NymPHONOmaniac
Headphoneus Supremus
Yes, there some thread about people searching best DAP for this or for that, about best DAP that cost less than this or that, or about how great is a specific DAP.
Every time I wonder WHY there no ''Best DAP'' list anywhere, so we can put all this great finds at the same place to help headfiers find the perfect one they search as well as avoiding the one that are plain crap.
I guess it's because it need work and dedication, but i'm SO into DAP world, having try about 20 of them, ranging from 10 to 400$, that perhaps I can help, but not alone as I did not and will not try ALL DAP that are still selling right now.
Myself, i'm more into asian brands like Ibasso, Xduoo, Fiio, Faudio and Zishan. Still, this passion make me try more in the past like old Hifiman HM-601.
Anyway, I pass must of my time listening to DAP, its the center of my audio world, should it be for portability or connecting to my speakers system.
All DAP in the list must sound good even if the price in take in account, have MICRO SD Slot, and it must play Lossless files (Flac is a must nowadays).
Let's begin this, and I hope, never stop so all questions about DAP can be answer here or at least be directed to some trustable products with a link to review.
20-100$:
-Benjie S5 (20-25$): ''Small, sturdy, long battery life, good sharp sound, mic, radio, lot of features, micro SD, good interface, good for low impendance IEM. ''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/benjie-offical-thread.805115/
-Walnut V2S (26$): ''Small sturdy, Powerfull, can be use as stand alone amp, changeable OPamp, good battery life, good overall sound Wide Warm, Line out, Interface so so (no screen).'' ''https://thecontraptionist.blog/2017/07/22/walnut-v2s-back-to-basics/
-Mrobo C5 v2 (30-40$): ''Good sound, great built, good interfact, long battery life, line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/mrobo-c5-2-0.22348/reviews
-Zishan Z3 (40$): ''Great sound, High end AK4490 dac, powerfull, changeable OPamp, good battery life, Line out, supreme value.'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zishan-z3.22970/reviews
-XDUOO X2 (50$): ''Oldies but goldies, powerfull, good sound, excellent contruction, good battery life, no line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x2.20536/
-Ruizu A50 (45-55$): ''Good neutral SQ, Nice built, powerfull, no line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ruizu-a50.22552/reviews
-Nintaus X10 (about 50$): ''Good sq from cirrus logic WM8965 dac, DSD, good construction, line out''
-ZIKU HK X9 (45$): ''Use the incredible cirrus logic CS4398 dac....but need more info, still waiting for mine to arrive''
-Fiio M3K (70$): ''Good sound from AK4376A dac, USB dac, good built, good interface, very small, low power outup, no line out
-F.Audio S1 (60$):
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/f-audio-s1.23223/reviews
-Xduoo X3 first gen (if findable): ‘’Excellent sound from cirrus logic CS4398 dac, ultra portable, ultra sturdy construction, intuitive UI, long battery life, powerfull (high gain), line out, 2TFslots’’
-Hidizs AP60 (90-120$):
-Shanling M0 (110$): [/SIZE]''Good sound quality from ES9218 dac, good construction, good battery life, ultra portable, no line out, thinked for IEM use'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/shanling-m0.23172/reviews
-Xduoo X3II (100-120$): ''Good SQ from AK4490 dac, usb dac, Bluetooth, good power output, lineout, clumsyUI''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x3ii.23463/reviews
-Zishan DSD AK4497 (100-130$): ''Excellent SQ from TOTL AK4497eq dac, powerfull, changeable OPamp, line out, 2.5mm balanced out, clumsy UI, DIY construction type''
-Moonlight aigoPRO (100-130$): ''ES9018 dac''
125-250$:
-Hidizs AP80:
-Cayin N3 (130$): ''Good sq, bluetooth, USB dac, good construction, good interface, no line out''
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ca...lity-digital-audio-player-black.22343/reviews
-Fiio M6 (about 150$): ''Good Sq, ES9018 dac, WIFI , Good battery life, good interface, small''
-Hiby R3 (200$): ''Excellent sound from TOTL ES9028 dac, Wifi, very small, good construction, Line out, thined for IEM use''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-m7-high-resolution-lossless-audio-player-samsung’s-exynos-7270-soc-aptx-hd-ldac-fm-radio.23118/reviews
-Shanling M2S (200$): ''Great sound quality from AK4490 dac+ Muse 8920 amp, bluetooth, powerfull, long battery life, good construction, line out''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sh...d256-hifi-lossless-music-player.22354/reviews
-Xduoo X20 (200-240$): ''Excellent SQ form sabre ES9018 dac, USB dac, Bluetooth, long battery life, great construction, 2.5mm balanced output, so so UI''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x20.22868/
250-500$:
-Pioneer XDP-100R (250-300$): ''Good SQ, Wifi, powerfull'' https://www.head-fi.org/threads/pioneer-xdp-100r.806346/
-Ibasso DX90 (300-400$-out of production but still findable): ''Excellent SQ from DUAL ES9018 dac, ultra black background, 3 gain and very powerfull, intuitive UI and physical interface, changeble battery for infinite longevity, excellent construction, sturdy and durable'' PS:Mine still work like a charm after FIVE years, all reviews are positive but the half-star one from a dumbass...anyway, read all the others:https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ib...audio-player.20032/reviews?order=likes&page=1
-FIIO M9: ''Good sound from Dual AK4490 dac, WIFI, 2.5mm output, BT, gain, Lot of features, not th most powerfull DAP, perfect for IEM''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-m9-android-based-hi-res-music-player.23373/reviews
-Ibasso DX120 (300$): ''Great SQ, Clean, neutral sound, Powerfull, line out, 2.5mm balanced out, good UI, 2xTF slots, USB DAC'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ibasso-dx120.23427/reviews
-Ibasso DX150 (about 500$): ''Great SQ, changable AMP module, Wifi, BT, tunable sound, lot of features, good interface, good battery life''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ibasso-audio-dx150.23135/reviews
-Lotoo PAW5000mkII (400$):
-Shozy Alien+ (450$): ''Excellent sound from its AK4495eq dac, powerfull, low THD, line out, average UI, not very competitive price but its all about sound here''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/shozy-alien.22463/reviews
-Shanling M5S (450$): (need more impressions! But dual AK4493 dac look promising+wifi!!) https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sha...-2way-ldac-bt-3-2-touch-screen-fw-2-1.886502/
-Audio Opus 1(s) (Around 500$): ''Excellent SQ, Line out, Balanced out, touch screen, good battery life, good interface-UI, USB DAC''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bes...er-reviews-impressions-reference-list.900875/
-Sony NW-ZX300A (380$ at Joybuy): ''Great clear SQ, Good interface, USB DAC, Bluetooth, balanced out, great battery life, half the price of ZX300!!''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-nw-zx300.854693/
(....okay it was long write this so it will be update later taking your suggestions in accounts!!)
Every time I wonder WHY there no ''Best DAP'' list anywhere, so we can put all this great finds at the same place to help headfiers find the perfect one they search as well as avoiding the one that are plain crap.
I guess it's because it need work and dedication, but i'm SO into DAP world, having try about 20 of them, ranging from 10 to 400$, that perhaps I can help, but not alone as I did not and will not try ALL DAP that are still selling right now.
Myself, i'm more into asian brands like Ibasso, Xduoo, Fiio, Faudio and Zishan. Still, this passion make me try more in the past like old Hifiman HM-601.
Anyway, I pass must of my time listening to DAP, its the center of my audio world, should it be for portability or connecting to my speakers system.
All DAP in the list must sound good even if the price in take in account, have MICRO SD Slot, and it must play Lossless files (Flac is a must nowadays).
Let's begin this, and I hope, never stop so all questions about DAP can be answer here or at least be directed to some trustable products with a link to review.
20-100$:
-Benjie S5 (20-25$): ''Small, sturdy, long battery life, good sharp sound, mic, radio, lot of features, micro SD, good interface, good for low impendance IEM. ''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/benjie-offical-thread.805115/
-Walnut V2S (26$): ''Small sturdy, Powerfull, can be use as stand alone amp, changeable OPamp, good battery life, good overall sound Wide Warm, Line out, Interface so so (no screen).'' ''https://thecontraptionist.blog/2017/07/22/walnut-v2s-back-to-basics/
-Mrobo C5 v2 (30-40$): ''Good sound, great built, good interfact, long battery life, line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/mrobo-c5-2-0.22348/reviews
-Zishan Z3 (40$): ''Great sound, High end AK4490 dac, powerfull, changeable OPamp, good battery life, Line out, supreme value.'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zishan-z3.22970/reviews
-XDUOO X2 (50$): ''Oldies but goldies, powerfull, good sound, excellent contruction, good battery life, no line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x2.20536/
-Ruizu A50 (45-55$): ''Good neutral SQ, Nice built, powerfull, no line out'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ruizu-a50.22552/reviews
-Nintaus X10 (about 50$): ''Good sq from cirrus logic WM8965 dac, DSD, good construction, line out''
-ZIKU HK X9 (45$): ''Use the incredible cirrus logic CS4398 dac....but need more info, still waiting for mine to arrive''
-Fiio M3K (70$): ''Good sound from AK4376A dac, USB dac, good built, good interface, very small, low power outup, no line out
-F.Audio S1 (60$):
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/f-audio-s1.23223/reviews
-Xduoo X3 first gen (if findable): ‘’Excellent sound from cirrus logic CS4398 dac, ultra portable, ultra sturdy construction, intuitive UI, long battery life, powerfull (high gain), line out, 2TFslots’’
-Hidizs AP60 (90-120$):
-Shanling M0 (110$): [/SIZE]''Good sound quality from ES9218 dac, good construction, good battery life, ultra portable, no line out, thinked for IEM use'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/shanling-m0.23172/reviews
-Xduoo X3II (100-120$): ''Good SQ from AK4490 dac, usb dac, Bluetooth, good power output, lineout, clumsyUI''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x3ii.23463/reviews
-Zishan DSD AK4497 (100-130$): ''Excellent SQ from TOTL AK4497eq dac, powerfull, changeable OPamp, line out, 2.5mm balanced out, clumsy UI, DIY construction type''
-Moonlight aigoPRO (100-130$): ''ES9018 dac''
125-250$:
-Hidizs AP80:
-Cayin N3 (130$): ''Good sq, bluetooth, USB dac, good construction, good interface, no line out''
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ca...lity-digital-audio-player-black.22343/reviews
-Fiio M6 (about 150$): ''Good Sq, ES9018 dac, WIFI , Good battery life, good interface, small''
-Hiby R3 (200$): ''Excellent sound from TOTL ES9028 dac, Wifi, very small, good construction, Line out, thined for IEM use''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-m7-high-resolution-lossless-audio-player-samsung’s-exynos-7270-soc-aptx-hd-ldac-fm-radio.23118/reviews
-Shanling M2S (200$): ''Great sound quality from AK4490 dac+ Muse 8920 amp, bluetooth, powerfull, long battery life, good construction, line out''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sh...d256-hifi-lossless-music-player.22354/reviews
-Xduoo X20 (200-240$): ''Excellent SQ form sabre ES9018 dac, USB dac, Bluetooth, long battery life, great construction, 2.5mm balanced output, so so UI''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/xduoo-x20.22868/
250-500$:
-Pioneer XDP-100R (250-300$): ''Good SQ, Wifi, powerfull'' https://www.head-fi.org/threads/pioneer-xdp-100r.806346/
-Ibasso DX90 (300-400$-out of production but still findable): ''Excellent SQ from DUAL ES9018 dac, ultra black background, 3 gain and very powerfull, intuitive UI and physical interface, changeble battery for infinite longevity, excellent construction, sturdy and durable'' PS:Mine still work like a charm after FIVE years, all reviews are positive but the half-star one from a dumbass...anyway, read all the others:https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ib...audio-player.20032/reviews?order=likes&page=1
-FIIO M9: ''Good sound from Dual AK4490 dac, WIFI, 2.5mm output, BT, gain, Lot of features, not th most powerfull DAP, perfect for IEM''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/fiio-m9-android-based-hi-res-music-player.23373/reviews
-Ibasso DX120 (300$): ''Great SQ, Clean, neutral sound, Powerfull, line out, 2.5mm balanced out, good UI, 2xTF slots, USB DAC'' https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ibasso-dx120.23427/reviews
-Ibasso DX150 (about 500$): ''Great SQ, changable AMP module, Wifi, BT, tunable sound, lot of features, good interface, good battery life''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ibasso-audio-dx150.23135/reviews
-Lotoo PAW5000mkII (400$):
-Shozy Alien+ (450$): ''Excellent sound from its AK4495eq dac, powerfull, low THD, line out, average UI, not very competitive price but its all about sound here''https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/shozy-alien.22463/reviews
-Shanling M5S (450$): (need more impressions! But dual AK4493 dac look promising+wifi!!) https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sha...-2way-ldac-bt-3-2-touch-screen-fw-2-1.886502/
-Audio Opus 1(s) (Around 500$): ''Excellent SQ, Line out, Balanced out, touch screen, good battery life, good interface-UI, USB DAC''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/bes...er-reviews-impressions-reference-list.900875/
-Sony NW-ZX300A (380$ at Joybuy): ''Great clear SQ, Good interface, USB DAC, Bluetooth, balanced out, great battery life, half the price of ZX300!!''https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-nw-zx300.854693/
(....okay it was long write this so it will be update later taking your suggestions in accounts!!)
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