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

[@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?

[@El_Venudo_O]

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

[@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.

[@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?

[@AetherMind81]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Congrats! 🎉 And welcome to team DAP!

[@ZhixinaudioODM]

@@sevensoulcostanza If you want to do ODM DAP, welcome to work with us, we really provide professional tech and competitive price.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@問答無用-t2y]

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.

[@shantikeet]

It's no longer being about focus and mental health, it's now just becoming more practical. Thank you so much for making this video! I'm on the journey of being less over addicted to my smartphone and social media myself it's been a long journey but it's worth it

[@MangoMoon90]

Helloooo just stumbled upon this video myself bc trying to start that journey myself. I spent way too much time organizing my playlists and navigating replies and reminders for other things at the same time. I want to be less dependent on and addicted to my phone. Too tempting and distracting. Which DAP or MP3 player are you leaning toward, if you have a decision? Hehe

[@sevensoulcostanza]

It is nice to look at a screen listening to music and there are zero notifications screaming at me.

[@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

[@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!

[@Recordesk]

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.

[@jasonmelo1974]

The lg's just aren't powerful enough

[@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.

[@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.

[@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]

🍻

[@discoveringtheancientpaths7171]

what are you using

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@discoveringtheancientpaths7171 If you are asking what DAP I use, it's the Fiio M11S.

[@discoveringtheancientpaths7171]

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

[@noturnleftunstoned72]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@SpoiledBadgerMilk]

I agree with you on all points. 10/10

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Team DAP!

[@musicman8270]

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

[@topandrun126]

Wow you responded to most comments you deserve my thumbs up and subscribe.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I put up content to share info, but I also learn TONS of stuff from comments and the audio community. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

[@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.

[@SillyOmega]

Their cameras are still no where near cameras either.

[@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..

[@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.

[@discoveringtheancientpaths7171]

agreed a little pricey...

[@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!

[@superboy305]

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

[@GJoseeph]

Smart move

[@bearbiter9051]

honest question.. What's a nas?

[@jaimeFaithBasedOne]

I like cd’s. I bought an iPod classic but it’s not working quite right. I use it mostly in my car.

[@Gubsygaming]

Its like a hardrive you can access over your local network. Essentially a personal server where you can access your own files. A bit like google drive but you host it yourselft at home and no theres subscription.

[@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!

[@SakaDeeJay]

My main reason is the 1st one you mentioned, no distractions. When notifications come in and interrupt the song by lowering it or stopping it, it becomes so annoying. Then the storage and using it as external storage for songs is my 2nd, but equally as important reason. I settled on the FiiO M11 a few years ago, with double micro SD card slots. I never liked the idea of using my phone as a "DAP". It'll just drain the battery that much faster. Great video!

[@rkdarkangel]

Turn system, notification, and ring tone down all the way. Vibration can be on. I don't use iPhone but I'm pretty they use the same. If your listening to music and actively choosing the next song, you won't miss any notifications. As for getting interrupted by a Phone call, how are you (people in general) going to put finishing a song over answering your family, friends, boss, or the spam guy. (He's my favorite 😍) I understand some people are really into doing things as perfect as they can, but this just seems like way to much effort. Is it really that big of a difference? Will I magically get hard while listening? Am I all of the sudden going to have the ability to rap along? Or understand em's lyricism without watching a breakdown afterwards? Our ears suck, and no amount of technology (maybe Musk?) will make them better.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@rkdarkangel I will have to try the Do Not Disturb option again on the iPhone. But then again a dongle DAC will wear down my iPhone battery faster since I listen to music throughout my work day. With a DAP, I just charge that separately at the end of my work day. Makes it easier for me to deal with.

[@RennieAsh]

Personally if i were to carry extra devices at work I'd probably just use a lightweight Sony Walkman or similar ​@@sevensoulcostanza

[@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

[@MangoMoon90]

What are you using?

[@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.

[@at_msk]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Glad to help! Happy hunting!

[@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.

[@問答無用-t2y]

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.

[@問答無用-t2y]

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

[@RennieAsh]

Sony will makes a phone with headphone and micro SD. A little expensive though

[@lensnart1303]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

For $100, the price is right!

[@FourFifty-yz7qs]

Thanks man, I decided to buy DAP finally. I agree that #1 is the most important reason.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Congrats and welcome to #TeamDAP! What did you go with and why did you go with that?

[@davespanksalot8413]

@@sevensoulcostanzaI’ve found the Questyle QP2R paired with Shure SE846 IEMs to be a pretty good combo, with surprisingly crisp bass! However, Questyle customer support is less than non existent, but their DAP just sounds so darn good…

[@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

[@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 😉

[@問答無用-t2y]

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

[@RennieAsh]

A dongle attached to your headphones will likely do you fine. Though those can also be expensive.

[@john0416]

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

[@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.

[@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 👎

[@SpencersStuffTV]

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

[@SpencersStuffTV]

@@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

[@discoveringtheancientpaths7171]

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

[@SpencersStuffTV]

@@discoveringtheancientpaths7171 yep!

[@discoveringtheancientpaths7171]

@@SpencersStuffTV 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?

[@frankiepavinato]

Sony NW-ZX300 owner here. DAPs are fantastic.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Team DAP! Fist bump to you sir.

[@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.

[@RennieAsh]

1:40 Do Not Disturb. I mean being distracted can still happen if you bring your phone with you while listening to music. If you can ignore your phone while using a dap, then you can ignore going on the internet on your pc or phone while listening to music :)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Very true. I'm still exploring options for dongle DACs so I'll probably be getting a cheap one soon just so I can compare the experience to my DAP.

[@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.

[@heyking8583]

The problem with amp A is getting really hot

[@SteveCutajar3lrsc]

Thanks for the info. Well round up of facts.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

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

[@Paulex57]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@MR.SAS-PSU]

Hi, Thanks for the info. Is there a DAP that has a data SIM card feature which can be used to connect to 5G network ? i know that some new DAPs have a Wifi feature but i'm looking for one on the go where there is no WiFi but can be connected to 5G. Thanks again.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I am not aware of a DAP that has a SIM. There is the Moondrop MIAD01 5G phone that you might want to look into. I have no experience with it.

[@eduardocontrell-rf3kv]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I’m glad you agree!

[@Harvester88]

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

[@bikeman7982]

Currently I prefer dongle DACs to DAPs. They not only sound great, but many such DACs have buttons for play/pause, next/prev track. Unrelated to the DAP discussion: The "Do Not Disturb" feature on the iPhone has sub settings like "For 1 hour" and "Until I leave this location" which solves the problem of forgetting to turn it off.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

After reading so many comments such as yours, I'm not opposed to trying dongle DACs. I think when I finally upgrade my iPhone to one with 1TB storage, I'll try experimenting with a dongle DAC. Which one are you using and why?

[@Joris-KarlHuysmans]

@@sevensoulcostanza Went that way. It’s not worth it. If you have the money and want the absolute best portable listening experience, a DAP is the answer.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@Joris-KarlHuysmans I enjoy using my DAP but carrying a smaller dongle DAC with my phone might be a good alternative.

[@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!

[@Zhorellski]

I have a couple of phones already , adding a DAC better alternative?

[@heshaeza]

yes, especially for reason No.2 . if you have a good pairs of IEM or headphones , you will notice a huge sound quality improvement over phones (i am not talking about volume)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Try it! Get a cheap used one and see how you feel about using it. I mainly talk about the pros in my video but there are always cons to using DAPs.

[@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

[@yevheniibatiievskyi]

10 reasons why I use smartphone for listening music 0. Lightweight device - doesn't weigh down my pocket. (like most DAPs bricks) 1. All in one - always with me as primary device with all daily needed apps. 2. Great battery life (more than 6-9 hours of listening on most DAPs) 3. 256 GB of space for everything + 512 GB sd Card with my tracks library. 4. Up to date HiBy player app + Tidal for searching something new for my collection. 5. Built in speakers if I want to share my music for someone (of listen it without headphones - DAPs can't do that, really?) 6. Better screen, UI and overall usability (just snappy instead old android in DAPs) 7. Easy share tracks or new albums with my friends. 8. Airplane mode - and you have non of distractions for listening sessions. 9. 90% listening sessions is outdoors, noisy environment (so - don't care much about files more than FLAC 900-1800 kbps). 10. Excellent audio system at home for listening music properly (from my smartphone as a transport for my audio system)

[@sevensoulcostanza]

All great points. So I’m thinking maybe I should revisit dongle DACs again…

[@djthereplay]

1. Digital audio players are made lightweight to fit in your pocket just like a smartphone is. 2. There is no fighting for space between music and everything else on digital audio players. 3. In any event that your smartphone happens to die on you have that same music library on a DAP and cut on your DAP and you are back jammin' again. 4. There are DAPs who do have a speaker on them but yes there are DAPs that don't. Q. How can you listen to your DAP without headphones? A. Loudspeaker accessory. Plug it in and you are listening to your music on a DAP without headphones. 5. There are DAPs with a bigger screen and that are as easy to use as a smartphone. 6. If your DAP is a Smart DAP such as one that runs Android or like that iPod Touch was that ran iOS then yes Easy share tracks and albums is available on those DAPs too. 7. No need for airplane mode or do not disturb functionality on DAPs I used DAPs before. In fact I happen to have some DAPs on me.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@djthereplay I never thought about running a loudspeaker from my DAP and that’s an idea I might explore. Something for get togethers and you don’t tie up your phone if it’s the music streamer.

[@yevheniibatiievskyi]

​@@djthereplay 1. - Still this is a second device that I personally don't want to cary in my pockets. 2. - I have 500 GB for my audio library and there is literally no fighting for space. Phone has its own 256 GB.) 3. - Never let my phone dies accidentally, so music with me all the time. 4. 5. 6. - Yet this is more devices in a pocket. Thanks but nah. 7. - When I in music - nothing's disturbs me. Turn off sound notification - no big deal at all. P.S.: I'd used DAPs before. Never go back to this experience. Me one device person.

[@Joris-KarlHuysmans]

Reason No. 9 (in my opinion) you get to know your music more intimately. A DAP facilitates building your own library (micro sd slot possibilities + awesome music playback software). Sure, some also provide Spotify, Tidal, etc. But a physical personalized library will always be more personal.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Yes! I mainly use streaming to fill gaps in my music library and sometimes discovery. But nothing beats knowing what you actually own as digital audio. I liked to think I never outgrew my iPod days.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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. 😎

[@TehDeceiver]

What is the dap that you use?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I currently use the Fiio M11S. I recommend looking into Hiby, Shanling, and Fiio to get you started. There’s tons of reviews out there.

[@heshaeza]

The big plus for Dongle DACs is that you can get a better high end DAC chip+ amp for a lower price tag. so for some people who prioritize the reason number 2, the Dongle DACs will be much better. for example i have Plenue M2 which i bought for 420 USD and recently i got a E1DA 9038D dongle for 100 USD and when both audio compared with no EQ involved the Dongle blows the M2 out of water.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I recently started experimenting with dongle DACs again and I can agree with you there! Plus I love the fact that I can use a MUCH BETTER UI than a DAP.

[@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.

[@rutalibhatkar4173]

Which Dap will you suggest to buy if it's mid range budget?? Please suggest..

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I can't suggest a DAP for you since I only have experience with the M11S and plus your budget will be unique to you and only you. I would suggest you determine what sources you'll be using as a start. For myself I needed a DAP that decodes 16/44.1 FLAC files (which even portable sub $150 DAPs should be able to handle) but I also do quite a bit of streaming with Spotify (so I needed a decent processor and decent internal RAM). From there you can determine what output types you need, size of SD cards the DAP supports, etc.

[@rutalibhatkar4173]

@sevensoulcostanza Thank you for response. ✨

[@maringeorge2007]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I haven’t seen it yet.

[@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

[@zookajoetech]

Maturing is realizing how much nicer it would be to have a DAP seperated from your primary smartphone. Battery life and temperatures especially considered if you're using your phone as a CarPlay/Android Auto device. My 14 Pro Max with both Maps and Spotify going kills the battery quicker and the phone noticably gets toastier to the point where I can no longer keep the screen open for maps. I'm considering getting a mirrorless camera even just to take photos and videos away from my smartphone. Less smartphone usage, the better I think we'd all be mentally.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Yes, 100% agree! Sometimes it's best just to escape and focus on the music rather than doom scroll the social media apps on my phone. I've come so close to installing them on my DAP, but my willpower was strong!

[@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.

[@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.

[@minhbu95]

I'm curious what do you think about dongles, or to an extend, portable DAC/AMP devices like iFi Gryphon or Chord Mojo? Yes you need a phone or a PC/laptop to play them, but they offer better sound quality than DAPs. I've always wanted to own a DAP but I can't get the idea that the Mojo 2 sounds much better than basically any DAP out of my head.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Funny you should mention that as I have started experimenting with a dongle DAC again! There are definite pros and cons to dongles so I guess after I've spent some time with the one I just bought, the Fiio KA15, maybe I'll make a video on my thoughts.

[@minhbu95]

@@sevensoulcostanza Awesome! I agree there are pros and cons definitely. For example I think DAP would excel at being quieter in general? Because they have their own battery and circuitry compared to a dongle which would easily pick up noise from everywhere (I can hear a pop sound from my CFA Ara whenever I turn off my fan next to me lol). On the other hand, you can just plug in a dongle all day and worry nothing about battery degradation.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@minhbu95 I think that would be a major selling point of DAPs since the power and circuity are "isolated" from each other as to reduce potential noise issues. As for dongles, I can already tell it's a little inconvenient to charge my phone before the work day has even finished (I listen to music while I work).

[@latteplace76]

Oh man, where can I buy a quality DAP player?? Any suggestions will help…

[@hibymusic1566]

I will recommend ourselves lol

[@sevensoulcostanza]

As a starting point look try browsing Linsoul, Audio 46, MusicTeck. There’s tons of online stores out there.

[@S3R1ALKILLER-hm3hn]

I need something to hook up to my 2 Bluetooth speakers.. I didn’t want to use my iPhone anymore.. I wanted something separate, so I can scroll on my iPhone while I was listening to music.. so I thought maybe I should get a tablet to hook up to my two Bluetooth speaker speakers instead of my iPhone.. and then I seen this video.. I’m looking for something with great auto quality and streaming quality.. would this be the way to go?.. because all in all, it’s just going to be for music.. on how I wanted it to be set up, maybe even music videos also.. so don’t really know what to buy.. was looking for something with EQ settings and all that but basically just for music.. can you or anybody out there help me out?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

If you don't mind Bluetooth and lossy compression you would be fine using a tablet to broadcast to your Bluetooth speakers. A DAP in the same use case would be overkill, because you would still be using lossy compression with Bluetooth. Think of a DAP like an iPod except designed and engineered for high quality audio. And if you want uncompressed audio, it wouldn't make sense for Bluetooth. There is the option to use WiFi instead. I'm not knowledgeable in that so I would recommend looking into WiFi capable speakers instead.

[@matissecindy]

How can I add my phone music collection to DAP?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

If it's music you own, you can transfer the files via cable or MicroSD to your DAP. If it's a streaming app, just download the app to your DAP.

[@nathaliedurieux3588]

I’m going to ask a dumb question as I’m only now looking into one of these. Does streaming from Spotify on one of these devices defeat the purpose? Are all the benefits of using a Dap only enjoyed when downloading music directly to it? Thank you 🙏🏻

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Nope I stream from mine all the time. You're dependent to the quality of the source though and Spotify uses OGG Vorbis up to 320 kbps, so it's lossy compression. But at least everything else in the DAP is engineered to deliver the best possible sound quality from Spotify forward.

[@nathaliedurieux3588]

@ thank you so much for your insight! I am a complete newbie wanting to upgrade, and you’ve helped me decide 🫶🏻 Thank you again!!!

[@tnt9699]

What’s your opinion on the best phone player? And headphones to go along with it.???

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I don't have any experience with other phone players. I've heard good things about the Sony Xperia phones and the ASUS RoG phones. As for headphones, I can't give you a recommendation as I'm an IEM guy.

[@tnt9699]

@@sevensoulcostanza in your personal opinion what’s the best audio player and headphones Those are the only two things that I need to improve my sound quality right?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@tnt9699 IMO, spend half your budget on good headphones/IEMs, less than half on your source, and the rest on ear tips or cables. I think you''ll get the most bang for your buck on just a good set of headphones/IEMs as the first step. Plus with all the budget friendly options out there now because of Chi-Fi, you have room to explore.

[@tnt9699]

@@sevensoulcostanza what which iem do you recommend the most? Can you give me the best budget option? And the best one no matter the price and the best budget phone player and the best whatever the price

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@tnt9699 I recommend looking at the IEM ranking lists from Crinacle, Giz Audio, and Hawaii Bad Boy as a start. But remember, I always recommend doing a demo of the set first.

[@watchHalaziabyAteez]

If i bought DAP, do I still need DAC ?

[@LennyQUMFIF]

DAP is Digital Audio Player, DAC is Digital to Analog Converter.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

No the DAP has a DAC built in.

[@watchHalaziabyAteez]

@@sevensoulcostanza This is the answer which I needed 👍. So DAP already has DAC built in. Ok thank you

[@ishmone21]

How do find or rip high quality music to your dap? I have to stream music services, because some of us newbies don’t know where to find high quality files music

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I made the horrible mistake years ago and decided to switch to streaming and sell my CD collection. I still regret it. However I am now re-purchasing music from Qobuz Download Store and Bandcamp for the independent labels & artists.

[@Josephine-r7b]

Can you get daps that puts out audio on type c? I also like to use Spotify & KZbin music

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I've never tried it on my M11S but I know it's supported. I could enable the USB audio out setting and get a pair of IEMs terminated with USB-C and it should work.

[@Josephine-r7b]

@@sevensoulcostanza ok thanks

[@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.

[@Nelkhael1]

What is a good DAP you would recommend?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

It depends. Figure out what sources you use the most. For example, my local library is mainly MP3 and FLAC files, so I wouldn't need a DAP that plays MQA, DSD, etc. I also stream from Spotify, so I would need a DAP that has Wi-Fi and access to the Google app store. I would also need a DAP chip that can support streaming music apps. I recommend the M11S because that's what I use, but there are cheaper DAPs which might meet your needs.

[@Nelkhael1]

@@sevensoulcostanza Thank you. What I am interested the most is in a DAP that would allow me to shuffle my whole library, if possible. I am talking over 100k songs. I have all the files on MP3.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@Nelkhael1 In my DAP, I can load up all songs, hit the shuffle button, and play all songs shuffled that way. I'm using the Fiio music app.

[@Nelkhael1]

@@sevensoulcostanza Thank you. I recently bought a FiiO M11 Plus ESS and I am slowly loading it with my music library.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

@@Nelkhael1 Congrats! I use my DAP almost everyday still and I am happy with the results.

[@paulgal]

Hi mate what a great video . Just a question if use a DAP and download Spotify onto it will it have the highest audio quality?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Well yes and no. Yes, I'd say you're getting the highest possible audio quality AFTER Spotify. But then no, because Spotify as a source, uses lossy compressed OGG Vorbis 320kbps music files to stream. You might not be able to tell the difference though!

[@Cons2911]

Where do you guys get high quality music files? I use Spotify but I’d like a few favorite songs to be of better quality

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Bandcamp (if you download in FLAC/ALAC/Wav), Qobuz download store, and 7 Digital are good places to start.

[@etienne.larche]

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

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Fiio M11S.

[@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.

[@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...

[@swaguilar_]

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

[@chadsouth4189]

underrated channel

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Thank you!

[@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.

[@Seu1500]

Could you recommend me a DAP of good quality and price?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I only have experience with the Fiio M11S, and I would recommend it if you stream. Other brands I've heard are good are Sony, Hiby, Shanling, Astell&Kern. I have not heard or owned any of them but they are known brands. Of course I'd start with budget first and narrow down from there.

[@Seu1500]

@@sevensoulcostanza alright, thank you

[@maniac79410]

Any dap out there that works seamlessly with iTunes? I went through all my iPods and was using an iPhone as dedicated dap until recently, I have 35k songs (mix of lossless and aac) and all my playlists on iTunes, I’d like to keep things conviennent and avoid hours of triage to remix said playlists.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I think you might be able just to transfer your iTunes folder into DAP storage and it will read the library as well as the .m3u playlists. I haven't done that myself though so it would require some extra research.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@villa9612]

How much would something like this cost (in 2024) and do you still think it is better/going to be better longterm as tech advances.

[@sevensoulcostanza]

The Fiio M11S can be considered mid-tier price around $500 USD, but they go on sale frequently to around the $400 price range. Anything above $500, you're looking at better DACs and amps, more features, etc. The best way I've heard a DAP explained is that it's a "dumb phone" but with a better quality internal DAC/amp. Software issues, lack of replaceable batteries, and portability size issues will be some of the biggest issues with DAPs. You can go the opposite way and use your current smartphone with a dongle DAC/amp that has a much lower price entry. You just might have to charge your phone more often depending how much power the dongle DAC/amp pulls from your smartphone battery. Plus there will be limits on the phone storage if you are loading up tons of music. A dongle DAC/amp is something I've considered with my next phone upgrade.

[@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.

[@nirojim6664]

as a new user ,,, which brand / model should i get ? budget around 300 - 400 usd

[@sevensoulcostanza]

I only have experience with mine, the Fiio M11S. I believe Hiby and Shanling make DAPs in that price range that are highly recommended.

[@ZwelMunWint]

What’s the in ear monitor brand you use?

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Moondrop Variations.

[@oktxv8186]

Ur so real for listening to when will they shoot kudoooos

[@sevensoulcostanza]

Cube was a beast in his prime!

[@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.