[madnanny2]

Guys, I’ve been out of the DAP scene for a while. Still using my trusty xduoo X3 with Rockbox.

I’m ready to move on.

What are some good options nowadays? I’ve been out of the budget ChiFi DAP game for a few years. The last I checked in, the Benjie T6 was recommended as a good bang for buck player.

Ideally, I’d like it to have:

- line out (for use with FiiO amp)
- touch screen preferred, but not required
- no laggy buggy firmware, no goofy 2 second delays or clicks or static between songs, etc
- ability to set my own EQ (not preset junk like “pop”, “rock”, “jazz”, etc

Optional but would be a definite plus:
- Bluetooth 5.0, but I’d settle for 4.2
- AptX or AAC support
- balanced port

I don’t need DAC.

I guess another option could just be an ES100 adapter plus my iPhone, although that doesn’t help with with flac. Apple is about to discontinue iOS 13 from the iPhone SE, so I might relegate my 128GB SE to duty as a dedicated DAP since it has a headphone jack and the sound is pretty clean. Can also do Tidal among other streaming apps. And I wouldn’t have to spend a penny.

Otherwise, the DAP budget would be $200 up to maybe $300.

Some players I’ve considered, but don’t know much about:
Hiby R3
Hidiz AP-60 II
Hidiz AP-80
Aigo Z6 Pro
Cayin N3
Shanling M0
Shanling M2X

Cayin N5IIS and Shanling M5S look totally badass specs, and the Cayin has dual card slots which is a definite plus. So I could keep saving my pennies for that if it’s totally worth the extra price.

Also, as comical as the Zishan DSD Pro looks in 2019, it has nice specs for the price. And coming from an xduoo X3, I’m used to button-only navigation. So I could certainly consider the DSD Pro if it is the best bang for the buck option.

 

[peskypesky]

Get the new Z3 with the AK4493 DAC. Sounds better than the 4490. In fact, it sounds really good. Stick a Burson in there and it’s really competitive.

Thanks for the tip!

Here's a new one with AK4493 for $50
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Zishan-Z3-...m3fbbe81b13:g:~P0AAOSwTQtaQx1q&frcectupt=true

I have to wonder though...would I actually hear any improvement from my FiiO X1...since I listen to 320kb mp3's through budget headphones (Grado SR80, Sony MDR-V6, etc)?

I'm always tempted to buy new DAP's....to get new toys...but there's other things I should spend money on if there's not going to be any real improvement in sound.

 

[weedophile]

Sounds like you have the z3 ( ak4493 isn't available in the dsd) and you are right the z3 never crashed on me either

Haha guess i edited while u were replying xD its the AK4495SEQ

 

[bobsherman]

Get the new Z3 with the AK4493 DAC. Sounds better than the 4490. In fact, it sounds really good. Stick a Burson in there and it’s really competitive.

Hi,

Does the Z3 load EQ (Rockbox format) files the same way the Zishan dsd does?

 

[silverfishla]

Hi,

Does the Z3 load EQ (Rockbox format) files the same way the Zishan dsd does?

Not sure, I know they did it for the DSD.
Oh, you just said that!

 

[bobsherman]

Not sure, I know they did it for the DSD.
Oh, you just said that!

Maybe someone knows, it Seems like it does just want to be sure. Also what is the stock opamp and the output impedance?
TIA

 

[Bellyworshipper]

Hey guys, has anyone already tried the new F.Audio FA2 DAP? Looks promising...

 

[Themilkman46290]

Hey guys, has anyone already tried the new F.Audio FA2 DAP? Looks promising...

I think we are all waiting to find out, I wanted the fa1 but decided not to bother since it seemed to have too many issues

Hope they got it right this time, the s1 I have is really wonderful and it got me wanting to try some of there other stuff
But lack of updates and bugs fixes put alot of people off

 

[Themilkman46290]

Haha guess i edited while u were replying xD its the AK4495SEQ

well I don't know what your doing right , but this is a well documented issue
I actually never had an issue with shuffle, or skipping tracks, but I have heard mention of that too

Either way still has less problems then the ap60 a(slow as hell, laggy and has a noticeable sub bass roll off) and the x1ii ( slow laggy, crashed every time I used Bluetooth, crashed every hour or so, no updates) it amazes me that a diy company gave more support to there product then a large company like fiio did for there's

 

[CoiL]

Hey guys, has anyone already tried the new F.Audio FA2 DAP? Looks promising...

I see it is using OPA1612. I hope DAC itself is rather little warm sounding as IMO OPA1612 is freaking detail/resolution fest... which can be bright and quite fatiguing.

 

[Bellyworshipper]

I see it is using OPA1612. I hope DAC itself is rather little warm sounding as IMO OPA1612 is freaking detail/resolution fest... which can be bright and quite fatiguing.

I think, it all depends on the DAC/Opamp implementation as a whole. However, the DAP seems to be pretty hefty in terms of the components. Certainly, we need to listen to it by ourselves to determine the FA2 sound signature. But first, we need IMPRESSIONS, as usual

 

[CoiL]

it all depends on the DAC/Opamp implementation as a whole

That`s what I was referring to

 

[weedophile]

well I don't know what your doing right , but this is a well documented issue
I actually never had an issue with shuffle, or skipping tracks, but I have heard mention of that too

Either way still has less problems then the ap60 a(slow as hell, laggy and has a noticeable sub bass roll off) and the x1ii ( slow laggy, crashed every time I used Bluetooth, crashed every hour or so, no updates) it amazes me that a diy company gave more support to there product then a large company like fiio did for there's

Hmm i dont really follow the Zishan DSD thread but for me i dont experience such issue

 

[SomeEntityThing]

Seems like Benjie recently released some variants of the new Benjie X6, called the Benjie X5. Interestingly, the X5 is being sold in both Bluetooth 5.0, and non-Bluetooth versions, so I wonder what's the difference in features between the latter, and the Benjie X6? What makes for the almost $10 difference between them? For a full touch screen audio device, I think the non-Bluetooth version of the X5 seems quite cheap!

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/BENJIE-X6-Full-Touch-Screen-MP3-Speler-4-GB-8-GB-Muziekspeler-Met-FM-Radio-Video/33018718566.html?spm=a2g0z.search0104.3.1.5bc4702ctLGHep&transAbTest=ae803_4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10059_10884_317_10548_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_537_536,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=3c6f145e-10de-4b78-9ae4-db7622984ab2&algo_expid=3c6f145e-10de-4b78-9ae4-db7622984ab2-0

 

[peskypesky]

Seems like Benjie recently released some variant of the new Benjie X6, called the Benjie X5. Interestingly, the X5 is being sold in both Bluetooth 5.0, and non-Bluetooth versions, so I wonder what's the difference between the latter, and the Benjie X6? What makes for the almost $10 difference between them?

https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/BENJIE-X6-Full-Touch-Screen-MP3-Speler-4-GB-8-GB-Muziekspeler-Met-FM-Radio-Video/33018718566.html?spm=a2g0z.search0104.3.1.5bc4702ctLGHep&transAbTest=ae803_4&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_2_10065_10068_10130_10547_319_10059_10884_317_10548_10887_10696_321_322_10084_453_10083_454_10103_10618_10307_537_536,searchweb201603_52,ppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=3c6f145e-10de-4b78-9ae4-db7622984ab2&algo_expid=3c6f145e-10de-4b78-9ae4-db7622984ab2-0

oh my! That X5with 16gb memory looks too good to resist!