Upgrading my portable music system ideas

GodAtum · 23 Jan 2015 at 14:13

Just need some ideas for upgrading my portable music system as I am now using Tidal HiFi lossless streaming. ATM I only use my iPhone.

Option 1: iPod Touch 64GB with Tidal app + Centrance HiFi-M8 DAC/amp
Option 2: iPod Touch 64GB with Tidal app + Chord Hugo DAC/amp
Option 3: iPod Touch 64GB with Tidal app + Cypher Labs Duet + Solo -dB
Option 4: Sony NW-ZX2 and hope that the Tidal app works on its Android (no need for an DAC/amp I assume)

With regards to headphones, I quite like the look of discrete in-ear ones: either the Noble Kaise 10U or AKGK3003I?

robj20 · 23 Jan 2015 at 15:06

Not consider something like a Cowon, i thought they were regarded as very good portable players.
I use a Cowon J3 and Shure SE535 and its a superb setup.

GodAtum · 23 Jan 2015 at 15:21

robj20 said:
Not consider something like a Cowon, i thought they were regarded as very good portable players.
I use a Cowon J3 and Shure SE535 and its a superb setup.

I dont think that (and the A&K) are compatible with Tidal.

Not sure about in-ears vs closed back full headphones for bass. But I'd like noise isolation too especially on a plane or train.

robj20 · 23 Jan 2015 at 15:25

With the SE535 i can have the bass uncomfortably high, its all because of the seal. Many complain of low bass but you need to get the fit spot on.
With the Cowon it might be worth seeing if some of the custom firmwares allow the streaming app.

Jano · 23 Jan 2015 at 16:00

That's a lot of money to be spending on IEM's if your just streaming through an Ipod, don't get me wrong, I have Heir Audio IEM's (older version of Nobles) and they are great, but they would be seriously wasted on streaming. I'm not familiar with tidal, but if your just streaming I wouldn't be spending silly money on IEM's, no matter how good the source apparently is.

Somnambulist · 23 Jan 2015 at 21:28

1-3 are more transportable than portable, seriously the Hugo is enormous and you'd need a man-bag or something unless you're wearing clown pants. I don't think the Sony will be compatible either. I've tried a lot of portable players and set-ups (long-time Head-Fi'er) and as long as what you're using to listen to music with is being driven properly (not hard with IEMs unless they have really funky impedance) a lot of these setups don't really justify the price tag. I have an iBasso DX100, but that was mainly because I can have 128GB flash on there and store a lot of music, it has no problems driving any IEMs and although it's a brick it's still smaller than these 'stacks'. Have you looked at the Astell and Kern players if you've got pile of money to throw at a portable set up?

Don't pick custom IEMs based on how they look. Read a ton of reviews and try and figure out which companies house sound matches your musical preferences. It's a heavy investment for something you may end up not liking that has limited/no resale value.