Distortion and hiss free DAP on a budget?

[NiRo]

I'm looking for a portable high capacity player which will support flac files and fit in my pocket and be fairly cheap?
 
I've got an iPod nano 4G which is alright, but developed a bit of a nasty distortion during more dynamic passages, and occasionally less dynamic passages too...
And I also have a HTC One X, but the output on that is disgusting, it hisses like an angry snake. And it's always angry. So I can't really use that because at night I like to listen at very low levels before going to sleep and when the actual music is drowned it by white noise, it's less than pleasant.
 
So taking all of that on, I recently acquired a Clip+ and Rockboxed it after reading several threads and reviews recommending it.
I was enjoying it at first, but it also has some nasty distortion which is disappointing.
 
Now I know it's not my music causing the distortion, because I've tried it through my PC, and also on the stock Sansa firmware and there's no distortion.
 
I'm playing flac files anyway, so after some research I think it must be that particular revision of Rockbox, or a faulty Clip.
 
 
Have you guys got any suggestions for a crystal clean DAP, I could buy?
Preferably with a good amount of storage (part of why i bought the Clip), and which won't achieve the same result as me setting my bank on fire?
 
Cheers! 

 

[KT66]

why not just un-rockbox the clip?
or get a new phone?
 
I've never heard my sons clip+ distort, even with highly compressed "music" that he plays on.
 
I think something else is wrong somewhere

 

[NiRo]

Hmm, could take off the rockbox, seems like a pretty simple solution 

 Although I would lose some functionality..
 
As for the phone, it's one of the two best phones on the market at the moment. Just not for audio purposes! It's a known problem with the One X unfortunately, just the majority of people don't care enough about audio quality to see it as such.
 
Would still like some suggestions though, as the clip is a bit tiny for my hands sometimes!
 
Thanks for the response!

 

[NiRo]

Actually, since you mentioned changing phone I've been looking into swapping phone to the S3.
 
I've read a few threads about it and people seem to recommend it, the international version at least.
Can anyone confirm there's no background noise on the international s3? 
 
Cheers

 

[H20Fidelity]

Check the bass settings on your Clip+ Try turning the equalizer off (if it's on) or lowering the bass EQ. I was having similar problems when using 50ohm GR07's. This is because while the Clip+ great it's not very powerful and bass takes a lot of power to reproduce. I would almost bet it's something to do with the bass settings.

As for a new player without breaking the bank, have a look at Cowon's C2 for around $110 US (4GB) SD expandable. (very good player)

 

[NiRo]

I don't tend to listen with the EQ, I prefer the sound without any of the presets and hadn't had time to go tweaking the graphical EQ yet..
 
I find it strange that the noises occur only in Rockbox. I had a look on their forums and some people seemed to be indicating it was version specific for rockbox, and even the newer Clip models hardware itself. (One knowledgable poster had a clip+ from the original run, but those with complaints had newer models.)
 
Other suggestions said that it could be down to internal flaws, caused by CPU load running FLAC files, or interference from the screen. 
 
I'm not sure, so for the time being, I'm going to sacrifice the higher functionality of Rockbox, for cleaner audio with the stock firmware.
 
I'm very keen on moving to the S3 though, as there are a number of elements beginning to annoy me on the One X.
 
But I'll certainly take a look at the Cowon C2, thanks for your input H20Fidelity, both on this and my other thread