8 Reasons Why I Use A Digital Audio Player (DAP)

These are my 8 reasons on why I'm using a Digital Audio Player (DAP) in 2023.
1:37 Reason #1 No distractions
3:01 Reason #2 Engineered for sound
4:22 Reason #3 Plug and play
5:25 Reason #4 Storage
6:45 Reason #5 Mobile collection
8:01 Reason #6 One device
8:43 Reason #7 Buttons
9:10 Reason #8 Bit-perfect

[@DIGITAL_DECAY.EXE_]

Smart phones are like general handymen. Yeah they can do a lot but if i need a mural painted I am calling a painter not a handyman. YEAH he paints but not compared to the painter.

[@taxeddpo8643]

I think It Is pretty useless for everyday use, unless you are a sound designer or something like that

[@thecircuitbox]

Very bad analogy.

[@jeremyo3823]

DAPS are like an industry in decline milking the last shred from profit from their dwindling customer base by convincing them that the minor differences are worth the extreme price hike.

[@xoxoj]

Wtf was that analogy

[@juswolf22]

Why would you NEED a mural painted?

[@PercyPanleo]

If you are wanting to get a DAP on a budget, see if you have an LG Android phone (Or can get one for cheap) LG for whatever reason decided to use ESS Sabre DACs in their phones instead of just using the DAC built in to the SoC, so you can easily use an SD card and the FiiO music app to have a full DAP experience. The only thing that you will miss out on is physical controls, but if you're using headphones with a replaceable cable you can probably get one with inline controls.

[@idontwalkslow]

Only if they still made smartphones :(

[@nelsonc6173]

@@idontwalkslow Buy used!

[@thesevenleggedspider7102]

Hey what kind of model of lg that used ess sabre dacs?

[@3l_Pinxhe_JoE]

But their Volume is WACK. Very VERY LOW

[@PercyPanleo]

@@thesevenleggedspider7102 I believe most of their phones, at the very least their later phones, that had it

[@nin6246]

You obviously have a brain that works -- keeping the audio player separate from the phone is a crucial upgrade to daily life and clearly you have enough sense to know how to accomplish a proper audio setup. Good on you and it makes me more optimistic for the future!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

As a music lover, I just want to share my experiences with like minded individuals so they may discover the world of better audio.

[@AetherMind81]

Thank you. I couldn't have said it better. I finally pulled the trigger on my first DAP, and I absolutely love it!

[@PawlH]

Damn good point about the lack of distraction. I’m trying to break my smartphone addiction so you’re speaking my language here

[@adarsh_hatwar]

Not a good reason tbh. You have focus modes now in android and iOS to silence notifications from distracting apps. So need a better reason.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’ve tried Do Not Disturb and it was OK. But that’s something I don’t want to think about turning back off when I’m done listening. I’m just lazy maybe.

[@elasmojones]

I keep looking for one of these higher end devices that doesn't run Android....just plays my music from a 512GB SD card, that's all.

[@proximacentaur1654]

It's a good reason for me. If I listen to music on my computer before going to bed chances are I'll end up browsing and staying up late in front of a screen. With a DAP there's no chance of that happening.

[@suryagurung7793]

​@@adarsh_hatwar While I used to share your opinion a year ago, I've realised that focus modes are too easy to bypass. If focus modes and other distraction reduction apps are working for you, you don't know what its like to be addicted to your smartphone yet.

[@HailAnts]

Great post! I'm an audiophile, and almost twenty years ago I ripped all my CDs to digital tracks. But I have to admit that I ripped them to MP3 (most at 192kHz at least). I didn't even know that FLAC existed back then, plus storage was at a premium still. I originally played them on a Creative Labs 40MB harddrive-based music player. Then I got an iPhone, and have transferred them all to each one of those I have had (on my fifth one now). After watching your video and doing a little research I find that A) My iPhone will play FLAC files, and B) My computer can rip CDs into FLAC files. And since I know that there's no way to 'up-convert' a music file, now I'm faced with the challenge of re-ripping all my CDs (I have over 350 of them) in order to have them as FLAC files. I use my iPhone as my music source in my car as well (hard-wired not Bluetooth) and like I said, I'm an audiophile, I guess I should just grin and bear it..

[@lihtan]

I ripped my entire CD collection to FLAC about a decade ago. The hard drive that has all that music now needs data recovery. I've also bought more CDs since then. Right now, I'm re-ripping my CD collection again. It is worth the hassle. Another bonus, modern Intel Core chips now do the FLAC encoding in seconds, instead of several minutes.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I agree it is well worth ripping your CDs. I unfortunately got rid of a good chunk of my CD collection a decade ago and I’ve been slowly re-building my collection since.

[@user-rw1dl5ju9b]

Use Exact Audio Copy or CueRipper for re-ripping the CD's, but do it as one track with a cue sheet (to WAV or FLAC). It's faster as you can convert the CD Image to split FLAC files with something like Foobar2000, fre:ac, or the like. You could even convert it to ALAC so you don't have to use some 3rd party workaround on the iPhone.

[@G-Man01]

I ripped my entire 2000 CD collection to 320kbps. I guess i dont feel compelled to re-rip it because the sound difference between 320kbps and FLAC isn't worth the considerable difference in storage space.

[@samlaser1975]

I agree with ALL your points. Thumbs up for DAPS! I use one of the Hiby models-doesn't matter, because A&K, Sony etc etc etc are also brilliant. I use a cheaper DAP to pair with a Mojo2 as I only use it as a transport. But if Mojo goes for a vacation I use a good DAP (like the Hiby R6III) and its' own DAC. It's pretty good and the DAP doesn't cost me the earth. All this being said, I still use my Android Phone (an old Galaxy S8 but still OK) with an App called USB Audio Player Pro which also allows me to play my Qobuz tracks as well as stored music on my SD card. I pair the phone with teh AudioQuest Dragonfly Cobolt. Why do I use my phone? Lighter weight (Dragonfly weighs 99% less than the Mojo2) and at the same time I have all my routines on the phone set down by my sadistic trainer (he's not, really!). Great video.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video. For awhile I was good playing ALAC files from my iPhone using the Apple dongle. Maybe I should try an AudioQuest Cobalt sometime to compare the differences.

[@stevec5465]

I have different models from Fiio. From low end to mid level. All have their places.

[@diegorauda889]

I'm surprised most comments don't mention the LG V30 - V60 line (also the LG G7 and G8). They have audiophile DAC's (Sabre) and even an amplifier built in. I was on a budget so I decided to get a G8 and killed two birds with one stone. A bit of the money I saved went to a pair of Audio Technica M40X's, and I'm good to go!

[@nancysdsk]

Thank you. Helpful, practical, suggestions. Right on. Appreciative for input

[@beszt95]

I loved my V30, too bad I ruined the audio jack trying to get a piece of debris out of it though...

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’ve looked into the LG V phones and I’m thinking of picking one up.

[@AF-rd2vf]

A phone will not properly run various headphones due to not enough power.

[@jasonmelo9379]

The lg's just aren't powerful enough

[@musicman8270]

My A and K player has one of the best days ever. Couldn't live without it😊

[@SpoiledBadgerMilk]

I agree with you on all points. 10/10

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Team DAP!

[@urbyyy5980]

Just got my first pair of IEMS yesterday (moondrop Chu's) and I absolutely love them using them at my computer with my audio interface (shure mvi) but using them on my phone has been extremely underwhelming with a usb-c to 3.5mm dongle this video has made me realise that I desire alot of the same things you listed here while I commute from home and college and relax at home when I'm not doing anyhting on my computer I think I'll look into some budget dap options,right now I'm considering the Sony nw a55

[@sevensoulcostanza]

There’s always the option to buy used if you’re on a budget.

[@NeilNTR]

I have an old Sony A100 walkman DAP. My list would also includes "nostalgia" . That tape animation on the Sony looks nice for us who grew up with cassettes. Old mixtapes days.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Back when mixtapes were on tapes! At this point I’d even say the older iPods are nostalgic as well.

[@davidbock1801]

Good video. Thoughtful presentation, and I appreciate you bothered to work from a script. Only point I would add is: Invest in good cans (or IEMs). This is essential. Seriously, don't buy a high-quality DAP unless you're willing to spend money on good wired headphones. Critical part of the listening experience.

[@EtreGenerique]

Bullshit. Hifi is a systemic way.

[@EtreGenerique]

And it’s unfair , in Europe all hifi stuff is 40% tax. We can t discover high end stuff.

[@hachi1631]

​@@EtreGeneriquethat's why i still kept my LGV60 for their Quad DAC.

[@EtreGenerique]

@@hachi1631 does it have higher voltage than LG V30 ? (I mean output mink jack)

[@detsu9176]

​@@hachi1631 me too, but i had some misunderstandings, i bought 80ohm headphones but after connecting the headphone with amp it works like a charm quad dac pairs well with headphone amp

[@at_msk]

I needed this video thank you. Never occurred to me to look these devices up

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Glad to help! Happy hunting!

[@venugopalganesh2974]

205th sub here and also the 981st liker! all the best for great videos to come from you!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you liked the video!

[@eddiecotter7201]

Great subject and topic and i agree with every single point you make,we should try and make it 10 reasons though instead of 8 if we can,il give reason number 9 and see if anyone agrees with me!i believe that the artists who put their heart and soul into making music deserve to have their music listened to by the listener in the highest quality possible and thats why i love my dap,i had an lg v30 phone which in fairness is great for audio quality and probably the best phone around for music playback but then i got my fiio m11 plus ltd and it just blows the phone out of the water,the dynamics of every song on my dap are just so much better and louder and clearer,david gilmour sounds so fantastic on guitar on my dap and even though he sounded good too on my lgv30,its to hear outstanding musicians like him in all their glory that i have a dap,after all the hard work he puts into his art its the least i can do isnt it!in essence we should all strive to hear the music the way the artist intended it

[@sevensoulcostanza]

100% agree with you! Why not invest a little money to hear your favorite artists in the best possible quality!

[@Royal_R3GALIA]

I use a dap because I hate pulling my phone out when I'm chilling when the purpose of me chilling is to not use my phone and have anybody suddenly contact me. Cheap DAP is a great investment for me so I've been using an Android OS DAP for music and video streaming. Ruizu z80 just cost me around $50 and it's been my music companion for a few months now.

[@Harvester88]

I have a Hiby R5 Saber as well and love it.

[@SteveCutajar3lrsc]

Thanks for the info. Well round up of facts.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

You're welcome. I hope you got something out of my video.

[@ivanztube]

I use my old Android smartphone as DAP. Actually, I’d say “player” only. I don’t worry so much about resolution. It works for me, since I use it in my car. I don’t need to skip tracks, and my collection of CDs and digital files are there. Yes, I have a phone number there, but only for internet service, but no notifications. My screen stays always on.

[@MrEmotional33]

Just switch on plane mode, then you have a "pure" player without any distractions and way longer battery time..

[@john0416]

Still have my Wma1 with 1tb sd card. Love it with my IEM.

[@yiluis1316]

Great video. I will also add some of my thoughts on the matter. Some missing points from my point of view: - Having a NOS (non-oversampling) DAC that gives me the option of unfiltered sound. - Having different kinds of DAC filters to slightly change the digital sound reproduction (It's a little plus to play around other than staying on NOS mode the whole time). - Having a big power source for my headphone from balanced outputs. - Having a very low pitch-black noise floor that doesn't add extra noise to the digital source. - Having a motherboard designed and dedicated exceptionally high quality audio (with their amps and DAC) that bypasses android and other possible system induced noises. If you are experienced, you will be able to nitpick things here and there, and personally, I would only recommend having a DAP only if you play audio files from the SD card or if you really hate using your phone as an audio source.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

These are all good points. I'm sure these options are more for higher end DAPs as I would consider my M11S as a mid-tier DAP. But for now, I'm happy playing my FLACs off SD and streaming from Spotify.

[@Nicholenickinicscott]

Before I got my pioneer mp3 I use to use older Samsung phones for my music and movies. Now that I have a pioneer mp3, I'm never going back to a regular android. So the pioneer has two micro sd card slots, my favorite thing about it and the fact that it has a spinner volume turner on the side and a rewind/fast-forward/play or pause buttons. I also got it at the right time which was way past the time it came out

[@lensnart1303]

Just got the Phinistec S7 and it pretty much plays every audio format well.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

For $100, the price is right!

[@stingfan16ify]

I have an Astell and Kern Kahn Alpha that is simply amazing! Phones have their conveniences, but can't compare to a DAP in terms of sound quality. That's just reality.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

100% agree with you there.

[@Kameron-The-Crafter]

Their cameras are still no where near cameras either.

[@mikeb.7845]

Fiio for life! X1 to X3 to X5 to M6 to M11s then use coaxial out to my MODI+ DAC to the MAGNI+ AMP into my Senn HD 6xx. boom, uninterrupted, bit perfect true Hi-Res music of enormous quality. Clear, precise audio with no noise while using your PC or laptop for everything else non music. Thanks for the vid!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you liked the video! Question, why did you choose to bypass the DAC & amp of the M11S and use the MODI & MAGNI instead?

[@MrEmotional33]

Same here: I switched from X1 to X3 II to X9 to X5 III to M11 Plus..will soon get a M15, since the M11 Plus is the worst player of them all soundwise IMHO.

[@lltechview]

Thats the reason I still own a MiniDisc Player. Their sound is just so unique and better than most of my smartphones And +1 for your Moondrop Variations. I wish I had the money for that

[@folksurvival]

MiniDiscs were great.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’ve never owned a MiniDisc player. Maybe I should look into that and listen to them myself.

[@lltechview]

@@sevensoulcostanza Nowadays the top models (all old) are very expensive

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@lltechview That’s doesn’t surprise me. What are some of those models that I should look into?

[@lltechview]

@@sevensoulcostanza SONY Hi-MD MZ-RH1 The pinacle of minidiscs. I have this beauty as I was able to get it pretty cheap a few years ago

[@l1p0v]

Listening from a DAP feels magical, I guess it's this way for me because of my nostalgia. As a millenial I remember the times before smartphones, when MP3 players were a huge deal. But yeah zoomers are probably thinking that DAP people are just being weird and can't let go of their ancient habits.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

There is definitely some nostalgia to it!

[@pootle5096]

Ah. The young. I don't get disturbed by phone calls, app notifications or anything else (other than the wife) because I use the Hi Fi system I bought in 1992. And my car has a CD player and USB port. Perfect! Now where did I put my sony cassette walkman.....?

[@barlow2976]

Yes, Yes. When I first tried the first Walkman I was so overwhelmed by the experience I wouldn't hand it back to my mate. I was equally blown away by my first trip in a train as I remember, hurtling along at over 30 mph !!.I used to listen on my crap Android phone, with thirty quid crap earbuds, but I've gone down the DAP and DAC road and bought some (used) IEMs and I'm loving it. I hate my phone and spend my life deliberately leaving it places. I'm in my sixties and don't want to waste the rest of my life with all that shit. Wake up children! Get into something real! @@pootle5096

[@locutiss100]

On the other hand zoomers are playing vinyl recordings 👎

[@des2knee962]

Excellent list!! My reason is the weight. Phones are very heavy and huge nowadays

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you! Funny enough my iPhone feels lighter than my M11S but it’s a valid point if your phone is heavier!

[@ToastyTexan911]

yea i dont get that, most daps are bigger and or heavier than your average phone

[@barlow2976]

Some are, but they're not really marketed as portable. There's a huge number of small touch screen DAPs out there, which do a really good job. That's why I bought one, along with my hatred of being tied to a phone, which as a mid-range Android model needs a DAC plugging in to listen reasonably . That's a lot to carry around compared with a 60mm square DAP . @@ToastyTexan911

[@chevymusclecar1970]

I love the immersive feeling a dap provides. Modded 2tb iPod classic 7, 20k songs in AIFF ❤

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Love it! Congrats on the 2TB (20K songs) of music, that's massive!

[@ClockMister]

I love your ideas! Unfortunately, here in Brazil, these are extremely expensive. Smartphones are cheaper and necessary, unfortunately. I would love to have one, though!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

There’s always the used market like the Head-Fi classifieds! Audiophiles never stop upgrading equipment 😉

[@user-rw1dl5ju9b]

Yes, most of the time it's mainly a first world-only kind of thing.

[@rolandlickert2904]

I use DAP Players for a long time my present Player is HIBY R5 II VERY HAPPY WITH IT PARTICULAR WHEN YOU SWITCH TO AMP A . Fully agree with your assessment. I guess only People will buy a DAP if they are serious to listen for quality music reproduction.

[@SpoiledBadgerMilk]

R6 is amazing loving hiby

[@sevensoulcostanza]

If people love music as much as we do, why not try a DAP? I’m a believer after I decided to try it.

[@imoutodaisuki]

Other than the audio quality, my main reason for using a DAP was the storage issue. It's just not feasible to store hundreds of gigabytes of a music library on my phone. I could, but that would mean I couldn't use my phone anymore since I would run out of storage.

[@user-rw1dl5ju9b]

True, it's multipurpose so there's no point having the main music collection in anything higher than a lossy file format.

[@ruekurei88]

SD card? Well if you're using Iphone then I suppose not, and Android phones seem to be ditching card support for some reason.

[@user-rw1dl5ju9b]

@@ruekurei88 All of them following the Apple train like mindless zombies.

[@foxhoundslug]

plus phones dont even have headphone jacks or micro SD ports anymore :(

[@randallhill7979]

Excellent review 👍 I agree

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thanks for checking out my video!

[@CSEducator]

😀Great vidoe!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you!

[@HaFannyHa]

I love my DAP, into which I can swap micro-SD cards. I can listen to as much music, whatever combination of artists, as much or as little as I like. I have total control over my listening choices. The sound quality is superb. I totally agree with your points about the advantages of DAPs over phones!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

🍻

[@houseoflightassembly7171]

what are you using

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@houseoflightassembly7171 If you are asking what DAP I use, it's the Fiio M11S.

[@houseoflightassembly7171]

@@sevensoulcostanza i bought a 40.00 4inch screen on temu ..great deal sounds great...

[@michwashington]

❤ I subscribed because of this video ❤

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thanks for the love!

[@superboy305]

I went down the rabbit hole, getting a nas, and getting into Cd's as well

[@GJoseeph]

Smart move

[@SpencersStuff1777]

I've been using a dap and CD player for years. There's a ton of peace knowing you can put everything down and just enjoy music without distraction. I am due for a dap upgrade. Been thinking of getting the fiio m17 I have the fiio m11 currently and a Sony Xperia 1 III.

[@luiscastro5456]

if you have the M11 why upgrade to the M17 ? don't make regret my recently purchase of the M11 plus ESS

[@SpencersStuff1777]

@@luiscastro5456 I have the standard m11 from 2016. It's underpowered compared to the m17 and the amps/processing isn't the same. Ones a lower mid range dap vs a higher end one

[@houseoflightassembly7171]

@@SpencersStuff1777 i have the experiia does it play flac files??

[@SpencersStuff1777]

@@houseoflightassembly7171 yep!

[@houseoflightassembly7171]

@@SpencersStuff1777 whats the best way to load these files right from the computer and IF i was going to go with a seperate DAP im sure the quality would be better what would you recomend without going over the top?

[@maravreloaded]

A smartphone is a "jack of all trades, master of none". Also it depends on the kind of phone you have. One can have great audio but average camera. Other can beat a laptop in performance but have terrible battery. A dedicated device for a specific action will always be better than one that just gets the work done.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I agree with you. Yes, it's a pain to manage a separate device, but I love it. Plus it frees my phone up for all those other duties.

[@frankiepavinato]

Sony NW-ZX300 owner here. DAPs are fantastic.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Team DAP! Fist bump to you sir.

[@tryharder1316]

thanks for the video! now I'm 100% sure I don't need DAP rn :D DAP is really good and also cool device but right now if I would buy DAP I might use it just like a DAC and now I am realizing that. thanks for the video!

[@sevensoulcostanza]

DAPs aren’t for everyone. I love mine and use mine nearly everyday. If you decide to buy and use one as a DAC, let me know.

[@boorno1406]

Thank you for this very nice and informative video. I, too, love good quality audio, among others for music, and after watching this I am considering getting a DAP. However, there are some drawbacks to the video I'd like to point out. I feel like half of what you said in the video only applies to Apple products users. I personally don't use anything from Apple for my personal life, and whenever you said "With my iPhone (...)" I was a little confused, because the issue could have simply been solved by using a good smartphone instead. Still, even a good smartphone is unlikely to provide good quality audio, and the other points stand. I think I'll do some research on these DAPs and maybe get one for myself. Cheers.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’ve seriously considered going back to Android but there’s still so many cons of using my phone as my primary listening device. I might explore it still as my iPhone ages. Last I researched was that the Sony Experia phones had good DACs in them.

[@nmprofessional]

I miss the old days, one device distraction free listening. I miss my old Panasonic portable tape deck (1986). Waxing nostalgic. I did not know DAP's were in the $500 range. I'll have to reconsider my purchase of portable DAC. Great video BTW.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you for watching it! Let me know what you decided on when you shop for a DAC. I like to see what others decide on and why.

[@houseoflightassembly7171]

agreed a little pricey...

[@Solitaire001]

Excellent video. I agree with all of your reasons for preferring a DAP over using a smartphone. Although I don't have enough space to fit my entire music collection, I have enough space to fit all of the music that I want to take with me. I especially like it having an actual headphone jack. Although Bluetooth is okay, sometimes it is better just to plug in a pair of headphones and enjoy. Although my player (A Sony Walkman NW-A55) does support high res audio, I mainly purchased it due to the ability to add additional storage. For me, Red Book FLAC is good enough, and in a number of cases (such as audiobooks) MP3 is fine.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I'm glad you enjoyed my video. The ability to take your music collection with you, especially without a network connection, is overlooked until it happens. And yes I love Bluetooth, it's super convenient, but the audio quality just isn't the same.

[@Solitaire001]

@@sevensoulcostanza I did some research on Bluetooth and discovered that, regardless of the codec used, it applies compression to the audio. That defeats the purpose I had for ripping to FLAC. I'm not looking for hi-res audio, as I said before Red Book CD is good enough for me and that is what I want to listen to. Due to that, I've decided that I will use Bluetooth for casual listening, or when wired headphones are not practical, but I will use wired when it comes to serious listening. To me, this is justification for keeping the 1/8" headphone jack around.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@Solitaire001I 100% agree with your use of Bluetooth. For the gym or listening to music on the go, I use Bluetooth. My wired IEMs are for when I'm working at my desk or serious listening sessions when I can be undisturbed.

[@Paulex57]

Very fair, grounded and reasonable points. Really enjoyed the video, keep it up man

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Rampuniernix]

looks like it might be also capable of plugging an e.g. electric guitar in there (looks perfect, while using an in and output) regarding for probably delay free playing?

[@AzureRT456]

recently ordered an LG G8 and my first pair of IEMs (Moondrop Aria). Also going to use it for gaming (cloud/emulation)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Both are solid picks! Let me know what you think after you've used them for awhile.

[@AzureRT456]

@@sevensoulcostanza Here are my initial thoughts on both: the G8 is honestly more fun than my current S24+, and the Moondrops I can't tell much of a difference between them and bluetooth, but I like the music more on the moondrops.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@AzureRT456 Thanks for following up. I'm glad you like the G8 especially since that the phone is older. As for Bluetooth vs Aria, I don't blame you. Your ears hear what they hear. I have a pretty big MP3 collection mixed in with my FLAC files, and listening to both formats back to back, I can't tell the difference. But I stick with FLAC nowadays just because I know I could always convert to MP3 if I ever want to.

[@AzureRT456]

@@sevensoulcostanza Glad to know I'm not only one who can't tell the difference. I've been enjoying the two so far. I know that somehow the Arias just make music enjoyable even though I know I can't tell the difference.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@AzureRT456 As long as you enjoy it, then that's all that counts!

[@shiro214okane]

Using LG v50s that have build in quad dac, when i added poweramp music player to gaming app manager, so whenever music player app is open it will automatically dnd and when i stop listing to music it will automatically turn back off, i also set it whenever i put headphone jack automatically open the app and play music.

[@theark.123]

Lesser known fact about LG V series. Sadly not advertised ! The Quad DAC is superb !

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

The sound quality from those are actually disappointing and too affected for my tastes.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’ve always been curious about the LG V series phones. Maybe I’ll pick one up off eBay.

[@mokisan]

What's the cable you are using in your variantions Also great video 1. You could also use andorid phone as a dac, sometimes i do that and lock all the distracting apps. 2. The sony xperia is a great phone as it is the only flagship phone having headphone jack and sd card slot, if you dont want to spend 1000(when in sale) to 1400 on a phone, then buying a cheap budget phone worth 200-300 will do that job too. But they wont have the same performance as sony. 3. If you want to save money i suggest using the tempotec v6, tested it myself amazing dap for the price and sounds lush! 4. What iems do you have in your collection? Videos on them would be ncie too.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you for watching the video! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I am currently using the Kinera Ace cable for my Variations. The detachable plug lets me use it across multiple devices including my DJ mixer. Although for DJing, I do wish the cable was a bit longer. Thanks for suggesting the Tempotec V6. I’m not familiar with that brand but it looks promising!

[@oktxv8186]

Ur so real for listening to when will they shoot kudoooos

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Cube was a beast in his prime!

[@luvaparri715]

It always nice to have a player while driving, you can talk to someone while enjoying listening to your music.

[@kevinnicholson7722]

i like a dedicated music player for the car. I drive 2hours a day and also need to take calls. You can hear the difference between your phone, which may also be giving you directions too

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Funny enough I still haven’t tried connecting my DAP in my car yet.

[@yooptub]

I’d say it may doesn’t work for some people like me. My best (but not portable) combo is iPad+dac+amp+earphones. Quality of sound of the setup is mind-blowing, which no one hi-res player with earphones (at the same price of combo) can give me… but it’s a personal story, of cause…)

[@coldplay4ful]

@Sevensoul Costanza What DAP did you used in this video? Thanks lot

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Fiio M11S.

[@CaptainCreate]

Hey @sevensoulcostanza what music player app are you using at the @10:00 mark? I'm unfamiliar with that one.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

That’s the built in Fiio Music app. I know there’s others but I haven’t looked into them yet.

[@chadsouth4189]

underrated channel

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you!

[@MythicSuns]

The plug and play thing is a funny one because it depends on the smartphone that you get. However, this can also be a good reason to go for a DAP; the only thing that tends to change is the USB port but things like the 3.5mm port are still kept as standard on the majority of DAPs.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Agree with you there.

[@liquidouxsnake1408]

i heard music in every device but no device compares to my M11 Plus i got it one year ago and i love it the comparison is a big gap and got many pairs of iem's is a bless

[@claudiabailey5302]

Have the same device and absolutely love it I totally agree.

[@liquidouxsnake1408]

@@claudiabailey5302 🫶

[@elasmojones]

I wanted to pull the trigger on one, but man....that price...

[@BOOBLA69]

Wicked video. Can I ask your thoughts on the nw a306?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you for watching. Unfortunately I have never heard or owned the NW-A306.

[@BOOBLA69]

@@sevensoulcostanza no probs. Its the new reasonably priced Sony.

[@motivationmore7025]

thanks, that is a great video. Question: do you maybe know how to bring Tidal songs on a DAP? (easy version)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m not sure I understand your question. You can install the Tidal app on your DAP to play songs from Tidal.

[@motivationmore7025]

@@sevensoulcostanza yes I know that, but offline is not possible unless you get on of those illegal music downloaders right?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@motivationmore7025 I think you mean offline as in downloading music within the Tidal app itself so you can still listen to your Tidal music without a network connection. You absolutely can offline music from Tidal. If you meant download music off of Tidal and store it locally, I don't know about that. I'm sure there are illegal music downloaders for that but I have never used them.

[@motivationmore7025]

@@sevensoulcostanza thanks

[@cwaicwai821]

Do you have to use In Ear Monitor ls when using DAPs? What if you have a pair regular sony wired earphones and headphones?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

No you can use wired headphones or earphones as long as they have the proper plug for your DAP.

[@PuReXtremeGaming]

Good video i feel like your first point related to distraxtions is something that can be controlled not only bh yourself but by the phone too, modes such as "focus mode" dunno.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

This is something I’ll look into. I get distracted way too easily when I’m listening to music on my iPhone. Nowadays I only listen to music on my iPhone while I’m at the gym. It’s convenient but not for serious listening sessions.

[@PuReXtremeGaming]

@@sevensoulcostanza yeah I still respect your point and enjoyed the video, I may still grab a dap, take care!

[@Space_Cowboy_Revolver]

Bumping your old droog. I trust your opinion.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Yessir! YOD's new album Movie next month!

[@andreiter]

Which DAP has the 2 micro SD ports that supports 2tb cards each? HIBY RS 2? I haven't seen any 2tb cards yet, only 1tb micro SD for roughly $130 CDN

[@eduardocontrell-rf3kv]

Great job kiddo. This old fox agree with you :)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you agree!

[@peterdanielantal352]

#1 You have money to buy one. (I want one too, but I dont have, they aren't cheap )

[@addicz2]

I use my phone for phone only. Well maybe for KZbin. But for my music I love my ZX300. Miss my past DAPs too. Samsung YP P3 and Sony A55 miss you all

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Agreed! My iPhone for everyday use and my DAP to enjoy some tunes. 😎

[@arifkizilay]

hi, thank you for review. how much is the price?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I bought my M11S brand new which was $500 USD. I’m sure they are a lot cheaper now.

[@RonnieFairley]

What headphones did you use in this video with your dap, or did those come with it?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Those are the Moondrop Variations which retail around $500 USD. Of course you can catch them on sale often or pick up a used pair for a steep discount.

[@yediydeyah78]

I wish that a company would put out a DAP with a pair of quality amplified speakers! That would be the ULTIMATE DAP for me. That way I'm not beholden to carrying around a BT speaker (no matter how small it is)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I never even thought of that.

[@MrDevildawg24]

Thanks a million fam, I was on a endless search for 1 😂 that had bis

[@barlow2976]

Yes, I've thought that.

[@cwaicwai821]

If you don't want to use streaming services with the DAP, where do you get the music from? It's my first time hearing about DAP and since it takes memory cards, do you have to buy each song when using the DAP?

[@chadwickhell]

You rip your cds that you own and copy them over. It's easy.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Yup, I agree. Rip your CDs, or buy lossless files from Qobuz, Bandcamp, 7Digital, etc.

[@majaisakszon1475]

Which dap do you use in the video? As most daps do not have all the buttons most only have volume buttons.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

That’s the Fiio M11S which you can catch on sale often.

[@Skoozatz]

Is a DAP apable to play dap through a home stereo receiver? (either via bluetooth or hard wired in) Never owned a DAP. I just use my phone for streaming.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I haven't used mine in that capacity but I'm sure you could, depending on which outputs come with the DAP. I know my DAP can play through my car using Bluetooth but it's not the greatest sound.

[@chefenriqueavargas3326]

Hi, sorry, im trying to understand, would i get better sound using the usb-c output as well? I know its mostly headphone jacks, but i want a much better sounding player compared to my ipod.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

To be honest, I've only used the USB-C to either charge my DAP or connect it to my laptop to load music onto it.

[@swaguilar_]

Sevensoul Costanza when music from an ad plays on his phone: 😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@sadssddsd2926]

love the video man,,,u sound like a guy who really enjoys his music, i was wondering what music u listen to? can you tell us which artists and albums ur collection includes? have a wonderful time

[@sevensoulcostanza]

All over the place but hip-hop is my main choice. Lately it’s been Billy Woods, Black Thought, Earl Sweatshirt, UGK, Lupe Fiasco. I’m also into Drum N Bass so I’ve got Noisia, Logistics, A.M.C., Upbeats in rotation. For jazz it’s been Bob James, Ronnie Foster, Deodato. I can go forever with what I’ve been listening to lately.

[@sadssddsd2926]

@@sevensoulcostanza HEY thanks,,,MOST of these are new to me, so I'll definitely enjoy checking them out.Thanks for taking the time to reply man ,MUCH MUCH appreciated👍

[@sadssddsd2926]

also btw, with all these reccomendations , u CAN make like a series of videos on best artists in each category , the people need to listen to new things and hidden gems that the algorithm doesnt always reccomend

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@sadssddsd2926 That’s a good idea. After all, we all need something to listen to on all this audio equipment we buy!

[@erictan1242]

I just ordered a mp3 to store my music. I have had a bad experience that some of my music and songs were deleted during the update of the os. Besides, there are too many advertisements during my workout, unless you pay some premium to eliminate the advertisement.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

"Owning" my digital music files and having the freedom to put them on any device I choose will always be my favorite choice. That is why I operate my DAP offline most of the time so there's less chances of me being tracked by advertisers and less chance of an unscheduled update messing up my OS.

[@kmc672]

my guy listening to heat !

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Great minds think alike.

[@lubis1991]

I have a WM1AM2, only downside is the sluggishness of the UI.

[@MarkoAssi_pokervlogger]

Are digital audio recorders considered good DAP? Tascam DR05x for example.

[@bbfoto7248]

Technically, it would work, but it would be cumbersome and far from ideal. I have a portable Zoom H6 for location recording, but it just has a basic, inexpensive "chip amp" headphone output that is just for "monitoring" and not for critical listening. I would never use it for everyday music LISTENING. In addition, a dedicated DAP (Digital Audio Player) has a nice, large, touchscreen just like a modern smartphone, and has much more intuituve playback controls, as well as much easier and faster file navigation/search/selection, album art display, and playlists management. A DAP and a portable recorder such as the Tascam or Zoom units are different devices for different purposes.

[@achebeterence6908]

Droog is awesome

[@sevensoulcostanza]

YOD is one of my favorites right now! He’s been consistent with the quality bars and beats.

[@ebinrock]

How good are the lower-end Sony Walkman DAP's? I'm not a snobby rich audiophile, I'm just interested in a decent dedicated audio player for maybe a few hundred dollars at most. Any other brands that offer DAP's in that price range that edge out in quality and features over Sony?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

To be honest, I haven't hear any Sony Walkman DAPs myself so I couldn't give you an opinion.

[@DL-idk]

Do you have any recommendations for DAP devices? I'm looking for one

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m the wrong one to ask for a recommendation. I would check out the Head-Fi forums, Reddit, and any of the KZbinrs that do reviews. Just use that as a starting point though. It’s always best to listen to them first, if possible.

[@InitialDL84]

I used a Zune for the longest time until around a few years ago. The hardware just kept failing, and Microsoft stopped updating the software and it became buggy. Im considering looking into getting another DAP, if they still sell them anyway. I would need one that works with not only Spotify, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, etc.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

You would need to find a DAP with a good enough processor that can handle all those streaming services. From my research DAPs around the $300 range could get the job done. But these were for brand new DAPs. I would recommend looking into older DAPs that have been out for a year or more and read and watch reviews on them. Just make sure that the software is still supported. Fiio and Hiby are brands to start with.

[@stevec5465]

You need to ask Peter Quill.

[@ForGlory1]

Mr. Costanza, where do you download your music for your DAP???

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I use Bandcamp and Qobuz primarily. I've also browsed 7Digital although I have never purchased from there.

[@ForGlory1]

@@sevensoulcostanza Thank you sir

[@epicw0lf]

On android you can stop notifications while only playing music or podcasts.

[@futuristicentity2417]

I just got a retro casio G-Shock watch in replace of a Smartwatch so these companies won't violate my phone credentials and I've moved on to other options out there it has an LCD screen panel comes with a nice case and all it does is tell the time which is all you need. I don't blame you for optioning an mp3 player it's actually recommended since you don't ALWAYS get good wi-fi reception anyway and I notice 1080p or 4k STILL likes to buffer and demands a beefy computer. If the Market THINKS Smart devices will replace retro devices they're DEAD WRONG in fact I bet what people don't know is right now if you input ANY personal information into a search engine like Google it logs your debit card information so have fun.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Agreed. Privacy and phones don’t mix.

[@futuristicentity2417]

@@sevensoulcostanza Especially those Smartwatches as well I am hearing some pretty scary articles searching them online.

[@kylehazachode]

Patiently waiting for a DAP that supports M.2 SSDs to be released. Right now I used my Fiio KA5 and my iPhone. Apple Music and Plexamp are my lossless apps and Spotify for Homepod listening. I rebuild iPods and max out their storage. Anything iPod 3rd gen or later supports lossless ALAC 16bit. This is great audio quality for such a classic designed audio player.

[@Leo-yn5fx]

And higher refresh rate fr

[@maringeorge2007]

my issue with any offline music : where can you download for free lossles music ?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I haven’t seen it yet.

[@elasmojones]

FiiO R7 is what's tempting me the most right now....hard for me to withstand super niche devices.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

I wouldn't consider that a super niche device.

[@elasmojones]

@@kensmechanicalaffair well, it is rather unique anyway.

[@PabloRojas]

are these dap able to run the expensive headphones like the abyss ones?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I don’t run headphones with mine but I think you can.

[@lutherlusk2975]

what iems are these and what app are you using to stream music ? the one with the orange icon ?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I use Moondrop Variations for IEMs. As for the app, it’s the default Fiio music app to play local files.

[@lutherlusk2975]

@@sevensoulcostanza thank you.

[@Alepap.]

1. True, but realistically you'd want to see the call and answer it 99% of the time, so i don't see that as a distraction, everything else you can set in your player app focus so that it never stops playback or pauses the music on notifications. And if we're talking about not scrolling through apps, just don't open them or install them, just like you didn't on your android DAP. 2. yes. 3. phones are plug and play too, bluetooth connectivity is a different matter altogether. 4. i'd never buy a phone without removable storage, there are still many companies and models that support it, especially lower end models, currently i use the note 11s 5. same on a phone with removable storage 6. I don't really get this, since realistically everyone carries a phone around. A phone and a DAP IS 2 devices. The only workaround would be if they put a sim card in a dap. 7. Yes. This is so important. If i went DAP , that would be one of my primary reasons, and a nice volume knob. 8. Yeah phones suck. In conclusion, i wish there were Audiophile Phones out there that combined a decent DAP with good components and physical controls, with the features of a cheap smartphone like the note 11s. Or a wireless DAC with the same controls that i can have on my belt. and would not be held down by bluteooth codecs

[@d0nj03]

1. Yeah, that whole point rests on whether you're making a conscious decision to cut yourself off from your phone, leave it in another room, put it in silent mode or whatever. Well you can make the same decision if it doubles as your audio player - just temporarily mute everything about it that you would find distracting and focus on the music. There's only a very small advantage to not even having the phone with you, like if you find it that hard to control yourself that you know you'd just reach for it on the first impulse you get, and start web browsing or social scrolling and lose the whole listening session even if you didn't originally want to. 8. What? Why? What's the problem with everything getting resampled to 48 kHz? Nyquist's sampling theorem and neuroscience say you don't need anything higher than 44.1 kHz because the only thing higher sampling rates can do for you is add ultrasonic frequencies that you will never hear anyway. So what's the problem with Android's resampler? I've never seen anyone actually explain this in detail, like with examples or graphs or anything.

[@Alepap.]

@@d0nj03 8. it is true that anything above 16 bit 44.1khz is pointless for listening, but i'm not sure about resampling, It has been suggested that there can be issues when resampling to a higher sample rate than the original. But idk.

[@barlow2976]

'Realistically everyone carries a phone around' No, I don't and neither do a number of similarly aged (sixty-odd) friends. We are all up with the tec, but choose not to, being of an age to remember when it was possible to live without one. I leave my phone around, and unless I choose I'll only returns calls and texts once or twice a day, and I still manage to do business successfully. Phones are robbing people of a real life, and time. Disconnect.

[@Alepap.]

@@barlow2976 Yeah sounds like my dad, but when it's convenient he uses my mom's number. Because it is not possible to be without a mobile phone. Having a mobile phone doesn't mean you use it to browser social media, it's perfectly possible to not use any of that or just have a dumb phone. When people need you or when you need to call an ambulance, you need to have a phone on you.

[@barlow2976]

Twenty years ago we didn't have mobile phones and managed without. Life goes on, but it is your own life. @@Alepap.

[@EqualOpportunityDestoroya]

I always bring my phone and tablet with me and neither plays my old CDs. On my tablet I have an app that plays my CDs and music from Amazon but I have to switch between them.

[@ZwelMunWint]

What’s the in ear monitor brand you use?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Moondrop Variations.

[@slotec]

love my sony nw a45 with modded software.

[@geminimehta]

Except distraction point Other point does not hold With IPhone you can use BTR7 connect with USBC TO lighting connector You get best DAC and perfect Amp

[@pdcragin33]

Plus one. Just got the Fiio Lightening to USB-C data cable (careful, many other cables only transmit power, not data/audio). The BTR-7 sounds even better than via Bluetooth, and that’s not only due to avoiding BT AAC codec but DAC/amp implementation.

[@kensmechanicalaffair]

Audio being transmitted through more 0s and 1s will further degrade the sound quality. It's not noticeable to the consumer pair of ears...but it does.

[@shahkhan110]

A good dac dongle is way better option than costlier, slower UI ugly brick one has to carry, when a phone with good battery life and storage having an app like UAPP simply meet all your needs...

[@bbfoto7248]

@SK Yeah, I agree for the most part, even though I still have my old iBasso DX90 and a new DX320. 😊 And the DX320 is one of the few DAPs I've owned that is comparable to the best smartphones in terms of GUI speed with no lag. But you usually have to spend a decent amount on a DAP to get that type of GUI speed and performance. And it's easy enough to turn on Airplane Mode or Do Not Disturb on your smartphone and not be distracted. I have a large library of music on local file storage for my smartphone and/or DAP via 1TB microSD cards. But streaming services can cover 80% of my local file library while using either the smartphone or DAP. And 90% of people use a DAP on-the-go with IEMs and not full size headphones, so most people don't really need a large DAP with tons of output power just for IEMs. Though I will still use my DAPs when at home with my full-size cans. While I have much higher end home audio and car audio equipment, the inexpensive *Hidizs S9 PRO* drives all of my IEMs and even high impedance over-ear headphones with ease and great SQ. But it will drain my smartphone battery much faster than normal. However, I chose a smartphone with an amazing 5,000 mAh battery, which could otherwise be an issue for some users who don't want to compromise their smartphone's battery life. And his point regarding the physical transport/playback buttons (and sometimes a dedicated volume knob) on most DAPs are definitely nice to have. But with the Hidizs S9 Pro dongle DAC/HP amp, I'm not worried about potential damage, theft, or losing it as I would be with one of my DAPs. The S9 Pro and others can be had for little more than $100.

[@shahkhan110]

@@bbfoto7248 nicely analyzed mate.. i am wondering, where does your S9 pro stands against dx320, when it comes to sheer SQ...?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@bbfoto7248 All excellent points. I won’t rule out my iPhone just yet but I’ve definitely been using my DAP pretty often lately.

[@optigsdokus4969]

I'm looking for a cheap DAP with Spotify and Apple Music.. any suggestions?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I would start looking into Shanling or Hiby. But the issue with streaming Spotify and Apple Music is you’ll need a decent chip to handle that streaming. If you’re on a small budget you might have to look into used DAPs.

[@seanlowkey9388]

Maybe someone can help me out here. I want to use an mp3 player to store/view photos rather than external hard drive. Like a pocket photo album. In addition what about connecting devices to iPhone via lightning dongle. I’ve seen you can connect ssd to iPhone with dongle. Does this work with other devices as well like Sony Walkman mp3?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I haven't tried with my DAP but I'm pretty sure I can download photos to it and use an app to view the photos.