[Joe Bloggs]

Chassis appearance and durability: aluminium? Copper? Stainless steel? Solid gold?
Battery life: 10 hours? 24 hours? 1 week?
App compatibility: pre-installed app only? Apk compatible? Play store included?
Android version: 4.x? 5.x? 6.x? 7.x? 8.x? Is higher the better?
Processing speed and storage: how many CPU cores? Of what type? How much RAM? ROM?
Audio specs: THD? Frequency response +-?dB from ?-?kHz? How many milliwatts into how many ohms (at which THD)?
Sound quality (not audio specs): air? Soundstage? Temperature?
Bit-perfect output (bypassing Android SRC): does the bundled player app allow bit perfect output? What about third party apps that supposedly support it (e.g. Poweramp, Neutron)? How about if somebody pulls a miracle and makes any old app bit-perfect capable (including stuff like Tidal, Spotify and Deezer)? Through USB? Or through the onboard headphone port as well?
Audio connectivity (line / coax out, balanced, etc.): Line out, coax out, balanced out, what else would you like?

Just wondering

 

[artpiggo]

Number one for me would be UI smoothness and 2 of micro SD slots. If it can go smooth like smartphone's touchscreen. that would be awesome.

Second would be SQ undoubtedly.

The last one I vote for audio spec because I want manufacturer to be capable to fine tune for an awesome sound from the latest model of ESS / AKM, Highest Audio Grade of famous brand of capacitors and clocks. If they have 2 devices that has same SQ. One uses ESS 9018 while the other uses ESS 9038. I choose the latter.

 

[Hawaiibadboy]

Chassis appearance and durability: aluminium
Battery life: 10 hours
App compatibility: Apk compatible
Android version: most stable version (latest version is a giant beta test ground so the previous one that was stabilized is fine/ideal)
Processing speed and storage:3 gig of ram process speed secondary to having 3 gigs of ram However if a PEQ is leaning on the core speed then up that. The first DAP with an exceptional PEQ is going to be a popular device.
Audio specs: 280mW+
Sound quality (not audio specs): Calyx-M/Mojo type sound.
Bit-perfect output (bypassing Android SRC): A strict sandbox like section of device that absolutely prevents android from interrupting the path from stored file to process of bit perfect. Only apps that can do that can occupy that space.
Audio connectivity (line / coax out, balanced, etc.): Line out, Balanced and OTG ability to act as external dac for phones that allow it.

 

[davidcotton]

NO STUPID VOLUME WHEEL (sorry for shouting, but those things really irritate me no end)! What's wrong with buttons?

Battery Life 10 hours minimum.
App compatability no idea
Android - Latest. Been using the stock google on the pioneer and it's more than fine
Processing speed and storage - More the merrier. Seems it's the 1 gig that holds a lot of the latest daps back atm.
Audio Specs - pass
Sound quality. As good as possible
Bit perfect output - pass/
Audio connectivity - pass. Headphone socket is enough for me

Other things of note? Gapless out the box, support for podcast and audio books as well although if it's android that's less important.

 

[technobear]

We went through all this with the FiiO T3 transport thread. Go back and re-read it Joe! Our needs haven't changed.

 

[Jamesom]

Chassis appearance and durability: Stainless steel
Battery life: 10 hours minimum
App compatibility: Apk compatible, Play store
Android version: Newer is preferred
Processing speed and storage: 4core min, 2GB RAM. 2 Micro SD slots

A DAP with less storage potential than a phone Is very off-putting.