DAP and PX8 BW

[Abdo]

Friends, thoughts on a DAP and a new headphone.

I've been reading a lot about headphones, and of all the ones I'm most inclined to buy would be the BW PX8. Although I know we might soon have a new PX8 S2, since I'm going to Chicago next month (I live in Brazil), I wanted to take advantage and buy one.
Now, after reading a lot about using the PX8 with a USB-C cable being the best quality solution.
Then I ran into a problem because I'd like to get a DAP (Fiio). I saw several models, including the M17 or M21 M23... they all have a 2TB storage slot, which would fit everything I have in my hi-fi system, in addition to running Roon Ready.
But the big problem would be how to connect the PX8 to it via USB cable, as it seems that this isn't possible. And to benefit from the PX8's best quality, you only need to use the USB-C cable.
I may be completely wrong in my analysis, but I'd appreciate any suggestions, or even a different brand, if appropriate, to achieve this type of setup.

Thank you.

 

[staticV3]

When using a USB cable with the PX8, it becomes an external DAC.

All three FiiO DAPs can be plugged into external DACs:


Therefore, FiiO DAP->USB->PX8 will work just fine.

It's an awful solution regarding price-to-performance, but it'll work.

Is there a reason you chose the PX8 for wired use? Is it the ANC?

 

[Abdo]

When using a USB cable with the PX8, it becomes an external DAC.

All three FiiO DAPs can be plugged into external DACs:
View attachment 474931 View attachment 474932 View attachment 474933

Therefore, FiiO DAP->USB->PX8 will work just fine.

It's an awful solution regarding price-to-performance, but it'll work.

Is there a reason you chose the PX8 for wired use? Is it the ANC?

Look, the PX8 can be used both wired and wirelessly, and I know others do the same. As for ANC, it helps me on flights.

I know Sony's ANC would be the best, but from what I've read, the PX8's audio quality is better.

Do you have any different suggestions for me to consider? I'm open to suggestions.

For the current cost, the best option would be the M21, which would already be Roon Ready.

The M23 might be better, but it would be twice the price. Is it worth it?

Oh, maybe I didn't explain it well. Connecting my iPhone to the M21 and then the PX8...

Thanks.

 

[staticV3]

Do you have any different suggestions for me to consider? I'm open to suggestions.

If you want to stick to a Bluetooth headphone for hybrid wired/wireless use and ANC, then I'd at least suggest not buying an expensive DAP with fancy DAC and Amp inside, which wouldn't ever be used when listening through USB or Bluetooth.

A DAP like the HiBy M300 is less expensive, more lightweight, and will last longer all while giving you exactly the same sound quality since the DAP itself isn't doing any conversion. It's just a transport.

If you want to stick to FiiO, then the only ones I'd consider are the M21, JM21, and M11s. Spending more is counterproductive for this use case.

 

[staticV3]

Oh, maybe I didn't explain it well. Connecting my iPhone to the M21 and then the PX8...

Why?

 

[Abdo]

Thank you for your explanation and suggestions.

I think I'll end up going with the M21 because it's in high demand in Brazil, and if I end up not using it much, it's a very easy device to pass on here.

I could be wrong about this question you raised, but let's imagine I'm in a place with only 5G and want to use the M21 and PX8... that would be the only option I could think of.

The M21 can handle itself anywhere with Wi-Fi. Am I right, or is there a smarter way to use it? You're always helpful. Thanks.

 

[staticV3]

could be wrong about this question you raised, but let's imagine I'm in a place with only 5G and want to use the M21 and PX8... that would be the only option I could think of.

The M21 can handle itself anywhere with Wi-Fi. Am I right, or is there a smarter way to use it? You're always helpful. Thanks.

I'm not sure what the use case is here.

Do you want to stream audio via 5G from your iPhone to the PX8?

Then simply do iPhone->USB/BT->PX8.

It might be possible to do iPhone->BT->M21->USB->PX8 or iPhone->USB->M21->BT->PX8, but for what purpose?

And if instead you want to play local files stored on micro SD, then why involve the iPhone?

 

[Abdo]

Yes, you're right, because when I only have 5G and want to access my Tidal account, for example, it's easier to go straight to iPhone - PX8...

I'm considering the M21 because it has my entire library on it. I've already made this calculation. I currently have approximately 5,000 CDs at home, all of which have been duly ripped to FLAC. This takes up almost 3TB on my Synology running Roon.

This week I converted all these FLAC files using DBPoweramp to AppleLoss. Interestingly, despite many people claiming that FLAC or AppleLoss is lossless, there was a significant reduction in the space taken up.

In FLAC, I have 2.8TB, while these same files in AppleLossless took up 1.7TB. Perhaps the way I captured the FLAC at the time, without compression, is why it took up more space.

But if I had the M21 back with a 2TB microSD, I would have been able to play my discs directly on it.

Now I have another question: is it possible to play directly from the M21 to a Wii U Ultra or Everso Play? I have a house in another city where I have them, and then listening to everything I have would be simpler. Currently, I use Room Arc. I don't like it that much, but it works.

Thanks.

 

[staticV3]

Now I have another question: is it possible to play directly from the M21 to a Wii U Ultra or Everso Play? I have a house in another city where I have them, and then listening to everything I have would be simpler. Currently, I use Room Arc. I don't like it that much, but it works.

The M21 is an Android device with access to the Play Store, so you can stream from it to the WiiM Ultra or Eversolo Play via Chromecast, Tidal Connect, UPnP, WiiM Home, Eversolo Control, or good old Bluetooth.

 

[Abdo]

Renewing this post, today BW launched the new PX8 S3 ... and since I haven't bought it yet, I started researching about this new one, and to my surprise, I came across a review of it, and there was this graph below, apart from finishing issues, technically both use everything the same, both the new PX8 S2 and the PX7 S3 .... here comes the question ... would this be right? Would it be worth putting another 400 dollars into this new one ..

There's Only One Bad Thing About Bowers & Wilkins' PX8 S2 Headphones: Their Price Hurts

These are easily among the best-sounding Bluetooth headphones on the market -- but they're now $799, or $100 more than their predecessor. Here are my early hands-on impressions.

www.cnet.com