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Author Topic: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.  (Read 32994 times)

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MuppetFace

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Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« on: November 08, 2012, 12:56:49 PM »
Avast, salty seadogs! I figure we could use a thread on DAPs.

Thinking about picking this up:

http://hisoundservice.diytrade.com/sdp/1631317/4/pd-6322669/10994763-0/Studio_3rd_Anniversary_Eddition.html

Any thoughts?

Right now I primarily use a Sony A865 and Z1070 Walkman paired with my UHA-6S. I've also got the iBasso DX100, and while I actually think it sounds fairly decent as an all-in-one (I know some of you guys think it blows), the buggy UI and general lack of usability keep me from having it around with me at all times. Still, there's a certain satisfaction that comes from easily driving a pair of K1000s and HE-6s from a DAP.

Anyway... feel free to discuss whatever players you are using, want to check out, etc.
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anetode

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #1 on: November 08, 2012, 01:22:07 PM »
I couldn't justify the purchase given that I could buy a dozen SanDisk Clips for the price of that Studio DAP.

The DX100 looks tempting, but I'm going to wait till the next generation brings android 4 & SDXC support.

As far as irrationally appealing DAPs go I can't help but like the Colorfly C4.
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Sforza

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #2 on: November 08, 2012, 02:16:28 PM »
Quote from: MuppetFace on November 08, 2012, 12:56:49 PM
Thinking about picking this up:

http://hisoundservice.diytrade.com/sdp/1631317/4/pd-6322669/10994763-0/Studio_3rd_Anniversary_Eddition.html

Any thoughts?

I participated in a loaner program for the original Studio unit. Soundwise I'd say it was rather warm, similar to the Fuze I'm using now but with more presence to the mids. I liked the way it sounded. It's also the only DAP I wanted to toss out a window, because of how non-functional and annoying its UI was. It would take forever to cycle between menus and did not have any other way of organizing files apart from the folder-> files format. The worst part about it was putting a micro SD card inside its slot would automatically trigger a reading function where the device would become unusable for about 15 minutes because it had to scan the entire card. Even after this, it's not as if the UI became any more functional.

I've also had a Nationite Sflo2/Telecast T51 which self-destructed on me while charging. The batteries just went really, really hot and died. After that, MP4Nation claimed to have lost the unit I returned (RMA).

Right now I'm using a Sansa Fuze with Rockbox as my main DAP, with an iphone for streaming radio and as secondary music storage even though it tends to hiss with my customs. Since Apple products can do digital out now, I think my current setup is ideal.
« Last Edit: November 08, 2012, 02:22:25 PM by Sforza »
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Sphinxvc

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #3 on: November 08, 2012, 02:31:24 PM »
I can say that the S:flo2 was one of the most disappointing purchases I've made in this hobby.  Their implementation of whatever Wolfson chip they use is terrible. 

Of course, it's one of the most lauded portable sources on head-fi.   :)p18
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Hands

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #4 on: November 08, 2012, 03:59:15 PM »
What's terrible about the implementation? Genuinely curious. I bought one a couple years ago because of how popular it was. The UI is shit, the battery life is very meh (buy manageable), and it's just a bit buggy overall. Of course, I have the latest firmware and one of the alternative UIs on it, so it could be worse.

Other than that, it's served me well. I like the FLAC support, and it sounds decent enough to my ears. Maybe slightly on the brighter side?

I wouldn't mind switching to something nicer and less complicated/problematic, though.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #5 on: November 08, 2012, 04:27:04 PM »
Quote from: anetode on November 08, 2012, 01:22:07 PM
I couldn't justify the purchase given that I could buy a dozen SanDisk Clips for the price of that Studio DAP.


Yup, hunt a bit and a rockboxable iRiver is also in sight...
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Questhate

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #6 on: November 08, 2012, 04:31:35 PM »
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 phones can all output digital through USB, and have been known to work with the Leckerton (the UHA-6s mk2 at least). I'd wait for the next Samsung Galaxy DAP to pair with your Leckerton and take advantage of the DAC in the UHA6.. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a DAP that sounds as good as that.

And then there's the upcoming Fiio X3 that's coming out early-mid next year. Should have optical output for use with external DACs.
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Anathallo

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #7 on: November 08, 2012, 04:52:08 PM »
Quote from: Questhate on November 08, 2012, 04:31:35 PM
The Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2 phones can all output digital through USB, and have been known to work with the Leckerton (the UHA-6s mk2 at least). I'd wait for the next Samsung Galaxy DAP to pair with your Leckerton and take advantage of the DAC in the UHA6.. I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a DAP that sounds as good as that.

And then there's the upcoming Fiio X3 that's coming out early-mid next year. Should have optical output for use with external DACs.

Yea, I'm definitely excited for the X3.  Hoping my rockbox'd iPod video lasts until then.
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Deep Funk

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #8 on: November 08, 2012, 04:54:58 PM »
Can Fiio make it work? If so I'll check it out...
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Questhate

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Re: Let's Talk DAPs - Sony, Cowon, iBasso, Hisound, etc.
« Reply #9 on: November 08, 2012, 05:01:34 PM »
What I'd really love is a good high-capacity DAP. I'm the type of crazy that likes to have all of my music with me, because when I get a hankering to hear a specific song, it's relentless.

If not an HDD based one, hopefully someone can release one that has multiple micro-SD card slots. My lip is quivering at the thought of 4x64GB cards full of music on one device.

That's really the main reason I haven't upgraded from my iPod classic yet.
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