Low End to High end DAP opinion , impression , appreciation and comparison thread

[rudi0504]

Hi All my head Fi friends

Please share your low End to high end DAP opinion , impression and appreciation here .

In between 3 years are so many low end to high end DAP from all over the world coming to serve portable audiophile Sound Quality fans .

I would like to make this thread , that all Head Fi Friends can share to each other their experience here .

Maybe we can help each other which DAP is the right one for us

Sometimes so confuse from so many new DAPs on the market which ones shall we buy , specially for friends who far from The stores live , they can not test the DAPs , like they buy cats in the sacks

I hope all can share their opinion , impression , appreciation and comparison here


Here are my personal DAPs collection

From left to right :
IBasso DX 50 > AK 100 final audio design edition > AK 120 > Sony WM ZX 1 > IBasso Hibino HDP R10 japan version

I will share later the comparison between all my DAPs collection

 

[brunk]

I really appreciate my HM-901 with balanced card. I can drive every headphone off it except for the HE-6 with great results. That's a pretty rare feat. Plus, I am looking forward to the docking station to be released so I can stream via WiFi to a different room

 

[rudi0504]

My goal here is only as pure or stand alone DAPs sound quality comparison

I use seldom my DAPs as stand alone , normally I pair with my portable amps

Today I done the comparison from 5 DAPs first like in my picture above


My Music file : all WAV format 16 Bit / 44,1 KHz
Iem : Sony XBA H 3

In term of SQ , clarity , transparency , detail , separation , soundstage , bass impact

Here are my ranked DAPs as follow

Sony Walkman WM ZX 1
AK 100 final audio design edition Japan
IBasso HDP R 10 Hibino Japan Edition
AK 120
IBasso DX 50

In term of Power :

IBasso HDP R 10 Hibino Japan Edition
IBasso DX 50
AK 120
AK 100 final audio design edition Japan
Sony Walkman WM ZX 1

Note :
For fair comparison I use the same memory card with the same songs
Except for Sony WM ZX 1 must use internal memory card
I haven't compare use others iems and iems , can be different sq

IMO

 

[Duncan]

This is an interesting thread - subscribed...
 
I look forward to seeing what people use (I'm using my humble Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - capable of MQS, but am sure not in the same league as the big boys!)
 
For clarity rudi - Are your rankings that the top is the best, or the bottom? - For SQ - am surprised to see the AK120 languishing near the bottom, so - just making sure (so that everyone can follow the same logic)...
 
Thanks, and - keep up the good work - looking forward to how this thread progresses

 

[rudi0504]

This is an interesting thread - subscribed...

I look forward to seeing what people use (I'm using my humble Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - capable of MQS, but am sure not in the same league as the big boys!)

For clarity rudi - Are your rankings that the top is the best, or the bottom? - For SQ - am surprised to see the AK120 languishing near the bottom, so - just making sure (so that everyone can follow the same logic)...

Thanks, and - keep up the good work - looking forward to how this thread progresses

Thank you

IMO the clarity , detail and separation are very important
My AK 100 is for second time I own
My friends love their AK 100 more than AK 120
That's why some of my friends , they done mod for their AK 100 more than AK 120
If you have a chance please do the comparison between these two AKs

 

[Wayneshrine]

Hi guys, Im looking to get a DAP as a starter bearing in mind that I have got the ATH-M50, Minerva Mi-1 and a custom UM 3DD incoming. IIRC Rudi had much praises for the 3DD, just wondering which one would be best to pair up with the UM 3DD? Any thoughts?

 

[rudi0504]

Hi guys, Im looking to get a DAP as a starter bearing in mind that I have got the ATH-M50, Minerva Mi-1 and a custom UM 3DD incoming. IIRC Rudi had much praises for the 3DD, just wondering which one would be best to pair up with the UM 3DD? Any thoughts?

Um 3 DD is bright and detail sounding iem , it is better if you pair with DAPs that not so bright

The best is IBasso HDP R 10 , you can use with your headphone

Or the other small one is

AK 120 , but the power is not so big to drive headphones , I don't know about your Minerva Mi - 1
Ath M 50 is low impedance headphone can pair with AK 120

Or the new Sony WM ZX 1 is very good pair with um 3 DD

IMO

 

[rudi0504]

I just received my Iphone 5s yesterday night , until now Iphone 4 S is the best from all iPhone series I have .

Out the box Iphone 5 S sound quality is very good .

I haven't done briefly comparison between these two

As apple fan boy I bought every time Iphone came out the new model Except iPhone 5 , because IPhone 5 sound Quality was below my 4 G and 4 S.

Here is the answer for the volume between Iphone 4 S and 5 S:

Like you see in my picture , I use the same music file

At the Same volume level these two phone have almost the same loud with the same hp out

iPhone 4 s only slightly Lauder not that much

This is the reason I bought iPhone 5 s , because of the sq and volume

Note : I haven't tested the speaker out , how loud can produce the iPhone 5s , because I need to buy screen protector first
And I just play last than 5 hours

Sq comparison I will post later

IMO

 

[Takeanidea]

I have the Archos DVR500 Ipod Classic 160 GB Colorfly C3 AK100 DX100 & Colorfly C4 Pro and Note 2.

Power : C4 Pro
DX100
AK100
Ipod Classic
Archos
Note 2

Sound Quality

Unsure between AK100 C4 Pro and DX100

Useability
Note 2
AK100

Battery
Note 2
Archos
Ipod Classic
AK100
C4 Pro
DX100

 

[rudi0504]

I have the Archos DVR500 Ipod Classic 160 GB Colorfly C3 AK100 DX100 & Colorfly C4 Pro and Note 2.

Power : C4 Pro
DX100
AK100
Ipod Classic
Archos
Note 2

Sound Quality

Unsure between AK100 C4 Pro and DX100

Useability
Note 2
AK100

Battery
Note 2
Archos
Ipod Classic
AK100
C4 Pro
DX100

Wow you have so many DAP too, congrats
Which DAP is your favorite DAP now ?

 

[rudi0504]

My latest DAPs in year 2013 :

IPad Air 128 GB
Sony WM ZX 1
iPhone 5 s Gold Color

Please guess which is the best SQ from these DAPs ?

 

[gamefreak054]

Well my ibasso dx100 has pretty much obliterated everything I have owned in terms of sound quality. I have owned or borrowed from my brother on a regular basis ipod classic 6th gen, ipod touch 2nd gen and 4th gen, clip zip+, and the ibasso DX100. Many people rank the Clip Zip+ above the ipods, but honestly there is a really muddy quality to my zip using FLAC 16/44.1 files. Maybe I just have not played with the eq setting enough to really fix the muddy quality. I know if I do not turn the bass down by one the bass is overpowering. The classic was the worst sounding of all the daps. My brother will be receiving a DX50 in the mail soon, so I am excited to hear what that sounds like. Sadly my dx100 is in japan atm for repair after being dropped so I cant do a direct comparison between the 2 Daps.
 
My rankings would be from best to worst- Dx100, clip zip+ = ipod touch 2nd and 5th gen, ipod classic.
 
Headphones I used on these daps- ATH M50, V moda M80, Woody SR60i w/SPC recable, Westone 2, and Mad Dog V3.2.
 
The only thing I have to add is using my IEMs can be weird when it comes to sq. While I still prefer my DX100 for IEMs, it was not that huge of an boost in sq when compared to using a full sized headphone. When using a headphone (even easy to drive headphones) most of these daps become night and day differences when compared to the Dx100 imo. The DX100 made a lot of my headphones really come to life including the M80s becoming a massive upgrade. The clarity of the M80s just seemed to greatly increase, while on every other dap I have found them muddy and creating an poor listening experience.

 

[Solude]

Was wondering if anyone could compare/contrast the iBasso HDP R10, AK AK100 Mk2 and Sony NW-ZX1 for iem use?

 

[Mimouille]

I have the 901 with balanced card, Tera player and ZX1. I used to own the DX100, AK100 stage 2 mod and AK120. To me synergy with a given iem is critical.

In terms of SQ, I think the 901 balanced card is the best. It pairs well with everthing, even if volume control lacks precision with iems.

The DX100 was not far off as I remember, but too large.

The AK120 I am not a fan of the sig, it is too warm and lacks airiness. The ZX1 is opposite, a bit cold and very open sounding. If you add a great UI and battery life, it is a great all rounder.

Of course I love the Tera, it is a magic combination with the SE5 and to a lesser extent the 1plus2.

 

[dc-k]

My first proper DAP was a Cowon D2+, I loved the sound, but the interface was a nightmare.
My second was a Cowon J3, I loved the sound even more, and the interface was better, more just a bad dream...
My third, and current, DAP is the IBasso DX-100. The sound is significantly better than the predecessors in every department and though the interface gets a fair amount of stick, compared to what I was used to, it's a dream...
 
 
so my order is:
 
DX-100 > Cowon J3 > Cowon D2+