Need new mp3 & FLAC player

[Awen]

I need a new mp3 & FLAC player to replace my Sony NW-HD5, so it
must come with a dedicated line out for playback on a hifi-system.
Preferably better sound quality and output mW in line out mode than
my current Sony, any tips anyone?

 

[warrior1975]

You have a budget that you are working with? Might help others give you a better idea.

 

[Awen]

Haven't thought about it really, just want a more than decent sounding mp3 player that has support for microSDHC besides its internal memory that
I think should probably be atleast 32 GB. And don't forget the dedicated line out like my Sony NW-HD5 has, that's what most mp3 players lack nowadays.

Maybe the upcoming Po(r)noplayer is the only real alternative on the horizon? I don't like that it looks like something you could kill a pike with though.
I rather have one designed similar to the NW-HD5 that fits in a pocket. I'm not going to use a headphone amp to it or especially high ohm'd headphones.
So: more storage capacity than 20GB, sdhc card slot, dedicated line out, slim design & flac support. Price is no matter. Is there such a mp3 player?

 

[Awen]

You have a budget that you are working with? Might help others give you a better idea.

Ok, lets keep the budget <$500.

 

[lin0003]

DX90. 

 

[hyper8]

Ok, lets keep the budget <$500.

DX90 or fiio x3 has internal memory but not 20gb
 
HM-700 has no expandable memory but 32gb of internal memory and no line out I believe
 
Fiio X5 has no internal memory but 2 card slots.

I believe Astell & Kerns meet your requirements. The AK100 is $500 on Amazon right now 

 

[Awen]

  DX90 or fiio x3 has internal memory but not 20gb
 
HM-700 has no expandable memory but 32gb of internal memory and no line out I believe
 
Fiio X5 has no internal memory but 2 card slots.

I believe Astell & Kerns meet your requirements. The AK100 is $500 on Amazon right now 

Ok, does DX90 and/or X3 have line out capability? Does both have sdhc card slot?

Fiio X5 has line out capabiltiy on its own? If it turns out it does maybe that'll be the one then.

Astell & Kern players seem to be good hardware wise but alot of people complain on the software, interface and compability.

I'm thinking I got a Sansa Clip+ which I recently tested connecting up to my AE Aego 2 system on max volume and I realised
the volume is pretty close to what my Sony NW-HD5 puts out when line out is selected, but I'm guessing the distortion is a bit
higher with the Sansa and I get slightly lower volume on max.

I probably need to test the Sansa Clip+ on my Arcam AVR250 receiver to find out if it is much worse than my old NW-HD5.
Is there a way to further amplify the volume of the Sansa Clip+ so that one can get higher mW output with less distortion?

I see that alot of people mod together a sansa clip+ with a portable headphone amp here, but will a portable headphone amp work
to connect to an AE Aego 2/Arcam AVR 250 with good result? None of my current headphones are high impedance, maybe if there
are portable amps that can do both headphones and dedicated line out?