DAP discussion thread

I'm using my ZX2 every day.
After around 20 hours of listening (Total time, even if you shut the device down and continue later on) it warns you and decreases the volume if you listen too loud. You can press on "OK" and crank it up again.

That's the only thing it does with volume.

 

I am by no means a portable guy, have very limited DAP experience (only owned a 2nd gen Fiio X3) but I just bought a Fiio M3 for $50. I got tired of using my phone as a portable source, and the M3 sounds as good. Plenty of power for my shure 535's, too loud is 30 / 60 on the volume scale. Controls are a bit cumbersome, but after 2 min I got used to it. Compared this to the Sansa Clips's and took a chance on this as it could accept 64 gb cards and had a color screen. So far it plays music and has decent battery life. Will work out great when I'm working out or mowing the lawn - probably not suited for critical listening.

 

Love to hear your impression after run-in. I was keen to get this DAP and wanted to hear people's honest impression before pulling trigger. I was impressed its battery life which made me interesting in this DAP..

Have you also tried Calyx M? I heard some very positive impressions about it and was told that it matches AK240 level at cheaper price....

 

I have owned a few DAPs in the past (AK100, X3, X5 and Sony A series). I recently picked up the X7 with the AM1 module for a pretty good deal. I am really enjoying the sound and ease of use. It is also nice not having my cell phone tied up while listening. The battery life has been more than acceptable (around 8.5-9 hours with IEMs). I am not very good at reviews or comparing gear with audiophile language, but I would recommend the X7 to someone looking for a android based DAP with some flexibility (modules) that sounds good.

 

No doubt the QP1R sounds great but how did you find its hiss performance with sensitive IEMs?

 

That's weird you say the D was thin. In my circle (bassheads) this is well received. Did you use any of their crazy settings? BBE?

I rec the X7 as well, with the modular system it has eliminated the need to stack for me when OTG. I do prefer the zx2 if paired with sensitive IEMS. If it has enough to power them, the zx2 is hard to beat. I actually sold my AK240 and opted to keep the zx2.

 

I've read quite a few people feel same way. I've yet to try a cowon DAP.

 

qp1r is pretty meh imo, sounded flat and boring to me likely do to the cs4398 (SHIT DAC IMO)

 

Calyx M is the DAP of K10, same sort of warm, thick, euphoric, amazeballs signature. New AK3XX series uses 4490 and I thought it's an improvement. But still it's AK being AK and the output z were still problematic to my ears.

 

ak daps have some of the shittiest amp sections. Had a 380 for a while was not impressed.

Daps i've heard that were good:

onkyo dpx1 (bad build quality and some qc issues but surprisingly good sounding, no 44.1khz clock though so music is played in 48khz multiples.)

cayin n5 ( reasonable price, sounded great, terrible out dated UI though)

ak jr. (love me some wolfson 8740, musical and intimate)


avoid at all costs:

fiio (anything)
ibasso (anything)
astell n kern (amything but jr)

 

I agree, for portable use I'm going to probably be sticking to IEMs. I'd much rather have clean power with fine tuned volume control than a massive power surplus.

 

Not sure about you, but most of my use with my DAP is with the Talos (T50RP mod) out & about, and even at home it drives full-size headphones (HD 6x0/HE400i) much, much more than IEMs, so decent power output is very essential for my use.

 

I love the QP1R and am not super sensitive to hiss, but the Zeus R hisses so bad from the QP1R that I couldn't use the combo. That's the first time that hiss has ever been a problem for me (not counting the wide variety of noises from the Fiio X7).

 

Problem with the X7 Was that the am1 that was originally included was severely underpowered. They should have included the am2. With hard to drive IEMS (Sony Xb90ex, EX800st, ex1000, asg g2/5, etc.) it sounded decent but was under driven. If I eqed some bass, as low as 1db, instant distortion.

The am2 sounds significantly better and drives those same IEMS perfectly. I have the am5, but it's basically overkill for any iem. I'm waiting on the am3 (balanced) but I doubt it will change the sound much, if at all.

The am1 is so bad for me I would have returned it instantly if it had no other options. My cell phone sounded better (rooted with viper so not a fair comparison). Even with viper off, my lgv10 seemed to have just as much power as the am1. I'll revisit that tonight, just to verify.