300dollarcablesWOOT
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- Joined
- Jul 2, 2019
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Hi All,
TLDR: Having trouble convincing myself to pay for a DAP when I hear only marginal benefits over my Nokia 8.
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I have read quite a range of other posts and just wish for some advice on my thought processes here.
I currently listen to Westone W60 IEM (unbalanced) on my Nokia 8 phone, where i notice a buzz/distortion during very quiet sections of music.
I mostly stream Spotify 320, I have a trial of TIDAL for lossless, unsure if I will keep TIDAL due to cost and missing tracks in my Spotify library. I am, to my own detriment, too lazy to continue to curate a collection of FLACs and my musical interests change with the wind.
Money is not a massive issue, but lets say a budget of 600USD/1000AUD to keep things reasonable.
Options with costs/benefits:
1. Keep listening on the Nokia 8, tolerate mild audible artifacts, listen at my desk on my Focusrite 2i2 if I'm feeling picky.
2. Get a portable like the Topping NX4 for approx 200AUD.
Benefit: Price.
Cost: mucking around with OTG cables, using UAPP to stream TIDAL without native android messing with the audio signal before sending to the NX4, no Spotify support, no replaceable battery.
3. Buy a LG V20 for 200AUD.
Benefits: Cost, replaceable battery.
Cost: Still have to mess around with UAPP and stream TIDAL as above, as I understand that the quad DAC only works with dedicated players like Neutron, LG media player, UAPP etc.
4. Buy a DAP such as the Fiio M9 (450AUD) or A&K SR15 (850AUD).
Benefit: Spotify support, no need for UAPP, potential for better quality sound (? questionmark).
Cost: Price, laggy interface, small screen makes typing more difficult, no replaceable battery.
5. Use a laptop and take my Focusrite 2i2 with me to the bedside, couch, balcony etc.
Benefits: Cost, no need for purchases.
Costs: Annoying, clumsy solution.
I start by thinking either 1 or 3 are best , as I dislike non-replaceable batteries, and typing on DAPs. But then I want spotify support, so 3 seems silly. Then I consider 2 and 4, where 2 has the same problem as 3. Hence 4 is the solution, where I am paying considerable money for potentially marginal improvement over 1. Now you see why I feel stupid and slightly frustrated.
Any comments/criticisms of my thoughts above?
TLDR: Having trouble convincing myself to pay for a DAP when I hear only marginal benefits over my Nokia 8.
-----
I have read quite a range of other posts and just wish for some advice on my thought processes here.
I currently listen to Westone W60 IEM (unbalanced) on my Nokia 8 phone, where i notice a buzz/distortion during very quiet sections of music.
I mostly stream Spotify 320, I have a trial of TIDAL for lossless, unsure if I will keep TIDAL due to cost and missing tracks in my Spotify library. I am, to my own detriment, too lazy to continue to curate a collection of FLACs and my musical interests change with the wind.
Money is not a massive issue, but lets say a budget of 600USD/1000AUD to keep things reasonable.
Options with costs/benefits:
1. Keep listening on the Nokia 8, tolerate mild audible artifacts, listen at my desk on my Focusrite 2i2 if I'm feeling picky.
2. Get a portable like the Topping NX4 for approx 200AUD.
Benefit: Price.
Cost: mucking around with OTG cables, using UAPP to stream TIDAL without native android messing with the audio signal before sending to the NX4, no Spotify support, no replaceable battery.
3. Buy a LG V20 for 200AUD.
Benefits: Cost, replaceable battery.
Cost: Still have to mess around with UAPP and stream TIDAL as above, as I understand that the quad DAC only works with dedicated players like Neutron, LG media player, UAPP etc.
4. Buy a DAP such as the Fiio M9 (450AUD) or A&K SR15 (850AUD).
Benefit: Spotify support, no need for UAPP, potential for better quality sound (? questionmark).
Cost: Price, laggy interface, small screen makes typing more difficult, no replaceable battery.
5. Use a laptop and take my Focusrite 2i2 with me to the bedside, couch, balcony etc.
Benefits: Cost, no need for purchases.
Costs: Annoying, clumsy solution.
I start by thinking either 1 or 3 are best , as I dislike non-replaceable batteries, and typing on DAPs. But then I want spotify support, so 3 seems silly. Then I consider 2 and 4, where 2 has the same problem as 3. Hence 4 is the solution, where I am paying considerable money for potentially marginal improvement over 1. Now you see why I feel stupid and slightly frustrated.
Any comments/criticisms of my thoughts above?