Recommended DAPs 2016?

Random Guy Esq.

Random Guy Esq.

Random Guy Esq.

Soldato
Joined
1 Jun 2014
Posts
5,109
Howdy.

My Sansa Clip+ has finally given up the ghost, but having come into a little windfall, I'd like to replace it with something higher up the quality scale (not that the Clip+ wasn't a great little player for the price).

I listen to all kinds of music, all saved as FLAC. I've over 500 albums, so I'd like something with expandable storage. I hear double Micro SD card slots on DAPs are a thing now? Do Android powered players have adoptable storage by any chance??

Currently, I'm using Soundmagic E10s, but I'd be will to invest in newer IEMs to partner my new player should increase in sound quality be worth it. As well as sounding great, I'd like a unit that has a responsive and friendly UI. I'd probably prefer a single device as well, rather than something that would be best used with something like the Mojo, for example.

My budget is probably around the £500 mark or so (treat yoself), so I've been mainly looking at the AK70 and Fiio X7. Both look promising, but I'm open to other suggestions as well.

Any feedback is most appreciated!
 
Both the AK70 and X7 are excellent DAPs, the AK70 winning on style (AK are the Apple of DAPs) while the FiiO probably wins on specs and features. If going for the FiiO I'd be looking at the transport only option and adding the amp module that more closely fits my needs.

Review of the AM2A amp module with a comparison of the different available modules

Personally, with a budget around £500 I'd be looking at a DAP around the £250 mark, like the Cayin N5 or FiiO X5 ii, both of which have dual microSD slots and excellent sound quality and spend the other £250 on some much better IEMs such as the Fidue A83.
 
I recently met this headfier to buy some phones off him and he bought his X7. He kept saying how good it was and that it was on par with my Mojo. I listened to it and it sounded lean, grainy and a bit weird in the highs I really didn't like it.

I really like the lower end models like the X1,X3,X3ii the best.
I find the AK players really overpriced you'd be better off buying a Mojo and connecting it to your phone. The DAC on the Mojo is much nicer than many I've tried and the tonality overall is much nicer than a lot of the daps and most phones have a better interface. I use Spotify/tidal on my iphone> Mojo> amp if needed. I'm not gonna say the Mojo is the best thing ever but it's better than all off the DAP's I've tried so far and plays double duty really well.

If you really want a DAP i'd personally consider something like an X1 or X3ii. You can also grab and X3ii and Mojo and that combination would sound better than the X7.
 
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Most importantly, if you want a better sound then you need to spend a good chunk of your budget on the other end, it's the headphone / earphone / IEM that makes by far the most difference to sound quality.

Something like the Fidue A83 (£229) mated with a Cayin N5 or a FiiO X5 ii, X3 ii or even the upcoming X1 ii, would sound better than an AK with cheaper IEMs.

Also, it goes without saying that if you want good sound quality, then you need to be using either well ripped FLAC files (lossless) or at least high bit rate (320kbps) MP3s.
 
I think most smart phones are closer to a lot of DAPs than people realise. My 6S has a pretty good DAC to be fair. I do love the look of the AK like much more polished than Fiio but I just can't get over their price/SQ ratio.
 
then there is the current HF hype train favourite, the Benjie S5 which goes for around $20 - really makes you wonder at A&K's pricing.
 
The UI's on half the boutique DAPs make me want to put my face in traffic, at least the last time I looked at them. I got a 2nd half iBasso DX100 a few years ago (before you could get a 128GB iPod Touch) and while it is a great sounding DAP (things like the absolutely pitch black background) it's sooooo clunky to use. The battery life on a lot of them is dire too.

As long as your device can power your IEMs/earphones/headphones efficiently and sufficiently those are the things that make the biggest difference. Also unless you have a ridiculously isolating IEM in your ears once you take your portable player outside / on the commute etc you're going to automatically lose a chunk of (perceived or otherwise) fidelity from the din.
 
Battery life is where the Cowon Plenue D scores BIG, 50 hours playing lossless or 100 hours playing MP3, AAC, etc.
 
Well **** my luck anyway... come into a little money, and the car develops a problem that needs repairing. :o

Thanks for all the feedback guys, but looks like I may have wasted your time. I'd say my budget is now around the ton mark, so I guess I'll be looking out for reviews of the Fiio X1 2nd gen. Will the E10s still warrant replacing at this price point?
 
I use a pair of Fidue A73s with my gen 1 X1 and the sound is excellent. The E10s are good as an entry point but if you're looking at improving your sound then you should be looking at better.
 
You will not be disappointed with the Cowon Plenue D when you save up again.
Up to 100 hours playback time and the sound is superb through my Fidue A83s.
 
I'd also give the Plenue D a vote, I think the UI is pretty decent, if a little laggy. But the sound quality is excellent, it drives my IEM's with ease and can even drive my Audeze Sine over ears very well.
 
I've recently got the Plenue D as well after I left my J3 on a plane :(
(I did originally try the Fiio X5ii but I was not impressed for the price, the battery life was horrid and the thing was just too big.)

I now have the same setup as you Dimple, do you find the A83's a bit harsh at all in the treble? I suppose I'm going to have to do some more fiddling with the EQ on the D.
 
Fubsy said:
I've recently got the Plenue D as well after I left my J3 on a plane :(
(I did originally try the Fiio X5ii but I was not impressed for the price, the battery life was horrid and the thing was just too big.)

I now have the same setup as you Dimple, do you find the A83's a bit harsh at all in the treble? I suppose I'm going to have to do some more fiddling with the EQ on the D.
Click to expand...

Mine sounds superb I can't say anything bad but it is important to get that eq setup.
 
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