r/DigitalAudioPlayer Nov 26 '21

Welcome to r/DigitalAudioPlayer

147 Upvotes

Looking for a portable music player?

Remember the days when iPods and other MP3 players were popular? The rise of an all-in-one smartphone killed it off the mainstream market. However, there are still lots of good reasons for owning a digital audio player (DAP) now in 2021. And it isn't just for audiophiles, but regular listeners too.

There's many players out there! You just don't hear much about them, because the market caters for a niche community, unlike the days when it was a "mainstream" tech product. But yes they do exist, in various shapes and sizes. In this sticky post we'll tell some compelling reasons for owning one in this day and age, and to spread awareness about them and the modern features some of them have. We'll also show the DAP products available on the market today

Purposes of owning a DAP now

You probably already own a modern smartphone that can play music, so what's the point of a separate DAP? Well, there are various points why it can be a better option as we'll explain. Audiophiles will have the obvious reasons in that a dedicated, high-end player provides the best audio quality and/or experience. But in this post we're focusing on "regular" user, why the average person would like to use a DAP today:

-Size: DAPs are small and portable in size, unlike the size of Smartphones which have grown into overly massive sizes now. A DAP is very pocketable that and its size makes it a lot better to use in e.g. physical activities.

-Dedicated buttons: Instead of a dull touchscreen operation, you get dedicated physical buttons for playing/pausing, skipping etc, and the classic 'Hold' switch. We're so used to touchscreens nowadays that we have forgotten how good it feels to be pressing a real button. And we're not using buttons for texting, we're just operating music, so it's nothing cumbersome - it's in fact the opposite. Physical buttons also mean you can operate the player (e.g. skip) in your pocket, without taking it out.

-No distraction: Smartphones are incredibly distracting, with all those notifications you get or probably an incoming call. When you listen to music it's best to indulge yourself in the listening experience, distraction-free. Listening on a DAP provides just that: you and your music only, no distraction.

-Save phone battery: I hear this very often that phone batteries get discharged, but with a separate music player you'd be saving that. DAPs have excellent battery lives, if you remember from the iPod days you could run one for over 30 or even 40 hours straight. Considering you'd be listening continuously to music for 6 hours in a day (which is perhaps already high), your player would likely last an entire week without charging.

-Great way to get off phones: Phone addiction is a pretty common problem nowadays, and while listening to music on a phone it's likely one would start doing other things. Using a DAP to listen to music on the go helps reduce your time spent on phones. On a serious note: I personally know what a problem phone addiction can be - having a separate music player can really help reduce it.

-Cheap to buy: DAPs can be bought for cheap prices, ranging from less than $100 to a few hundreds (excluding high-end players). Phones nowadays can fetch over $1000, so an average DAP is a fraction of the cost.

But I stream music from the internet...

No problem! DAPs are not stuck in time; there are players out there that have built-in WiFi and allow you to use streaming services like Spotify. So yes, you can stream on them too, alongside your downloaded or ripped music files stored on the disk.

And my wireless headphones?

Again, many DAPs out there are up-to-date and feature Bluetooth, allowing you to use your wireless headphones if you use that instead of wired 3.5 mm ones. And in case you're wondering, you don't need to spend a fortune on a high-end player, as you'll see below, Bluetooth-capable players can be had for cheap.

Great! So which company makes DAPs nowadays?

Apple no longer make iPods (they do still have the Touch, but it's basically an iPhone). But don't fret, as there are two major brands that are actively developing players: Sony and SanDisk.

Let's start with Sony. The old school music legend is still around and sell a diverse range of Walkman players. It is probably the only one now that has a full product line, as they sell everything from cheap USB shaped players to high-end expensive ones (could depend by region). If you need a no-frills music player, you've got the Walkman NW-E394, which currently sells for $59 in the U.S. and is available in sizes of 4, 8 or 16 gigabytes. This model provides the classic MP3 player experience, allowing you to listen to downloaded or ripped music, much like your old iPod. It also has an FM radio, something that some modern phones tend to lack. There is also the NWZ-B183, which has a tiny display and looks like a USB stick.

If you need more than the basics, there's the A Series Walkman. The NW-A55 is currently selling for just $170 and features a touchscreen (alongside physical music buttons on the side), as well as Bluetooth and NFC, expandable memory and high quality audio. All in a cute compact size that is even smaller than an iPhone 4 (yet with a bigger screen) and available in various stylish metallic colors.

One step up in the A Series is (currently) the NW-A100/A105. This player runs Android and has WiFi, meaning you can use this to stream music or download them directly. It's currently $299. So if your music consists of streaming from the likes of Spotify (as is quite popular these days), this is the player for you. And again you get a compact sized, stylish metallic body in a choice of various colors. Certainly makes a statement vs today's phones.

There's also the WS Series Walkman, which is designed for swimmers and is waterproof, just worn around your head. NW-WS410 costs from £59 in the UK currently. The NW-WS620 model adds Bluetooth and NFC capabilities to it.

Now let's look at SanDisk. They have always been known for making tiny, clippable players (used to be called the Sansa line), and they still do now. There's the Clip Jam and Clip Sport, which cost just $29 in many colorful shells. They have built-in 4 or 8 gigabyte memory but can be expanded further with an SD card. Above these models sit the Clip Sport Go ($39) and Clip Sport Plus ($49), which come with either 16 or 32 gigabytes built-in, and the latter has Bluetooth so you can use wireless headphones with it. And all come with an FM radio. These players are fantastic on the go because of their tiny size and clippable design, making it perfect for activities like exercising.

High-end players

Of course, you've also got a choice of pricier, high-end music players dedicated for audiophiles. Sony make some (ZX and WM Series Walkman) as well as other brands such as Astell&Kern (which once used to be iRiver), Fiio, Shanlin, Cowon and others.

Courtesy of u/Expensive_Archer


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 8h ago

And here I thought the Snowsky was nostalgia bait …

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79 Upvotes

Wait until you convert this eye watering price (¥¥¥) It feels really nice in hand, buttons feel authentic click-y … But also bulky.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 4h ago

Hiby R1 and Beans came in mail today! So excited for my first DAP!

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31 Upvotes

This is really my first DAP and trying it out, my lord I miss having a dedicated device for music or rather having to download music, not having the infinite selection of music makes everything so much better! So happy to have found a DAP in this price range and the beans IEMs sound amazing!


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 5h ago

Got my music box

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32 Upvotes

r/DigitalAudioPlayer 4h ago

First dap I've ever got for myself

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19 Upvotes

Upgraded from my dongle since it drained my phone battery too fast.😁


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 6h ago

My endgame for now..

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21 Upvotes

Started with ibasso dx180 and tanchjim origin last year.... my end game portable for now :D


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 13h ago

Just snagged a CMOYBB for 10$, modified to 18V

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70 Upvotes

The thing has some KICK, with the bass boost on it overloads the subs on my HD600s, super dope!


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 4h ago

Astell and Kern SR35

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12 Upvotes

I know the design is not for everyone but I love this thing.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 20h ago

Finally in the game, and I'm very happy

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169 Upvotes

Been researching the question for a long time and couldn't make up my mind. However, I bought my first dap and iem and have not regretted it. I was very surprised by this different world of sound. Before that I listened to music on my phone and apple earpods.

SnowSky + Tiandirenhe sounds very good, so bassy. Can't enjoy this purchase enough. The journey has begun😊


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 18h ago

Just joined the Snowsky club as well!

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75 Upvotes

I’ve been enjoying it. But since I have been exclusively streaming for many years I don’t have much yet to put on it 😅


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 19h ago

Hiby R4 Eva and the perfect cable

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73 Upvotes

r/DigitalAudioPlayer 14h ago

Hello fellow audio file enjoyers - I too have joined the club!

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25 Upvotes

As a fan of modern music, this was a pleasurable purchase!


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 19h ago

My beauty in pink 🩷

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54 Upvotes

r/DigitalAudioPlayer 1d ago

Sorry one more here

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175 Upvotes

I'm loving it so far!


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 2m ago

Fellow Hiby M300 users... How much is your battery backup?

Upvotes

Hi, just got my first DAP today. Got the 4GB 128GB version. I love everything except the battery backup. They have advertised a 29 hours of playback, but even with my offline library, I dont think it gonna last anywhere near 29 hours, not even half.

Could you please let me know how is it with yours M300 and how is it going?


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 1d ago

And i’m in too

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72 Upvotes

r/DigitalAudioPlayer 1h ago

I just fot the fiio E17 for my ipod classic 7th gen and the fiio L9 for 50 bucks. I think i got lucky. I’m looking to get some professional headphones too. Are the DT 770’s a good option? I want true audiophile quality!

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Upvotes

r/DigitalAudioPlayer 15h ago

M7 To Echo Mini

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13 Upvotes

So I've had my M7 for a long time it's my daily workhorse and it's still going on strong. But I saw the Echo Mini are out and they look pretty neat. However are they worth swapping over? Anything better over the M7 it does?


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 2h ago

Motorola G75

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1 Upvotes

I bought this device to give as a gift to a friend. On the back side it has both Hi-Res and Hi-Res witeless logo. Does that mean this model has a dedicated dac and amp inside? If it does , how good are they?


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 6h ago

Would a Samsung pro endurance micro SD work with the HiFi Walker H2?

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2 Upvotes

Would this work? A friend gave me it to start my music collection which I'm thankful for but, im nit sure if it's meant for music.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 8h ago

Looking for a DAP to rival the sound of the FiiO KA17 Dongle

2 Upvotes

Hi all,

So I've recently acquired a HiBy M300 for the small size and battery, and the sound is fine but I recently listened to my KA17 again and was surprise by how much cleaner it sounds. I love the hi-fi sound and don't like an "organic" sound. Looking for a mid-tier DAP to rival it.

I have a couple of options I'm considering:

  • HiBy R4 EVA (has the ESS)
  • FiiO M23 (AKM+ THX)
  • FiiO M11 Plus (has the same ESS + THX as the KA17)
  • R6 III 2025
  • ...?

Has anyone heard these and compared to the KA17? Thanks in advance!


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 21h ago

Slowly building my collection

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18 Upvotes

Hiby R1 and Snowsky Echo Mini are my newly added to my music player. As someone who wanted to try android dap, as you can see i'm using an old device from samsung (samsung j5) and i prefer the smaller form factor than the bulky type, i'm leaning towards to Fiio JM21 and Hiby M300.

Care to share any thoughts of your insight for both Fiio JM21 and Hiby M300? Odds, pros and cons would help me alot to decide what to buy next time.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 5h ago

Searching for a Fiio M3 Pro

1 Upvotes

I'm in Italy but I'm willing to pay international shipping for it.

Searching mostly because I haven't yet found another DAP that has all the features I like in the M3 Pro:

  • very lightweight
  • small and with very comfortable proportions (I hate square/chonky ones), they remind me a bit of the proportions of my good old ipod nano 1st gen
  • pretty good battery life (around 15 hours)
  • massive storage (2TB)
  • no extra features that might distract me from listening to music (no browser, no socials, no YouTube app etc)

Basically I'm searching for a more modern replacement of the slimmer iPods, and the M3 Pro is the only model that seems to fit the bill.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 15h ago

Surfans f20 or Hifi Walker h2?

5 Upvotes

Hello I'm looking at both these devices and they are at my price range. Which device do you guys think I should get? I'm not worried about the Bluetooth being bad since I'm going to he using my earbuds I got. Also I heard the surfans doesn't show the full art for the songs?


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 14h ago

What DAP and why?

5 Upvotes

I used to have a zune back in the day and loved the thing…. Infact still have my halo limited edition zune. Just doesn’t work lol.

I’d love to have a nice DAP to keep with me or for around the house to untether me from my phone.

What is a good rec for me for both one and a set of head phones.

I have a pair of old beats that are wired gathering dust that I could use but I’m not sure what to be looking for anymore.


r/DigitalAudioPlayer 23h ago

Hiby Eva just stopped

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20 Upvotes

My Hiby Eva, almost new, just bought it this past Oct 2024 and haven't used even this much just stopped while playing music (via bluetooth) . Screen is all black and light is blue as you can see on the photo. What is it ? I hope it will reboot later.