[JamesFiiO]

In terms of headphone driving power, hi-fi DAPs have recently seen a divide into two schools:
 
1.   “Lite” players from e.g. Sony and iRiver / Astell & Kern, which have support for a wide range of formats, with good sound quality, build and UI, and combine small size with good battery life.  The tradeoff is low output power.
 
2.    “Heavy” players mostly from China, the defining characteristic of which is higher and higher output power with each new release…
 
 
 
The divide stems from a real engineering dilemma with light weight and good battery life being at odds with output power and quality.  So let’s hear your thoughts on how much power your dream player should have (keeping in mind the above tradeoff)?
 
 

 

[Baphomet Metal]

It is 2 and 3.

It is want power.

It is important also to suppress the distortion.
I consume much power.
Play time is reduced.
This problem can be solved if the battery replaceable.
 
The use of an external amplifier LINE OUT. I will solve the problem of the driving force.

LINE OUT that does not pass through the the headphone amplification stage is ideal.

 

[shakur1996]

Since the main use of a DAP is portable use IMO X7 should drive CIEMs/IEMs and portable headphones. Thus, it should not be heavy and big in size (although X5's size and weight is okey for me). If anyone wants to use X7 with power hungry headphones it should buy himself a good amp.

Second option would be to produce two identical sounding DAPs which would only differ in size and weight. One for CIEMs/IEMs and portable headphones and the second one for cans.

 

[tjw321]

Since the main use of a DAP is portable use IMO X7 should drive CIEMs/IEMs and portable headphones. Thus, it should not be heavy and big in size (although X5's size and weight is okey for me). If anyone wants to use X7 with power hungry headphones it should buy himself a good amp.

Second option would be to produce two identical sounding DAPs which would only differ in size and weight. One for CIEMs/IEMs and portable headphones and the second one for cans.

Or how about having the transport and the amp (and DAC) as separate modules. I'd potentially buy a transport only module for feeding into my DAC of choice. Maybe a separate battery module as well, so you can pick the size you want/swap in a newly charged battery when the old one runs out.
 
I'm not being all together serious, but it would be pretty cool 

.

 

[4umF]

X5's power is good, but a little more wouldn't hurt for those of us enjoying 300 ohm cans or planers.

 

[quanaris]

The amp section must fit ciems. A lot of power is good, but not always. Focus on the quality, not power.
Something like E12 IEM version would be acceptable.