DAP discussion thread

It's great as a standalone dap. Crazy thing is, it's even better as a DAC with a line out into a solid portable amplifier (Leckerton, Glacier). Best sounding portable DAC I've ever heard and a bad ass all around player...but I just couldn't get past the UX usability issues.

 

Hey, thanks for chiming in. I'm looking into a QP1r! I hope they update the UI. I'm used to an ipod scroll wheel, so hopefully it won't be a problem.

 

I have an iBasson DX80 and am pretty darn happy with it. Figured it's worth throwing into the mix.

To my ears the output is clean, decently powerful, and lively. Slightly bright, maybe slightly boosted in the lows, but that's sort of irrelevant since it has EQ easily available for those who want to mess with it. Soundstage and detail retrieval are certainly a step up from my old iPod Classic and Sansa clips.

Also while the UI isn't immediately intuitive, it's easy to pick up on and looks nice. My girlfriend figured out the UI pretty darn quickly while navigating through the music during a drive.

 

Yeah the UI could use some polishing for sure, as could the wheel and volume knob. Those items that rotate are pretty crappy feeling, but the rest of the device is just fine feeling. The sound is quite good though, being a marked notch above the ZX2 with the volume output trick employed. Still, even with the stellar sound, I am not sure I'll be keeping it. We'll see though.

 

If I may ask, in order to understand better: What's keeping you from keeping it, if not the UI and the wheel?

 

Is there any SBAF member tried the soundaware esther m1 (analog version)?

@cn11
Wow UM Mason, finally I've found SBAF member who use UM product especially Mason or Legacy, me myself using UM Legacy and still wondering whats the difference between mason and legacy

 

Among those who have listened to a Questyle QP1R, has anyone heard a DAP (not a portable DAC or amp like GO or Leckerton, but a full-fledged DAP with storage and UI that could store music and play them by itself) that clearly surpasses the QP1R in terms of sound quality? I'm just curious because a lot of people who have heard the QP1R say it's the best sounding standalone DAP ever, albeit rather not-so-user-friendly UI.

 

Hey Cn11, could you also comment on the mason in the iem general thread, please?

 

Those two reasons would be pretty much it, if I decide to not hang onto the DAP. I'm thinking about going back to the shop I bought it from and seeing if another one has a more solid wheel, because with the one I got the wheel is so loose it's darnn near impossible to accurately scroll and stop to highlight the artist/song/folder/whatever you want to choose. It's literally wiggling up / down vertically at the edges, and you have to press rather hard while rotating to get it to work at all. I truly don't think it seems assembled correctly. It feels like it'll fall out! Also, the UI is quite rudimentary after the likes of Android on the ZX2 and of course Iphone (use Google Play music there). Sonically, I can't complain at all!

 

Having not heard the Legacy, but the Miracle/Mentor/Merlin, I think I understand that of all them the treble is the most accentuated. Also, the level of resolution is a notch above the Miracle (my next favorite after the Mason). Bass is not as emphasized as the Miracle though, which has a bit of a warmer signature. The Mason is anything but warm.

 

@velvetx (or anyone else)...would the Ak jr. do anything for the hd800 as a transportable setup around the house/office? Or would an amp be mandatory?

 

^^ Okay, thanks for that. I'll be looking at the QP1R then.

 

It would actually be the 800 S, but I may be better off with my hd650 for around the house portable solution.

 

Did you get your DP-X1? Any review on it?

 

nope :/ still hasn't come, seems to be mega backordered from pricejapan probably just gonna cancel.

 

That sucks. Hopefully you won't need to do that.

 

I'd like to hear how the QP1r does with the HD800S, so please let us know if you have a chance to pair them.