[Mython]

Quote:

 
Good points, and in fact our thoughts aren't that different.  DX50 won't equal DX100 and from the model nomenclature it is already a given.  The point I had been trying to make is that contrary to many HFer's expectation, my speculation is that DX50 will be much closer to the DX100 than the X3 in terms of price and performance even both are single wm8740 based.
 

 
Ahh, yes, I absolutely 100% agree with you on that. Every time I see people compare DX50 to X3 I just smile quietly and think they are in for a surprise.

 

[Mython]

Quote:

 It is not easy to make design decisions over form, sound, battery, and price under limited development resources these companies are facing.  Interesting juncture for these Chinese DAP makers.  Personally I still am not sure about iBasso's philosophies.  Fiio's James is clearly on the bang-for-buck mass market aspect and prioritizes entry products.  Hifiman's Fang is almost a egomaniac that believes and is determined to become "world's best" but prioritizing high-ends.  And these is also Colorfly, iHifi etc

 
 
I tend to forget about Colorfly, but the C4 did show potential.
 
I just don't see any other company being able to work with Fang, since he is so egoic in the way he interacts with people.
 
But iBasso might, I suppose, be able to merge with Colorfly.
 
I think James is quite happy with Fiio and is serving his market quite well.
 
On the one hand, competition is good for the market in terms of product quality and improvement (you can see how detrimental lack of competition has been to Apple's DAPs), but on the other hand, it would be nice if some of these Chinese DAP vendors had more capital resources to R & D (and produce) their DAPs.
 
What a fine line to tread.
 
On the plus side, though, as I've mentioned in several threads, recently, I do feel very certain that there is about to be an explosion of interest in circa $500 DAPs. Maybe not mass-market explosion, but an explosion that makes the market sector sufficiently large enough to support decent R & D efforts from specialist vendors like iBasso/Fiio/Colorfly etc.
 
Whether there will be any joining-of-forces in order to move things forward remains to be seen.
 
 
.

 

[lee730]

The thing about the DX100 is so much time has passed. Are there still issues with the UI? Like playlist support (showing up backwards, not all in order)? What about when they said they'd release the API to Neutron Audio and Power Amp. Very disappointing that hasn't gotten anywhere... Seems by the time they actually do anything all interest in the product will have wained for newer products....
 

 

[cyberalpha11]

Quote:

 
Ahh, yes, I absolutely 100% agree with you on that. Every time I see people compare DX50 to X3 I just smile quietly and think they are in for a surprise.

I'm pretty sure DX50 and X3 are in different league in term of sound quality even though I have not heard them.
 
The X3 is similar league (low range HiFi DAP) to Colorfly C3+BH
 
I anticipate DX50 is similar league (mid range HiFi DAP) to Colorfly C4, AK100 or Studio V Anniversary.
 
The high range HiFi DAPs or Ivy League would consists of AK120, HM-901, DX100/HDP-R10.
And I have a very high hope that X5 will be in this league as well even though I have not heard of it before.
 
It is just my view, take it with a grain of salt.

 

[SkyBleu]

Quote:

I'm pretty sure DX50 and X3 are in different league in term of sound quality even though I have not heard them.
 
The X3 is similar league (low range HiFi DAP) to Colorfly C3+BH
 
I anticipate DX50 is similar league (mid range HiFi DAP) to Colorfly C4, AK100 or Studio V Anniversary.
 
The high range HiFi DAPs or Ivy League would consists of AK120, HM-901, DX100/HDP-R10.
And I have a very high hope that X5 will be in this league as well even though I have not heard of it before.
 
It is just my view, take it with a grain of salt.

Judging from your statement, you own both the C3/BH combo and the X3?
 
Please do tell us how they compare, some of us are curious over in the BH/C3 threads

 

[cyberalpha11]

Quote:

Judging from your statement, you own both the C3/BH combo and the X3?
 
Please do tell us how they compare, some of us are curious over in the BH/C3 threads

No, I did not own X3 as I mentioned in my 1st statement.
I feel X3 might not be a huge upgrade from C3/BH. Ya, I owned C3.

 

[SkyBleu]

No, I did not own X3 as I mentioned in my 1st statement.
I feel X3 might not be a huge upgrade from C3/BH. Ya, I owned C3.

I'm not much the FiiO fan, but I don't think you can say that if you haven't hear one or the other to compare.

But as per usual, as stated by most Head-Fi'ers, everyone has the rights to their own opinion.

 

[Mython]

Quote:

I'm pretty sure DX50 and X3 are in different league in term of sound quality even though I have not heard them.
 

 
 
Yes, that is exactly what I was saying.  Whilst the X3 is no doubt very good value, I expect the DX50 to be at least in between the X3 and X5 and probably closer to the X5.
 
Re-read the context in which I made my remark.   I was agreeing with kkcc, who said:
 
 

.... my speculation is that DX50 will be much closer to the DX100 than the X3 in terms of price and performance even both are single wm8740 based.
 

 

[cyberalpha11]

Quote:

I'm not much the FiiO fan, but I don't think you can say that if you haven't hear one or the other to compare.

But as per usual, as stated by most Head-Fi'ers, everyone has the rights to their own opinion.

This is just my hypothetical opinion.
I don't think everyone has chance to listen to all the DAPs.
Sorry no offend. 

 

[cyberalpha11]

Quote:

 
 
Yes, that is exactly what I was saying.  Whilst the X3 is no doubt very good value, I expect the DX50 to be at least in between the X3 and X5 and probably closer to the X5.
 
Re-read the context in which I made my remark.   I was agreeing with kkcc, who said:
 
 

Yes, I totally agreed with your above view. 

 
Like I said before DX50 will not bring us "any surprise" because you can pretty much predict how it sounds.
 
In other hand, the most exciting would be X5! Because it is just a black horse and I had asked James (Fiio) before about the SQ and he is very confident with X5.
Let's wait & see.

 

[lee730]

Quote:

Yes, I totally agreed with your above view. 

 
Like I said before DX50 will not bring us "any surprise" because you can pretty much predict how it sounds.
 
In other hand, the most exciting would be X5! Because it is just a black horse and I had asked James (Fiio) before about the SQ and he is very confident with X5.
Let's wait & see.

 
lol I don't know about "knowing how it will sound". I've been surprised on more than 1 occasion on how DAPs sound and how different they can sound from each other. Now maybe this is a language barrier thing where you are stating out of context that "you know ibasso won't disappoint". Now I could believe that but still it's yet to be seen.

 

[SkyBleu]

Quote:

This is just my hypothetical opinion.
I don't think everyone has chance to listen to all the DAPs.
Sorry no offend. 

Yes, I understand. No offence taken, but you should keep in mind that you can't exactly "predict" how a DAP will sound. That's like being 100% certain your baby will be a boy upon fertilization of the ovum. It can go both ways, so without experience, one should not be guessing like that! lol
 
A friend once taught me, that you should not jump to conclusions if you do not have sufficient information to prove so.

 

[H20Fidelity]

Yes, I totally agreed with your above view. 

Like I said before DX50 will not bring us "any surprise" because you can pretty much predict how it sounds.

In other hand, the most exciting would be X5! Because it is just a black horse and I had asked James (Fiio) before about the SQ and he is very confident with X5.
Let's wait & see.

How can you 'predict' how it's going to sound? If so, can you please predict the price for us too?

 

[lee730]

Quote:

Yes, I understand. No offence taken, but you should keep in mind that you can't exactly "predict" how a DAP will sound. That's like being 100% certain your baby will be a boy upon fertilization of the ovum. It can go both ways, so without experience, one should not be guessing like that! lol
 
A friend once taught me, that you should not jump to conclusions if you do not have sufficient information to prove so.

 
In some rare instances it can be more than 2 ways.

 

[SkyBleu]

In some rare instances it can be more than 2 ways.

Yes, indeed you are correct!