[Kejusan]

Congrats @Kejusan! I see your level of commitment & determination.
It was also good to know i helped a bit in the pushing part lols. You're welcome.
Enjoy your music...

Yup..if not without your replies, I would've bought the AK240 and tbh, I'm tempted to just go with the dx160 but since longevity is one of my highest concern, I believe (or hope) that I've made the right choice. Thanks again!

 

[Kejusan]

Just an idea, for your future needs...

Maybe not in the near future as this purchase is not in my initial budget so need to put in some savings first. I also have yet to fully experience with my current head gear (although it's not much and I could sense it doesn't utilize the full potential of the player).

But who knows, as it is with the unexpected purchase of this player.

 

[ehjie]

Yup..if not without your replies, I would've bought the AK240 and tbh, I'm tempted to just go with the dx160 but since longevity is one of my highest concern, I believe (or hope) that I've made the right choice. Thanks again!

It would be a disservice from one audio enthusiast to another if i would be biased and not truthful according to my more than 3 decades in this hobby.
As previously mentioned, I am a Sony fanboy myself & durability is its hallmark w/ reservations to its sound parameters on some of its devices.
My flagship Walkman cassette player (1st batch to be built in its then brand new factory/robot mounting facility outside Japan) is 23 years old this year & its still working, no photo to share, we're 8,000 mi. apart lols...

 

[audiobeans]

Hi..these are the few shortlisted used DAPs under my consideration. All of these is priced around the same as a new mid range DAP (ie : DX160, M11) which is under my consideration as well. Since it's quite impossible to find a comparison review of all these DAPs I hope this forum could assist my selection :

AK120ii
1. Streaming available but for limited app
2. Wifi & BT available
3. Battery replaceable with Youtube video replacement guide and battery replacement available at Aliexpress
4. Sound quality neutral-bright but soundstage less than AK240
5. USB DAC function available
6. Pocketable size

AK240
1. Streaming for limited app
2. Wifi & BT available
3. Battery replaceable with Youtube video replacement guide and battery replacement available at Aliexpress
4. Sound quality neutral-bright with better soundstage compared to AK120ii
5. USB DAC function available
6. Pocketable but slightly larger than AK120ii

Questyle QP1R
1. No streaming
2. No wifi & BT
3. No video guide for battery replacement in Youtube and no battery replacement available at Aliexpress
4. Sound quality neutral-transparent and some say it's quite dry.
5. Is USB DAC function available?
6. Mostly raised issues are on the scroll wheel, battery drain and UI.

Opus#1
1. No streaming
2. No wifi & BT
3. Battery replaceable with battery replacement available at Aliexpress.
4. Some reviews said that it's neutral-transparent while some said that it's neutral-warm.
5. Is USB DAC function available?
6. With the price offered and good reviews it gets, it seems like a good choice but with the plastic body, I'm worried if it couldn't last as long as I wanted it to be.

Sony NW-ZX1
Mixed reviews. Not sure if it should be made part of the list.

Sony NW-Zx300
Mixed reviews. Not sure if it should be made part of the list.

Or should I just go for the new DX160? Any feedback is appreciated!

shanling has some good daps budget daps like the m6, m6 pro, m6 v21 m6 pro v21, . main difference between the old and new 21 version of the m6 is the dap, the old one uses akg amp and the 21 versions uses an ess dac.

 

[Mhog55]

shanling has some good daps budget daps like the m6, m6 pro, m6 v21 m6 pro v21, . main difference between the old and new 21 version of the m6 is the dap, the old one uses akg amp and the 21 versions uses an ess dac.

I wouldn't necessarily refer to the M6 models as a budget dap, however they do punch above their prices imo. I'm sold on Shanling, hoping some day I can afford the new M9+.

 

[audiobeans]

i just tried the m6 pro yesterday and i get what you mean, it sounds so detailed, seperations is great, . plus battery life with balanced is pretty long at 9-10 hours and the os is smooth.