[immortalsoul]

You can also look into Romi BX2+ amp if you don't mind adding an amp

 

[darkarth]

Will you try out the HiBy RS6 ?

 

[Auricon]

1. iBasso DX300MAX SS
2. Fiio M17 / Shanling M9
3. iBasso DX312/311mk2
4. DX240
5. ???
6. Fiio M11+ LTD

 

[Neil91]

1) Fiio M17
2) Lotoo Gold Paw Touch
3) Ibasso DX300Max (non ti) (basically sold it the moment m17 came in)
4) Cayin N6ii (w/E02) (sold it after getting the gold paw)
5) Fiio M11+
6) Ibasso DX312 (Trades blows with Fiio m11+ but i preferred fiio's)
7) Shanling M8 (sold it, pretty disappointing even after "burning in")

 

[mungster]

1. LP6TI AE
2. P6PRO
3. 3MAX
4. LPGT TI
5. 1Z KMOD ULT.
6. SP2K SS
7. HIBY RS6
8. PAW6K
9. DX240
10. N6II TI

 

[purk]

1. Sony DMP-Z1 (Whitigir Silver/Gold wiring Mod + Outboard LPSU)
2. Sony DMP-Z1
3. ibasso DX300 Max Ti
4. iBasso DX300 Max SS
4. iBasso DX220 Max EX (Whitigir Mod - Extreme Mod )
5. Sony NW-WM1A (Whitigir capacitors, gold wires Mod)
6. iBasso DX220 Max W (Whitigir Mod)
7. Sony NW-WM1Z Mod (Whitigir wiring Mod)
8. iBasso DX220 Max
9. Sony NW-WM1Z
10. Sony NW-WM1A Mod (wiring Mod)
11. Sony NW-ZX300A Mod (capacitors, and silver OCC wires Mod)
12. Sony NW-ZX507 Mod (wiring Mod)
13. Sony NW-WM1A
14. Plenue 2 MK2
15. Sony NW-ZX507
16. Sony NW-ZX2 (beat the zx300 in term of tonality but not on driving power)
17. Sony NW-ZX300
18. Sony NW-ZX100
19. Sony NW-ZX1

BOLD = Stock units

I can rank older Sony DAPs as well if anyone interested.

 

[Giru]

My ranking till Jan 2022:
(Note: Ranking is based only on the basis of overall Audio Quality and not usability, functionality, additional features, price/performance ratio etc) (Audio Quality criterion include: Refinement/Detail Level, Output Power/Driveability, Tonality, Dynamics and Ease of matching with any Hp/iem/earbud)

1. Quloos QA390 (WAV only Ultimate Firmware)
2. Shanling M30
3. Luxury & Precision LP6
4. Sony NW-WM1Z/Fiio M17 (DC Mode)
5. iBasso DX220 MAX/Lotoo Paw Gold Touch Titanium
6. Sony NW-WM1A/Fiio M17 Battery/QLS QA361 (Extreme Firmware)
7. A&K SP2000T
8. AR-M2
9. Cayin N8/Questyle QP2R/Chord Hugo 2 + H2Go
10. Shanling M8/Cayin N6ii R01
11. Fiio M15
12. Dethonray DTR1
13. Aune M2Pro

Honerable Mentions:
Hiby RS6, iBasso DX300, Calyx M, Shanling M5, AR-M20, Cowon Plenue M2, Colorfly U6, AK240, Fiio M11 Pro, Nokia N91, Sandisk Sansa Clip, Apple iPod Classic 6th Gen, LG G8X/LG V30+.

Looking Forward to listen to:

Sony DMP-Z1
Quloos QA390LE
Shanling M9
iBasso DX300Max
Cayin N8ii

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DAPs that I have ranked and this list. It is based on my observations and time with each device. I do look forward to getting a DAP for myself. Maybe this year.

 

[denis1976]

My 2022 list update
1 Fiio M17 DC mode unbelievable.....
1 Astell&kern SP2000CU
3 Fiio M17 battery mode
4 ibasso DX300MAXss
5 Sony nwwm1z
6 Shanling M8

Of course that the sp2000 still the most natural and refined, but with headphones the m17 in DC mode blows me away..

 

[noplsestar]

My ranking till Jan 2022:
(Note: Ranking is based only on the basis of overall Audio Quality and not usability, functionality, additional features, price/performance ratio etc) (Audio Quality criterion include: Refinement/Detail Level, Output Power/Driveability, Tonality, Dynamics and Ease of matching with any Hp/iem/earbud)

1. Quloos QA390 (WAV only Ultimate Firmware)
2. Shanling M30
3. Luxury & Precision LP6
4. Sony NW-WM1Z/Fiio M17 (DC Mode)
5. iBasso DX220 MAX/Lotoo Paw Gold Touch Titanium
6. Sony NW-WM1A/Fiio M17 Battery/QLS QA361 (Extreme Firmware)
7. A&K SP2000T
8. AR-M2
9. Cayin N8/Questyle QP2R/Chord Hugo 2 + H2Go
10. Shanling M8/Cayin N6ii R01
11. Fiio M15
12. Dethonray DTR1
13. Aune M2Pro

Honerable Mentions:
Hiby RS6, iBasso DX300, Calyx M, Shanling M5, AR-M20, Cowon Plenue M2, Colorfly U6, AK240, Fiio M11 Pro, Nokia N91, Sandisk Sansa Clip, Apple iPod Classic 6th Gen, LG G8X/LG V30+.

Looking Forward to listen to:

Sony DMP-Z1
Quloos QA390LE
Shanling M9
iBasso DX300Max
Cayin N8ii

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the DAPs that I have ranked and this list. It is based on my observations and time with each device. I do look forward to getting a DAP for myself. Maybe this year.

Nice list.

Interesting though you put the LPGT Ti at number 5 and the Calyx M „only“ at honorable mentions, as I had bought both of them but found that the LPGT ti only exceeds (if anything) with classical music.
But that’s how it is. Everyone has a different taste and this is how it’s supposed to be

 

[Giru]

Nice list.

Interesting though you put the LPGT Ti at number 5 and the Calyx M „only“ at honorable mentions, as I had bought both of them but found that the LPGT ti only exceeds (if anything) with classical music.
But that’s how it is. Everyone has a different taste and this is how it’s supposed to be

Absolutely. Infact none of the DAPs listed in the ranking are bad or inferior in any way, it's just that I ranked these based on the overall audio quality criteria I had set for reference. Each DAP has it's own strengths and weaknesses'.
For example I found the LP6 to have the best Tonality and timber (very closely followed by LPGT Ti) but slightly lacking in driving power, punch and dynamics. Similarly, the Fiio M17 has amazing drive and punch (DC Mode), however it lacks the smoothness and timber of the LP6 or LPGT Ti.

Also I think devices like the Sony DMP-Z1, QA390, M30 should get their own list coz it's really an apples to watermelon comparison. Their size allows the manufacturers to include better and more silicon with full sized/desktop grade components that naturally sound superior. But since the title says DAPs...

The purchase decision in the end, as you said; boils down a lot to personal preference, budget, use case etc. Having said this, every device I've mentioned in my post is worth buying if it satisfies anyone's own criteria and usage scenario.

 

[darkarth]

6. Fiio M15 (Sold) - Good dap but the built si not great and for the price it doesn't even come with a case

What is meant witth "si" ?

 

[Qhao]

What is meant witth "si" ?

is maybe?

 

[immortalsoul]

What is meant witth "si" ?

Read is instead of si. I need to edit my text

 

[jao29]

Any suggestions for Totl dap for iems and earbuds? Currently using an Ak Kann Alpha for home use. Would like to get a dap that’s more mobile that I can use around the office. Many thanks!

Edit: My go to Iems are the : Ca Andromeda and the Orion Ck as well as earbuds like the Onmyoji and the Monk Plus and Vido.

 

[Palpatine79]

AK SP2KSS
AK CA1000
Hiby RS6
AK SP2KT
AK SA700
Ibasso DX300
AK SE180
Sony WM1A
AK Alpha
Ibasso DX2220
AK SR25