[JamesFiiO]

add a picture in the first page, customer need to open the case and install the SSD disk by themself. also the battery is replaceable and people can choose different battery for longer battery life. 

 

[music4mhell]

Those who are true Audiophiles, they have a very good collections of Songs in their SSD, SD Card, or Solid Drives.
 
But a normal guy like me, who uses a only Spotify, Soundcloud for listening music, that moment you need to have a transport.
 
Personally, i feel once you have the DAC + Transport, you got all the freedom to experiment with

 

[x RELIC x]

add a picture in the first page, customer need to open the case and install the SSD disk by themself. also the battery is replaceable and people can choose different battery for longer battery life.

TRANSPORT!!! Honestly, a transport doesn't have headphone out. That's a DAP with more flexible storage in the picture and you have lots of those.

Sorry James, I was excited about the idea at first, but my excitement is much less now. With no amp or DAC and a slightly lower price point, say $199 to $249, you will corner the market on a TRANSPORT.

 

[Mython]

  customer need to open the case and install the SSD disk by themself.

 
Excellent

 

[JamesFiiO]

TRANSPORT!!! Honestly, a transport doesn't have headphone out. That's a DAP with more flexible storage in the picture and you have lots of those.

Sorry James, I was excited about the idea at first, but my excitement is much less now. With no amp or DAC and a slightly lower price point, say $199 to $249, you will corner the market on a TRANSPORT.

 
it is ok, we have not decided anything. lol. 

 

[x RELIC x]

it is ok, we have not decided anything. lol. 

I just think its such a great opportunity for FiiO. Apologies James.

I'll wait to see what you guys decide, I've expressed enough how I feel, everything else looks fantastic. What is the planned battery life with user replaceable batteries?

 

[JamesFiiO]

I just think its such a great opportunity for FiiO. Apologies James.

I'll wait to see what you guys decide, I've expressed enough how I feel, everything else looks fantastic. What is the planned battery life with user replaceable batteries?

 
we may provide 2 battery with different volume so you can change it .

 

[Mython]

   
How about $300 ?

 
 
Others may disagree with me, but I don't mind $300, if the features and performance justify the price.
 
I don't see the point in cutting performance just to make it cheaper. People are already spending approximately $200-$600 on a DAC, so $300 for a transport which can be used with any DAC seems OK to me, especially if it offers unique memory expansion capability.

 

[x RELIC x]

we may provide 2 battery with different volume so you can change it .

Will they last at least 10 hours?

 

[Replicant187]

Others may disagree with me, but I don't mind $300, if the features and performance justify the price.

I don't see the point in cutting performance just to make it cheaper. People are already spending approximately $200-$600 on a DAC, so $300 for a transport which can be used with any DAC seems OK to me, especially if it offers unique memory expansion capability.

i agree.
$300 sounds reasonable enough.

 

[tusharthegamer]

   
 
Others may disagree with me, but I don't mind $300, if the features and performance justify the price.
 
I don't see the point in cutting performance just to make it cheaper. People are already spending approximately $200-$600 on a DAC, so $300 for a transport which can be used with any DAC seems OK to me, especially if it offers unique memory expansion capability.

you mean very few people ! Why not make a balanced device for everyone ! As someone from 3rd country like myself can only dream of getting a $600 device. This market needs more expansion and more money which can only be done by creating a balanced device for everyone. Phones are taking over dedicated devices why because in $200 - $300 they are providing you lots of things camera apps mobility functionality. Look at redmi note 3 device it has everything and the price is merely $130 in india. James Fiio if you ask me the Fiio X7 is the right way to go but the pricing is really out of the reach for normal users. I have owned Fiio X1 great device and great value for money. I would expect a cheaper product from Fiio with balanced details. 

 

[Brooko]

Just read through the thread.  I know James is asking for ideas - but I see a lot of "I want" without maybe looking at a bigger picture here.  Some thoughts.
 
I agree with most of the thoughts on some of the features - but I actually think that James is on the right track with including a reasonable DAC and if he can implement a basic amp with it, then why not?  My reasoning - James is obviously looking at the widest possible use, and the actual cost of putting a reasonable DAC into the unit need not be prohibitive.  Nor will it affect those who are clamouring for only wanting transport.  You won't be using the feature, so what do you care - just imagine its not there

.
 
What I personally like (especially after trying a lot of different DAC implementations, and knowing how little difference there often is between them) is the idea of me having choice about how to pair.  Fiio already have huge experience and ability to facilitate a low cost implementation of a decent sounding combo.  But then I can choose if I want to pair a good amp (and use their DAC), or pair a good DAC/amp, or use it wirelessly, or even just use it with a decent set of easy to drive earphones. It scales that way - and reaches a wider audience.
 
What is important (IMO) is:
 

1. Storage (personally 2 full size slots would be great - but I have no problems with using SSD tech as long as price doesn't get too prohibitive) 
2. Very good UI - able to handle large libraries with no lag, and good sorting options (eg proper use of a wide variety of tags).  This is probably the most important feature behind storage. Without a great user experieince, you're dead in the water.
3. Reasonable battery life
4. Sized to be able to be used with most common dac/amps
5. Practical inputs/outputs
6. Personally I'd still like to see inclusion of Bluetooth - that would make it ideal for car use etc.

 
I'm only one data point - but this fixation on not including a DAC doesn't make sense to me.  If you have one and also have Bluetooth, you have an ideal wireless system.

 

[x RELIC x]

Brooko, Paul, I understand where you are coming from and agree, if a user doesn't want to use the DAC and amp then don't use it. However, to me, if it can lower the cost slightly and allow for all the other features then why include them in a device pegged as a transport? Notice the headphone out in the pic posted? To me it's a mindset where if it has a DAC and amp it's just another DAP. Similar to if you want a DAC/amp FiiO has the e17 and if you want an amp only then they have the e12. They already have DAPs so why not create a pure transport?

I'm sure you've seen requests in these forums for a transport only device, I know I certainly have. I really don't want to pay for features that are not really going to be used for the intended purpose of the device, but like you, I'm just one data point.

 

[CosmicHolyGhost]

Just asking out of curiosity, how would one ensure that the digital output of this pure transport performs better than the digital outputs of other DAPs?

 

[Brooko]

Not many people looking at this from FiiO's point of view though Craig.  If adding a few features for little comparative cost nets them 100 times the potential buyers of a straight transport done to "audiophile standards", the savings in production are likely to far outweigh the cost of those features.
 
Like I said - you may not need them - so just don't use them.  All the no, no, no - it must not have a dac and amp comments are pretty short sighted IMO.
 
As long as the features are mainly on storage and UI - if FiiO can then add other things that make it more attractive to a wider audience - then why not?
 
For example:
Transport + DAC + Bluetooth = potential car market + also those who use Bluetooth headsets or speakers
Transport + DAC = potential for a lot of people who are happy with a reasonable in-built DAC but want access to a lot of storage and a decent amp.  Look how many iPod classic users there were who used the classic for its interface and storage, and then added a better amp section.
Transport + DAC + simple amp section = potentially huge market for those who take their whole library and just want a player with massive storage.  Look how many bought an X5 and then proceeded to try and put 20K+ tracks on it.
 
If Fiio can put a Q1 together for $70 - which has a pretty nice wee amp and a very good DAC - then I'm pretty sure they can put something together that will have benefits for everyone by including that sort of tech into a transport.  Put another way - if Apple came out tomorrow with a new Classic - that had 1 Tb of storage, and the ability to be used as a transport, and their normal slick UI, and it was priced around the $300 mark - how many would be complaining about the fact that it has it's own DAC and amp?  I bet a lot of people on here would be buying one to pair with their Mojos though