[edmscan]

Ok ...
 
I have to be honest, I know very little about things but we all have to start somewhere.
 
First .. history.  I have an Ipod Gen 3 8 GB that has been my trusted DAP, mainly cause it is small and portable. I am into fitness activities so it worked.  Old school .. it is what people
bought 7 years ago.
 
However .. the time has some to kick things up a notch. I am interested in quality .. something better than the iPod sound and the performance from a 128 kbps MP3 file.
 
So .. I have no idea, but the first thing I noticed .. headphone amps. I know.. like what are they for ? Like .. never thought I needed one.  But I am interested in the concept.
 
Today .. bought a pair of Atomic Floyd MiniDarts ... I had no idea what to buy. I couldn't even listen to them.  So .. they have got to be better than my $20 ear buds I have now.
 
I have a feeling that they will not be my last pair ..
 
So I am looking for a new DAP ... and leaning towards a Fiio X3 (there is apparently a new model coming soon .. so I am waiting. I am on the fence between that and the X5)
 
That is about it for now .. looking forward to learn lots here.
 
- Kevin -

 

[KG Jag]

Check out the sub-section of the forum devoted to Portable Source Gear.

 

[billybob_jcv]

My advice is to upgrade your DAP *last* not first. If you want better sound, then upgrade your headphones first. If the headphones you select need an amp, then buy an amp. I would also start replacing your 128K mp3 files with 256K or 320K files. After you have done all that - then start worrying about the DAP.

 

[edmscan]

Thanks for your advice .. and yes right now I do not have really very much higher quality music to listen to. So .. that will be my first thing.
 
I have heard about HD Tracks .. I think I will just buy something there to start with. I will look around to see about having something that I can
use to test my headphones.
 
Re the DAC .. well it is Christmas soon. That is a prime time for new toys. But I am leaning towards the new X3 when it comes out.
 
- Kevin -

 

[billybob_jcv]

You really don't need HD Tracks. Even Amazon uses variable bit rates that are the equivalent of 256 Kbps. That's really all you need. I have never heard of Atomic Floyd and know nothing about the Minidarts. They appear to be high sensitivity and low impedance, which means you will probably not need an amp.

 

[edmscan]

Atomic Floyd is a British company. Unfortunately I could not listen to them before buying them .. but I had a $20 pair of ear buds before them. So .. anything was an upgrade.
 
I am looking to buy a Fiio X3 or X5 soon but I am unsure which one would be best, right now I am leaning towards the X3. 
The reason is that most of my music is of poor quality .. and I don't know that I would notice the difference in the X5.
 
Eventually I will buy another pair of IEM's ... as really I mostly listen at the gym right now and do not need to go crazy. I don't think I would know good music if it slapped me. Besides I cannot hear anything over 12,000 Hz ... so why buy the super expensive ones.