This is very helpful. Thanks for the detailed response. My taste in music is quite broad, from classic rock, to alternative, to jazz and electronic. So long that it is interesting, I'll listen to it.
I wonder what would be alternatives of the Paw6k to be taken seriously, within the same price range (say, up to 1.5k)? When I decided to upgrade and started researching, the first DAP I landed at was the Sony WM-NW1A. Read lots of good things about it but since it's getting quite old (and frankly distributers are hard to find at this point), I decided to keep looking.
Some other DAPs I came across are Fiio M15 (my sense is that Lotoo is a true hifi brand while Fiio is not, even given the impressive chipset of the M15; plus I don't like the Android OS), Cayin N6ii (has extra modularity capabilities that I'm not sure I need), various Astell & Kern models (why do they have so many?? I appreciate when a company makes one device per price range, sort of committing to it and giving us 'the best they've got to offer').
How would you compare the Paw6k to the Fiio M15, Cayin N6ii, and the A&K that is closest to it? Where would the Paw6k be superior/preferable or vice versa?
Thanks again.
zg1984
Thanks for mentioning your music choices, We are very similar music likes, with maybe not so much Electronic for me, and add in some classical (use to kind of reset my reference points) for what I listen to.
I've auditioned all of the devices you've mentioned in your thread above, and ended up with the PAW6000.
The sound is as close as you get to the "Reference" sound of the Lotoo PAW Gold Touch (LPGT), but with a little more bass presence, but maybe not the clarity (some say too clinical) Sound of the LPGT. You don't get the upsampling found in the LPGT, but as you'll read many turn that off. Also Your using the AKM AK4493 vs the AK4497 on the LPGT, but its all specs at this point. The implementation of the AK4493 DAC on the PAW 6000 to me sounded much better than other players using the AK4497 DAC.
If you want the true reference and clinical sound its the LPGT.
If you want something close at a lower cost for everyday, its the PAW6K, IMO.
There are many reviews from folks out there with the most current one coming from Deezel177 at the "HeadPhoneList" done this year.
https://theheadphonelist.com/lotoo-paw-6000-trickling-gold-a-digital-audio-player-review/
There are other reviews out there all around 1-3 years old from Twister6, Headfonia and Headphonics, as well as many here at Head-Fi, so you should be able to get a lot of research in.
As to what I heard in the other players
For the FiiO M15 it was nice, but given the specs, the discrete twin AK4497 DAC's and greater output power I would have expected more from the M15. The PAW6K was close if not better in many aspects, just to me sounded smother and more balanced with a better soundstage in depth, equal in width. The M15 was a little smoother than the M11 Pro, but again I expected more of a difference from both FiiO players over the PAW600 given the specs on paper. Goes to show (and many have mentioned in the reviews listed above) its not just specs or chipsets used to look at, but implementation, which I think Lotoo has done well, and is audibly different.
Against the Sony, I have not heard one of the "modded" versions but out of the box, it could not get as loud (and yes it was not a volume limited unit that are on the market), and it had Sony's typical house sound of being a little bass heavy, something JH Audio BA IEM's really don't need. JH Audio IEM's (except for the Jolene's) need a little more extension in the highs if anything. Mentioning this and reason I reached out to you initially, being another JH Audio user.
Versus the Cayin, I'll have to say I'm partial to the AKM DAC sound, but the ESS versions of the N6ii were done nicely. But then your forced to make the decision of getting the more capable chipset and Class A output but only Single Ended output, or slightly less specs with the Balanced output capable module. The AKM Module was good offered good balanced output sound, but I think the Lotoo' offerings sounded better. I have not heard a N6ii with the R01 Ladder DAC.
But the N6ii is a VERY nice Player and something to consider. For me it came to the sound with the AKM DAC, the size (The Cayin is much larger and heavier) and not needing the Android OS.
VS the AK Players. Their new SE180 with the changeable DAC/AMP module looks interesting but to get the base player and the AK Module puts it into the cost range of the Lotoo PAW Gold Touch (non Ti version) player, which I think is still much better choice.
I've owned a few AK's and while I liked them Initially, I've eventually sold them off. I think the PAW6K sounds better than many of their similarly priced players. Also not having to deal with the Android OS was a plus for me (but again this is what drivers others away from Lotoo, the lack of the Browser/app capable OS)
I tend to not stream Tidal or Amazon HD music with the PAW6K, even though I can over Bluetooth to it.
So not having an OS that has a browser was not an issue for me.
For streaming I listened to many USB-C DAC/AMP dongles and it came down to whose house sound I like (L&P, Earman, Lotoo, etc) and why I also own the PAW S1 for use when streaming, but have read on these forums, not having direct streaming capabilities on the PAW6K or LPGT was a dealer breaker for those listeners. You'll need to weigh that into you decisions
I will have to just clarify, all the above is in my opinion (IMO) and your mileage may vary (YMMV) but is how I viewed the same players you mentioned when initially looking to buy the PAW6K.
Hope this information helps
