Digital Audio Players (DAPs)

[RTHerringbone]

I searched the forum but failed to find a dedicated thread about Digital Audio Players, so I thought I'd start one as I know a number of posters have one (or more) and I thought it might be useful to have a one-stop thread to help people like me who *think* they may have a use case for a DAP, but need a bit more information and / or advice before taking the plunge.

So...where are you when it comes to DAPs?

1. Do you have one? If so - feel free to tell us about it and the journey that lead you to that particular model
2. Are you interested in one?
3. Do you see absolutely no use for one in your life at all?

I'm certainly curious about them and had been considering getting one in the tail end of an earlier thread I started. Having lounged outside in glorious sunshine in the garden earlier, I felt like the only things I was missing were a nice ice-cream and some music.

This prompted some poking about online and I see FiiO have just released a first M33 R2R DAP to irritate the graph mob. But at nigh-on £650, that's a bit steep for what I just consider to be a fancy modern Walkman.

FiiO M33 R2R Review

The FiiO M33 R2R is FiiO's first portable R2R DAP, packing high-power output, gorgeous screen and new features. A true gem, reviewed on HFN!

www.headfonia.com

No decent YouTube reviews yet, they just some to be AliExpress adverts.

Plenty of alternative DAP options from other manufacturers too, so you aren't short of options when shopping around, which as we all know is both a blessing and a curse.

 

[Cricketbat70]

I have a number of DAP'S all Sony. From a 20+ year old NW-S703F atrac format player to a NW-A55L hi-res capable machine. My first DAP's were bought before smart phones were a thing and even though I use my phone I still like to use a dedicated device. Before the NW-S703F I had a NWA3000 20gb that had a "line out" setting in the menu that boosted the output of the 3.5mm earphones socket so you could connect it to a hifi. Unfortunately the hard drive failed on that.

 

[Al ears]

Many are more than modern Walkmans, they can stream and also act as a stand alone DAC.
I have owned many and currently have three.
I use one for plenty of reasons, flexibility, audio quality and more importantly storage capacity. Also use one at work where I cannot take my mobile phone....
You cannot store many hires files on the old mobile phone I have and most offer more storage than many new mobile phones.
Main user at the moment is an Astel and Kern Norma SR25.
The ability to use a huge number of wired head is a must as most modern phones do not have a proper headphone socket. Also the ability to use balanced headphones or earphones.
The photo is of my first, a Colorfly, steampunk classic in real wood. 🙂

 

[Vincent Kars]

My mobile has a slot for a 1TB SD card. No need for a DAP.

 

[Jasonovich]

I opened your post while listening to my Tempotech V6 DAP on Thameslink train 🙂
Hiby R6lll is an excellent DAP it's about £350 on Amazon.
It has an option to output the headphone amp out to class A.
There's also Cayin, they make them with tubes! and a bit pricey. I think only on AliExpress.
Also look at the Shanling🙂

Amazon.co.uk

 

[daytona600]

Like the old gen with a big display

 

[Al ears]

My mobile has a slot for a 1TB SD card. No need for a DAP.

My mobile doesn't and that's a modern Samsung Galaxy.
It's obviously going to hinge on what the OP uses and also what they want exactly when it comes to headphone use etc.

 

[jjbomber]

1. Do you have one? If so - feel free to tell us about it and the journey that lead you to that particular model
2. Are you interested in one?
3. Do you see absolutely no use for one in your life at all?

Pioneer in the car. Sometimes I take it on bus and train journeys with an external DAC and headphones.
If I was buying one today, I'd get:

ACTIVO STARTER BUNDLE PACK

The perfect upgrade from a standard MP3 player. Get the ACTIVO P1 Hi-Res audio player, Volcano earphones, and case in this complete bundle. Save over £200.

activostyle.co.uk

 

[Cricketbat70]

Pioneer in the car. Sometimes I take it on bus and train journeys with an external DAC and headphones.
If I was buying one today, I'd get:

ACTIVO STARTER BUNDLE PACK

The perfect upgrade from a standard MP3 player. Get the ACTIVO P1 Hi-Res audio player, Volcano earphones, and case in this complete bundle. Save over £200.

activostyle.co.uk

Ooh that looks nice

 

[Jasonovich]

Ooh that looks nice

I believe Activo is owned by Astel and Kern, you can expect the quality to be good.

 

[Dave_]

Can't think of anything more pointless in 2026.

I can access all the streaming services I want and everything on my NAS from my phone, and its always with me.

So why would I want the inconvenience of carrying an extra device around!

 

[RTHerringbone]

Can't think of anything more pointless in 2026.

I can access all the streaming services I want and everything on my NAS from my phone, and its always with me.

So why would I want the inconvenience of carrying an extra device around!

Power? Outputs? Storage? What if you're offline and can't remote into your NAS or stream?

Lots of reasons why people might want them, even if you don't see a use case for yourself.

 

[jjbomber]

I believe Activo is owned by Astell and Kern, you can expect the quality to be good.

Indeed it is. Go to the top of the class.

 

[Al ears]

Pioneer in the car. Sometimes I take it on bus and train journeys with an external DAC and headphones.
If I was buying one today, I'd get:

ACTIVO STARTER BUNDLE PACK

The perfect upgrade from a standard MP3 player. Get the ACTIVO P1 Hi-Res audio player, Volcano earphones, and case in this complete bundle. Save over £200.

activostyle.co.uk

That's a very decent set-up for that money.

 

[Jasonovich]

I don't need a DAP, happy with my V6 but I do like the look of look of this Shanling DAP, plays up to DSD256. There's £30 off from £209, the savings you can buy a nice leather case for it.
Worth investigating if you don't mind AliExpress. You can probably get it from Amazon, though I doubt if it is any where near the price AliExpress is offering.

 

[Al ears]

Like most equipment in HiFi some will see the advantages of owning it, others will see it as completely superfluous.
All I can say is I'd be lost without mine.
But my needs are mine alone.

 

[Dave_]

Power? Outputs?

I use BT.

But I do have USB-C to 3.5mm adapter that came with some phone or other, that's been laying in a drawer unused should I need it...

Storage?

Plenty of unused storage space on my phone

What if you're offline and can't remote into your NAS or stream?

The only time that's generally an issue is the half a dozen or so times a year I fly, and I'll download music/TV for that eventuality.

 

[RTHerringbone]

I use BT.

This is probably a key point to your view on DAPs then.

Phones are brilliant for convenience, flexibility and being one-box solutions to a number of things. But if that convenience and flexibility means you're comfortable accepting the well established technological downsides of bluetooth versus a wired connection, then the relevance of a DAPs' storage, power, outputs, DAC is less for you.

Doesn't mean anyone is right or wrong, but many people using a DAP do so to prioritise sound quality. In my subjective view, listening to music over bluetooth from a phone is more of a casual means of listening than the fidelity a DAP can offer.

 

[Jasonovich]

This is probably a key point to your view on DAPs then.

Phones are brilliant for convenience, flexibility and being one-box solutions to a number of things. But if that convenience and flexibility means you're comfortable accepting the well established technological downsides of bluetooth versus a wired connection, then the relevance of a DAPs' storage, power, outputs, DAC is less for you.

Doesn't mean anyone is right or wrong, but many people using a DAP do so to prioritise sound quality. In my subjective view, listening to music over bluetooth from a phone is more of a casual means of listening than the fidelity a DAP can offer.

You're correct, your mobile is a wonderful Swiss tool, it's the focal point for communication, it even plays your music to an acceptable quality for many people it is sufficient for their needs, I think we all understand that.

It's also true, if you invest in a good quality DAP and wired headphones, it's highly probable that you'll never listen to music on your mobile ever again. I'm talking from my own experience of course.

 

[Al ears]

You're correct, your mobile is a wonderful Swiss tool, it's the focal point for communication, it even plays your music to an acceptable quality for many people it is sufficient for their needs, I think we all understand that.

It's also true, if you invest in a good quality DAP and wired headphones, it's highly probable that you'll never listen to music on your mobile ever again. I'm talking from my own experience of course.

And that's exactly the point. For some people their phone and music over Bluetooth to earphones is simply enough.
Not to me it isn't.

 

[Jasonovich]

I thought I share, is this the first ever R2R DAP from FiiO? Cayin putting tubes inside them, the DAP market is far from boring!
Both pricey but still cheaper than Astel & Kern.

I just found this on AliExpress:
FiiO M33 R2R Digital Audio Player with True R2R DAC, Snapdragon 680, 8GB+128GB, 5.5” Full HD Display

FiiO M33 R2R Digitaler Audio-Player mit echtem R2R DAC, Snapdragon 680, 8 GB + 128 GB, 5,5-Zoll-Full-HD-Display - AliExpress 44

Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com

a.aliexpress.com

 

[RTHerringbone]

Saves ~£70 compared to Peter Tyson. Quite a discount!

 

[RTHerringbone]

Right. I'm fairly sure that the FiiO M21 will be my DAP of choice. Seems the right kind of price for what I'll use it for, and I've been impressed with the other kit I've got that is made by that brand. I don't feel the need to spend more because this is intended to be a more casual outdoor / holiday / commuting solution.

Headphones are a different thing. It seems incredibly extravagant to buy a third set of cans, but I feel like I need closed-back for a more portable setup. I'm torn between the FiiO FT1 and the Meze 99 Classic V2. I haven't heard the first but the depth of reviews says they're a safe bet. I have heard the Meze's and liked them. Any other obvious closed-backs to consider? I want to spend on par with the DAP, so up to £300.

On the off chance that I do actually commute with this setup, I'd lean more towards the FT1s as they look a bit less ridiculous that the Meze. All those extra swoopy head-band bits are fine in the confines of your own home, but I would feel incredibly self-conscious wearing those on a train! Given that I barely commute any more, it's arguably a moot point.

 

[PieterG]

Right. I'm fairly sure that the FiiO M21 will be my DAP of choice. Seems the right kind of price for what I'll use it for, and I've been impressed with the other kit I've got that is made by that brand. I don't feel the need to spend more because this is intended to be a more casual outdoor / holiday / commuting solution.

Headphones are a different thing. [...]

My DAP is from several years ago: a Fiio M9 paired with F9pro IEMs on a 2.5mm balanced output. It opened my eyes (and ears) to high quality digital music and i still find that it's my best allround setup. It's the benchmark to which i compare all other hifi gear i try.

It has one major drawback: the OS is limited to some Fiio customized version of Android 7 and it doesn't have the support required for newer authentication mechanisms used by streaming services. As a result, i can't directly access Tidal with it. But it still holds 500GB of flac files i can carry with me everywhere, and the battery still lasts long enough after 8 years of use.

I'm sure that any Fiio DAP will let you enjoy your music for years. I was wondering if you really need full size headphones or if you might consider IEMs instead. I think they're not just convenient but also isolate better than regular closed headphones (without active noise cancelling).

 

[RTHerringbone]

I'm sure that any Fiio DAP will let you enjoy your music for years. I was wondering if you really need full size headphones or if you might consider IEMs instead. I think they're not just convenient but also isolate better than regular closed headphones (without active noise cancelling).

I wear hearing aids so it's over-ear or nothing for me. And I'm fine with that because my recent headphone purchases have been a revelation.

Good to hear your portable solution is still going strong after a number of years. My only reservation about getting the FT1 headphones are quite a few reports questioning their durability. More research required.