Hate the fact a lot of these phone companies took away the headphone jax, not everyone wants to go wireless, then they say "oh u can buy a headphone adapter " well thats stupid then I can't charge my phone while using the adapter 😒
Can't wait for the vid about dap vs phone+dac/amp. Btw i really appreciate how you still try to be "bang for the buck" while still trying to get very good audio quality. More often than not I end up in a rabbit hole watching youtube videos and overspending.
Actually some pop music recordings are extremely well and definitely sounds great, sometimes even better than the usual “audiophile” staples. The weekends Dawn FM, Starboy and surprisingly Lady Gaga’s chromatica are probably some of the best produced albums I ever heard.
I had an original Fiio M11 using only FLAC files on SD card. I used it for 1.5yrs before selling it. The interface became noticeably slower and the day to day battery life had diminished by almost a third. I really liked the unit but they seem to have a subpar shelf life. Now I just use Bluetooth DACS like my Fiio BTR5 and my recently acquired Qudelix 5k. I've been considering getting another DAP but I'm leaning towards Shanling this time. Maybe an M6 Pro.
I just got an M11 Plus last week and am very happy with it. I loved my iPod Touch, and the iPods I had before it, but the lack of expandable memory was killing me. The sound on the Fiio is so much better, playing the same files. Also, hi-res lossless from Apple Music sounds fantastic. Only downside so far is that a lot of album art didn't carry over when I copied over to the sd card.
@@TStephens21274 Awesome, the M17 is a beast! Since my original comment I've also got the R7, which is fantastic and perfect for my needs. Until the R9 arrives, anyway 😅
I use an LG v60 phone with ESS Sabre quad DAC. It has a 3.5mm headphone socket and sd card slot. The v60 sounds great and has enough oomph for IEMs and many headphones. Sadly LG have left the mobile market (though their last phones are supported to android 13). There wasn't enough interest in audio prowess in a smartphone. I was looking for my next “audio phone", after my LG v60 goes out of security support. Sony phones have a 3.5mm socket but have rarely done justice to a decent dac. Some Asus phones have a quad DAC, 3.5mm headphone socket and sd card slot. But currently Asus offers only 2 years of OS updates. Wired is still better than wireless. Though the upcoming aptx Losseless may change that a bit. The LG V60 has aptx adaptive and supports LDAC (Sony's wireless format). But very few phones still support 3.5mm headphone sockets let alone a 4.4mm balanced socket. Also, you need to use an app like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass android. At least iPhones are bit perfect with their output. So, I bought a DAP, and it's excellent. It's not just the audio quality but something about not having loads of other distractions, which I would get even if I used a dac dongle.
@@clockinthe916 what's the reason for using a laptop? I use an sd card to move my own music to my v60. But apart from that everything is over WiFi for me.
Wireless sucks IMO regardless whether you have lossless or not. I’ve yet to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones with balls, their all anemic at max volume and yes I’ve tried all the totl ones.
My biggest reason to use a DAP is the fact that I have around 200+ GB of ripped CD's in my personal collection but my phone only has 128 GB of storage and no card reader. My Hiby FC5 Mk2 has a card reader and can accept cards up to 2 TB in size so it was a simple and somewhat affordable solution.
Excellent video again :) I must thank you for reminding me that I have an ipod which for the last few years I’ve been using as an alarm in the bedroom! I really must give that a listen to because I’ve not done so for ages. I’ve got 3 Samsung phones which were provided by work over the years and they never wanted them back. The latest one is the S21 which I don’t use for music because of the lack of headphone socket and lack of removable storage. I still use the S7 Edge and S10 without sims as music players and wifi surfing etc.
I gave up using phone for music playback long time ago. Too many problems playing different file formats and higher resolution files. Love my Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 -- it sound better than any phone with no interruptions! When I tell someone that I use a walkman to listen to music; they instantly think of classic cassette walkman :). I highly recommend getting a dedicated audio player.
There are benefits to having less unnecessary electronic components cramped in a small area. Even today, electronic noise and interference is a problem. Even among DAPs effort is being spent on isolating components from each other.
i just hate knowing my phone doesnt output the best audio quality and id rather not waste phone battery on audio consumption. hence a dap is best for me. i love my shanling m3x and fiio x3 ii.
In the beginning of 2000 I bought a very expensive hi-fi system. It had a fine Marantz cd player that I enjoyed for many years. In 2018 I bought the Astell&Kern Junior DAP. It had a Wolfson DAC. Then one day I tried to compare the sound quality from the Junior to the Marantz; I plugged the Junior unbalanced out into the Analog inputs at the amp -- and I was surprised to find out that I liked the sound of my A&K Junior better than the Marantz cd player (to be honest, it was a comparison of an old DAC inside the Marantz cd player to a more modern DAC inside the A&K Junior...). Since then I have replaced the A&K Junior with A&K SA700, which was a step up in audio quality, and today my system consists of the A&K SP2000 DAP, the integrated amp Hegel H390 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 loudspeakers. And the sound is spectacular! I would love for you to make a video about the pros and cons of using a DAP as a DAC for your hi-fi system.
DAP ~> coaxial ~> DAC ~> LOKI EQ ~> AMP ~> Headphones = pure bit perfect HD audio bliss in late 2023!! you can get a used Fiio X5ii which has an incredible DAC and great headphone out options if you ever chose to use them for $125 or so(that's what I paid) great vid, thank you.
Good video however I believe in the transducer technology and tuning first. I do have a M11 plus ess and a Apple dongle . The difference I hear between them is a minimal refinement. That’s me
been daily driving my ipod classic 5.5 for years now and decided I should finally try a more modern DAP. Ordered a sony walkman a105 on sale and am excited to play around with it
For a while I was using a Quadelix 5k into moondrop blessing 2 dusk iem. But since that broke, I've been going back to my Fiio M11 and using it with a 4.4 cable for both the dusk and Sundara and it has enough power to handle both. Only negative is the slow processor on the DAP. Otherwise, I enjoy using it a lot.
I have V60 and V50s/G8x. This is a simple trick to boost gain by 2-3 times. Lower the volume before playing as it may damage your hearing. Step 1: Remove the analog connection from the phone including the line connecting to the headphone. Step 2: Connect the line going to your LG V60’s 3.5mm jack. Step 3: Connect the line going to the headphone. ENJOY!
I am not a much of an audiophile, i just wanted to know what the heck is a DAP and if i needed it in 2022 😂. I've now realised that there's a whole world of audio i haven't even begun thinking of and my pocket already hurts. Although i do have one question, at what point do you get diminishing returns? Like going from my cheap 20$ headphones to my current Sennheisers, it was a major upgrade (both bluetooth, both streaming from a phone). Now would it be as much valuable/more valuable to go even further?
Depends on a lot of factors but if you're dipping your toes in audio id personally say diminishing returns pop out as early as 100usd sometimes even lower. You dont have that many choices with bluetooth earbuds though. I've heard samsung galaxy buds pro are some of the best you can get.
It depends on your use case, even some of the highest end equipment will have its drawbacks; hmm. To simplify, some speakers/chips/dac/dap have more or less bass/mid/treble capabilities. By expanding one, it flattens the others (also known as the tuning)for the highest fidelity (quality). You'd want the flattest EQ to bring out as much detail as possible. However, some components may not be able to handle that data, so it comes out muddy (kind of like compression. It overlaps across different bands (bands are the level in the EQ)), so broadening the sound stage allows for better separation between bands. Then there is the warmth of the music; the colder, the more complex/harsh (not a bad thing), and the warmer, the more smooth the transition between bands; it also plays into the separation. As an audiophile that's into sound design, my preference is entirely flat and icy sound (that way, all the tonal quality of every interment is authentic (like if you were the conductor of an orchestra))but for just listening, I prefer a warmer sound for the most enjoyable listening experience and added bass to float in space (audio imagery)(to be enveloped by the music) So, in conclusion, it depends on your specific preferences. Even if you spend infinite money on all your equipment, it might not work well together. Your best bet would be to experiment with your choices, like free software, then dip your toes in with a nice pair of iems (in-ear monitors(the earbuds musicians use on stage), usually better sound per $ until you find a sound you like then upgrade to headphones.
DAPs are very good not just on the road or in office. Thay can be powerful source or DAC at home too, if you connect it with a stereo amp. Most of DAPs can behave as USB sound card (and DAC) with a PC or notebook. Remote control is available from smartphone for most of modern DAPs (HibyLink). I have a small Shanling player. Most of DAPs can behave as Bluetooth receiver (with aptX). Background music can be sent to it from the phone (Tidal/Spotify/TH-cam). DAPs can be a versatile source and a good DAC in almost every situation (except home-theater). (I am thinking on a small secondary system with a DAP and power-amplifier.)
Yes, price is a big issue. I recently bought an Astell & Kern SR25 - the old model - for $599 Australian or £355, which originally sold for $699 US. (There's an "Aussie tax" on audio gear I won't go into but it makes everything even more expensive here). I'm looking forward to its 21 hours battery life, even if I have to fiddle with a bit of side loading APK files to get Qobuz and Apple Music on there. Keeping an eagle eye out for discontinued models being sold off is a good way to get a great bargain.
I'm in the market for a new dap... I have a 9 year old astell&kern ak120 which I bought for 1100aud.. I'm so interested to see what the current ones are like
Yeah, they get pricey. I just got an Astell&keen sa700 from Addicted to Audio for $780 they're normally a bit under $1900. I had been looking at a SR25 but when the sa700 went on sale for a few hundred less I couldn't help myself
Is the hd650s a new addition. I thought Sundara was your go to headphone. What does the Sennheiser offer that the Sundara doesn’t. Love your video as always.
A used lg v20 gives you microSD expansion, a dedicated quad DAC with 🎧 headphone jack, and a replaceable battery, for under $200.00. The cell phone bit isn't supported on North American networks anymore, but you can still download maps and apps to it for a standalone/backup GPS, e-reader, et cetera.
Thank you so much for the quality of this video. Still wondering if anyone can "gently" explain me whether spending more than 1K€ in a DAP or DAC-Amp or even hundreds of euros/dollars in Dongles connected to a Smartphone are worth the price (money VS gain of quality, clarity, sound stage...). I understand the importance of the quality of the source (MP3 versus Hi-Res files) but if we would speak percentage wise, let's say that a smartphone playing Spotify is 50% (mid quality), what about a DAP and/or Dac Amp? Are the + 1000€ (to 2500€ for some DAPS) worth the money? I really find these apparels extremely expensive and really wonder if it's worth spending so much money on something that could potentially only "slightly" improve my listening experience by a few percents...I am still looking for answers because if it's only a question of SD card and battery or OS system, I prefer to save some money but do not really find a honest opinion as people usually compare brand A to brand B...Thanks in advance for your insights
I recently watched the video series by Digging The Greats where he starts using an iPod again. I got inspired again, as I have two DAPs lying around I thought I would dust them off and start using them again. However I quickly realized that the one without Bluetooth was too inconvenient and the one with Bluetooth was to bulky and heavy. Great, now I had an excuse to order a new toy! My Shanling M0 Pro should arrive tomorrow, I don't expect it to have insanely good audio quality but it should be good enough for my needs. I just wanted to have a small device that can drive all my portable headphones without requiring a dongle and has support AAC and aptx/LDAC.
That video inspired me to bring new life into an older Huawei P8 Lite from around 2015-16 :D Sadly the sound is not so great, but I'm looking forward to improving it.
I own a Hidizs AP 80 Pro a Shanling Q1 and an iBasso DX240. All have their different sound signature and are much better than any mobile phone. Important is that DAPs are really only make sense for People who are audiophile and wanna enjoy the details resolution and soundstage impressions in music. And its not reccomended to use them with bluetooth because for that u can better use ur mobile since there is no really good bluetooth audio quality available yet. And of course you need also some good earphones or IEMs which use and convert the DAP performane properly. But DAPs will always be a better audio device than mobile phones.
I have been toying with the idea of a DAP lately, but the 1 thing that keeps me from doing so is that most of the music that I listen to us streamed from Qobuz and Tidal and I have not found 1 that can stream directly, especially if I am running errands. If I am home I can plug the DAP to a WiiM streamer and call it a day.
new daps the apps, but they are pricey. And it's true that you still need wifi and something to connect the internet. Tbh can't you use a regular dap to your phone or pc ?
I've had 3 ipod mini 1st and 2nd gen which came with the Wolfsen DAC and always loved how they sounded in my car with aux to my CD player with built in amp. All of them are dead now. I use a iphone 4s and a LG G8 at the moment. Looking for something new maybe...
I still use my iPod . I have a 1Mii B03Pro Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver with Audiophile ESS DAC & aptX HD/Low Latency, Long Range Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Home Stereo, TV, Dual Link, Optical RCA 3.5mm Inputs/ Outputs. It has 384kHz/32-bit upsampling . I use this for streaming from ,iTunes ,SoundCloud ,Mixcloud etc. Connected to either an apple device or my computer that is in my office upstairs.. I do take my iPod with me out and about with me though.
I have a Walkman NW-A45 that I've had for 3 years, it's a solid device but yeah there's a certain convenience to streaming. I should make more of an effort to use it though, it's an awesome device
Hey Hari, been a longtime viewer of your channel. I highly suggest checking out the "oppo enco x2" twsby oppo. OnePlus is the company which spun of from oppo. I got the enco x2 for 100 quid, they are so good! They almost have iem like airiness Imo.
Thanks for the video. I am contemplating getting fiio m11 plus ess, but wasn’t sure if its gonna be a good investment. You helped me in making up my mind.
To help justify the cost of higher end DAPS…could you use them in your home hifi set up as a streamer/DAC? Could they replace dedicated home streamer/dac?
Sure, just connect to an amp then to speakers or just use headphones.. At my desktop area I use an older Fiio X7 model that only costs $125 used, I use the coaxial output straight to my DAC>EQ>AMP thus bypassing the DAP's DAC & Amp = 15 hours of usage easily and bit perfect delivery to whatever units you want to use. You don't need a high end DAP with all the gadgets if you are simply using it as a transport and file storage. It sounds like heaven btw.
I have spent quite a bit on audio gear and I have a question, I have an iPhone XS and don't have an Apple music subscription and am not into streaming but have my Itunes library synced up to my phone and I would like the option under the settings of the phone to select a higher bit depth and sample rate than 16 bit 44khz which on my P.C. with my sound card which is a Sound Blaster Audigy I'm able to select higher bit depth which is 24bit 96Khz over the standard 16 bit 44Khz and now music sounds so much better on my P.C. even with compressed mp3's music files, but I heard you have to be an Apple music subscriber to get this option with their phone's but I want this option for my offline music, do you think Apple will ever let users choose their bit depth and sample rate, plus I have purchased many open and closed back headphones in the last year that aren't that hard to drive such as the Sennheiser HD 560's, 599, 598 and a couple of others with many dongle DAC/amps such as the Fiio Ka3, Fiio BTR5, Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt, Red and Black, Shangling UA2, and some others from different companies to improve the sound of the iPhone but the music always sounds compressed and not clear coming out of the iPhone, I have very bad OCD and high anxiety in life and these issues frustrate me quite a bit, I also recently purchased the Hiby R5 gen 2 dap because it has more options for audio and have installed Poweramp app for music which let's me upsample music to a higher bit depth and sample rate at 192Khz 32bit, but that Dap doesn't have all my Itunes music that's synced up to my iPhone that's why I asked if Apple will give users more options for audio natively offline without any music subscription.
Since shanling m3x is discontinued this year. Do you have any recommendations for around this budget and with good battery life like shanling m3x sir ? Thank you
I always wondered if there is a difference between using something like M11 plus vs. Using a Sony phone with something in the calibre of a mojo 2. I guess you partly answered that question. Any further insights when comparing these two alternative approaches ? Cheers
I own the M11 Plus, I like it a lot, but it stays home. When I'm out, driving, yardwork, etc... I am using an Ifi Blu with my cheap LG phone. It's Bluetooth, but can use LDAC. It's got lots of power, a better DAC, a mic for phone calls, has a bass boost and something called X-Space, boosts some high frequencies. With some IEM's I use both, others I like to use the X-Space. It's a compromise device, I'm not doing yard work with very expensive devices. The Blu can make $50 IEM's sound better than just from my phone, but the Blu still sounds great with Campfire Audio Vegas as well. I can wash the car with the Ifi Blue on me, my phone can be inside the car, dry. The Ifi Blu is also a DAC, works with Windows 10, sounds better than the computer's DAC. Use a Aux input in your car, and it sounds better than the 3.5mm phone output. Sounds better than the car's CD player too.
Thanks for that. I just purchased a new Blu ray player for my Mac. And intend to burn/rip?? My cd collection again in high quality and to also buy a DAP. If you had any pointers about which software or rate to burn at, that would be great.
Wouldn't it make more sense to invest money into a pair good IEM, something like the IE 600, plus a DAC, to get just as good sound with a smartphone? Let say I play mostly FLAC files (same files I uses to DJ) and audio player that can use OpenSL ES for with SoundID headphone app. I don't care for streaming services: I prefer to own a copy of the data that I can store locally.
Hi, if I subscribe to the Tidal HiFi Plus offer (€19,99/month), can I drag and drop the "Up to" 9216 kbps files into a DAP permanently? If not, what other platforms are there to load-up a DAP device? Thanks 🙏
I have 150$ phone and 350$ dap..yes absolutely i need dap 😂 I just cant use my phone with a dongle dac coz my music app will always force close while listening and browsing ahah
Having explored my discontinued, super cheap A&K SR25, I'd add to my previous comment, that a high end DAP is often not just a DAP. I have 2 Ropieee units, and an iPad I use as digital sources. The discontinued SR25 has a line out function, and sounds better as a source than all the others. So a canny consumer would purchase the high end DAP, and have that as DAP and digital source for all things. The SR25's limitation is that it doesn't run Roon, but I believe later models are Roon Ready.
Hi, great video. I was wondering if you know any DAPs that support multiple genre tags for mp3s and flacs? I have a Hiby R3 Pro and I can only add one genre tag to my files. Any help would be appreciated!!
Can you suggest a solution to play digital music from a drive or SD card? I have amplifier, DAC and speakers, so I'm looking for something to work with that system. I'm not interested in streaming, and dislike having a computer running.
Is a DAP apable to play dap through a home stereo receiver? (either via bluetooth or hard wired in) Never owned a DAP. I just use my phone for streaming.
I still use DAP's. I love them. But only Standalone DAPs. not Android. With a DAP i can have a player other than my phone, it sounds good. GOOD BATTERY LIFE and Balanced output. What's the point of carrying a BT DAC like ES100 or BTR5 when you have A gadget that sounds as good and can be a source.
@@AudioFixation I used to own Pioneer 30R, Onkyo DPX1, Ipod 5th Gen, Zishan Z1 and Ibasso DX120. I sold everything except the DX120 and Z1. DX120 is my daily driver. Wouldn't get rid of it. Even if it gets broken I would buy one again. It also has The Fidelizer ROM. I've tried the DX160, 300R and other android DAP's from fellow hobbyist but they say the Batt life is poor and the navigation is slow. This is why Android DAP's aren't my thing. Also the reason why I sold my DPX1. I'm looking to Upgrade to Cayin N3 Pro, Sony WM1A or Sony ZX300. Feels bad that every new DAP nowadays are android so my choices for new purchases are very limited. The N3 Pro from reviews are saying that it only has 8 hours of battery life which is a con already. DAP's like Lotoo 6000/Gold Touch and Questyle QP1R/QP2R are non android, but they're too expensive for me. WM1A is my only budget. Sony stores here are seasonally on Sales and the WM1a can get down to $800. Sorry for the long reply. I just love DAP's. I enjoy them with IEM's and Flathead earbuds. I'm not really into Headphones and Desktop stacks.
Would you be able to recommend a dap that is accessible for the visually impaired? I am totally blind and I am concerned that most of these players would be unusable due to being visual.
I would definitely recommend the iPod touch 7th generation which has sadly been discontinued, but you can still pick them up pretty easily 2nd hand. They come with all of Apple’a excellent accessibility features for the visually impaired.
just stumbled upon your channel and wanted to let you know you have a very good speaking voice. a little feedback if that's okay, but when you do turn your head while speaking, your mic nearly peaks causing a pretty harsh volume level all of a sudden. if you could clear up this problem, your production quality would be very solid!
There is significant advantage for having less components all crammed in a small space, specially when you're dealing with electronic signals and noise. Moreso with devices that have multiple transceivers (RF, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). In fact, component placement is a design consideration even with larger audio systems.
BTR7+phone is good enough on the go. I'd rather spend the $500-$700 I save on home components. When I'm on the go I can't listen to music that in depth anyway. Streaming and having phone with SD card gets me by just fine on the go.
Today I'm recieving my 449 dollar HIFIMAN headphone and I am going to use it with my Samsung A52s 5g and the Topping DX3 Pro+ (199 dollar DAC/Amp). I would love to have a very good DAP but they are expensive and will cost more than my headphone, wich does not make any sense.
I use HIBY R 5 SECOND GENERATION AND YES THE MUSIC SOUND MUCH BETTER PARTICULARLY WITH DESCEND HEADPHONE. PEOPLE EXPECT A MODERN HP SHOULD DO EVERYTHING VERY WELL WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE IN SUCH A SMALL THIN BODY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT ONE SHOULD LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF SONIC QUALITY.
I like DAP and any dedicated device, Instill use my Minidisc player time to time. But, carry with an extra device than the phone, as you mention, isn’t attractive. I think a good solution is to use a portable DAC/amp and use with your phone. Storage isn’t always a problem, my phone has 512 GB that is a good amount of memory and the DAP has the SD slots, but the SD aren’t included and you have to buy them. In the other hand you can use Plex or Roon for access to your own collection, that have also the possibility to download what you want ton listening to offline . Finally, I don’t understand how you suggest an iPod as an alternative DAP… you have the inconvenience to use iTunes, the DAC isn’t so good, no possibility to HiRes files,… I think it isn’t better than a good phone. You should think that if you add the DAP cost to the budget for your phone, you can buy a much better phone, with more memory and perhaps a good portable DAC.
Daps are better than phones, If it just for music. My main daps astell Kern sp2000t for all my expenses iem and headphones. Ibasso dx240 for wireless. questyle qp1r oldest player no Bluetooth what do ever. I carry my whole library. Most files are 24/44 or 24/88. Sound quality it better than tidal. Yes it cost more than a phone with no headphone and limited memory. But you will probably have a dap for years. Where most phones are replaced every 2 years
It is not insane to buy one of those TOTL DAPs. There will be a difference in quality of parts, circuit designs, DAC chips, amplifier design and topologies. There is a definite sound improvement with the upper tier DAPs. To get the best sound quality you’ll need top notch IEMs and headphones. My preference is to let a phone be a phone.
I guess, dap days are over with the advent of high quality usb dongle dacs. At fraction of the price, these lill babies got all the circuitry and almost same power, which these costly, bulky daps claim to have.
My single biggest problem with DAPs is that they solve too many problems. I prefer devices that aren’t android. I want a stupid simple interface, no streaming and a great DAC / Headphone amp. I don’t want another phone. I spend enough time as it is trying to get off the internet just to listen to music. Too many distractions.
I agree 100% could not say it better myself. What DAP are you using? Im still happy with my Cowon Plenue D3, its a bit dinosaur from the past. But it does everything I need, sounds great, is small and the battery last forever.
@@joachimb5721 you can, but you are still paying for the hardware you dont need, like quad-core processors, big high-res screen, system memory, wi-fi etc. Dedicated DAP needs non of that.
Hate the fact a lot of these phone companies took away the headphone jax, not everyone wants to go wireless, then they say "oh u can buy a headphone adapter " well thats stupid then I can't charge my phone while using the adapter 😒
annoying indeed - you could always get a sony xperia device, although the 3.5mm output isn't the best on those
Just charge wirelessly
@@alexscher an artificial need the company created 🤣
@@dollin971 as well “artificially” it got rid from wired internet and phone line 😅
Totally agree. Just bought my first smartphone, I chose a used iPhone SE from 2016. The last iPhone to feature a headphone jack.
Can't wait for the vid about dap vs phone+dac/amp.
Btw i really appreciate how you still try to be "bang for the buck" while still trying to get very good audio quality. More often than not I end up in a rabbit hole watching youtube videos and overspending.
Amen to the audiophile rabbit hole.
Actually some pop music recordings are extremely well and definitely sounds great, sometimes even better than the usual “audiophile” staples. The weekends Dawn FM, Starboy and surprisingly Lady Gaga’s chromatica are probably some of the best produced albums I ever heard.
I had an original Fiio M11 using only FLAC files on SD card. I used it for 1.5yrs before selling it. The interface became noticeably slower and the day to day battery life had diminished by almost a third. I really liked the unit but they seem to have a subpar shelf life. Now I just use Bluetooth DACS like my Fiio BTR5 and my recently acquired Qudelix 5k. I've been considering getting another DAP but I'm leaning towards Shanling this time. Maybe an M6 Pro.
I just got an M11 Plus last week and am very happy with it. I loved my iPod Touch, and the iPods I had before it, but the lack of expandable memory was killing me. The sound on the Fiio is so much better, playing the same files. Also, hi-res lossless from Apple Music sounds fantastic. Only downside so far is that a lot of album art didn't carry over when I copied over to the sd card.
Nice choice! I currently have the FIIO M17.
@@TStephens21274 Awesome, the M17 is a beast! Since my original comment I've also got the R7, which is fantastic and perfect for my needs. Until the R9 arrives, anyway 😅
I just got the M15S a couple of weeks ago now, and I love it! Very powerful high quality DAP.
I use an LG v60 phone with ESS Sabre quad DAC. It has a 3.5mm headphone socket and sd card slot. The v60 sounds great and has enough oomph for IEMs and many headphones. Sadly LG have left the mobile market (though their last phones are supported to android 13). There wasn't enough interest in audio prowess in a smartphone.
I was looking for my next “audio phone", after my LG v60 goes out of security support.
Sony phones have a 3.5mm socket but have rarely done justice to a decent dac.
Some Asus phones have a quad DAC, 3.5mm headphone socket and sd card slot. But currently Asus offers only 2 years of OS updates.
Wired is still better than wireless. Though the upcoming aptx Losseless may change that a bit. The LG V60 has aptx adaptive and supports LDAC (Sony's wireless format). But very few phones still support 3.5mm headphone sockets let alone a 4.4mm balanced socket.
Also, you need to use an app like USB Audio Player Pro to bypass android. At least iPhones are bit perfect with their output.
So, I bought a DAP, and it's excellent. It's not just the audio quality but something about not having loads of other distractions, which I would get even if I used a dac dongle.
I can't get Win11 to recognize my V60?
@@clockinthe916 what's the reason for using a laptop? I use an sd card to move my own music to my v60. But apart from that everything is over WiFi for me.
Yes~still looking for a device to replace my ipod classic which I could transfer my cd collection from laptop to that device
Wireless sucks IMO regardless whether you have lossless or not. I’ve yet to find a pair of Bluetooth headphones with balls, their all anemic at max volume and yes I’ve tried all the totl ones.
My biggest reason to use a DAP is the fact that I have around 200+ GB of ripped CD's in my personal collection but my phone only has 128 GB of storage and no card reader. My Hiby FC5 Mk2 has a card reader and can accept cards up to 2 TB in size so it was a simple and somewhat affordable solution.
Just waiting for the 2TB card to finally be released. I think they're still testing out the prototype.
Excellent video again :) I must thank you for reminding me that I have an ipod which for the last few years I’ve been using as an alarm in the bedroom! I really must give that a listen to because I’ve not done so for ages. I’ve got 3 Samsung phones which were provided by work over the years and they never wanted them back. The latest one is the S21 which I don’t use for music because of the lack of headphone socket and lack of removable storage. I still use the S7 Edge and S10 without sims as music players and wifi surfing etc.
I gave up using phone for music playback long time ago. Too many problems playing different file formats and higher resolution files. Love my Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 -- it sound better than any phone with no interruptions! When I tell someone that I use a walkman to listen to music; they instantly think of classic cassette walkman :). I highly recommend getting a dedicated audio player.
You should roll with it and offer to show them your massive cassette collection! 🤣
There are benefits to having less unnecessary electronic components cramped in a small area. Even today, electronic noise and interference is a problem. Even among DAPs effort is being spent on isolating components from each other.
Fiio 11plus paired with the IE600 Sennheiser on the 4.4 balanced output..... Incredible!
i just hate knowing my phone doesnt output the best audio quality and id rather not waste phone battery on audio consumption. hence a dap is best for me. i love my shanling m3x and fiio x3 ii.
In the beginning of 2000 I bought a very expensive hi-fi system. It had a fine Marantz cd player that I enjoyed for many years. In 2018 I bought the Astell&Kern Junior DAP. It had a Wolfson DAC. Then one day I tried to compare the sound quality from the Junior to the Marantz; I plugged the Junior unbalanced out into the Analog inputs at the amp -- and I was surprised to find out that I liked the sound of my A&K Junior better than the Marantz cd player (to be honest, it was a comparison of an old DAC inside the Marantz cd player to a more modern DAC inside the A&K Junior...). Since then I have replaced the A&K Junior with A&K SA700, which was a step up in audio quality, and today my system consists of the A&K SP2000 DAP, the integrated amp Hegel H390 and Bowers & Wilkins 803 D3 loudspeakers. And the sound is spectacular! I would love for you to make a video about the pros and cons of using a DAP as a DAC for your hi-fi system.
DAP ~> coaxial ~> DAC ~> LOKI EQ ~> AMP ~> Headphones = pure bit perfect HD audio bliss in late 2023!! you can get a used Fiio X5ii which has an incredible DAC and great headphone out options if you ever chose to use them for $125 or so(that's what I paid) great vid, thank you.
Good video however I believe in the transducer technology and tuning first. I do have a M11 plus ess and a Apple dongle . The difference I hear between them is a minimal refinement. That’s me
been daily driving my ipod classic 5.5 for years now and decided I should finally try a more modern DAP. Ordered a sony walkman a105 on sale and am excited to play around with it
Sony has discontinued these mid price DAPs and it's hit or miss to find them now
For a while I was using a Quadelix 5k into moondrop blessing 2 dusk iem. But since that broke, I've been going back to my Fiio M11 and using it with a 4.4 cable for both the dusk and Sundara and it has enough power to handle both. Only negative is the slow processor on the DAP. Otherwise, I enjoy using it a lot.
Yep, my Hiby R5 is a really decent performer, but the processor speed is falling behind every year.
Is the sound quality better?
Thanks for the video. Please consider a full review of M11 plus.
Lg v60 is my go to dap my only issue is it doesn't get loud enough on certain tracks so Ive been using a music app that boosts gain at times
I have V60 and V50s/G8x. This is a simple trick to boost gain by 2-3 times. Lower the volume before playing as it may damage your hearing.
Step 1: Remove the analog connection from the phone including the line connecting to the headphone.
Step 2: Connect the line going to your LG V60’s 3.5mm jack.
Step 3: Connect the line going to the headphone.
ENJOY!
@@barnsbarns420 Huh?
Get a dragonfly dac hooks up the c port gets louder for home use
I am not a much of an audiophile, i just wanted to know what the heck is a DAP and if i needed it in 2022 😂. I've now realised that there's a whole world of audio i haven't even begun thinking of and my pocket already hurts. Although i do have one question, at what point do you get diminishing returns? Like going from my cheap 20$ headphones to my current Sennheisers, it was a major upgrade (both bluetooth, both streaming from a phone). Now would it be as much valuable/more valuable to go even further?
Depends on a lot of factors but if you're dipping your toes in audio id personally say diminishing returns pop out as early as 100usd sometimes even lower. You dont have that many choices with bluetooth earbuds though. I've heard samsung galaxy buds pro are some of the best you can get.
It depends on your use case, even some of the highest end equipment will have its drawbacks; hmm. To simplify, some speakers/chips/dac/dap have more or less bass/mid/treble capabilities. By expanding one, it flattens the others (also known as the tuning)for the highest fidelity (quality). You'd want the flattest EQ to bring out as much detail as possible. However, some components may not be able to handle that data, so it comes out muddy (kind of like compression. It overlaps across different bands (bands are the level in the EQ)), so broadening the sound stage allows for better separation between bands. Then there is the warmth of the music; the colder, the more complex/harsh (not a bad thing), and the warmer, the more smooth the transition between bands; it also plays into the separation.
As an audiophile that's into sound design, my preference is entirely flat and icy sound (that way, all the tonal quality of every interment is authentic (like if you were the conductor of an orchestra))but for just listening, I prefer a warmer sound for the most enjoyable listening experience and added bass to float in space (audio imagery)(to be enveloped by the music)
So, in conclusion, it depends on your specific preferences. Even if you spend infinite money on all your equipment, it might not work well together. Your best bet would be to experiment with your choices, like free software, then dip your toes in with a nice pair of iems (in-ear monitors(the earbuds musicians use on stage), usually better sound per $ until you find a sound you like then upgrade to headphones.
DAPs are very good not just on the road or in office. Thay can be powerful source or DAC at home too, if you connect it with a stereo amp.
Most of DAPs can behave as USB sound card (and DAC) with a PC or notebook.
Remote control is available from smartphone for most of modern DAPs (HibyLink). I have a small Shanling player.
Most of DAPs can behave as Bluetooth receiver (with aptX). Background music can be sent to it from the phone (Tidal/Spotify/TH-cam).
DAPs can be a versatile source and a good DAC in almost every situation (except home-theater).
(I am thinking on a small secondary system with a DAP and power-amplifier.)
Your comments are helpful!
Yes, price is a big issue. I recently bought an Astell & Kern SR25 - the old model - for $599 Australian or £355, which originally sold for $699 US. (There's an "Aussie tax" on audio gear I won't go into but it makes everything even more expensive here). I'm looking forward to its 21 hours battery life, even if I have to fiddle with a bit of side loading APK files to get Qobuz and Apple Music on there. Keeping an eagle eye out for discontinued models being sold off is a good way to get a great bargain.
I'm in the market for a new dap... I have a 9 year old astell&kern ak120 which I bought for 1100aud.. I'm so interested to see what the current ones are like
Yeah, they get pricey. I just got an Astell&keen sa700 from Addicted to Audio for $780 they're normally a bit under $1900. I had been looking at a SR25 but when the sa700 went on sale for a few hundred less I couldn't help myself
Is the hd650s a new addition. I thought Sundara was your go to headphone. What does the Sennheiser offer that the Sundara doesn’t. Love your video as always.
A used lg v20 gives you microSD expansion, a dedicated quad DAC with 🎧 headphone jack, and a replaceable battery, for under $200.00.
The cell phone bit isn't supported on North American networks anymore, but you can still download maps and apps to it for a standalone/backup GPS, e-reader, et cetera.
Thank you so much for the quality of this video. Still wondering if anyone can "gently" explain me whether spending more than 1K€ in a DAP or DAC-Amp or even hundreds of euros/dollars in Dongles connected to a Smartphone are worth the price (money VS gain of quality, clarity, sound stage...). I understand the importance of the quality of the source (MP3 versus Hi-Res files) but if we would speak percentage wise, let's say that a smartphone playing Spotify is 50% (mid quality), what about a DAP and/or Dac Amp? Are the + 1000€ (to 2500€ for some DAPS) worth the money? I really find these apparels extremely expensive and really wonder if it's worth spending so much money on something that could potentially only "slightly" improve my listening experience by a few percents...I am still looking for answers because if it's only a question of SD card and battery or OS system, I prefer to save some money but do not really find a honest opinion as people usually compare brand A to brand B...Thanks in advance for your insights
This is what gets me and I am a professional classical pianist and teacher
I have a shanling m8 and it's my go to for all my music needs.
Absolutely love it.
That’s a great player you’ve got there
I have been looking at Shanling recently
I recently watched the video series by Digging The Greats where he starts using an iPod again. I got inspired again, as I have two DAPs lying around I thought I would dust them off and start using them again.
However I quickly realized that the one without Bluetooth was too inconvenient and the one with Bluetooth was to bulky and heavy.
Great, now I had an excuse to order a new toy!
My Shanling M0 Pro should arrive tomorrow, I don't expect it to have insanely good audio quality but it should be good enough for my needs.
I just wanted to have a small device that can drive all my portable headphones without requiring a dongle and has support AAC and aptx/LDAC.
That video inspired me to bring new life into an older Huawei P8 Lite from around 2015-16 :D Sadly the sound is not so great, but I'm looking forward to improving it.
I own a Hidizs AP 80 Pro a Shanling Q1 and an iBasso DX240. All have their different sound signature and are much better than any mobile phone. Important is that DAPs are really only make sense for People who are audiophile and wanna enjoy the details resolution and soundstage impressions in music. And its not reccomended to use them with bluetooth because for that u can better use ur mobile since there is no really good bluetooth audio quality available yet. And of course you need also some good earphones or IEMs which use and convert the DAP performane properly.
But DAPs will always be a better audio device than mobile phones.
Sea Change, one of the greatest albums of all time. I've only been thinking of a dap since i saw the new sony's cassette screensaver.
I have been toying with the idea of a DAP lately, but the 1 thing that keeps me from doing so is that most of the music that I listen to us streamed from Qobuz and Tidal and I have not found 1 that can stream directly, especially if I am running errands. If I am home I can plug the DAP to a WiiM streamer and call it a day.
new daps the apps, but they are pricey. And it's true that you still need wifi and something to connect the internet. Tbh can't you use a regular dap to your phone or pc ?
I've had 3 ipod mini 1st and 2nd gen which came with the Wolfsen DAC and always loved how they sounded in my car with aux to my CD player with built in amp. All of them are dead now. I use a iphone 4s and a LG G8 at the moment. Looking for something new maybe...
Very helpful video. Keep up the good work, fine sir.
I still use my iPod . I have a 1Mii B03Pro Bluetooth 5.0 Transmitter Receiver with Audiophile ESS DAC & aptX HD/Low Latency, Long Range Bluetooth Audio Adapter for Home Stereo, TV, Dual Link, Optical RCA 3.5mm Inputs/ Outputs. It has 384kHz/32-bit upsampling . I use this for streaming from ,iTunes ,SoundCloud ,Mixcloud etc. Connected to either an apple device or my computer that is in my office upstairs.. I do take my iPod with me out and about with me though.
I have a Walkman NW-A45 that I've had for 3 years, it's a solid device but yeah there's a certain convenience to streaming. I should make more of an effort to use it though, it's an awesome device
wish Sony would add streaming to the A45
Hey Hari, been a longtime viewer of your channel.
I highly suggest checking out the "oppo enco x2" twsby oppo. OnePlus is the company which spun of from oppo. I got the enco x2 for 100 quid, they are so good! They almost have iem like airiness Imo.
Thanks for that, will look into it! And thanks for watching 😃
Thanks for the video. I am contemplating getting fiio m11 plus ess, but wasn’t sure if its gonna be a good investment. You helped me in making up my mind.
To help justify the cost of higher end DAPS…could you use them in your home hifi set up as a streamer/DAC? Could they replace dedicated home streamer/dac?
Sure, just connect to an amp then to speakers or just use headphones.. At my desktop area I use an older Fiio X7 model that only costs $125 used, I use the coaxial output straight to my DAC>EQ>AMP thus bypassing the DAP's DAC & Amp = 15 hours of usage easily and bit perfect delivery to whatever units you want to use. You don't need a high end DAP with all the gadgets if you are simply using it as a transport and file storage. It sounds like heaven btw.
Absolutely! This is precisely why I decided to purchase the FIIO M17. It can do everything you alluded to and more!
I have spent quite a bit on audio gear and I have a question, I have an iPhone XS and don't have an Apple music subscription and am not into streaming but have my Itunes library synced up to my phone and I would like the option under the settings of the phone to select a higher bit depth and sample rate than 16 bit 44khz which on my P.C. with my sound card which is a Sound Blaster Audigy I'm able to select higher bit depth which is 24bit 96Khz over the standard 16 bit 44Khz and now music sounds so much better on my P.C. even with compressed mp3's music files, but I heard you have to be an Apple music subscriber to get this option with their phone's but I want this option for my offline music, do you think Apple will ever let users choose their bit depth and sample rate, plus I have purchased many open and closed back headphones in the last year that aren't that hard to drive such as the Sennheiser HD 560's, 599, 598 and a couple of others with many dongle DAC/amps such as the Fiio Ka3, Fiio BTR5, Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt, Red and Black, Shangling UA2, and some others from different companies to improve the sound of the iPhone but the music always sounds compressed and not clear coming out of the iPhone, I have very bad OCD and high anxiety in life and these issues frustrate me quite a bit, I also recently purchased the Hiby R5 gen 2 dap because it has more options for audio and have installed Poweramp app for music which let's me upsample music to a higher bit depth and sample rate at 192Khz 32bit, but that Dap doesn't have all my Itunes music that's synced up to my iPhone that's why I asked if Apple will give users more options for audio natively offline without any music subscription.
What about using a DAP for your streamer/DAC in your home hifi gear? Then it does double duty to justify costs.
That is indeed a good suggestion
Since shanling m3x is discontinued this year. Do you have any recommendations for around this budget and with good battery life like shanling m3x sir ? Thank you
I always wondered if there is a difference between using something like M11 plus vs. Using a Sony phone with something in the calibre of a mojo 2. I guess you partly answered that question. Any further insights when comparing these two alternative approaches ? Cheers
I own the M11 Plus, I like it a lot, but it stays home. When I'm out, driving, yardwork, etc... I am using an Ifi Blu with my cheap LG phone. It's Bluetooth, but can use LDAC. It's got lots of power, a better DAC, a mic for phone calls, has a bass boost and something called X-Space, boosts some high frequencies. With some IEM's I use both, others I like to use the X-Space.
It's a compromise device, I'm not doing yard work with very expensive devices. The Blu can make $50 IEM's sound better than just from my phone, but the Blu still sounds great with Campfire Audio Vegas as well.
I can wash the car with the Ifi Blue on me, my phone can be inside the car, dry.
The Ifi Blu is also a DAC, works with Windows 10, sounds better than the computer's DAC.
Use a Aux input in your car, and it sounds better than the 3.5mm phone output. Sounds better than the car's CD player too.
Love your voice man. 👌🏼
Thanks for that. I just purchased a new Blu ray player for my Mac. And intend to burn/rip?? My cd collection again in high quality and to also buy a DAP. If you had any pointers about which software or rate to burn at, that would be great.
Wouldn't it make more sense to invest money into a pair good IEM, something like the IE 600, plus a DAC, to get just as good sound with a smartphone?
Let say I play mostly FLAC files (same files I uses to DJ) and audio player that can use OpenSL ES for with SoundID headphone app. I don't care for streaming services: I prefer to own a copy of the data that I can store locally.
It's definitely a route worth considering if you don't want to carry an extra bulky DAP around.
Hi, if I subscribe to the Tidal HiFi Plus offer (€19,99/month), can I drag and drop the "Up to" 9216 kbps files into a DAP permanently? If not, what other platforms are there to load-up a DAP device? Thanks 🙏
I have 150$ phone and 350$ dap..yes absolutely i need dap 😂 I just cant use my phone with a dongle dac coz my music app will always force close while listening and browsing ahah
Thanks, well explained.
Having explored my discontinued, super cheap A&K SR25, I'd add to my previous comment, that a high end DAP is often not just a DAP. I have 2 Ropieee units, and an iPad I use as digital sources. The discontinued SR25 has a line out function, and sounds better as a source than all the others. So a canny consumer would purchase the high end DAP, and have that as DAP and digital source for all things. The SR25's limitation is that it doesn't run Roon, but I believe later models are Roon Ready.
Hi, great video. I was wondering if you know any DAPs that support multiple genre tags for mp3s and flacs? I have a Hiby R3 Pro and I can only add one genre tag to my files. Any help would be appreciated!!
Can you suggest a solution to play digital music from a drive or SD card? I have amplifier, DAC and speakers, so I'm looking for something to work with that system. I'm not interested in streaming, and dislike having a computer running.
You probably want something like a raspberry pi running something like picoreplayer - watch out for a video on that
Is a DAP apable to play dap through a home stereo receiver? (either via bluetooth or hard wired in)
Never owned a DAP. I just use my phone for streaming.
Have you tried putting music on iPhone? I love my DAP.
Just picked up a 4th gen iPod shuffle last week. It's for running but still a DAP I guess 😂
Definitely!
Thank you for the video.
Looking for a dap I can use with Apple Music and download library for offline play
I don't have room or the money for the stereo receiver and speakers I'd like. So I bought a nice DAP and a pair of good IEMs and enjoy them greatly.
I still use DAP's. I love them. But only Standalone DAPs. not Android.
With a DAP i can have a player other than my phone, it sounds good. GOOD BATTERY LIFE and Balanced output. What's the point of carrying a BT DAC like ES100 or BTR5 when you have A gadget that sounds as good and can be a source.
Which one do you use?
@@AudioFixation I used to own Pioneer 30R, Onkyo DPX1, Ipod 5th Gen, Zishan Z1 and Ibasso DX120.
I sold everything except the DX120 and Z1. DX120 is my daily driver. Wouldn't get rid of it. Even if it gets broken I would buy one again. It also has The Fidelizer ROM.
I've tried the DX160, 300R and other android DAP's from fellow hobbyist but they say the Batt life is poor and the navigation is slow. This is why Android DAP's aren't my thing. Also the reason why I sold my DPX1.
I'm looking to Upgrade to Cayin N3 Pro, Sony WM1A or Sony ZX300. Feels bad that every new DAP nowadays are android so my choices for new purchases are very limited. The N3 Pro from reviews are saying that it only has 8 hours of battery life which is a con already. DAP's like Lotoo 6000/Gold Touch and Questyle QP1R/QP2R are non android, but they're too expensive for me. WM1A is my only budget. Sony stores here are seasonally on Sales and the WM1a can get down to $800.
Sorry for the long reply. I just love DAP's. I enjoy them with IEM's and Flathead earbuds. I'm not really into Headphones and Desktop stacks.
Hello ! You think it’s useful if I listen 1411kbps music ?
Would you be able to recommend a dap that is accessible for the visually impaired? I am totally blind and I am concerned that most of these players would be unusable due to being visual.
I would definitely recommend the iPod touch 7th generation which has sadly been discontinued, but you can still pick them up pretty easily 2nd hand. They come with all of Apple’a excellent accessibility features for the visually impaired.
Anything with a voice assistant should work.
Does apple music work aswell? If it runs off android im assuming.
Yes the android app for AM is very good
just stumbled upon your channel and wanted to let you know you have a very good speaking voice. a little feedback if that's okay, but when you do turn your head while speaking, your mic nearly peaks causing a pretty harsh volume level all of a sudden. if you could clear up this problem, your production quality would be very solid!
Okay Karen.
How about if u have an LG v60 with dual DACs would the m11 be a huge difference or not really
Got a San disk sport clip that I can beat the hell out of during workouts. Much better than using an iPhone for the same purpose.
I have the Focal Utopia 2022… which one is the best DAP for it? (between the price range of 1000-2000USD)
Fiio M17
There is significant advantage for having less components all crammed in a small space, specially when you're dealing with electronic signals and noise. Moreso with devices that have multiple transceivers (RF, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.). In fact, component placement is a design consideration even with larger audio systems.
BTR7+phone is good enough on the go. I'd rather spend the $500-$700 I save on home components. When I'm on the go I can't listen to music that in depth anyway. Streaming and having phone with SD card gets me by just fine on the go.
Is the m1Is the M11 Plus a player only or also a recorder?
just a player
Any relation to Alan Partridge? :)
Today I'm recieving my 449 dollar HIFIMAN headphone and I am going to use it with my Samsung A52s 5g and the Topping DX3 Pro+ (199 dollar DAC/Amp). I would love to have a very good DAP but they are expensive and will cost more than my headphone, wich does not make any sense.
I use HIBY R 5 SECOND GENERATION AND YES THE MUSIC SOUND MUCH BETTER PARTICULARLY WITH DESCEND HEADPHONE. PEOPLE EXPECT A MODERN HP SHOULD DO EVERYTHING VERY WELL WHICH IS NOT POSSIBLE IN SUCH A SMALL THIN BODY. LIFE IS TOO SHORT ONE SHOULD LISTEN TO MUSIC WITH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF SONIC QUALITY.
Can I download my TH-cam Music app's playlists to the micro SD card?
Well, sure. Using a youtube downloader app that lets you save to mp3.
I got my samsung s8 connected to a decent dac done
How about mobile phone with a Dongle DAC? As good as DAP?
high end dongle DAC like the Questyle M15 or Cayin RU7 are excellent, as good as $1K DAPs.
Sea Change on the thumbnail?! Shut up and take my like!
Great album!
thanks
I like DAP and any dedicated device, Instill use my Minidisc player time to time.
But, carry with an extra device than the phone, as you mention, isn’t attractive.
I think a good solution is to use a portable DAC/amp and use with your phone.
Storage isn’t always a problem, my phone has 512 GB that is a good amount of memory and the DAP has the SD slots, but the SD aren’t included and you have to buy them.
In the other hand you can use Plex or Roon for access to your own collection, that have also the possibility to download what you want ton listening to offline .
Finally, I don’t understand how you suggest an iPod as an alternative DAP… you have the inconvenience to use iTunes, the DAC isn’t so good, no possibility to HiRes files,… I think it isn’t better than a good phone.
You should think that if you add the DAP cost to the budget for your phone, you can buy a much better phone, with more memory and perhaps a good portable DAC.
How is iTunes inconvenient in your opinion? I am asking with no DAP experience whatsoever, just looking into that topic very recently.
Daps are better than phones, If it just for music. My main daps astell Kern sp2000t for all my expenses iem and headphones. Ibasso dx240 for wireless. questyle qp1r oldest player no Bluetooth what do ever.
I carry my whole library. Most files are 24/44 or 24/88. Sound quality it better than tidal. Yes it cost more than a phone with no headphone and limited memory. But you will probably have a dap for years. Where most phones are replaced every 2 years
I use an older iPhone SE as a dedicated music source connected to a mojo 2. Works great for my needs!
Nice!
Only a Sony fanboi can call a 5 III good. Us LG fanbois say otherwise 😁. And it ticks all the boxes you mentioned.
It is not insane to buy one of those TOTL DAPs. There will be a difference in quality of parts, circuit designs, DAC chips, amplifier design and topologies. There is a definite sound improvement with the upper tier DAPs. To get the best sound quality you’ll need top notch IEMs and headphones. My preference is to let a phone be a phone.
I guess, dap days are over with the advent of high quality usb dongle dacs. At fraction of the price, these lill babies got all the circuitry and almost same power, which these costly, bulky daps claim to have.
Now just add a sim, a higher end cpu and a better display, and I'll have my dream phone
😂😂 in edm's drop those nasty notification completely ruins it
LG G7 💪💪💪
Hiby RS2 for less than 500
My phone Is perfect.
My LG v40 is the best DAP+phone I have.
Do you need one? No. If you care about good audio and options, you should already know the answer.
My single biggest problem with DAPs is that they solve too many problems. I prefer devices that aren’t android. I want a stupid simple interface, no streaming and a great DAC / Headphone amp. I don’t want another phone. I spend enough time as it is trying to get off the internet just to listen to music. Too many distractions.
I get your point. I do not have any "distracting" apps on my M11 Plus; just offline and online music streaming apps.
I agree 100% could not say it better myself. What DAP are you using?
Im still happy with my Cowon Plenue D3, its a bit dinosaur from the past. But it does everything I need, sounds great, is small and the battery last forever.
Just don’t install any other apps than the music player on your DAP. Switch off its wi-fi. What could possibly distract you now?
@@joachimb5721 you can, but you are still paying for the hardware you dont need, like quad-core processors, big high-res screen, system memory, wi-fi etc.
Dedicated DAP needs non of that.
@@podfuk I'm rather new to this but I'd guess if you bought a, let's say, 10 or 15 year old used DAP, you wouldn't have any of these features?
Buy dap in 2024 🎉
YES YOU DO NEED ONE, ESPECIALLY IF YOURE AN AUDIOPHILE!!!
Audiophiles are full of drama.
of course you need a dap unless you're fine with listening to shitty quality music on your phone.
👍🏾 *Thanks,* new sub here...
🔴🤷🏾♂️🔵
#followthewhiterabbit 🐰 🕳