[deafanddumb]

I'm a long time user and fan of the Colorfly C4 (paired with my fostex th900). But despite my best efforts to stay up to date, my question is....as of right now, including players actually heard at CanJam, what is the top ten order of DAP's, from a pure sound quality point of view?

Subjectivity/personal preference comes into it, but if possible, can we stick to actual quality of sound rather than design, interface, etc. (I'd also be interested in where you believe my C4 actually figures in that list still)

Thanks guys....I know this is not an easy question....

 

[musicday]

My top ten:
No.10 Clip+
No.9 DX100
No.8 AK100
No.7 X5
No.6 DX90
No.5 AK120 II
No.4 LP5
No.3 AK240
No.2 Lotoo Paw
No.1 Tera Player

 

[Wyd4]

Mine:  However I haven't tried as many daps as some.
 
10 - iMod 5.5g
9 - Ak100
8 - x5
7 - dx90
6 - Alien
5 - C4
4 - AK100ii
3 - DX100
2 - AK240
1 - Lotoo Paw Gold
 
Owned of this list (ones I havent owned were auditions)
 
AK100
AK100ii
DX90
Alien
 
My next DAP I would love to be the Lotoo Paw Gold after hearing it yesterday, but we will see hahaha.

 

[bahamot]

My list:
1. QLS QA360
2. Calyx M

 

[shakur1996]

My list:
1. iBasso Dx100
1 or 2. HiFiMan HM-901 w/ standard or IEM card
 
I also listened to/owned Studio V 3ANW, FiiO X5, iBasso dx90, iPod Video 5g, DIY modded iPod Video 5g.

 

[deafanddumb]

Thanks guys.....nice to see the C4 in there somewhere! Must admit I've never heard of the Lotoo....is it really the new must have!?

 

[deafanddumb]

My list:
1. iBasso Dx100
1 or 2. HiFiMan HM-901 w/ standard or IEM card

I also listened to/owned Studio V 3ANW, FiiO X5, iBasso dx90, iPod Video 5g, DIY modded iPod Video 5g.

Ah yes....the Dx100 was the other big daddy at the time I bought my C4....I liked them both as I believe they are still the only daps with 6.3mm Jack port!?

 

[shakur1996]

Ah yes....the Dx100 was the other big daddy at the time I bought my C4....I liked them both as I believe they are still the only daps with 6.3mm Jack port!?

I'm still testing 901 and I'm waiting for LOD cable to try 901's line out.
 
For the time being I think that 901 is very good but I think that I prefer bigger and more spacious sound of dx100 instead of more forward sound of 901.What I love about dx100 is that all instruments sounds so big with it. IMHO dx100 and 901 are more or less on the same technical level, maybe 901 is a tad more resolving.
I'm on stock 1.2.7 firmware with my dx100.
On the other hand 901 wins with form factor and battery life.
 
What I really hate with 901 is the volume pot. I just can't get the right volume level with my CIEMs. I either have too quiet sound or too loud. This is really a dealbraker for me. For this reason I really can't do fair comparison between 901 and dx100.
 
I think that you are right C4 and dx100 are the only ones which have big jack port.

 

[Wyd4]

Thanks guys.....nice to see the C4 in there somewhere! Must admit I've never heard of the Lotoo....is it really the new must have!?

The lotoo is a pipe dream for me. But I did prefer it to the ak240.
Its ui is much more modest than the 240 but the sound was amazing. IMO it sounded no better than the ak technically but it just sounded a little more natural. Everyone's preference is different though

Dx100 and c4 were indeed the big guns of their time. Both had short comings in ui but both sounded great, but different.

 

[KT66]

The volume pot on the 901s has been improved and more steps added.

 

[shakur1996]

The volume pot on the 901s has been improved and more steps added.

KT66, I know that, but do you already have your s version and can confirm that there is actually an improvement? In my case, for example I have too silent sound on 1.5 mark so I'm increasing the volume, nothing happens once it reaches 2.0/2.1 mark but then it is too loud. If I have some increase in volume between 1.5 and 2.0 mark then that would solve this issue.

 

[KT66]

No one has an S yet.
HIFIMAN are one of the few companies I trust to keep to their word.
Lying about this would be an absurd move by them.

 

[goodvibes]

I wasn't looking for it so take with a grain but I tested one at CES and found no issue with the volume control.

 

[shakur1996]

I wasn't looking for it so take with a grain but I tested one at CES and found no issue with the volume control.

Did you have any comparison to regular 901 version in this respect? I can imagine with some CIEMs for a particular person the volume steps offered by 901 can be good.

 

[goodvibes]

I had my jh13 with me and they're pretty efficient but as I said, I wasn't being critical of the V steps. I do have a device or 2 that I find the steps to large on so I'm not immune to the issue either.