Rank the best sounding daps that you heard

[Patlezinc]

What DAP would you advise with a He1000SE?
I have the Fiio M15s, which is technically excellent but very energetic, not a very good pairing at the end, fatiguing.

 

[pseudomagick]

Hello everyone.
I am considering buying an Astell&Kern A&futura SE300.
Is it worth upgrading from the SE200?
Anyone have a SE200 vs SE300 comparison?

 

[The1Signature]

Hello everyone.
I am considering buying an Astell&Kern A&futura SE300.
Is it worth upgrading from the SE200?
Anyone have a SE200 vs SE300 comparison?

Probably, but this is the wrong forum.

 

[NickleCo]

Hello everyone.
I am considering buying an Astell&Kern A&futura SE300.
Is it worth upgrading from the SE200?
Anyone have a SE200 vs SE300 comparison?

I agree with the1signature. Post this on the device's thread. You'll get more concrete answers there than here

 

[KrólArtur]

Another update - adding in LP6 Ti 7th Anniversary Edition. Hard to choose between N8ii & WM1ZM2. Both sound incredible and have different synergies with certain IEM’s.

1. Luxury & Precision LP6 Ti 7th Anniversary Edition
2. Sony DMP-Z1
3. Cayin N8ii
4. Sony WM1ZM2
5. iBasso DX300 Max Ti
6. Shanling M9
7. Astell & Kern SP2000
8. iBasso DX300 Max SS
9. FiiO M17
10. Astell & Kern SP2000T
11. Cayin N6ii Ti (R01)
12. Shanling M8
13. iBasso DX220 Max
14. Sony WM1Z
15. iBasso DX300 (amp11 mk1)
16. Astell & Kern KANN Alpha
17. Sony ZX507
18. Sony A105

Where is the dx320 Max and Cayin N30Le on your list now?

 

[leylandi]

Where is the dx320 Max and Cayin N30Le on your list now?

M9 Plus, SP3000, N7 and RS8...

 

[SibilantGoose]

1. Fiio M17
2. A&K SP2000
3. Shanling M8
4. LPGT
5. Shanling M9 plus
6. iBasso DX320
7. Hiby RS8
8. Lotoo PAW 6000
9. A&K SP3000
10. iBasso DX240
11. Fiio M11 LTD
12. Fiio M11
13. Cayin n6ii

 

[pseudomagick]

1. Fiio M17
2. A&K SP2000
3. Shanling M8
4. LPGT
5. Shanling M9 plus
6. iBasso DX320
7. Hiby RS8
8. Lotoo PAW 6000
9. A&K SP3000
10. iBasso DX240
11. Fiio M11 LTD
12. Fiio M11
13. Cayin n6ii

It´s crazy list.
I wonder why M8 is better than M9 Plus.
I tested both and DX320 isn´t better then RS8 or SP3000.
Lotoo Paw 6000 is mid-fi DAP and it better than SP3000 (hi-end)?

 

[Gustavo1976]

M9 Plus, SP3000, N7 and RS8...

M9 plus is it neutral? Warm? Compared with LPGTI what do you think?

 

[dgjl]

1. Fiio M17
2. A&K SP2000
3. Shanling M8
4. LPGT
5. Shanling M9 plus
6. iBasso DX320
7. Hiby RS8
8. Lotoo PAW 6000
9. A&K SP3000
10. iBasso DX240
11. Fiio M11 LTD
12. Fiio M11
13. Cayin n6ii

Thanks. It would be really helpful if rankers posted which amps, etc. they are using for those with multiple options.

 

[povidlo]

It´s crazy list.
I wonder why M8 is better than M9 Plus.
I tested both and DX320 isn´t better then RS8 or SP3000.
Lotoo Paw 6000 is mid-fi DAP and it better than SP3000 (hi-end)?

Blows your mind something more expensive or newer is not always better, doesn't it...

 

[pseudomagick]

Blows your mind something more expensive or newer is not always better, doesn't it...

That's not what it's about.
I have tested all the DAPs that are written about here.
I used Noble Kublai Khan and 64 Audio U12t IEMs during the test.
Yesterday at the Audio-Show in Prague I also tested Astell&Kern A&futura SE300, Astell&Kern SP2000T Onyx and HiBy R6 PRO II.
Of course I compared these DAPs with my Astell&Kern A&futura SE200.
I had the same test tracks set and the volume set the same.
The Lotoo PAW 6000 was a big disappointment for me, but the Lotoo Paw Gold is a great playing DAP at SE200 level.

 

[DenverW]

That's not what it's about.
I have tested all the DAPs that are written about here.
I used Noble Kublai Khan and 64 Audio U12t IEMs during the test.
Yesterday at the Audio-Show in Prague I also tested Astell&Kern A&futura SE300, Astell&Kern SP2000T Onyx and HiBy R6 PRO II.
Of course I compared these DAPs with my Astell&Kern A&futura SE200.
I had the same test tracks set and the volume set the same.

Everyone has their own subjective opinion. I actually like seeing a list where the highest daps are not always the most expensive. Some lists might as well be relabeled, "What is the most expensive dap?" as they pretty much just go from highest to lowest in cost.

If you have a different opinion that's fine, post your list, everyone's opinion is valid. Your list is right for you, and their list is right for them.

 

[pseudomagick]

Everyone has their own subjective opinion. I actually like seeing a list where the highest daps are not always the most expensive. Some lists might as well be relabeled, "What is the most expensive dap?" as they pretty much just go from highest to lowest in cost.

If you have a different opinion that's fine, post your list, everyone's opinion is valid. Your list is right for you, and their list is right for them.

Subjective opinion and sound quality are two different things.
Hi-end is not mid-fi.
If someone has the opinion that the Shanling M0 Pro sounds better than the Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000, it doesn't mean it's true.
I've experienced cases where someone tested hi-end IEMs using a Nokia 8210 4G mobile phone or tested the sound with 192kbps mp3 tracks in a Hi-Res DAP..so then I'm not surprised that someone has similar impressions from listening.
The hi-end electronics industry is a tough business and manufacturers set their own prices because they know (and hear and tune) what they are selling.
For that reason entry-level and hi-end DAPs cannot be compared.
It's similar to someone wanting to compare a Full HD (32 inch) TV and a large screen (98 inch) with 8K resolution.

 

[DenverW]

Subjective opinion and sound quality are two different things.
Hi-end is not mid-fi.
If someone has the opinion that the Shanling M0 Pro sounds better than the Astell&Kern A&ultima SP3000, it doesn't mean it's true.
I've experienced cases where someone tested hi-end IEMs using a Nokia 8210 4G mobile phone or tested the sound with 192kbps mp3 tracks in a Hi-Res DAP..so then I'm not surprised that someone has similar impressions from listening.
The hi-end electronics industry is a tough business and manufacturers set their own prices because they know (and hear and tune) what they are selling.
For that reason entry-level and hi-end DAPs cannot be compared.
It's similar to someone wanting to compare a Full HD (32 inch) TV and a large screen (98 inch) with 8K resolution.

"Sound quality" is honestly just your way of expressing your subjective opinion. Or is this list supposed to just reflect sinad and output power?

If you don't agree with someone else's list, you can make a mental note that your opinion doesn't mesh with theirs. You're not "right" , and neither are they. The title itself says, "best sounding" which is subjective.

I think you'd have a great list, and it would be nice to see it for a contrast to the one above.