Portable DAPs ,DACs , AMP/DACs ,smartphone(android 4.2.2 ) ? SOME HELP PLEASE !!

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  • ricksgrey89t
    Junior Member
    • Jun 2014
    • 3

    Portable DAPs ,DACs , AMP/DACs ,smartphone(android 4.2.2 ) ? SOME HELP PLEASE !!

    Hello ,
    Am new to this group , as well as being new to the entire digital audio world . Had been simply downloading & storing songs (couple thousand ) to computer w/ MP3 Rocket , then burning some to make CDs (MP3 format )for my car stereo . Then ,recently got smartphone Samsung and began syncing phone to computer .Been using cheap earbuds to listen to music when at gym or mowing lawn .
    Sound absolutely SUCKED ! Began to read about FLAC , WAV , EAC and many other formats . This opened the whole new world of DAPs ,DACs , Headphone Amps ,DAC/Amps ,etc. I didn't even know other Music players existed , besides WMP !
    So here I am .......
    Any comments or Ideas on my plans going forward would be appreciated !!!

    I would like to start fresh with ALL new downloads being in a Lossless format . Plan is to erase all current music files (in MP3 format ) . Then , I want to install music player , a ripper ,a storage program , a burner ( I currently have NERO 9) if one exists that is better than Nero 9 . Would like them all (or a single if it can do it all ,even better ) to be compatible w/ Android 4.2.2 Jellybean . Can't get much volume ,no sound stage ,very little Highs or lows . Would portable DAC/headphone amp help to bring music from my phone to life ? What about DAP , instead of phone ? Would like to use existing equipment (phone ) as player unless portable DAP is significantly better . Any thoughts help would be welcome !!
    Cheers ,
    Rick Ames aka. ricksgrey89t
  • JonMarsh
    Mad Max Moderator
    • Aug 2000
    • 15261

    #2
    I don't have any experience with Android- but I understand how you feel about the shortcomings of MP3. Getting great playback in a portable solution starts with uncompressed files, from the best quality CD's you have or from Hi Res downloads. Where to go from there is a real question mark- most phones don't have any kind of output mechanism for straight digital- iPhones and other devices do, via the dock connector, but not that many portable accessories support digital input from them into a nice portable DAC. (I have a Cambridge Audio 30 pin doc that outputs S/PDIF and AES/EBU, but that's a table top solution. There's a number of portable USB DAC's, like the Dragonfly and others, but they're mostly designed to work with notebooks of one type or another.

    Frankly, I'd suggest you consider the possibility of a more dedicated solution, such as a Pono music player (close to being available, supporting high res as well as lossless CD)

    Dapatkan Informasi RTP Slot Pragmatic Tertinggi Serta Bocoran Slot Gacor Hari Ini Hanya Di KPKTOTO Situs Agen Slot Online Terbaik & Terpercaya.


    Or if your pockets are a bit deeper,

    the AudioWorx
    Natalie P
    M8ta
    Modula Neo DCC
    Modula MT XE
    Modula Xtreme
    Isiris
    Wavecor Ardent

    SMJ
    Minerva Monitor
    Calliope
    Ardent D

    In Development...
    Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
    Obi-Wan
    Saint-Saëns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
    Modula PWB
    Calliope CC Supreme
    Natalie P Ultra
    Natalie P Supreme
    Janus BP1 Sub


    Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
    Just ask Mr. Ohm....

    Comment

    • Hdale85
      Moderator Emeritus
      • Jan 2006
      • 16075

      #3
      There's also the $350 dollar FIIO player available through parts express that looks pretty nice.

      Comment

      • JonMarsh
        Mad Max Moderator
        • Aug 2000
        • 15261

        #4
        Originally posted by Hdale85
        There's also the $350 dollar FIIO player available through parts express that looks pretty nice.
        Good recommendation! :T I'd forgotten about that!
        the AudioWorx
        Natalie P
        M8ta
        Modula Neo DCC
        Modula MT XE
        Modula Xtreme
        Isiris
        Wavecor Ardent

        SMJ
        Minerva Monitor
        Calliope
        Ardent D

        In Development...
        Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
        Obi-Wan
        Saint-Saëns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
        Modula PWB
        Calliope CC Supreme
        Natalie P Ultra
        Natalie P Supreme
        Janus BP1 Sub


        Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
        Just ask Mr. Ohm....

        Comment

        • Hdale85
          Moderator Emeritus
          • Jan 2006
          • 16075

          #5
          Yeah it looks really nice! They have a smaller unit as well but I haven't really looked at the specs of it. I've thought about grabbing one for working out lol.

          The X5 is the model I was thinking about though, you can even use it's USB dac via USB for PC use it seems? It looks really nice.



          It also has digital coax output via the 3.5mm plug......honestly for 350 bucks that things a pretty killer device.

          Comment

          • Hdale85
            Moderator Emeritus
            • Jan 2006
            • 16075

            #6
            Also found this nice unboxing.

            Comment

            • ricksgrey89t
              Junior Member
              • Jun 2014
              • 3

              #7
              I very much agree w/ your thoughts on quality & bang for your buck w/ X5 . I believe that "smartphone" is going to be relegated to its primary purpose .That being to SEND & RECEIVE PHONE CALLS .Novel idea . I just don't think smartphone can be that high-end of music player ,even w/ good phones /amp & dac . Thanks guys for input .

              Comment

              • Hdale85
                Moderator Emeritus
                • Jan 2006
                • 16075

                #8
                Yeah most smart phones just don't have the hardware to be truly high ind DAP's.

                Comment

                • JonMarsh
                  Mad Max Moderator
                  • Aug 2000
                  • 15261

                  #9
                  At that price it's certainly very attractive.

                  This review compares it with the Astell&Kern AK100, which is more expensive.

                  Headfonia Fiio X5 Review: Review by Headfonia - The Headphone Enthusiast's Website


                  It's clearly a step up from the X3.

                  OTOH, the AK120 is significantly better sonically than the AK100- but also much more expensive. Well, at least there are some options! Will have to give that some thought myself.... I'd like something like one of these someday.
                  the AudioWorx
                  Natalie P
                  M8ta
                  Modula Neo DCC
                  Modula MT XE
                  Modula Xtreme
                  Isiris
                  Wavecor Ardent

                  SMJ
                  Minerva Monitor
                  Calliope
                  Ardent D

                  In Development...
                  Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                  Obi-Wan
                  Saint-Saëns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                  Modula PWB
                  Calliope CC Supreme
                  Natalie P Ultra
                  Natalie P Supreme
                  Janus BP1 Sub


                  Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                  Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                  Comment

                  • JonMarsh
                    Mad Max Moderator
                    • Aug 2000
                    • 15261

                    #10
                    On the other hand, here is a good argument for using lossless files (ALAC or FLAC) on an iPhone, considering how well it measures as a playback device. This isn't a subjective analysis, but full measurements under a variety of conditions.


                    http://www.kenrockwell.com/apple/iphone-5/audio-quality.htm

                    What this evaluation of the iPhone 5 shows is that your quality will be largely determined by your headphone quality and source material. Main limitation with this unit is storage... but then, how many different albums do you need on the go? iTunes won't play FLAC, but FLAC players are available. ALAC is similar, and you can rip direct from CD's to ALAC in iTunes. Use Max to convert existing files.
                    the AudioWorx
                    Natalie P
                    M8ta
                    Modula Neo DCC
                    Modula MT XE
                    Modula Xtreme
                    Isiris
                    Wavecor Ardent

                    SMJ
                    Minerva Monitor
                    Calliope
                    Ardent D

                    In Development...
                    Isiris Mk II updates- in final test stage!
                    Obi-Wan
                    Saint-Saëns Symphonique/AKA SMJ-40
                    Modula PWB
                    Calliope CC Supreme
                    Natalie P Ultra
                    Natalie P Supreme
                    Janus BP1 Sub


                    Resistance is not futile, it is Volts divided by Amperes...
                    Just ask Mr. Ohm....

                    Comment

                    • ricksgrey89t
                      Junior Member
                      • Jun 2014
                      • 3

                      #11
                      I probably should have gone w/ iphone from gitgo . My daughter always raved about Apple products & had to have the newest model . I had issues with them being somewhat overpriced ,as I had to pay bill . With money I had left , I was always looking for something 'almost as good as iphone ' .Get what pay for . I'm hoping the Klipsch Image A5i Sport will help ,purchased them 'bout week ago .

                      Comment

                      • Hdale85
                        Moderator Emeritus
                        • Jan 2006
                        • 16075

                        #12
                        Meh, I don't particularly like the iphones, and I hate itunes more than anything.

                        Also better headphones will always sound better on any device, I imagine having an excellent source will even further improve them.

                        Comment

                        • Hdale85
                          Moderator Emeritus
                          • Jan 2006
                          • 16075

                          #13
                          Coming back to this as I've been looking into some recently and apparently people like the HiFiMAN HM-901 a lot better than the AK120, also the HM-901 has swappable amp cards so you can drive things like balanced headphones or put in an amp catered towards IEM's or so on. I believe there are at least 5 or 6 different amp boards out right now if not more.

                          Comment

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