As you know through experience, everyone has different earphones, that range from 4ohms to 300 ohms (yes, there's higher and lower, job st saying in general.) Furthermore, each earphone is either dark, warm, neutral, bright, or even hot as their sound signature. Those two contributing factors are already a big enough reason/detractor or proponent to like or dislike a specific DAP.
I agree. That's why I keep banging on about Synergy.
I'm beginning to feel marginalised in this place more and more each day.
I honestly don't know why the search 'for the best' thing still rears it's ugly head. There's no such thing, only what is best for the individual user.
The first thing you need to do is to decide what sound you're looking for and what it's primary use will be.
Personally, I ignore the reviews on here, they're nothing more than adverts. That's why I come to this thread. If you can't audition, it's the next best thing. The best opinions are always the balanced ones. But it's just an opinion. What you need to do is look for a consensus of balanced opinions. There's far too much hype on here and primarily it will inevitably lead to disappointment by the buyer. Same with the haters, being overtly negative helps noone.
The Plenue D is not perfect, I wish people would stop pretending it is. It's a very good portable player with a great EQ that you can use to adapt the sound. It has a great battery life. On the downside, it has no lineout, The screen is not high resolution, no DSD support.
I just wish people would stop hyping it to be everything to all people. It's not our job to promote the Plenue D, it's Cowons'.
As owners it's our job to give a balanced view of our experience using it. To inform them whether it will meet their needs. Personally I'd hate it if someone bought the Plenue on my advice and it didn't meet their needs.
People need to stop changing things for peer approval. Like I said a few pages back to another user who loved the synergy between his X5 and a particular set of Iems, if you like it, stick with it.
Personally, I'm more interested in helping people find what they want, rather than trying to sell them the Plenue D. There's far too many variables to recommend the Plenue D as everything to all people.
The truth is, for me, I love it as a portable option and I love the way the sound makes me feel when I listen to it. But for critical listening, I'd be looking for an alternative.
Just my opinion, nothing more.