midrange, which brings the stage position slightly forward than neutral. This also helps retain the body of the notes throughout the midrange band. In the upper midrange, the sound is a bit energetic. Although this adds vigor to the music, it can tend to sibilance/fatigue. The midrange in general is very resolving and transparent with excellent instrument and vocal timbre.
 
The treble is slightly above neutral with a lot of sparkle and has very good extension. The energetic upper midrange and the tuned-up treble, bring the brightness to the tone, making the sound quite exciting. It also improves the sense of precision and technicality. Despite the brightness, the overall tone isn't affected much, due to the balance maintained by the adequate lower frequencies and the full body mids. 
 
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:
The stage on the LPG is not too wide, but is very deep and tall, resulting in a box like 3-dimensional soundstage. The forward sound, combined with the average width, makes the presentation, quite intimate. This makes the listening experience engaging, but can also get aggressive with music or headphones with a similar nature. Despite the small stage, the instrument separation, layering and imaging is quite impressive due to the depth and resolution. 
 
The level of transparency and detail retrieval is very high in the presentation. It brings out every nuance in the recording, but at the same time it can be very revealing, putting the device in the unforgiving category. One of LPG's outstanding qualities, is its note articulation and PRaT (Pace Rhythm and Timing). The notes are full bodied and effortless in its progression. In terms of speed, it is able to handle fast paced music and complex passages with ease. Despite the technical flair, the device offers an immersive musical experience, when paired with the right headphone and music.
 

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LOTOO PAW GOLD vs CHORD MOJO:
At the time of this review, LPG retails for, almost 4 times the price of the Mojo. So it may be an unfair comparison. But I want to compare these 2 devices, because they share a few similarities. Both the devices are quite small in dimensions, but pack quite some driving power. LPG can deliver 500 mW into a 32 Ohm load, and the Mojo can deliver 600 mW into the same. Also, unlike most of the competing portable audio devices, which are moving towards the TRRS quasi-balanced ports, these 2 devices deliver their best performance out of the regular 3.5 mm stereo ports. 
 
But their similarities don’t stop there. Both create full bodied notes in a stage, that is averagely wide and the presentation on both the devices is quite engaging. While the note structure and attack is similar on both (at least in the mid-range), LPG has better note releases. LPG overall has better resolution and transparency. It retrieves more details and is more revealing. But Mojo is more forgiving than the LPG and is less fatiguing. Although the stage width is about the same on both the devices, LPG has the edge in terms of depth and height. LPG also has an advantage in terms of separation, layering, imaging and precision.
 
Bass quantity is similar on both the devices, but LPG’s bass has more authority and dynamism. Mojo’s low end can be made to do that, but only using a source or DAP with a good EQ. Moving on to the mid-range, Mojo’s lower mid-range is slightly thicker and creates a warmer atmosphere and LPG’s lower mid-range is neutral. In the center midrange, both have a slight lift that gives the forward presentation, but LPG has a truer tone and, creates cleaner notes. In the upper mid-range, both the devices are energetic. The forward presentation and the energetic mid-range make both the devices, create an engaging listening experience. Above the upper midrange, the devices depart ways once again, with the LPG taking a slightly brighter approach on the treble and the Mojo taking a softer approach. 
 
Overall, both the devices share a similar music presentation, with the LPG being brighter and, slightly ahead of the Mojo in terms of technical capabilities. But Mojo is warmer, smoother and easy to listen to. 
 

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DRIVING POWER AND BACKGROUND HISS:
LPG has a powerful class-A amp under the hood, which is able to output an analog signal of power 500 mW per channel into a 32 Ohm load. As I do not own full-size headphones, I am not able to test how well it drives demanding full-size headphones. But many have reported, that it does drive full-size headphones like HD800 and HE1000 really well.
 
Based on the specifications, the device should be capable of driving even the low-sensitive and inefficient IEMs. My two IEMs (Sennheiser IE80 and Empire Ears Zeus XIV-ADEL) are very efficient and sensitive. So the LPG drives them both with no problem. On the flip side, there is a noticeable hiss on the Zeus. The hiss is noticeable only when no music is playing or, during silent passages in tracks. But Zeus may not be the ideal IEM, to gauge a source's hiss level, as Zeus is one of the most sensitive IEMs in the market, and it hisses with many high power sources.
 
IE80 is a sensitive single Dynamic Driver IEM, that is a good tool to test for hiss, as it can pick up hiss with noisy sources (for example: Sony NWZ-A15). On the LPG, IE80 exhibits a very minimal hiss.
 
IEM PAIRING:
Given the fact that LPG is slightly bright and has a forward presentation, it pairs quite well with warm and laid back IEMs such as my Sennheiser IE80. Another popular IEM I could think of that would pair well with the LPG is the U12. The brightness in the device’s tone, helps the separation and articulation of notes on the IE80. It also helps tighten up the bass and adds definition in the mids. It does not necessarily transform the IE80 into a superior IEM, but improves the IEM's SQ on all fronts.
 
Zeus is a forward sounding, mid-centric IEM. When paired with a warm source like an iPhone or the Mojo, it sounds smooth. But pairing it with LPG reveals its open tone in the treble region. While the Zeus+LPG combo can be quite powerful and engaging, it can get quite aggressive with fast paced music. But it brings the best out of the Zeus. The stage, is not exactly holographic, but is quite expansive and instruments have very good separation and placement. It helps add some punch to Zeus’s bass and lifts the treble response. The mids are very transparent and quite upfront.
 
MUSIC CHOICES:
LPG handles most of the music with suave. It has the transparency that works well with acoustic instruments based music such as Rock and Classical. And due to its exciting presentation, it also works great for Pop, Electronic and Trance.
 
But there are a few exceptions, for which LPG may not be an ideal player. It may not work best for live or symphony based music, which require a very spanned out soundstage and airiness. Because of LPG's fast and engaging presentation, fast paced music like hard rock and heavy metal can get quite tiring if you are a sensitive listener.
 
Also, the device is not quite forgiving with poorly recorded/mastered material. It is quite revealing of sibilance, noise and other artifacts, which can affect the overall listening experience. While I have not tested or compared DSD and Hi-Res content, it shows improvement when played RedBook lossless format (16/44.1) over the MP3 counterparts.

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OTHER COMMENDABLE QUALITIES/FEATURES OF THE PLAYER:
- The build quality of the player is very sturdy. The material of the panel protecting the screen is made from scratch resistant sapphire crystal.
- The Parametric EQ on the player can come in quite handy if you’d like to tweak the sound to your preference. If you already own the LPG or planning to buy, I highly recommend reading the article linked in this post. It clearly explains how the EQ on the device works.
- The player takes in a full size SD card and can support upto 2TB. Although, the largest capacity currently available in the market is 512GB.
- Battery life for music playback comes close to 12hrs from 100% to 5%. Also the battery monitoring features are quite helpful in the device.
- The UI on the device, although simple, is very reliable and stable. It gets the job done with ease.
- The button layout is again simple and you can get to the Now Playing screen with just 1 or 2 clicks of the same button.
- The device is actually quite smaller than what it appears in the pictures (although it is quite thick and heavy).
 
CONS & POSSIBLE AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT FOR THE SUCCESSOR:
- The soundstage of the player could be slightly wider.
- The presentation could be less forward.
- Charging method (switch to USB charging in the future).
- Lacking in accessories like screen-protectors and case for the premium price being charged.
 

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CONCLUSION:
LPG is truly a top tier music player and, delivers performance in spades, with its highly resolving DAC section and a powerful Amp section. It is a no compromise player, when you consider just the Sound Quality, Driving Power and the non-streaming music playback capability. And it is for that reason, this player deserves a 5-Star rating, despite the few shortcomings. While it misses the absolute reference mark in terms of the signature, it still qualifies as one in my books, due to its technical prowess. While high in technical abilities, it also makes for a great musical device with exciting signature and an engaging presentation. If you are in the market for a high end music player and your sound preference matches, what I have described above, and you don’t care for music streaming, the Lotoo Paw Gold is all you need.
 

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Nothing much to say, it's my first player at this level so of course I am satisfied with it. Half points down for the gold plated buttons. Will be 5 points without the gold and 200 dollar cheaper.

I first heard the Lotoo PAW Gold (LPG) at RMAF 2015. I exchanged information with XiaoQi of Lotoo and I later contacted him and was given the opportunity to review both the PAW Gold and the 5000. Lotoo sent me both units in a package and I’ve since spend quite a bit of time with them. Actually, I’ve spent a few months with the LPG now, and this review is actually quite a bit overdue. I’d like a give big thank you to Lotoo and XiaoQi for their willingness to send me review units of their products. I’m excited to see Lotoo’s products begin to attract more attention in the west as these are certainly products to keep an eye on.
 
The unboxing experience of the LPG was pretty cool to say the least. I would highly suggest looking up an unboxing video of the LPG on YouTube, as it’s quite unique and hard to describe. There is an exterior gray box that opens like you’re opening an expensive gift. Upon opening the first box, you’re greeted with another box – the actual box that holds the LPG and all the goodies that come with it.
 
The box opens into three layers, and each layer holds different things. The first layer beautifully displays the LPG. The LPG transfers files via a USB 3.0 connection to your computer, and thus, it naturally comes with the appropriate cable. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, my cable doesn’t work and I had to get new one – thank God for Amazon Prime! The LPG also comes with a nice quality microfiber pouch that the LPG fits very nicely into as well as a power cord – since the LPG doesn’t charge via USB. The charger does come with quite a wide variety of adaptors for the charger so anyone planning on traveling a lot should have no problem charging their LPG in a foreign country. Besides those things, the LPG does come with some manuals and guides on how to use the LPG.
 
Something that I was a little disappointed to find missing was a case for the LPG. Yes, perhaps the microfiber pouch was designed for carrying the LPG, but even companies like Astell & Kern offer some nice leather cases for their products. At its price, I would certainly consider the LPG to be a hi-end DAP and, thus, I wish it came with a bit more hi-end accessories.
 
 
In terms of the build quality, the LPG is an absolute monster. The word to describe it is “tank,” as you’re pretty much holding a small brick in the palm of your hands. The chassis is aircraft-grade duralumin, which is a material that seems to be fairly popular with high end DAPs such as some of the offerings from Astell & Kern. The device also has a good bit of heft to it and is perhaps one of the heaviest DAPs I’ve encountered.
 
The screen is a sapphire crystal glass which also feels very durable. The screen does protrude out of the device a bit, and some have voiced their concerns for such a design increasing the likeliness of the screen breaking if the device is dropped. I’m certainly not about to do a drop test to see whether that’s an issue or not, but a solution would be to get a case for the LPG. Considering the price you’re paying for the LPG, I think it’s certainly a good idea to invest another 50 dollars (or maybe less) for a protective case for it. I’ve purchased a Dignis case for my LPG which not only protects the LPG from scratches, but also eliminates the issue of the screen protruding out of the device. It would have been nice if Lotoo included an actual case with the LPG instead of just a pouch, but it is what it is.
 
The LPG is a relatively small device in terms of its width and height. It is, however, also a fairly thick DAP. Despite that, I find the LPG to be a very manageable device and actually fits in my pocket more nicely than larger devices that are thinner – such as smartphones. Yes, it does look like you’ve got something weird in your pocket, but it’s comfortable. It reminds of of the days when I still had a Gen. 5 iPod video. I had one of those incredibly ugly, but super protective, plastic cases to go with it. When add the thickness of the iPod video up with the thickness that's about where you're at in terms of how thick the LPG is.
 
While I love the volume knob on the LPG and appreciate how well protect it is, it also is a point of complaint for me – just a small one though. Because the volume knob does protrude out a bit, it can get in the way of some L-shaped 3.5mm jacks. It’s really not too big of a deal for me, but it does decrease the flexibility of the LPG – especially when you’re thinking about using its line out.
 
The other slight complaint I have regarding the LPG is that it can get a bit warm during use. It’s certainly not enough to burn you or to cause discomfort when keeping it in your pocket, but it does surprise you with how warm it gets when you do take it out of your pocket.
 
Overall, the build of the LPG is really just fantastic. Everything feels solid and while some of the buttons are plastic, buttons feel solid and the LPG is certainly a device that I won’t be afraid of carrying around while engaging in my daily activities.
 
In terms of its looks, I was honestly not the biggest fan of it when I first saw the LPG at RMAF. However, I’ve come to appreciate it quite a bit even if it doesn’t have the edge and sleekness in design that products like the offering from Astell & Kern has. It’s definitely not the cleanest looking DAP, but I do like its purple/grey chassis color and its more retro look.
 
 
Taking a tour around the LPG and starting on the left side, there is the USB 3.0 connection and the charging port. The LPG is a bit old-school in the sense that, unlike most DAPs these days, it does not charge via USB. Moving on to the top, you have the phone out, line out, gain (high and low), screen lock, and volume knob. The volume knob is heavily protected and I have had no issues in terms of the volume getting changed while the LPG is in my pocket. The knob feels very solid and turning it is smooth with a very subtle but noticeable click each with each increment of volume change. On the bottom is a SDXC slot. I’m honestly a fan of using the SD slot over a microSD slot. You get the flexibility and possibility of getting a hell lot more memory and I honestly don’t think that the LPG’s size was compromised all that much as a result. The front of the device is a bit more crowded. In terms of look, it’s almost identical to the PAW 5000 – with just a few differences. The large gold “disk” in the front of the LPG may be mistaken for a scroll wheel when, in fact, it actually is not. It has the basic functions of rewind, fast forward, play/pause, and stop. The button at the center of the disk can be set to either play/pause or screen information. I find the play/pause function redundant so I stuck with the screen information. In the front, there are also files, playlists, settings, ATE/PMEQ, and function buttons.
 
I won’t get into too much detail of how the UI works. Rather, I’ll sort of give my general opinion of it and note anything unusual or interesting I’ve found. I am running the LPG with firmware 5.0.1.8.
 
First off, powering on and off the LPG is super quick and easy. Hold the power button and it quickly turns on. To turn it off, simply hold the power button and you’ll see a loading bar run across the screen. Once it’s moved across the screen, then it will power off. This is just a way to ensure that the power button wasn’t pressed on accident. Quick and easy – love it.
 
Searching for music takes some getting used to. Besides searching for music through your files, you have 3 playlists you can create, or to search for music through a playlist with all the songs on it. The issue with searching through all songs is that the songs are listed as file name, not the title of the song, so if you have any sort of number going on with the files, you’re not going to have fun finding the song you want. The lack of a scroll wheel, like the one on the PAW 5000, means that scrolling through a large library can be a bit slow so if you don’t have a well-organized library, it could take some time to get to that album or song you’re really craving at the moment.
 
Something quite unique to the Lotoo products is the ATE/PMEQ function. Now I’m not sure what ATE stands for, but both just seem to be some sort of equalization program that alter either the presentation or the signature of the sound. The PMEQ is your traditional EQ settings like classical, rock, hip-hop, etc. while the ATE settings seem to focus more on changing the presentation of the music. For example, I found the “Style 701” to sound pretty good with acoustic live music, as it provides a more “in front of you” presentation as well as a more open sound for a more live feel. However, the bass basically disappears as a result, so you do have to pick and choose. Overall, I actually found some of these settings to be fairly well-done and usable, unlike a lot of the settings on other devices, but I do still prefer to keep these settings off. Something else to note is that while you’re able to create your own EQs, it seems you need to create it on a computer and import it onto the LPG.
 
The function setting that Lotoo implemented is also quite unique and overall pretty good. With the function button, you have the ability to select from a variety of uses such as mute, battery info and repeat mode. A lot of these are quite useful. For example, by selecting repeat mode, you are able to change your repeat setting without having to go through play setting. Other functions such as mute or -20dB mute has the potential to be fantastically useful, but fall short. I found that those two would be amazingly useful if someone is trying to talk to you and you can simply lower the volume or completely mute the button temporarily with a push of a button. However, they’re not as useful because in order to access the function button, you need to turn the screen on, in which case, you might as well just pause the device instead. That’s one issue I have with the player. I wish there were some sort of setting where you can select whether you want the buttons to be active when the screen is off. There’s no play/pause button that works when the screen is off, which is something I wish they allowed. It’s not the end of the world, but I would like to see more flexibility here.
 
The main screen is definitely not your typical main screen. There’s no album art – in its place is a pretty cool right/left channel indicator that shows you the activity of each side. The main screen is also filled with information. Battery life, gain, repeat mode, and file info can all be found there. It looks very retro, which is pretty cool to me and I quite like it despite it looking fairly backward and somewhat primitive by today’s standards. One little issue I did encounter with my unit is that album art doesn’t seem to show. I’ve seen it work on other people’s units, however. I don’t care too much about that so I didn’t dig too deep into where the issue lies.
 
In terms of battery life, the LPG is above average – which is always nice to see. Lotoo chose to use a 6000mAh 3.7V battery, which seems pretty massive in comparison to the 3-4000mAh 3.7V batteries most manufacturers choose to use. Despite the size of its battery, the LPG doesn’t last as long as one would think. I generally get around 12-13 hours with one charge. It just goes to show how much battery this thing drains. What’s nice about the LPG is that its battery indicator can show you how much percent battery remains, or it can display a countdown to how much time the player has left before the battery drains – a really neat feature I would love to see more manufacturers implement. I would say the countdown is relatively accurate as well.
 
Overall, the UI is a little clunky in some places, but overall really well-designed. The overall look and feel is very minimalistic, but I enjoy the simplicity of it.
 
 
Here are the specs and features listed by Lotoo:
 
Chasis Material: Aircraft Grade Duralumin
Display: 1.8 inch Color OLED 160x128
Supported Audio Formats: DSD (DFF DSF ISO), FLAC, WAV, AAC, ALAC, MP3, WMA, M4A, CUE, APE, WavePack
Sample Rate: PCM 8kHz~384kHZ / DSD 2.8Mhz, 5.6Mhz
Output Level: +15 dBu (Headphone Output, No Load, High Gain), 0dBu (Headphone Output, No Load, Low Gain), +9 dBu (Line-Output, No Load)
DAC: BB PCM1792
Headphone Driver: Ti LME49600
Core Processor: ADI Blackfin 514 DSP
Input: Super Speed USB 3.0 Micro-B
Outputs: Phone (3.5mm), Line-Output (3.5mm)
Dimensions: 60 x 104 x 25.4 mm (W x H x D)
Weight: 280g
Battery: 6000mAh 3.7V Li-Polymer Battery
Storage: SDHC / SDXC (Up to 2TB)
Clock Jitter: 5ps (Typ)
Feature Enhancements: Firmware Upgradable
 
Headphone Output
Output Power: 500mW @ 32Ohm per channel
Frequency Response: +/-0.06dB (20~20kHz), +/-1dB (5~50kHz)
THD+N: 0.00058% @ 1kHz (20~20kHz, A-Weight, No Load)
Dynamic Range: 121dB @ 1kHz (20~20kHz, A-Weight)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 120dB (20~20kHz, A-Weight)
Crosstalk: -119dB
 
Line Output
Frequency Response: +/-0.06dB (20~20kHz), +/-1dB (5~50kHz)
THD+N: 0.00036% @ 1kHz (20~20kHz, A-Weight, No Load)
Dynamic Range: 121dB @ 1kHz (20~20kHz, A-Weight)
Signal to Noise Ratio: 120dB (20~20kHz, A-Weight)
Crosstalk: -119dB
Output: 2V RMS, +9dBu
 
Noise Floor
Those looking to pair a portable headphone with the LPG should have little to no issues as the LPG has a decent amount of power to it. However, the LPG does tend to hiss a bit with more sensitive IEMs. With my UERM, rated at 112dB sensitivity and 35 ohms, the LPG has a hiss that is barely audible. However, with my Empire Ears Zeus, one of the most sensitive IEMs I’ve ever owned or used, the hiss is pretty distracting for me. I think with most IEMs, the LPG will present a manageable hiss, but for those that are super sensitive to hiss and cannot accept even the slightest bit of it, this may be something to keep in mind.
 
 
Sound
Most of my listening of the LPG was done with the LPG running IEMs right out of its headphone out. Most of the time listening was done with the UERM with some time given to the Empire Ear Zeus as well as the ZMF Omni.
 
The sound of the LPG is fairly flat with just a tad bit of warmth to it. The bass is slightly more prominent than the likes of the Chord Mojo and Hugo, but not as present and thick as that of the Sony NW-ZX2.  While the bass isn’t quite as speedy as that of the Hugo, the bass is tight, well-controlled, and exhibit a great sense of texture. Compared to the ZX2, it’s quite obvious that that the LPG is able to produce a noticeably cleaner and more textured sub bass. The LPG, as a whole, exhibits a fantastic sense of dynamics and the bass, in particular, has a great sense of impact and musicality while demonstrating that it’s very capable as well.
 
The UERM is one of my favorite IEM in terms of midrange and few IEMs I’ve tried have been able to outcompete the sheer enjoyment I get from the midrange of the UERM. No it’s not the most detailed midrange I’ve ever heard, but its presentation makes it a very special IEM to me. The pairing of the UERM and LPG has quickly become a favorite of mine. The LPG doesn’t add too much color to the midrange and has great resolution. I find the timbre to be on point as its sound is detailed without sounding overly sterile and is, in fact, quite smooth and grain-free. The LPG and UERM pairing allows for a sense of naturalness in the midrange that I think is absolutely wonderful. Imaging is incredibly precise, separation is impressive, the background is dark (when there isn’t hiss), and there’s a good sense of three-dimensionality.
 
I would characterize the treble of the LPG as being just a tad on the more relaxed side. It’s by no means a dark sounding device but it’s not a product that will make something sound particularly open. The lower treble still has a good bit of energy and sparkle with great clarity and detail. Overall treble experience is crisp but fatigue-free.
 
In terms of portable players, I think the LPG is one of the most neutral and reference-tuned player currently on the market. I find that most portable players and amplifier generally lean towards the warmer side of things, to varying degrees obviously, and the LPG is the same but to a lesser extent. It has less of a bass emphasis especially in comparison to more mid-fi players such as the DX90, N6, or X5ii, with less thickness in the lower midrange and without the extra energy in the treble. In comparison to the Asus Essence III I use at home, it still exhibits a warmer tone but, again, it’s one of the most neutral portable devices that come closest to my personal reference DAC/Amp in terms of performance.
 
Line Out
During my visit home to Taiwan, I stopped by JM-Plus, a quaint little audio store with a great selection of goodies. While I was at JM-Plus, I hooked my LPG up with the new Shure KSE 1500 – an amplifier/IEM combo. From listening session there, I would say the LPG gets most of its warmth its amplifier section as its DAC seems to present a pretty flat response.
 
It was during this time, however, that I noticed an issue with the line out that I’ve never encountered before. Be default, the LPG line out is fixed at maximum volume but the LPG does have the nice feature of also having an adjustable line out. With the fixed line out, however, there’s a whole lot of distortion and clipping going on. I had to lower the line out volume in order to remove that issue. It’s a bit on in that I’ve never encountered this before with a line out. I’m not sure if this problem is unique to my LPG unit, but I will try the LPG with other amplifiers to see if this issue persists.
 
 
In my RMAF 2015 overview, I stated that “as much as I love the sound, I can't see myself owning a Lotoo PAW Gold.” Well … … I’ll have to retract that statement. The LPG has become a must for whenever I’m out of the house as I find it both portable and wonderful sounding. It’s UI, while basic and perhaps somewhat primitive, is stable, easy to use, and well thought out. On top of that, I absolutely love the sound of it. The only big downside is that it can hiss a good bit when paired with more sensitive IEMs and that it’s a bit of the heavy side of things.
 
In the US, the LPG’s price currently ranges anywhere from 1600 to around 2400. The 1600 price is pretty consistent and a lot of dealers carry it at that price so I would just honestly ignore anyone selling it for more than that. 1600 dollars is, of course, still quite a bit to swallow. Most people won’t need a device as hi-end as this for portable use, but for those with the luxury of being able to dish out that kind of money, I think the PAW Gold is truly a wonderful TOTL product.