qusp
Member of the Trade: Twisted Cables
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do you have any clue what we're talking about here?? since it would be a totally new project. the DAP would really need to be built from the ground up with this end in mind. To get the sort of large improvement you are talking about would need a quantum leap in components. The next step up in quality for all these miniature parts is substantially more expensive and usually LARGER. Apple can only make these DAPs at this quality/price (which is actually quite good, only the HP out in lacking in some players) is only possible because they are selling squillions of them. I think you misunderstand what audiophile quality means. squeezing a filo in there would only detract from the audiophile qualities of the player. its only OK for its purpose (adding power and bass boost for those who cant justify the purchase of a real amp or just want something 'fun') but definitely not what you would call neutral or transparent; the most highly prized audiophile goals.
All this for a VERY small part of the DAP market, even if it can be produced to sell at $500, thats still twice the price that people will want to spend, because they can already get an ipod (which actually sounds pretty good, its only us crazy peeps that fin=d it wanting) for <$250 and then you can mod it to get IMO really great sounding audio. even if half the people here did have portables worth twice that (highly doubtful that is the case) that would still be a miniscule proportion of the DAP market and hardly enough to pay for R&D, let alone running costs, parts, marketing. etc. etc. and I think that unless they included a pair of SE530, triple.fi's (insert you favorite IEM here) the 'audiophiles' would still leave the HP's at home and connect a real high quality IEM in fact even if they did include something as high quality as these offering a high percentage of people would still sell them or give themn away because they prefer a different Sound signature. IMO any real audiophile quality dap (if thats even possible) would/should just leave the HP out altogether to keep the cost down, since we all buy our own to suit our own tastes anyway.
As podtweaker says; the best thing would be for another company to take the modding ball and really run with it. Providing customizable options for most well used daps. that way half the work is done for you. usually the DAC incorporated into the players is actually pretty good quality with the economies of scale we are talking about. The problem usually lies in the implementation of the output/amp stage. this section is comparatively easy to modify as there isn't really anything proprietary or complicated going on. just a wire with gain/or not, so all that needs doing usually is REMOVING/BYPASSING not adding some hardware so as to be able to access a really clean signal to amplify. the limited size of DAPs prohibits the use of really high quality Capacitors so to get a decent increase in SQ you really need to do it outside the box. so an all in one solution is not only optimistic but impossible with todays tech
but sure we can dream
| Originally Posted by Roo44 /img/forum/go_quote.gif a 160gb classic is now down to $250, so building a top of the line Audiophile player to sell for under 500 bucks, that offered noticeably higher SQ, would have a market. Heck, just squeeze in a filo amp and better headphones and your 4/5 the way there. Half the people here has already spent twice as much on their portables. It would be difficult as a DIY but the current manufactures are missing a market. |
do you have any clue what we're talking about here?? since it would be a totally new project. the DAP would really need to be built from the ground up with this end in mind. To get the sort of large improvement you are talking about would need a quantum leap in components. The next step up in quality for all these miniature parts is substantially more expensive and usually LARGER. Apple can only make these DAPs at this quality/price (which is actually quite good, only the HP out in lacking in some players) is only possible because they are selling squillions of them. I think you misunderstand what audiophile quality means. squeezing a filo in there would only detract from the audiophile qualities of the player. its only OK for its purpose (adding power and bass boost for those who cant justify the purchase of a real amp or just want something 'fun') but definitely not what you would call neutral or transparent; the most highly prized audiophile goals.
All this for a VERY small part of the DAP market, even if it can be produced to sell at $500, thats still twice the price that people will want to spend, because they can already get an ipod (which actually sounds pretty good, its only us crazy peeps that fin=d it wanting) for <$250 and then you can mod it to get IMO really great sounding audio. even if half the people here did have portables worth twice that (highly doubtful that is the case) that would still be a miniscule proportion of the DAP market and hardly enough to pay for R&D, let alone running costs, parts, marketing. etc. etc. and I think that unless they included a pair of SE530, triple.fi's (insert you favorite IEM here) the 'audiophiles' would still leave the HP's at home and connect a real high quality IEM in fact even if they did include something as high quality as these offering a high percentage of people would still sell them or give themn away because they prefer a different Sound signature. IMO any real audiophile quality dap (if thats even possible) would/should just leave the HP out altogether to keep the cost down, since we all buy our own to suit our own tastes anyway.
As podtweaker says; the best thing would be for another company to take the modding ball and really run with it. Providing customizable options for most well used daps. that way half the work is done for you. usually the DAC incorporated into the players is actually pretty good quality with the economies of scale we are talking about. The problem usually lies in the implementation of the output/amp stage. this section is comparatively easy to modify as there isn't really anything proprietary or complicated going on. just a wire with gain/or not, so all that needs doing usually is REMOVING/BYPASSING not adding some hardware so as to be able to access a really clean signal to amplify. the limited size of DAPs prohibits the use of really high quality Capacitors so to get a decent increase in SQ you really need to do it outside the box. so an all in one solution is not only optimistic but impossible with todays tech
but sure we can dream
