Sony Walkman NW-ZX1 vs Fiio X5 and questions

[namelessghoul]

What one would you pick? I like that on the NW-ZX1 you can download apps but I hear so many great things about the Fiio X5.

My questions (newbie)

1. Are there amps built into these devices? On the YouTube review I watched for the NW-ZX1, it said there was an amp built in so I didn't have to buy a portable one. But I noticed there questions on the Fiio x5 amazon page about what amps to buy.

2. Do I need DAP to experience quality sound?

3. I'll mainly be listening to 320 CBR files. I still haven't decided what headphones I'm getting but I've been leaning towards in-ear or earbuds. What are some good ones where I wouldn't need either of those things (amp or DAP) to get amazing sound quality?

Thank you

 

[El Zilcho]

As for which one I would pick, I already have picked I suppose. I bought an X5ii recently.

There are amps in both. I can't find output specs on the Sony, but if I had to guess I would guess the X5ii has more output power. It has as much power as many portable headphone amps. But without knowing the specs of the Sony I can't say for sure.

Some people may still prefer an added amp, possibly due to features or a sound signature they like. Also, Most DAPs try to strike a balance of size, weight, price, output power and battery life. This means that many DAPs have much less output power than separate amps.

What do you use now to play your music? These days most phones, MP3 players/iPods , computers, etc. will give pretty decent sound quality. A good, dedicated DAP can possibly provide a boost in sound quality, but it may not be a revolutionary differencefor you if your current device is decent.

 

[namelessghoul]

As for which one I would pick, I already have picked I suppose. I bought an X5ii recently.

There are amps in both. I can't find output specs on the Sony, but if I had to guess I would guess the X5ii has more output power. It has as much power as many portable headphone amps. But without knowing the specs of the Sony I can't say for sure.

Some people may still prefer an added amp, possibly due to features or a sound signature they like. Also, Most DAPs try to strike a balance of size, weight, price, output power and battery life. This means that many DAPs have much less output power than separate amps.

What do you use now to play your music? These days most phones, MP3 players/iPods , computers, etc. will give pretty decent sound quality. A good, dedicated DAP can possibly provide a boost in sound quality, but it may not be a revolutionary differencefor you if your current device is decent.

Cheap speakers, cheap headphones... stuff you grab for under $20 at walmart. My computer speakers are 4 years old and they crackle. I have a pair of wireless gaming dolby digital 5.1 surround sound headphones. They're logitech and they sound the best with my music so far but they're meant for gaming. I used to have a pair of etymotic research IEMs back in 2004. I didn't use them to the full potential because I was playing 128kbps mp3 files on an iPod but still, they were amazing!

These are the IEMs I am planning on for right now. The reviews sound very good and they're reasonably priced.

What do you think?

 

[puworld]

Firstly I'm like you, looking - so I'm coming at this from a buyers perspective of what will do the job I want it to do best. You haven't mentioned how you will use a portable player. Is it purely for music or do you like that the Sony is Android so you can download games and watch videos etc? Are you going to use it to hook up to your PC in the hope that the output will improve? Is the player purely for use say when you're down at the gym? The Sony has to be catering to a more mainstream customer (search "What-HiFI" to confirm this reasoning for the Sony & the FiiO) to compete with say a new version of an iPod (everything but a phone) and pricewise to me is OTT for a lot of bloatware I won't use. If your budget stretches to the Sony, look at the FiiO X7 coming out. That is "IF" you just want a music player to help play better quality music.
 
How big is the music collection you want to carry around at any one time? Do you think you would upgrade your music to Lossless file types? Do you want to improve your ability to hear better sounding music (a player is only 1/2 the equation).
 
What I'm trying to say is the info you've provided above leaves me in the dark about how best to advise. Come back with more specific info and I bet more folks in the know will recommend things to you

 

[namelessghoul]

Purely for music, yes--but nowadays with streaming services like Spotify and Tidal, I think I'll go with the Walkman. I want it to be portable--lying on my living room couch, at the gym, on a hike, wherever and I do want a good portion of my library. The Sony NW-ZX1 comes with 128GB and that's more than enough to start with. I can always buy another card if need be.
 

 

[puworld]

  Purely for music, yes--but nowadays with streaming services like Spotify and Tidal, I think I'll go with the Walkman. I want it to be portable--lying on my living room couch, at the gym, on a hike, wherever and I do want a good portion of my library. The Sony NW-ZX1 comes with 128GB and that's more than enough to start with. I can always buy another card if need be.
 

 
Before you finally decide to buy, is there anywhere you can test them out side by side for ease of use and sound reproduction? Since you mention the 'online' music requirement, then you don't have much choice between these 2 (X5ii has 256GB storage), but there is the X7 you can look at. I'm trying to be a Devil's Advocate for you here because my logic says the more things something tries to do, the less it is good at the one thing you want it to be good at. I recently saw a youtube vid where the guy revamped his Note4 through software to develop the sound to a higher standard (for example) and set it against his FiiO player. My requirements are different to yours but at the end of the day, wanting wireless to be free of cables may force me to have to buy a Sony when I'd much prefer the FiiO. Swings and roundabouts as always. Update us on what you find, do etc please.