[JamesFiiO]

For a few decades of making products, there are two things that annoying me most. One is the target cost limit that might block the project to be perfect; the other is the technology or source limits that disable the thoughts to become true.
 
Thus, the first and foremost issue requires all of you to decide is whether to consider much of the cost or just go ahead with the design& idea and leave out the cost? 

 

[dc-k]

When I started buying DAPs I would never have expected much from them, but after gently upping my spend, I finally went into uncharted territory with the DX100 from IBasso for about 799 usd (I got in at the pre-order price for an early batch). That device changed my expectations and since then I would happily pay double for something that offered a significant improvement.
 
The one area that seems to fall short on some of the new high end players is storage. At least 256 on board and either a full size SD slot or twin micros would be very appealing to me.

 

[RoMee]

I wouldn't spend more than $400 on a dap. I have better things to do with my money than buy a buggy audiophile dap.
I rather use that money on my kids and wife. 
The only exception is if I can trade and/or sell headphones I no longer use to help fund the purchase than I'll go that route if the dap is worth the trouble.

 

[fburgos01]

I would not spend more than 400 for a bug less and good sounding dap

Sent from my GT-I9192 using Tapatalk

 

[Mython]

I am not one of the wealthiest people here on Head-fi, but I have long appreciated that, in any walk of life, you get what you pay for -  high quality costs more money to make than low quality.
 
 
Consequently, I would rather save my money for a high quality player than just buy the cheapest player because it is cheap.
 
 
 
If Fiio engineered 2 DAPs to have EXACTLY the same performance and SQ, but one used more expensive miniaturised components, in order to make the DAP much smaller and lighter, then I would be willing to pay the extra cost to buy the DAP that was smaller and lighter.
 
 
 
What p1$$es me off is companies like iRiver who (IMO) greedily charge massive profit margins and disrespectfully treat their customers like cash-cows.
 
 
Fiio and iBasso create products that are fairly-priced and offer excellent bang-for-the-buck.
 
 
 
As long as the X7 is fairly-priced and offers excellent bang-for-the-buck, I don't mind if it is expensive, as long as the quality of the circuit, components, screen, performance and SQ justify the price being asked for the DAP.
 
If you can prove to me that a $1300 DAP contains components that justify that price, and performs better than $1000 DAPs, then I will be willing to save my money and buy your $1300 DAP, but I will definitely not buy an expensive DAP just because it looks flash and has a pretentious marketing campaign.
 
James, you (and iBasso) have earned the trust and respect of many of us, here on Head-fi, for being honest in the way you price your products. If you remember to keep this good business ethos and respect for your customers, I am confident that you will be successful with an expensive player.

 

[Baphomet Metal]

I choose 4 (1099 $).

Audio player below $ 500 is substantial.  (X3 DX50 AK100 X5 Pono DX90)
Cost performance of Fiio great.

I hope that to be able to make players AK240 class if you can sell at $ 1000-1200.

(Fiio Reference Audio Player)
 
Cheers

 

[Hutnicks]

Back at you James, just for the S&G value I have a question for you.
 
How much would it cost you to build and sell an equivalent of the Altmann Tera that played flac files only. No whizz bang graphics, joysticks, femtotech geegaws. Just a super high quality bare bones play pause forward back stop  button interface player?

 

[JamesFiiO]

  Back at you James, just for the S&G value I have a question for you.
 
How much would it cost you to build and sell an equivalent of the Altmann Tera that played flac files only. No whizz bang graphics, joysticks, femtotech geegaws. Just a super high quality bare bones play pause forward back stop  button interface player?

 
it is a secret.

 

[Barra]

I think you got the price right at $699, if you can match/beat the HM-901 and AK240 sound quality in a nicer implemented easily pocketable package.

However, for myself, I typically limit my portable purchases to $400 so it is not as painful to lose or damage - because obviously a portable player is at far greater risk than a desktop setup. For example, trip to Hawaii entails lots of sand and surf where I have to leave the device unattended or at a hotel room frequented by service. There is no way I would take an expensive device on that trip let alone the right HPs to get full value out of them. Therefore, an expensive device has more limited use excluding jogging, tropical vacations, gym, etc. that means I personally am looking for premium sound quality above all else, but in a easy to pocket form factor unleashing me from my desktop setup.

So for me to spend $699 on a portable player rather than just upgrading my desktop, the device needs to approach the sound quality of my desktop on the go. So far my x5 and dx90 while sounding nice and blowing away the iDevices, have a reasonably large gap that can be filled.

I should also point out that when approaching a grand, your chief completion for me is not other DAPs, but premium headphones. Yesterday I got a chance to compare my lcd2 with the hd800, oppo pm-1, t1, hd600/650, and hm500 on my x5 and dx90 and they all sounded great. However, m2man's 10k desktop setup obviously wiped the floor with the x5/dx90. My conclusion was that I need an hd800 to go with my lcd2. The hd800 sounded surprisingly good with both portable players.

 

[Shenook]

I think the best option is having 2 options for a quality line product.
 
Option A = 90% of everything $599-$699
Option B = 100% of everything $799-$899
 
Option B should have audiophile level 2 like metal casing instead of plastic.  Or maybe balanced output option and something different with the DAC like the chord hugo dac.  The whole Sabre thing is to overdone.  Plus Android?  Joe has my opinions about that.  The whole "me too" strategy for android is too passe.  Go windows backbone.  I believe licensing is free or up to $40 at this point.  Yes people with Android phones will disagree but the windows platform is easy to program for I hear from my developers.

 

[chirawatf]

I wish the power output of portable player is as powerful as Fiio E9 (to use with my grado HF2) and willing to pay less than 400 USD.

 

[JamesFiiO]

  I wish the power output of portable player is as powerful as Fiio E9 (to use with my grado HF2) and willing to pay less than 400 USD.

 
lol, it is impossible cause the size and the battery. 

 

[4umF]

Well my dream player would be something like an Alo RX3 and an AK 240 in one. So I'd be willing to drop $1k on it.

 

[francopro]

Anything beyond $1000 is not always worthy, sometimes it's just some micro differences in the soundstage/ clarity  that can be restored with a good portable amp

 

[piotrekfronc]

It just must be perfect, and even 2k is fine.
 
- balanced
- bluetooth (android is fine, 4+ verison)
- rockbox
- exchangable pcm1704 and es9018 choice (best exchangable so I can use any of them)
- exchangable amp module
- power at +/-12V
- replacebale battery
- microsd slot
- metal enclosure
 
Just make it right and the money is not a big matter.