What is the best choice?

[Vaejoviscarolinanus]

Shanling M2X Portable Music Player
Or
Newest Ipad 7th generation
Both will be used mostly with a JDS labs
EL Dac II but occasionally without. I can obviously use the IPad for other tasks but I am just wondering what would sound the best. Please advise.
PS
I am going to be streaming Tidal.

 

[VintageFlanker]

That isn't that clear to me. You intend to use iPad or Shanling as digital transport? The Shanling can't do that. Are you aware that the EL DAC 2 doesn't have any analog input?

 

[Vaejoviscarolinanus]

I read that the usb out was a dig out for the use of a Dac.

 

[VintageFlanker]

According to the manual and specs, the USB-C port can act as an USB DAC, but not as USB transport to another DAC.

 

[Vaejoviscarolinanus]

Thanks for this information I just thought it was the other way.

 

[MrC]

I know this post is a few months old but just to clarify that the M2X can be used both as a DAC and as a transport.