Digital Audio Players (DAPs)

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Double-posting is under-rated: it reflects how we process thoughts and experiences. Bully for WHF: Forums that block it are quite frustrating.

Yet, I've balked even single-posting as DAP matters do not belong in "Headphones and accessories": they are neither -not how I process and experience anyway.
 
Where do you think it best fits @Rodolfo ? None of the other categories really made sense for me, and I think of a DAP as an "accessory" if there isn't a "portable" section.

Today I've been using the JM21 in the garden in one of the use cases I had for it - it's super. Really great to have decent quality tunes on the move and I think I may end up using it far more than I first thought. I've passed the 100GB mark for downloads already, so am pleased I bought the SD card that I did.
 
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RTHerringbone said:
Where do you think it best fits @Rodolfo ? None of the other categories really made sense for me, and I think of a DAP as an "accessory" if there isn't a "portable" section.

Today I've been using the JM21 in the garden in one of the use cases I had for it - it's super. Really great to have decent quality tunes on the move and I think I may end up using it far more than I first thought. I've passed the 100GB mark for downloads already, so am pleased I bought the SD card that I did.
Click to expand...
Glad you're enjoying it. I would be lost without mine travelling a lot and working away from home as I do.
It's not an accessory it's a necessity.
 
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RTHerringbone said:
Where do you think it best fits @Rodolfo ? None of the other categories really made sense for me, and I think of a DAP as an "accessory" if there isn't a "portable" section.

Today I've been using the JM21 in the garden in one of the use cases I had for it - it's super. Really great to have decent quality tunes on the move and I think I may end up using it far more than I first thought. I've passed the 100GB mark for downloads already, so am pleased I bought the SD card that I did.
Click to expand...
They are essential sources with built-in amplification, storage, and signal processing, etc.. I think only my integrated amplifier is less "accessory". If they don't merit their own section, they belong under Hi-Fi, I believe.
 
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I do wonder where Hi-Fi journalists get their powers of articulation and vocabulary from, because it's really hard for me to explain the differences between my new portable setup and my desktop headphone option.

Both have advantages, neither have what I'd consider disadvantages. The FT1s being closed back feel like they give me more bass presence and the "closed" space feels intimate but (a contradiction) still have a soundstage far wider than I had expected.

The desktop setup has an airy feel and general definition and "quality" above the portable option, but they're both really enjoyable. I currently feel like they're very circumstantial preferences. I need to swap try the FT1s via the K13 R2R because really the JM21 is surprising me - it delivers in spades.
 
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RTHerringbone said:
I do wonder where Hi-Fi journalists get their powers of articulation and vocabulary from, because it's really hard for me to explain the differences between my new portable setup and my desktop headphone option.

Both have advantages, neither have what I'd consider disadvantages. The FT1s being closed back feel like they give me more bass presence and the "closed" space feels intimate but (a contradiction) still have a soundstage far wider than I had expected.

The desktop setup has an airy feel and general definition and "quality" above the portable option, but they're both really enjoyable. I currently feel like they're very circumstantial preferences. I need to swap try the FT1s via the K13 R2R because really the JM21 is surprising me - it delivers in spades.
Click to expand...
It truly is amazing the sound quality from a good DAP and the FT1 delivers in buckets.
I sold my Elegias and I was surprised how well the FT1s fitted the Focal's shoes, I would say it was about 90% of sound quality.
I hear it's pricer sibling FT30 is even better.
 
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Jasonovich said:
It truly is amazing the sound quality from a good DAP and the FT1 delivers in buckets.
I sold my Elegias and I was surprised how well the FT1s fitted the Focal's shoes, I would say it was about 90% of sound quality.
I hear it's pricer sibling FT30 is even better.
Click to expand...
The FT1s are amazing quality and value - generally, depending on my ears behaving and my mood, I prefer the FT1 over the Edition XS and FT5 - especially as I got mine for the princely sum of £95 when they were on offer and also had a credit on my Richer Sounds account for a delivery **** up.
 
Tested out the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth on High Gain through the JM21 and it.....pulls it off?! It doesn't have the weight and authority of the K13 R2R but it has a good go and the qualities of the planars are plain to hear. Impressive little box.
 
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RTHerringbone said:
Tested out the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth on High Gain through the JM21 and it.....pulls it off?! It doesn't have the weight and authority of the K13 R2R but it has a good go and the qualities of the planars are plain to hear. Impressive little box.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't dream of using my planars on my DAP.
The V6 has a power amp output and still not convinced, they'll be driven to its optimum but kudos to you for having a bash.
 
Jasonovich said:
I wouldn't dream of using my planars on my DAP.
The V6 has a power amp output and still not convinced, they'll be driven to its optimum but kudos to you for having a bash.
Click to expand...
It was a pure curiosity thing. I'll never use planars as a matter of course with the DAP but wanted to understand the power output and the various Gain settings. I think it would be a more than acceptable option for many to be honest if they hadn't heard planars through beefier components.
 
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RTHerringbone said:
Flipped things the other way and put the FT1s into the K13 R2R and that can make them really show their stuff. Impressive set of cans for the price.
Click to expand...
I was curious I thought I try your experiment. Nothing Hi-Res, just Jazz music from YouTube, see link below.

I don't recall ever using my FTI's on the main system only via the the DAP. So let's see what these cans can do and, delighted with the outcome, no surprise, they performed admirably, nice clear crispy sound.
8 minutes into the beginning of the sound track where it got busy, the lows and the highs and everything coming together, the FTI's were struggling to keep up, I can see it was working overtime but I think many headphones priced double or many times the cost, will possible struggle also.

When the He1000's came on, it was locked into the groove, nothing could budge it, again this was a headphone eight times the price!

Yes, anyone looking for a closed back budget headphone with excellent sound, look no further than the FiiO FT1s

I was using my Conexion Mogami cables with XLR to quarter inch Jack Neutrik converter.

1777569633143.png
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jazz music - Search Videos

Watch videos instantly on Bing—enjoy direct playback, discover related clips, and dive into trending content all in one place.
www.bing.com www.bing.com
 
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Amiron's I forgot to mentioned, seem to suit Jazz, nice cool...Relax. Has more expansion than the FT1's but not as crisp or vibrant. These are most unusual for Beyerdynamics, it has soul!

Switched over to the planars, the piano notes have more realism, hearing more information, not as chilled as the Amiron's but more convinced by the music I'm hearing, Amiron's coming across as slightly dull but had I not heard the planars I would not think that.

Nice to hear different interpretation of the music from three different headphone.

1777570918637.png
 
It's nice to tinker. I'm currently using the FT7s on the upstairs system and the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth on the main system.

I haven't listened to the latter yet, but the former just feels tonally so much warmer and more seductive than with the Stealth's. Lovely stuff and it's a "free" bit of experimentation. I don't know if it's just a natural synergy because the DAC / Amp and headphones are from the same brand, but it certainly clicks.

EDIT: Crikey it's a good combo. Listening to Sunday Afternoon by Rachel Yamagata and The Greatest by Cat Power is quite marvellous. There's zero barrier between me and the music.
 
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Downstairs now and it's baffling how much better both sets of headphones sound on different systems.

Soulfight by The Revivalists through the Nait 50 into the Stealth's is effortlessly good.

I can understand these benefitting from more grunt, but the FT7s sounding better than the Stealth's upstairs is confusing. Probably just preference and that's great, because I totally prefer this arrangement.

EDIT: The Joke by Brandi Carlile is ludicrously well presented on this downstairs ensemble. Wow.
 
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Want to spend £1,800 on a DAP? You can with Astell & Kern's new PD20. They've switched from AKM to ESS DACs and come up with exotic-sounding "Audiosphere" tech which just sounds like another stab at spacial audio. Build quality as usual looks top-tier.

However, the truly innovative aspect is the in-built hearing test which feels like a really smart introduction if it is effective. As I see it, you either EQ or you don't, but whether you do or not can be compromised if your hearing already is - why EQ something based on a preference curve if those adjustments are outside of what you can hear? So this is like an EQ of an optional EQ. Interesting idea and I wonder if it will catch on.

 
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RTHerringbone said:
Want to spend £1,800 on a DAP? You can with Astell & Kern's new PD20. They've switched from AKM to ESS DACs and come up with exotic-sounding "Audiosphere" tech which just sounds like another stab at spacial audio. Build quality as usual looks top-tier.

However, the truly innovative aspect is the in-built hearing test which feels like a really smart introduction if it is effective. As I see it, you either EQ or you don't, but whether you do or not can be compromised if your hearing already is - why EQ something based on a preference curve if those adjustments are outside of what you can hear? So this is like an EQ of an optional EQ. Interesting idea and I wonder if it will catch on.

Click to expand...
Thank goodness Astell & Kern hasn't switched to R2R, can you imagine how much they will charge for their latest and greatest? 🙂
 
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HI.
I have a few questions about daps.
If i bought a fiio m21, can I transfer via usb 3 from pc to the dap, but specifically to the installed sd card?
 
Jasonovich said:
Thank goodness Astell & Kern hasn't switched to R2R, can you imagine how much they will charge for their latest and greatest? 🙂
Click to expand...
Thankfully none have "switched to" that I know -and doubt any ever will. Astell & Kern also produced an R2R DAP at least once; it was also their first class-A amp DAP --AND it wasn't for more $ than their other offerings at the time:

Amazon.com: Astell&Kern A&Futura SE300 Portable High Resolution Audio Player (Platinum Silver) : Electronics

Buy Astell&Kern A&Futura SE300 Portable High Resolution Audio Player (Platinum Silver): MP3 & MP4 Players - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
 
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