Topic: Best DAP in terms of audio quality? (Read 43470 times)

audiofrk · « **Reply #270 on:** August 04, 2015, 02:55:29 PM »

Quote from: ohm-image on August 04, 2015, 05:54:08 AM

Yeah, a portable with battery life of only 4 hours... poor. If I can't listen for at least 12 hours I won't bother.

I think 8 hrs is a good target especially for the stuff we want in daps.

Jeff Y · « **Reply #271 on:** August 04, 2015, 04:24:02 PM »

Quote from: drez on August 04, 2015, 06:14:58 AM

I didn't try the new firmware - is it meant to be more resolving?

Yep 4 hours battery life is a PITA. I think though this is due to class A amplification. Also the Calyx M is huge. Still if it sounded overall better than the ZX2 I would give it a second shot. I'm still trying to sell it.

I saw someone say the new firmware makes him prefer the M over the AK380 but I don't know what the AK380 sounds like so I can't comment on that. Also I have no idea what about the sound improves but I've seen lots of positive feedback so I think it's worth a try.

ohm-image · « **Reply #272 on:** August 04, 2015, 10:59:04 PM »

Quote from: audiofrk on August 04, 2015, 02:55:29 PM

I think 8 hrs is a good target especially for the stuff we want in daps.

Honestly, 12 should be minimum. Even the original AK100 nailed 14-16 hours. It wasn't perfect, but it nailed a few important specs.

Julian67 · « **Reply #273 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:26:43 AM »

Quote from: ohm-image on August 04, 2015, 10:59:04 PM

Honestly, 12 should be minimum.

I don't think even 12 is enough. Opinions aside, the battery life of current DAPs is a step backward from what was normal for 10 years. iPod Classic? Between 20 and 30 hours. iRiver H100/300 series? 15 hours on original battery and 25 to 30 on easily fitted replacement. Rockboxed Sansa Fuze+? 25 to 30 hours for FLAC or Vorbis.

My FiiO E7 DAC/Amp claims 80 hours. It's a bit older now but I think between 40 and 60 when used just as an amp is realistic and maybe between 20 and 30(

guessing) when used as DAC/Amp (with USB charging disabled). I use it with my iRiver H140 so I can pretty much guarantee 25 hours between charges for the combo. When I use it as a DAC/Amp with my Galaxy Note II LTE I get between 12 and 24 hours before the Note needs a battery swap.

I sometimes think maybe I should replace my 10+ years old H140 but...but...but... I just can't live with a dedicated audio player that quits at 12 or 15 hours and can't even understand or display composer or comment tags. I don't really need another DAC and if I do need yet another occasional thingy hanging out of my rarely used laptop's USB I'll spend £25 on a hifimediy, not £300 - £1000 on a FiiO/iBasso/A+K.

I appreciate 12 hours battery life is not a disaster but it truly is a regular, repeating pain in the you-know-what, and just the kind of thing that leads to a person putting the device in a drawer and just using their smartphone instead.

ohm-image · « **Reply #274 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:28:07 AM »

Quote from: Julian67 on August 05, 2015, 12:26:43 AM

I don't think even 12 is enough. Opinions aside, the battery life of current DAPs is a step backward from what was normal for 10 years. iPod Classic? Between 20 and 30 hours. iRiver H100/300 series? 15 hours on original battery and 25 to 30 on easily fitted replacement. Rockboxed Sansa Fuze+? 25 to 30 hours for FLAC or Vorbis.

My FiiO E7 DAC/Amp claims 80 hours. It's a bit older now but I think between 40 and 60 when used just as an amp is realistic and maybe between 20 and 30( guessing) when used as DAC/Amp (with USB charging disabled). I use it with my iRiver H140 so I can pretty much guarantee 25 hours between charges for the combo. When I use it as a DAC/Amp with my Galaxy Note II LTE I get between 12 and 24 hours before the Note needs a battery swap.

I sometimes think maybe I should replace my 10+ years old H140 but...but...but... I just can't live with a dedicated audio player that quits at 12 or 15 hours and can't even understand or display composer or comment tags. I don't really need another DAC and if I do need yet another occasional thingy hanging out of my rarely used laptop's USB I'll spend £25 on a hifimediy, not £300 - £1000 on a FiiO/iBasso/A+K.

I appreciate 12 hours battery life is not a disaster but it truly is a regular, repeating pain in the you-know-what, and just the kind of thing that leads to a person putting the device in a drawer and just using their smartphone instead.

I agree. But since audiophiles are getting used to really really bad battery life, I compromised by saying 12 minimum. And to be honest, I have never listened longer than 8 in a day, but being limited to 12, or less, is ridiculous, especially if you don't or can't access the mains.

maverickronin · « **Reply #275 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:39:50 AM »

Quote from: ohm-image on August 05, 2015, 12:28:07 AM

I agree. But since audiophiles are getting used to really really bad battery life, I compromised by saying 12 minimum. And to be honest, I have never listened longer than 8 in a day, but being limited to 12, or less, is ridiculous, especially if you don't or can't access the mains.

Now that USB battery packs/chargers are a common piece of consumer electronics that you can buy at brick and mortar stores instead of something that you have to hack together with a bunch of NiMH batteries and the plug chopped of a $25 proprietary charger there's even less incentive for manufacturers to worry about battery life these days.

anetode · « **Reply #276 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:51:54 AM »

You can't have it both ways - the audiophile market demands Class A bias and computationally expensive processing. Switch back to all-in-one CODEC chips with built-in filters which put out sub-100mw into 32ohms and a rockboxesque text-based GUI and the 3000mAh battery you can currently find on the high end FiiO or A&K players would power that thing for days.

maverickronin · « **Reply #277 on:** August 05, 2015, 12:58:04 AM »

I with they'd go back to B/W LCD screens that you actually read in direct sunlight. That would buy a class A amp circuit right there...

Julian67 · « **Reply #278 on:** August 05, 2015, 01:00:24 AM »

Quote from: maverickronin on August 05, 2015, 12:58:04 AM

I with they'd go back to B/W LCD screens that you actually read in direct sunlight. That would buy a class A amp circuit right there...

i sink eye luurf yoo.

Griffon · « **Reply #279 on:** August 05, 2015, 01:03:15 AM »

Quote from: maverickronin on August 05, 2015, 12:58:04 AM

I with they'd go back to B/W LCD screens that you actually read in direct sunlight. That would buy a class A amp circuit right there...

Yeah I'd add that album artworks, lyrics, and touchscreen are just unnecessary features. Genre, artist, album, song titles, playlists, run-time and browse-by-folder features under a black-and-white screen can make me call it a day.

Author Topic: Best DAP in terms of audio quality? (Read 43470 times)

audiofrk

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

Jeff Y

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

ohm-image

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

Julian67

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

ohm-image

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

maverickronin

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

anetode

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

maverickronin

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

Julian67

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

Griffon

Re: Best DAP in terms of audio quality?

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Author Topic: Best DAP in terms of audio quality? (Read 43470 times)