Obscure Chinese DAPs

[Montree]

I too would be curious how it compares to the inexpensive Benjie models like S5, K9 or X1. Or the Ruizu X02.

The other players I have are more expensive and not a fair comparison with the Hommie J2. It does seem to have been done with a bit more thought than others I’ve come across though. You can always get back to the “Now playing screen” or the “Main Menu” with a long press on the back button which is something, for example, my more expensive Moonshadow MS1 can’t do.

If you don’t lock the player, which I’ve not found necessary anyway, the volume buttons on the side work immediately without having to wake the screen up first. They also skip tracks forward or backwards with a long press. So without having to turn on the screen or even look at the player you can alter the volume or skip tracks.

 

[Roboturner913]

Anybody have any experience with the Agptek A22? It can solar charge, which interests me a lot. Willing to be the guinea pig, unless somebody wants to warn me off.

 

[darmanastartes]

https://dh1000.hidizs.net/?kid=KTXME

Dynamic Punch for Every Device
Equipped with a high-end ARM with two micro-USB ports; leverages unrivalled FPGA, dual ESS ESS9018K2M DACs and dual ESS ESS9601high-quality amplifier chips in processing and embedding, Hidizs delivers excellent audio formats up to 24-Bit/192KHz. Perfectly compatible with iPhone, Android phones, iPad, PC, MAC, it will turn your all devices into the luxury stereo system.

So it looks like the single-ended output is part of a dual mono setup?

 

[iJay]

Anybody have any experience with the Agptek A22? It can solar charge, which interests me a lot. Willing to be the guinea pig, unless somebody wants to warn me off.

That’s an interesting player if it works. I’ve had some solar lanterns that work just okay. This would be nice when outdoors.

 

[Rumblefish]

Has anybody tried either Mahdi M320 or Mahdi M220?
The M320 i was about to purchase, and decided i had better ask here first in case somebody has tried and wouldn't recommend it.
Mahdi M320 with Bluetooth 4.0 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M320...Support-Recording-E-book-TF-FM-p-1241379.html
Mahdi M220 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M220...ook-Clock-Music-Player-Speaker-p-1241393.html

 

[crabdog]

Has anybody tried either Mahdi M320 or Mahdi M220?
The M320 i was about to purchase, and decided i had better ask here first in case somebody has tried and wouldn't recommend it.
Mahdi M320 with Bluetooth 4.0 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M320...Support-Recording-E-book-TF-FM-p-1241379.html
Mahdi M220 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M220...ook-Clock-Music-Player-Speaker-p-1241393.html

It looks as though both of those players have the silly volume controls i.e. no dedicated volume keys. You need to 1. turn on the screen 2. press down on the D-pad 3. press left & right to adjust volume.

I really wish Chinese companies would just stop using this ridiculous system and create a logical control setup.

Apart from that though the players look interesting and similar to some of the Benjie/Agptek models.

 

[Dobrescu George]

Has anybody tried either Mahdi M320 or Mahdi M220?
The M320 i was about to purchase, and decided i had better ask here first in case somebody has tried and wouldn't recommend it.
Mahdi M320 with Bluetooth 4.0 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M320...Support-Recording-E-book-TF-FM-p-1241379.html
Mahdi M220 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M220...ook-Clock-Music-Player-Speaker-p-1241393.html

I always wondered how exactly do companies like those keep the cost so low on their products. Like, literally...

 

[Rumblefish]

It looks as though both of those players have the silly volume controls i.e. no dedicated volume keys. You need to 1. turn on the screen 2. press down on the D-pad 3. press left & right to adjust volume.

I really wish Chinese companies would just stop using this ridiculous system and create a logical control setup.

Apart from that though the players look interesting and similar to some of the Benjie/Agptek models.

Oh.. I must admit that i didn't notice that. I assumed that the side buttons were volume, and once you pointed it out, i'm wondering how i missed it..
I still think one of them might be worth a punt as they are not too expensive and they look nice. But i am still curious. I guess one sure fire way to find out is to buy it
I will have a look around see if i can find any more info, and then i guess i will probably buy the M320.

I always wondered how exactly do companies like those keep the cost so low on their products. Like, literally...

I guess it is like the smartphone manufacturers. They often sell at cost price, and rarely, a little cheaper, purely with the intention of gettig their name/product recognised, and then they account for future profit after that.

 

[groucho69]

So it looks like the single-ended output is part of a dual mono setup?

Truly Balanced Output for Both 2.5/3.5mm Headphone Jacks
Hidizs DH1000 is designed for music enthusiast; the dual decoder chips are embedded in a balanced op-amp circuit which maximises the stereo separation. With the dual-channel headphone amplifier, the stereo flows across both left and right sides of your headphones delivers a world-class performance and a sense of balance.

Unbeatable Features

• Dual ES9018K2M DACs for a silky smooth sound
• Dual ES9601K high-quality decoder chips
• Stainless steel/Aluminium alloy body
• Elegant tempered glass cover
• Support most high-resolution audio formats, at up to 192kHz/24Bit, DSD/64/128
• Perfectly compatible with iPhone, Android phones, iPad, PC, MAC
• Custom made crystal oscillators
• 3.5mm and 2,5mm headphone jacks
• 12 hours playing time
  
• ......and more!

 

[bsoplinger]

https://dh1000.hidizs.net/?kid=KTXME
…
Equipped with a high-end ARM with two micro-USB ports; leverages unrivalled FPGA, dual ESS ESS9018K2M DACs and dual ESS ESS9601high-quality amplifier chips in processing and embedding, Hidizs delivers excellent audio formats up to 24-Bit/192KHz. Perfectly compatible with iPhone, Android phones, iPad, PC, MAC, it will turn your all devices into the luxury stereo system.

I got an email from Hidizs on this. If you go to their website and sign up for an email notification when its actually released you get entered into the drawing they're having that gives one away.

What I find a bit frustrating is no mention of the price, not even a range. Is this a $20 item or a $2000 item? Not a problem unique to Hidizs. But it seems that I see it happening more often with Chinese offerings than domestic ones. Wonder if its a cultural thing like the use of left / right buttons where we'd use up / down ones.

 

[bsoplinger]

Has anybody tried either Mahdi M320 or Mahdi M220?
The M320 i was about to purchase, and decided i had better ask here first in case somebody has tried and wouldn't recommend it.
Mahdi M320 with Bluetooth 4.0 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M320...Support-Recording-E-book-TF-FM-p-1241379.html
Mahdi M220 https://www.banggood.com/Mahdi-M220...ook-Clock-Music-Player-Speaker-p-1241393.html

Not sure where you're located, Amazon USA has the M320 for the same $30 (actually has a 5% off coupon so $28.49) with 2 day Prime shipping. It looks to me to be the same as the Ruizu X02 feature wise but with Bluetooth and a metal case. And Ruizu clones can be had for under $20 unless you absolutely must have Bluetooth. And the Ruizu for $25. Just my thoughts on your question.

I actually like the Ruizu X02 for my napping / sleeping DAP although I think that the Benjie / AGPtEK inexpensive players sound a bit better and of course there are plenty of DAPs in the $25 - $99 range that sound better. But I keep coming back to the Ruizu X02 for 1 thing: the alarm. I find it so useful yet its a feature completely lacking as far as I can tell from any of the more expensive inexpensive (ie. under $100) that have a clock feature. Obviously if the DAP doesn't have a clock I can't expect an alarm. But to me its just about as obvious that if it does it should have an alarm. Its just such a useful feature. One can argue that the phone one invariably has with them can solve the problem but I'm wearing IEMs, so I won't hear my phone because they block out the sound.

Perhaps I should explicitly ask… Are there other inexpensive DAPs with an alarm? Other than those based on, OEM-ed by or a copy of the Ruizu X02.

 

[Montree]

Perhaps I should explicitly ask… Are there other inexpensive DAPs with an alarm?

Yes, the Hommie J2.

 

[bsoplinger]

Yes, the Hommie J2.

I'll edit my request to explicitly say other than those based on, OEM-ed by or a copy of the Ruizu X02. But thanks for responding to my request.

 

[LukaszK]

Hi, I am looking for budget DAP with speed playback control function (for podcasts/audiobooks). I used Sansa CLIP+ with rockbox but I broke. I know that Xduoo X3 has rockbox but I'm trying to find something cheaper...

 

[Montree]

Hi, I am looking for budget DAP with speed playback control function (for podcasts/audiobooks). I used Sansa CLIP+ with rockbox but I broke. I know that Xduoo X3 has rockbox but I'm trying to find something cheaper...

Both my Agptek A01 and my Hommie J2 have a variable playback speed setting. I think many of the Agptek players and Agptek-clones can do it.