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Gear / Technical Help => Playback Forum => Topic started by: Chilly Brioschi on August 08, 2014, 11:16:22 AM
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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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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)
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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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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.
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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.
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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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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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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.
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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 (http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000045041475&MenuID=105026016) up to 128 gig on micro sd - WM8740 DAC chip - supports all the cool formats - gapless playback -199$
The Fiio X5 (http://www.fiio.com.cn/products/index.aspx?ID=100000055517771&MenuID=105026016) up to 256 gig on micro sd - TI PCM1792A DAC chip - supports all the cool formats - gapless playback - 350$
The Astell&Kern AK100 (http://www.audioadvisor.com/AstellKern-AK100-Portable-High-Fidelity-System/productinfo/ASAK100/#.U_g0OrlOXbg) 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 (http://www.audioadvisor.com/AstellKern-AK120-Portable-High-Fidelity-System/productinfo/ASAK120/#.U_g1Z7lOXbg) 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 (http://www.astellnkern.com/) - 64 gig internal 128 micro sd slot - Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC - supports all the formats gapless playback - 899$
The Astell&Kern AK120mk2 (http://www.astellnkern.com/) - 128 gig internal 128 micro sd slot - Dual Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC- supports all the formats gapless playback - 1699$
Then there is Hifiman (http://head-direct.com/Products/?cid=5).. various versions and range in price from 219$ to 1279$
I have not heard very good things about the IBasso (http://www.ibasso.com/en/home/) 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 (http://www.astellnkern.com/) it is off the charts....crazy , over the top..... at 2499$
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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.
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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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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!
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http://www.ponomusic.com
Neil Young makes them from model railroading parts in his spare time between tours, recording sessions and such so there may be a wait on the build times. ;)
(http://assets.noisey.com/content-images/article/what-pono-is-doing-to-the-music-industry-nothing/Screen-Shot-2014-04-17-at-12-30-54-PM_vice_670.jpg)