DAP discussion thread

I recall I quite liked the Lotoo PAW 5000 when I last heard it few years ago vis a vis the X5 et al. Might want to give it a try, if you're looking for something with buttons since the i5 is purely touch screen.

 

I still think that my Rockboxed SanDisk Clip sounds better than my previously owned AK100 mk2...Anyone shares the same experience?

I have a Mojo too but with listening to IEM it is not very far ahead from my Clip. Clip is super convenient which I decided to leave my Mojo at home most of the time.

 

How is the Cayin i5 sound? mind sharing some impression?

 

Wait... I thought the Geek Wave was already out? Man those guys have too many products and lots of issues it seems!!

Not me... The Clip was extremely soft to my ears, made everything sound boring. The mk2 was definitely a LOT more refined and offered more regarding details and mid-bass (still soft, but not as much!)

 

It's not even in production yet........

 

Dx200 is coming out. Build quality is great, comes with balanced output, can stream, decent ui, usb dac functionality and modular amps. Priced at 869 usd. Though it's not cheap, if the sound quality lives up to the specs above, it'll be a very very nice dap....I wasnt so enamored with the dx90 sabre sound but we will just have to see. If the sound is equal to a qp1r, I can easily recommend it over the basic ui of the qp1r.

 

Only annoyance with iBasso is the firmware rolling. Different sound every firmware gets old.

 

I'm extremely interested in the DX200, I'm also extremely concerned with their firmware. I've read some not so good stories about their other daps. Considering g fiio is still struggling with their X7, I think ibasso may as well. Android is a bitch to work with, and it appears some of the smaller companies don't have the resources to have it work properly, or at least deliver on all of their promises.

 

iBasso does keep their recent DAPs up to date very well - the venerable DX50 got an update ~July this year, and the same gen X3 got 'discontinued' ~Oct 2015.

Won't be surprised if the DX50 gets another update.

Edit: iBasso just posted DX200 rough specs:

 

Great specs. They do have Android experience, so hopefully it's a bit more stable then the X7, which right now is plagued with problems.

 

They were the originators of Android DAPs with the DX100, and this will run Android 6. Pretty good chances that they won't screw it up badly.

 

FiiO launched the X5 3rd gen, with Android 5.1. X7 plague part deux?

 

Speaking about android DAPs, which previous generation(s) smartphone would make a good DAP?

The Samsung S-series is on my mind as an older S-series can be picked up for little money, updated and cleaned up and you are done.

 

If you don't mind something a little more esoteric, Vivo makes many smartphones with ESS/AK/Cirrus chips.

(Their Xplay6 if the first device with the 9038 AFAIK, same with 9028.)

 

What is their second hand retail price?

 

I'm not sure how prices are where you're located, but in Singapore the older gen tend to be being pretty low (but rare)

 

I'm going down to the Sony store to listen to the ZX2. Can someone tell me how to make sure all DSP is disabled? I found this in HF that says to disable the Sound Enhancement app. Will that do the trick? Will I be screwed if the instore demo unit is password locked?

http://www.head-fi.org/t/742609/sony-nw-zx2-dap/8535#post_12033458

 

That should do the trick, the icon should also be missing from the tray once it's disabled. If the bass appears boomy and lower treble is dead, you'll know that the DSP is still on.

 

Thanks @k4rstar. Hopefully it's not locked or somebody in the store has the pwd.

I found a used one on amazon.co.jp that looks to be in good condition for ￥65,000 which is less than 1/2 price locally. Too bad the store here that has the Andromeda doesn't also sell the ZX2. But the Zout is supposed to be about 2ohms, right? Which should be pretty close to iEMatch on High which I've heard and like.

 

In Marv's words:

Or in Sony's Katsumasa Yoshioka:

Probably lost in translation, but lol