The discovery thread!

[bithalver]

We are truly different, as it should be.

I stream a lot these days, it’s extremely convenient and a good part of my discoveries come through Bandcamp and Apple Music, but the music that I really love, I still buy so that I can keep my own copy of it. And I still have a large library of local files amassed over the years, so DAPs have for a long time had a place in my audio chain.

I always say : what you stream you do not own; only that data is yours which is your hands. I also buy a lot from Bandcamp (173 albums so far).

I never liked dongles because of the battery drain on my phone and the dangling/stacking involved. And most importantly their sound quality just never quite cut it for me. But with the likes of the CMA18 and DC Elite entering my collection, 2024 may well be the year it finally changes.

I do not like DAPs because
- I want to store and reach music on my phone with all android features (including synchronizing a dropbox folder)
- Replacing a phone does modify listening experience or quality (if using a DAC).

Battery drain is negligible (for example for a session of 2-4 hours); dangling is zero problem because I listen to music at home or I do not need serious quality (KZ AZ09 Pro with ZSN2 is good enough while walking or doing chores).

Again: no convincing or criticizing from me at all.

 

[anli]

at home

At home a DAP get WiFi, that is it get access to, say, WebDAV clouds (running at home or anywhere else). Also a DAP is the way to get lossless streaming the best way (that is avoiding smartphones audio system negative influencing digital stream).

 

[Jmop]

Bringing it up cuz there was a recent comment on SD cards, but do the difference between SanDisk micros vary much when loaded up on a dap? I haven’t compared them but I typically use Extreme and also have a couple Ultras, am I missing anything other than slightly faster upload speed between cards?

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

Another confession...

As of right now, I'm enjoying the Letshuoer S12 (2024) MORE than the Thieaudio Oracle mk III. Now they can trade blows, and the Oracle mk III has better clarity in the midrange and treble articulation, but as for everything else, including the ability to create an emotive projection, the S12 (2024) just does that better, at least for me. It speaks my language perfectly. I've been spending a ton of time with them lately, along with the Oriveti Lowmaster, and today, I'm finally switching to the Oracle to give it some ear time. It could end up going on the block, along with the DX170? Maybe? Maybe not?

 

[Syan25]

Beautiful rigs! Congrats!! If not for having the B4-X, I'd be all over this, but it's still not off the table, as the ZEN Air CAN is quite capable and full and immersive sounding, but it's a more bright neutral sound, whereas I'd welcome a nice buttery smooth warm sound as a changeup.

I thought about this and heard it at CanJam London. Very nice. But I've decided on the Schiit Modi Multibit.

 

[Ineras]

Bringing it up cuz there was a recent comment on SD cards, but do the difference between SanDisk micros vary much when loaded up on a dap? I haven’t compared them but I typically use Extreme and also have a couple Ultras, am I missing anything other than slightly faster upload speed between cards?

If you don't get the graphene-infused and palladium/gold alloy-coated sd card, then everything will sound harsh and muddy. Straights facts.

 

[BX700]

I don't have this problem at all, as I use my phone for music listening maybe 5%? My phone remains untethered, and I'm not a slave to all these paid streaming services, so I use a dap for what it is. Listening to local files. Now I don't knock those who use the streaming services, and it's a great way to find new music, but jhc, when I tried reading the review above, 90% of the text was MQA, Tidal, and ROON, with BT connectivity a distant afterthought. How does the DAP sound?! Is it a great dap for listening to MUSIC, with quality playback? If that's your end goal, you might as well just buy a second hand unlocked smartphone (like I have!!), since it'll have all those features you are wanting to access, plus it's gonna be smaller and more portable than the R4 EV.

OR, that's what the Hiby M300 is for!! It's for folks obsessed with these streaming services, or at least that's what the marketing lingo focuses on!!

There should be a therapy group available : DAPS for LOCAL FILES group.

Yeah... I "feel seen". Of course you weren't addressing my habits here, but I know deep down the players I have are overkill for the streaming quality I'm using, and that I'm not getting the full potential out of them by not playing local files. I am tied to Spotify because of certain utilities it has, including the freedom to explore new music in real time, and because of investment in playlists etc. My mode of listening will have to change fundamentally before I move on, I thiink.

 

[nikbr]

Hello everyone.

Here is my opinion about the Simgot EW300.



https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/kiwi-ears-canta-universal-vocal-iem.27503/reviews#review-35627

Your impression is to just get the Kiwi Ears Canta instead? Just kidding, but the link in your post is wrong

 

[Jmop]

If you don't get the graphene-infused and palladium/gold alloy-coated sd card, then everything will sound harsh and muddy. Straights facts.

This guy lol

 

[Syan25]

With all these confessions - it feels like we ought to have a "father" and a confession box....

 

[Hypops]

I got all those types of formats. But seeing as someone else suggested the same thing right before or after me, tells me i'm more on target and less "weird or polarizing" as you think it is? An ulocked phone also doesn't have to be an apple iphone now does it? No need to get defensive, like you do with those who don't like using EQ. Yes, you use these streaming formats, and as I said, it's cool, but for what fernandino was use case, an unlocked android phone and a small dongle might make more sense than the R4. That's what was being said.

Dang. Been sitting on that one for a while, eh?

 

[szore]

Now...I am off...GOA is on pause....this is waiting...I am on episode two, season 2...
With Fiio UTWS5 + DUNU Falcon Ultra...


Cheers!

I completly forgot I was watching this...

 

[bithalver]

At home a DAP get WiFi, that is it get access to, say, WebDAV clouds (running at home or anywhere else). Also a DAP is the way to get lossless streaming the best way (that is avoiding smartphones audio system negative influencing digital stream).

Using USB Audio Player Pro in bitperfect mode.
Also I like to have all my music with me.

If you don't get the graphene-infused and palladium/gold alloy-coated sd card, then everything will sound harsh and muddy. Straights facts.

You forgot to mention silver plated OF copper conducts better so you will have better bass .

 

[Ineras]

You forgot to mention silver plated OF copper conducts better so you will have better bass .

Didn't mention those coz that's just baseline stuff. I go above and beyond by making sure my sd cards are also oil-soaked then nitrogen frozen for at least 1000 hours.

 

[FreeWheelinAudioLuv2]

With all these confessions - it feels like we ought to have a "father" and a confession box....