HorizonForumsone horizon
Log inSign up

[ms] · Est. May 2002

Music madethis place,we just kept itgoing...

One durable person. One social graph. Many communities—and every way people speak, share, listen, write, gather and remember.

01PulsePosts · shares · activity02PeopleIdentity · relationships · history03CommunitiesGroups · forums · events04Music + MediaListen · discover · discuss

Forums / General Yakkity Yak

Portable Music Player - Recommendation

74 durable postsStarted 2014-11-27Latest 2021-12-19
#1737200Post 41 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I use my iphone 4S and Bose AE2 headphones and it sounds great - with the bose, you hear wonderful detail

I imagine the newer iphones are even better in terms of sound quality

#1737201Post 42 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=feather;1151668]I am guessing high end audio components are not cheap.[/QUOTE] Audio components are cheap. It's research and development you're paying for mostly

#1737267Post 43 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

Meridians new MQA file format is going to change everything I reckon. As good as HD sound, some saying better, in a small cd sized flac file, in fact 1meg file for streaming, MP3 will be a thing of the past when it gets going.

I would wait to see what players arrive as they will need to be able to decode the MQA part from the file.

#1737268Post 44 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

^^ Interesting !!

#1737287Post 45 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I´m thinking in buying the Fiio player. Anyone? opinions?

#1807126Post 46 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=feather;1148176]Wow that's cool, didn't know there are DACs for cars.

There used to be custom iPods with upgraded sound chips.[/QUOTE]I ended up buying one of those iPods . Bought one that had been sitting in a draw since new in 2006 . I have been using it for the last three years and still great . But it doesn't want to know about anything over 1536kbps, and is even problematical with those. Which the free download tracks on Soundcloud are. This problem is only going to get worse. :(

Long story short I am looking for something that handles this problem in a non complicated way . :)

And why I resurrected this thread :)

#1807147Post 47 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I have a Fiio X5, its android based.only complaint is battery lasts maybe 12 hrs max. I have 2 256 GB micro sd cards in it which is 95-100% of my library.

#1807148Post 48 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I'm Mac :)

#1807149Post 49 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

i still use my sony walkman although the model i have has long been discontinued. i have yet to fill it up and have over 6500 music files.

#1807160Post 50 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

In another life I would definitely buy this little gem

[URL]https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/cowon-plenue-d3[/URL]

#1807169Post 51 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

^^ That looks great !! I ended up buying a budget Astell and Kern. Activo CT10 The local dealer had them on sale at less than half the Amazon price. $249 . So cheap for any of these players , let alone an Astell and Kern.

[URL]https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/activo-ct10[/URL]

It certainly doesn't look crash hot. But it's super easy for me to download music to. It has lots of features I will never use. But as more hi res music becomes available I am covered. :( I actually got rid of the the Astell and Kern I had before which looked great , but was an absolute bitch to operate. !!

#1810821Post 52 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

New Astell & Kern, the SR25 MKII

[url]https://www.whathifi.com/news/astell-and-kern-unveils-successor-to-award-winning-aandnorma-sr25-hi-res-music-player[/url]

#1810823Post 53 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

i picked up a Lotoo PAW Gold Touch a few months ago. i had a Sony ZX507 Walkman before that... great warm sound, it just didnt output enough power for the IEM and headphones i use.

[URL]https://shop.musicteck.com/products/lotoo-paw-gold-touch-reference-portable-hi-fi-player-english-version[/URL]

definitely the best sound i have ever heard from a portable device. that being said, i have not heard from Luxury & Precision, the LP6 Pro could beat it. Cayin make some good stuff too, i am semi interested in picking up their C6 amp to complement my Lotoo player.

#1810846Post 54 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

They look very nice but I have less and less need for something portable with all this work from home - with my last iPhone (early 2019) I bought a higher amount of memory and then haven't utilised it with music - also carrying around another device prob isn't a good thing as I always end up forgetting something when in a rush !

So think I'd invest in something for home - always tempted by Naim Uniti gear with internal DAC which is very expensive, although not buying the latest phone probably puts that in perspective. May see what the 2nd hand market has to offer.

#1810861Post 55 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=simonr;1235855]They look very nice but I have less and less need for something portable with all this work from home - with my last iPhone (early 2019) I bought a higher amount of memory and then haven't utilised it with music - also carrying around another device prob isn't a good thing as I always end up forgetting something when in a rush !

So think I'd invest in something for home - always tempted by Naim Uniti gear with internal DAC which is very expensive, although not buying the latest phone probably puts that in perspective. May see what the 2nd hand market has to offer.[/QUOTE]

You can often find good deals in the 2nd hand market. head-fi forums, reddit, some facebook groups allow selling. good thing about the audiophile hobby is that with a lot of gear, people buy just to see what it sounds like and resell them with minimal use. the only thing you would be potentially missing out on is any warranty if the place they originally purchased the item from doesnt transfer it. almost all of my gear, i got 2nd hand.

#1810864Post 56 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

^^^ Excellent advice. !! :D

#1810901Post 57 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

So this is a very noob question, but these players (the ones that have been linked in this thread in recent weeks)…..how do you get music onto them?

I have an iPod that is years old and is still going strong. It’s the first video one from 2003. When I add music to it, I have to download a set or track to my laptop, then plug the iPod in to the laptop and transfer the set or track to the iPod. Is it the same with these portable players now?

These things look lovely but I’m a bit torn as to whether I need one or not, especially as I stream most stuff now that I work from home a lot

#1810902Post 58 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

^^^ If you are happy with what you have, and you may have something better than you think, stick with it . The first video iPods where actually 2005 and depending on which of those you may have the enhanced 5.5 gen classic. If you have they have great sound. I bought one that had been sitting in a draw since new 4 years ago, and have since bought 2 Astell and Kerns hi res players and the sound on that iPod is discernibly better for me than either of them.

The first Astell and Kern I bought I resold because it it was just an incredible pain in the arse. It refreshed the whole library every time I opened it. I bought this last one because I was sent a Hi res file I couldn't play on the iPod and Addicted to Audio had this one really cheap. And it will only be used in future for that purpose. You just can't beat the simplicity of an iPod . You switch it on and it it on , I can see my tracklists with a couple of clicks. 4 years of playing hours very single day , and still going strong on the same battery. I love it. !! :D

I just plug my iPod in and iTunes updates. I bought the 2nd A @ K because it looked a lot simpler and it was but I had to download an android app to use it !! And I still have to wait for it to switch on :lol: Another stupid thing it has pause , back and forward buttons on the side where you would hold it !! The best thing about iPods is they don't have an OS or firmware you have to keep updating :lol:

Btw the iPod does play everything up to and including aiff and wav. Over that it literally ignores It, :lol:

#1810908Post 59 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=DIDI;1235927]^^^ If you are happy with what you have, and you may have something better than you think, stick with it . The first video iPods where actually 2005 and depending on which of those you may have the enhanced 5.5 gen classic. If you have they have great sound. I bought one that had been sitting in a draw since new 4 years ago, and have since bought 2 Astell and Kerns hi res players and the sound on that iPod is discernibly better for me than either of them.

The first Astell and Kern I bought I resold because it it was just an incredible pain in the arse. It refreshed the whole library every time I opened it. I bought this last one because I was sent a Hi res file I couldn't play on the iPod and Addicted to Audio had this one really cheap. And it will only be used in future for that purpose. You just can't beat the simplicity of an iPod . You switch it on and it it on , I can see my tracklists with a couple of clicks. 4 years of playing hours very single day , and still going strong on the same battery. I love it. !! :D

I just plug my iPod in and iTunes updates. I bought the 2nd A @ K because it looked a lot simpler and it was but I had to download an android app to use it !! And I still have to wait for it to switch on :lol: Another stupid thing it has pause , back and forward buttons on the side where you would hold it !! The best thing about iPods is they don't have an OS or firmware you have to keep updating :lol:

Btw the iPod does play everything up to and including aiff and wav. Over that it literally ignores It, :lol:[/QUOTE]

i have a ipod 5.5 classic as well. agree, these are the best ipod versions out there. it is the Wolfson DAC chips in them that make them so great. mine is sitting in a drawer somewhere lol

[QUOTE=GregWhelan;1235923]So this is a very noob question, but these players (the ones that have been linked in this thread in recent weeks)…..how do you get music onto them?

I have an iPod that is years old and is still going strong. It’s the first video one from 2003. When I add music to it, I have to download a set or track to my laptop, then plug the iPod in to the laptop and transfer the set or track to the iPod. Is it the same with these portable players now?

These things look lovely but I’m a bit torn as to whether I need one or not, especially as I stream most stuff now that I work from home a lot[/QUOTE]

most if not all of the hi-res audio players take mini SD cards up to 2TB. my LPGT has a 1TB card in it that i put all of my flac/mp3 files. i connect it via USB, and it opens like any other folder... drag and drop music files through folders. be careful what you buy if you do choose to get one, if you need streaming, i would recommend an android-based player.. although battery playback time will always be an issue <10hrs continuous because of the android OS.

#1810913Post 60 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

"it is the Wolfson DAC chips in them that make them so great. [COLOR=#CCCCCC]

[/COLOR]Yep !! :) [COLOR=#CCCCCC]

[/COLOR]

#1810917Post 61 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

DIDI/ddr - thanks for the feedback

Sounds like I'm best off staying with the iPod. TBH I couldn't tell you when I last used it in all honesty - as I am WFH a lot, I just stream YouTube on my iPad all day.

I just saw these gadgets you posted and got a bit of 'fear of missing out'!

#1810919Post 62 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=GregWhelan;1235947]DIDI/ddr - thanks for the feedback

Sounds like I'm best off staying with the iPod. TBH I couldn't tell you when I last used it in all honesty - as I am WFH a lot, I just stream YouTube on my iPad all day.

I just saw these gadgets you posted and got a bit of 'fear of missing out'![/QUOTE]

Stick with what makes you happy !! :D

#1810923Post 63 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=GregWhelan;1235947]DIDI/ddr - thanks for the feedback

Sounds like I'm best off staying with the iPod. TBH I couldn't tell you when I last used it in all honesty - as I am WFH a lot, I just stream YouTube on my iPad all day.

I just saw these gadgets you posted and got a bit of 'fear of missing out'![/QUOTE]

no problem! :) a lot of people use iPads as a music source because of the streaming aspect of it but add a DAC/AMP for better sound quality to their favorite set of headphones or IEM's. Schiit make some good cost-effective gear for that, [URL]https://www.schiit.com/[/URL]

advice though, if the sound quality is good enough for you, stick with what you have. curiosity in the audiophile world gets expensive... quickly. the rabbit holes are deep.

#1810924Post 64 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=ddr;1235953] advice though, if the sound quality is good enough for you, stick with what you have. curiosity in the audiophile world gets expensive... quickly. the rabbit holes are deep.[/QUOTE]

Would definitely agree with that !!! :D

#1811036Post 65 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I heard this thing called an iPod with a scroll wheel is good. I’ll look into it.

#1811037Post 66 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

I use a nano ipod and I really like it: small, sounds good, 16Gb storage (only mp3), bluetooth, wifi, radio.... And I also have an older Sony Walkman, only 4Gb, but it sounds very good

#1811039Post 67 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[COLOR="#cc6699"]

need to read all the good shits here, and talk some things with Far didi :lol:

i still use my 160gb iPod, and a nano like diegoffffff, but nano has like a poor battery

hernáaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnn :hc

[video=youtube;63xcT7OYJ0g]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63xcT7OYJ0g[/video]

[/COLOR]

#1811101Post 68 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

since i am back in the office for seemingly good... decided to pick up one of these... Cayin C9 Portable Amp. Vacuum tuuuuubes :)

[URL]https://en.cayin.cn/products_info?itemid=135[/URL]

#1811110Post 69 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

Very silly question here but what does that actually do? Do you plug your headphones into it and it amplifies the sound? So you have your mp3 player, this amplifier and then your headphones?

#1811115Post 70 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

^^^ Yep :)

#1811119Post 71 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=GregWhelan;1236218]Very silly question here but what does that actually do? Do you plug your headphones into it and it amplifies the sound? So you have your mp3 player, this amplifier and then your headphones?[/QUOTE]

Basically yes. i have my digital music player playing on high gain through a 4.4 balanced connection with my IEMs currently. because of the power hungry IEMs and headphones i have, this will amplify the sound so i can use low gain on both. high gain can have the tendency to distort very mildly. considering the C9 has vacuum tubes in it, it will change the sound a bit as well, make it more warmer.

#1811154Post 72 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

So it’s not an increase in volume per se, more an improvement on the quality of sound you would normally get via headphones?

#1811159Post 73 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

[QUOTE=GregWhelan;1236279]So it’s not an increase in volume per se, more an improvement on the quality of sound you would normally get via headphones?[/QUOTE]

It is both. especially among IEM's and hi end headphones with high impedance.

#1811201Post 74 of 74

Re: Portable Music Player - Recommendation

Wow. Just seen the price of that Cayin gadget! £1,300 in the UK!

Log in to reply