[bobsherman]

hum, my first tough is RADSONE ES100....but its not a DAP...still, it have the best EQ i ever use. X3ii have 10 bands eq but do not sound good....in fact, most dap EQ tend to veil the sound and affect dynamic in a sad way IMO
V1 look to affect sound positively but I need to test more the different EQ and sound tweaks.

Are any of the EQs parametric?

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Right now i'm in HEAVEN!

Hourray, one of my favorite cheap USB DAC-AMP can be use on the go.

Was not joking when I say I NEED A V1. (yeah, the Douk Audio dual TDA1305T is very dirty....make 3 years I have it without any case to protect it, still work like a charm toug)

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

Are any of the EQs parametric?

 

[bobsherman]

That is just a standard EQ. I am not a big eq fan but I need it for the isines. I do not use it for my other iems. That is why I was thinking Rockbox.

 

[NymPHONOmaniac]

That is just a standard EQ. I am not a big eq fan but I need it for the isines. I do not use it for my other iems. That is why I was thinking Rockbox.

UH? this is a standard eq? its a 10band eq that go up to 16khz with up to 12db gain and you tweak it with the tips of your finger....the other stuff is MSEB kinda specific eq with 10 sound tweaking option like sibilance, thickness, vocal etc
pretty impressive IMO

 

[bobsherman]

UH? this is a standard eq? its a 10band eq that go up to 16khz with up to 12db gain and you tweak it with the tips of your finger....the other stuff is MSEB kinda specific eq with 10 sound tweaking option like sibilance, thickness, vocal etc
pretty impressive IMO

I agree that’s well done, but the parametric is a bit different.

https://www.presonus.com/learn/technical-articles/What-Is-a-Parametric-Eq

 

[seanwee]

UH? this is a standard eq? its a 10band eq that go up to 16khz with up to 12db gain and you tweak it with the tips of your finger....the other stuff is MSEB kinda specific eq with 10 sound tweaking option like sibilance, thickness, vocal etc
pretty impressive IMO

MSEB are just adjustable presets imo. Its fun to play with but doesn't serve any practical use.

Besides, you can already replicate most of the MSEB effects with just the EQ.

 

[KarmaPhala]

Do you guys have a suggestion for a nice DAP in the 150-180 USD price range? I currently have the xDuoo X3 II, which I really like, but lately I got this itch to try something new.
I'm currently considering the FiiO M6 and Hidizs AP80, but maybe there are some other options that I could look into? I know many consider AP80 to have better SQ than M6, but based on online feedback I'm worried about firmware updates and customer support. Don't want another FiiO X1 II type situation. Plus, M6 has the streaming functionality, which I'm really curious about, since I never had an Android based DAP.
I know Cayin N3 is a good option, but it's been around for some time and I'm looking for something newer. I'm also not interested in the Shanling M0, as I already ruled it out and got the X3 II instead.
I'm after a more balanced signature, a good all-around player, that will work well with instrumental music, mostly extreme metal, but also jazz and occasional electronic piece.
Any advice is more than welcome, as usual.

Zishan DSD, SQ wise though, this thing is pure music player, no BT no wifi no Android OS, ready to use in 1 second, simple UI, 10-11 H battery life, swapable op-amp, simply no-frills DAP

 

[galangerz]

there's a Zishan DSD pro too right? what's the difference?

 

[Themilkman46290]

Zishan DSD, SQ wise though, this thing is pure music player, no BT no wifi no Android OS, ready to use in 1 second, simple UI, 10-11 H battery life, swapable op-amp, simply no-frills DAP

I would confirm this suggestion, I had a fiio x1 II and it was a complete peice of junk, and fiio customer service was not existent, no updates and I spent $120 on it, it sounded fairly digital, froze up and crashed every hour or so, then I got the fiio x3 III and though it sounded better, it was fairly laggy and I didn't feel the price was worth it.

So I searched, tried some ibasso and some of xduoo and I liked them alot but $300+ was just too steep.

Then I listened to the dsd, I couldn't believe it was about the same price as the x1 but sounded (to my ears) better then the x3, so I bought 2, the ak4490 version and the ak4497 version.

Modded the ak4497 2xad8620 and opa1622 upgraded ldo's and capacitor 4x220 uf 6.3v and 2 330uf 6.3v, added a 2x16850 battery holder and modded the case

The ak4490 version I have stock for now but they are awesome players

Then again, I don't use Bluetooth(why invest in a high def player, download lossless, and use high def earphones if your going to stream it in lower quality) I don't use wifi, not interested in anything hyped by marketing. I keep one for travel and one for home use/work

If you want a no frills beast of a player zishan dsd doesn't disappoint...... But if you only use low impedance go with ak4490 or ak4495 (twist nob) if you got higher impedance gear then ak4497 or ak4495
Ak4495 is the most versatile

 

[Themilkman46290]

there's a Zishan DSD pro too right? what's the difference?

The pro uses the ad8620 and ad797 but I don't think it is sold on alliexpress just eBay for about $190 and taobao

 

[Ynot1]

I would confirm this suggestion, I had a fiio x1 II and it was a complete peice of junk, and fiio customer service was not existent, no updates and I spent $120 on it, it sounded fairly digital, froze up and crashed every hour or so, then I got the fiio x3 III and though it sounded better, it was fairly laggy and I didn't feel the price was worth it.

So I searched, tried some ibasso and some of xduoo and I liked them alot but $300+ was just too steep.

Then I listened to the dsd, I couldn't believe it was about the same price as the x1 but sounded (to my ears) better then the x3, so I bought 2, the ak4490 version and the ak4497 version.

Modded the ak4497 2xad8620 and opa1622 upgraded ldo's and capacitor 4x220 uf 6.3v and 2 330uf 6.3v, added a 2x16850 battery holder and modded the case

The ak4490 version I have stock for now but they are awesome players

Then again, I don't use Bluetooth(why invest in a high def player, download lossless, and use high def earphones if your going to stream it in lower quality) I don't use wifi, not interested in anything hyped by marketing. I keep one for travel and one for home use/work

If you want a no frills beast of a player zishan dsd doesn't disappoint...... But if you only use low impedance go with ak4490 or ak4495 (twist nob) if you got higher impedance gear then ak4497 or ak4495
Ak4495 is the most versatile

Someone said 4497 balance and rest don't.

 

[Themilkman46290]

Someone said 4497 balance and rest don't.

Yes your right the ak4490 and 4495 have a line out but the 4497 has a balanced out instead so if you plan on using a separate amp then the line out is what you want but if you don't plan on amping and prefer the balanced out then the 4497 is a good choice. They all have a coaxial out at the bottom for use with a separate dac
The 4490/4495 have low impedance but the ak4497 is about 100ohms so it colours low impedance headphones a fair bit, not very good for b.a. iems but not too bad with dynamic drivers

 

[gazzington]

Right now i'm in HEAVEN!

Hourray, one of my favorite cheap USB DAC-AMP can be use on the go.

Was not joking when I say I NEED A V1. (yeah, the Douk Audio dual TDA1305T is very dirty....make 3 years I have it without any case to protect it, still work like a charm toug)

What dap is that?

 

[Nayparm]

What dap is that?

It's the TEMPOTEC V1 pal, runs hiby os like the R3 but it doesn't have any sort of built in amp