[minjunk]

Hello. I'm trying to compile a list of DAPs for people who want to drive full-sized headphones off them.
I'm guessing I should do a power/price tier list. All DAPs that are still being sold are welcome.

Price(USD)
Tier 1: Sub-500 The entry-level
Tier 2: 500~1000 The middle ground
Tier 3: 1000~1500 The upper ground
Tier 4: 1500+ TOTL

Power
Tier A: Can drive low-impedance high-sensitivity headphones well, but not much else (<400mW or <2.0Vrms)
Tier B: Can drive most headphones, though with little to no headroom/clearance. (400mW~750mW or 2.0Vrms~4.0Vrms)
Tier C: Can drive most headphones other than the most demanding comfortably. (750mW~1W or 4.0Vrms~7.0Vrms)
Tier D: Basically a desktop amp in portable form (1W+ or 7.0Vrms+)
The mW rating is at any impedance higher than 8.

Additional features:
LN: Low noise floor / little to no hissing
USB-C
Android
Wifi
BT: Bluetooth
DC: Dual card slots

List:
1. AK SP2000: Tier 4C, LN, USB-C, Wifi ac &BT (source: theveterans) Output: 3.0Vrms Unbalanced, 6.0Vrms Balanced (Condition no load)


Please give me feedback on the tiers and add to the list. I will be editing this post with new entries.

 

[theveterans]

I have a Tier 4 priced DAP, with Tier C power, LN, USB-C, WiFi ac & BT: AK SP2000

 

[minjunk]

I have a Tier 4 priced DAP, with Tier C power, LN, USB-C, WiFi ac & BT: AK SP2000

Thank you!

 

[moriez]

@minjunk, the power spec SE and BAL in mW would be interesting and convenient instead of having to look them up on slow loading or crap layout websites.

 

[minjunk]

@minjunk, the power spec SE and BAL in mW would be interesting and convenient instead of having to look them up on slow loading or crap layout websites.

Got it!

 

[artpiggo]

I will answer only top tier,

DX220 Max and Cayin N6II

 

[Flappy]

I would say the:
HiBy R6 Pro - Tier 2B/C, USB-C, Android, WiFi, and BT
3.5mm SE output power: 245mW+245mW(@32Ω)
4.4mm Balanced output power: 750mW+750mW(@32Ω)

 

[montanari]

Interested
Looking for a 2C - 3C!
What about qp2r?

 

[theveterans]

Interested
Looking for a 2C - 3C!
What about qp2r?

You're best with AK Kann Cube - Tier 3D - because AK has great forum presence here and would help you when something goes wrong with your device

 

[lantian]

Ibasso dx220/ dx200 with amp8 or balanced output high gain 6.2vrms. Has no problems driving Sennheiser HD 540 Reference Gold. Tier 3 player tier c amplification.

 

[montanari]

I will be more clear.
I use hugo on my sofa and on the bed.
Connected to the phone
I plug atlas jvx fx850. And any dap can Power them.
But, when I don t want to switch on all the desktop setup, I plug even utopia and th900 with great results.
Do you think the kann (or the qp2r, or sp1000m, or cayin n6!!...) will make sing the focal and fostex with the same quality of the hugo or better?
My dealer told me to keep my money! I will not get the same Sq!
(Cayin n8 and sp2000 are too expansive for my taste)

 

[theveterans]

Coming from Hugo2, you’ll just get a sidegrade at best and inferior sound on average while the Cayin N8 and SP2000 (SP1000 IMO doesn’t shine without its amp) are definitely at least Hugo2 level or better on some subjective preferences

 

[moriez]

Ibasso dx220/ dx200 with amp8 or balanced output high gain 6.2vrms. Has no problems driving Sennheiser HD 540 Reference Gold. Tier 3 player tier c amplification.

Is that stock or modified iBasso? HD540 300 ohm or 600 ohm?

 

[lantian]

Is that stock or modified iBasso? HD540 300 ohm or 600 ohm?

Stock ibasso dx200/220 and stock amp8 and amp8fe.

 

[NehPets]

QLS QA361; tier 2C/D; 5.2V SE no load; 10.4V Bal no load, 320mW@300Ohm; choice of "bright" & "mellow" tunings; All to DSD; no Android; no BT; no WiFi; no touchscreen.