[Sonic Defender]

Reading about the AKT5p sure sounds like it is the real deal, but a little rich for my blood considering my portable use is on a bus. I'm seriously considering having an Oppo PM 3 cable made by PETEREK that would allow me to use them with the Onkyo. I may just wait and see how the KEF M500 does single ended. I guess my other concern is the PM3 being large to wear in public. I used to feel like an idiot with the NAD HP50 so while the PM3 looks much nicer, I wonder how big it really is. Haven't seen one in person yet.. Thanks to all for the suggestions!
 
I'm also wondering if the MDR 1A will respond well to some parametric EQ cuts to tone down the bloated bass. Other than the bass bloat it is actually a fairly nice sounding portable.

 

[Orky261]

PM3 is relatively compact, it is designed the be on the go just like momentum over ear.

 

[djvkool]

I'm really second guessing myself here. I've wanted the X7 since I've heard about it, and with the additional amp modules, and my affinity for loud music... That being said, I'm sold on the extra memory and Android 5.1.1. My zx2 would lag from time to time, that only had 1gb of ram.

Fiio does have pure music mode though, which should eliminate any lag.

 
Good times mate, being a true HF-ers, you would buy both (X7 and either Onkyo/Pioneer), have a play with both for a few weeks, then sell whichever one unwanted, would you? 

 
I really can't wait for the release of the Pioneer, after such a wonderful week I had with the X7, I am sure now that an Android-based DAP is the way to go, especially with the emergence of FLAC streamers like Tidal

 

[T.R.A.N.C.E.]

AKT5P is a good headphone, but I sold mine with no regret's whatsoever, actually I was glad to get rid of it lol. There is no way it is even remotely worth it's asking price at $1,400, imo the standard T5P actually sounds better with my daps and is $600 cheaper atm ...I wouldn't even buy the standard T5P though, for me there's not enough value in these expensive headphones. T5P has the same performance/SQ, but AKT5P has been tuned for pairing with AK devices, and given a price hike... I personally didn't like the upper bass warmth/congestion it added with my dap's (non-AK), although I wouldn't be surprised if AKT5P paired well with DP-X1 for which I suspect a leaner more neutral signature.
 
I honestly find that a good closed headphone in the $200-300 range offers 95% of the performance of a 1K+ closed headphone, but more importantly still offers 100% the same enjoyment level for me, that last 5% often makes no difference unless I'm sitting there analyzing (which I don't do..), and when you add in that closed headphones are usually intended for use in noisier environments that last 5% of performance becomes double pointless as it will not be even remotely audible. I literally did not see any point in keeping the AKT5P, it's price to performance ratio was actually disgusting me. The Philips A5-Pro is infinitely better value than the AKT5P, you are getting a headphone that is built as good (or even better actually) with 95% of the performance (or 100% if you consider my enjoyment), and costs only $200 (on sale). Things only get worse when you compare expensive closed headphones to a decent open headphone, the value of the expensive closed headphone goes catastrophic sub-failure level, for example I would 100% rather listen to the $200 AKG K7XX over the $1,400 AKT5P.  So that's my take, your opinion may differ, but I'm just adding my views to the mix.

 

[kawaivpc1]

m.ebay.com/itm/Pre-order-ONKYO-DP-X1-hireso-correspondence-full-balance-circuitry-DAP-/161877578169?nav=SEARCH

Onkyo DP-X1 is on sale on Ebay. It's not preorder.....but this seller is trying to charge $400 more than its original price.

 

[13-7]

m.ebay.com/itm/Pre-order-ONKYO-DP-X1-hireso-correspondence-full-balance-circuitry-DAP-/161877578169?nav=SEARCH

Onkyo DP-X1 is on sale on Ebay. It's not preorder.....but this seller is trying to charge $400 more than its original price.

Umm... It says: "Pre-order ONKYO DP-X1 [hireso correspondence/full balance circuitry DAP]"

 

[Sonic Defender]

Still a crazy price isn't it? My order from pricejapan was $610 US including shipping and fees.

 

[warrior1975]

Yes, completely absurd.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Damn this wait is killing me! I console myself thinking that Onkyo is improving the DAP during this time. Has it been confirmed how much storage space ships with the DAP? I'm hoping it is 128GBs.

 

[rawrster]

  Damn this wait is killing me! I console myself thinking that Onkyo is improving the DAP during this time. Has it been confirmed how much storage space ships with the DAP? I'm hoping it is 128GBs.

 
It looks like it is 32

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
It looks like it is 32

Bummer. Thanks rawrster. It is fine for my needs as I prefer to not put all of my music on a portable device as I spend way too much time trying to decide what to listen to. Typically I like to limit the selection to stuff I'm very likely to play.

 

[mscott58]

 
Bummer. Thanks rawrster. It is fine for my needs as I prefer to not put all of my music on a portable device as I spend way too much time trying to decide what to listen to. Typically I like to limit the selection to stuff I'm very likely to play.

The Onkyo also has 2 micro-SD slots, so gettingto 128gb's is really easy - only ~$50 for two 64gb cards or ~$60 for a 128gb card. In my AK100 for instance I have the 32gb built in, then one 64gb card and one 128gb card, so 224gb's total. Cheers 

 

[mathi8vadhanan]

  The Onkyo also has 2 micro-SD slots, so gettingto 128gb's is really easy - only ~$50 for two 64gb cards or ~$60 for a 128gb card. In my AK100 for instance I have the 32gb built in, then one 64gb card and one 128gb card, so 224gb's total. Cheers 

Or buy two 200 GB cards, and end up with a whopping 432 GB. They're on sale for $149 today on amazon, btw.

 

[Sonic Defender]

Yah, I think I'm going to end up doing just that, more storage, but I'm going to make a balanced portable headphone option the priority and get a PM3 I think.

 

[mscott58]

  Or buy two 200 GB cards, and end up with a whopping 432 GB. They're on sale for $149 today on amazon, btw.

Same price ($149) at B&H Photo.
 
Hmmm...a nice pricing structure or possibly the precursor to 256gb cards?