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Author Topic: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement  (Read 4992 times)

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Offline Chilly Brioschi

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Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« on: August 08, 2014, 11:16:22 AM »
My iPod is getting wonky and I'm going replace it.
I've been lazy and am not reading much about portable players.

Any suggestions?
Driving Sennheisers would be a big plus, easy navigation is nice, and I don't need it to do more than play hi-bitrate MP3, and if possible FLAC files.

Great sound is the goal...  has AKG, SD, Schoeps, Nagra, or any high-end manufacturer ever put out a player worth a hoot?
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Offline dnsacks

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2014, 12:18:25 PM »
what mobile phone do you use and could it serve as the nucleus of an iPod replacement? -- might be easier/easiest to pair a phone/etc. with a nice headphone amp to get quality sound (rather than a dedicated player)

Offline Ultfris101

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2014, 03:47:04 PM »
I'm a fan of having one device so I like my iphone for that reason . So I second the recommendation to consider phone options, but I would also like to be able to play FLACs or not have my phone tied to something so I have been casually looking at the Fiio X3. Not very expensive, expandable storage, plays just about any format file.

http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?MenuID=105026016

There has been some discussion of the X3:

http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=163993.0
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Offline dnsacks

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2014, 07:14:51 PM »
Heard nice things about the x3 -- fwiw, i've set up foobar2000 so that it can convert my flacs to apple lossless in one click -- this has made it quite easy for me to play/enjoy lossless (up to 24/48k) on my iPhone. 

Offline Fried Chicken Boy

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #4 on: August 20, 2014, 01:31:12 PM »
In addition to the X3, FiiO has released it successor, the X5.  iBasso also makes a DAP called the DX90 (successor to the DX50) which has been getting some good reviews.  If you check out forums like Head-Fi, there are a number of threads and reviews comparing the players.

Offline pohaku

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #5 on: August 21, 2014, 12:44:53 PM »
I have an X3 and a Classic 160.  The X3 sounds great and works quite well.  The Apple interface is still better IMHO, but I primarily use my X3 for shows, so the interface matters less.  I'm not skipping around much and searching.  It is nice being able to add capacity by replacing a card.
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Offline Colin Liston

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2014, 05:57:38 PM »
How about this?  I know nothing about it, but just stumbled across it.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/geek-wave-it-s-not-a-next-gen-ipod-it-s-a-no-compromise-portable-music-player

Plays 32 bit/384 kHz plus DSD 128, FLAC and all other formats
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Offline pohaku

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2014, 11:02:11 PM »
How about this?  I know nothing about it, but just stumbled across it.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/geek-wave-it-s-not-a-next-gen-ipod-it-s-a-no-compromise-portable-music-player

Plays 32 bit/384 kHz plus DSD 128, FLAC and all other formats

Interesting.  Not inexpensive.  I like the replaceable battery.  Would like expandable storage though.  Still too small. My classic 160 is full, which is why I bought the X3. I rip in lossless, so between that and shows, I need more storage.
Mics: akg c460 (ck61, ck63), c414buls, c568eb; at4049a, 4051a, 4053a, at853; josephson c42; neumann U87, km84i; beyer m130, m160, m500; aea r84; gefell m71, mt711s, m200, m201, um70S; sony c38; schoeps cmc6, CMBI (mk4, mk21, mk41, mk4v); sennheiser mkh30, mkh40, md421, md431, md541; audix m1290
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Offline OOK

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2014, 11:52:18 PM »
Here are some high end options....  I accept no responsibility for your wallet...sorry :P 


While I don't have any personal experience with most of the players below they all have gotten good reviews from what I have been reading on headfi..  I have heard the AK120 and thought it sounded fantastic.

The Fiio X3 up to 128 gig on micro sd - WM8740 DAC chip - supports all the cool formats - gapless playback -199$

The Fiio X5 up to 256 gig on micro sd - TI PCM1792A DAC chip - supports all the cool formats - gapless playback - 350$

The Astell&Kern AK100 32gig internal - two 32 gig micro sd slots -  Wolfson WM8740 DAC - supports all the formats gapless playback - discontinued but can be had for 699$

The Astell&Kern AK120 64gig internal - two 64 gig micro sd slots -  Dual Wolfson WM8740 DAC - supports all the formats gapless playback - discontinued but can be had for 1299$

The Astell&Kern AK100mk2 - 64 gig internal 128 micro sd slot - Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC - supports all the formats gapless playback - 899$

The Astell&Kern AK120mk2 - 128 gig internal 128 micro sd slot - Dual Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC- supports all the formats gapless playback - 1699$

Then there is Hifiman.. various versions and range in price from 219$ to 1279$

I have not heard very good things about the IBasso stuff.. the stuff appears buggy. they haven't worked out all the kinks yet.  Although I have no personal experience with them.   

I wont talk about the Astell&Kern AK240 it is off the charts....crazy , over the top..... at 2499$
« Last Edit: August 22, 2014, 11:55:21 PM by OOK »
DPA/HEB 4060's > R09HR
MBHO648/KA100Lk/KA200/KA300/KA500 > SD702

Offline OOK

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2014, 10:30:36 AM »
I should add all the above players pretty much will all drive full size headphones with no problems.  I believe all have line outs as well and digi opticals too.  I believe all the fiio and astell&kern player support 24/192k playback as well as some form of DSD too.  IPod has been lagging behind in the highrez playback portable scene.
DPA/HEB 4060's > R09HR
MBHO648/KA100Lk/KA200/KA300/KA500 > SD702

Offline Colin Liston

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2014, 12:52:00 PM »
How about this?  I know nothing about it, but just stumbled across it.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/geek-wave-it-s-not-a-next-gen-ipod-it-s-a-no-compromise-portable-music-player

Plays 32 bit/384 kHz plus DSD 128, FLAC and all other formats

Interesting.  Not inexpensive.  I like the replaceable battery.  Would like expandable storage though.  Still too small. My classic 160 is full, which is why I bought the X3. I rip in lossless, so between that and shows, I need more storage.

This thing claims 2TB on a sdxc card in the future
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Offline The Other Chris

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2014, 01:06:57 PM »
Sorry to hijack the thread but could someone point me to an idiots guide w/regards to getting the most from your iPhone 5 as an iPod replacement, mine died.  Thanks!

Offline DigiGal

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Re: Need Recs for Best iPod Replacement
« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2014, 01:38:45 PM »
http://www.ponomusic.com

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