At the moment if I’m out and about I listen via my iPhone with a ifi Audio Hip-Dac2 (and some Focal Elegia headphones). My question is, how big a difference would a standalone portable player make (before I go down the rabbit hole of trialling a bunch). If I were to get one I would have a budget of around £1K
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Check out Fiio
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I’ve got an Astell and Kern SK35. Sounds very good and reasonable price.
Screen is a bit small but that’s my only small complaint.
For me it’s a big jump on my iPhone. Also saves running down the battery.
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A second vote for the Astell&Kern. I won a nice one on Fleabay for €400.
Sounds pretty good.
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If you want to go hardcore a Chord Poly/Mojo2 sounds excellent.
The Poly is however, operationally, problematic. If you’re a plug and plug ‘it’s not for you Jen’.
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Fiio and A+K tend to have slightly different musical characters from the several of each brand I have owned.
Fiio warmer, smooth, more bass. A+K (which I much prefer) a livelier and more balanced sound to my ears.
I suspect DAPs from both would deliver good performance from your headphones. Just watch out for battery issues if you buy secondhand. I don’t think either offer a straightforward battery replacement service. I have had an A+K SP 2000 die as a result of a battery at end of life.
Bruce
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My vote goes to Snowsky Disc (sub brand of FIIO). Small form factor, can take 2TB micro SD card (my biggest gripe with the A&K. My SP3000 can only do 1TB while the incoming SP4000 is rumored to be good for 1.5TB only). Easy to use interface. Pair this with an IEM of your choice. So many to choose from. For neutral non V shaped IEM, I like the Unique Melody Maven 2. Only problem is the IEM is 10X the cost of the DAP. Decent sound and good portability. The Snowksy is less than GBP100 where I am.
One thing to take note of is the ear tip. Need a good seal to sound good. There are aftermarket ones one can try on. Various sizes. Find the right size.
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I think he is going to use his device with his Focal Elegia headphones? I doubt the Snowsky will drive them adequately, and it might not better his current setup?
Your point generally about IEMs and fit is definitely true though.
Bruce
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Hard to beat the chord mojo 2. Just use your phone to provide the music, or an old phone.
I have the poly as well, its good, but unless its got a lot of charge in it, it just doesn’t connect to the chord app. But as said old phone and mojo will be basically as good as anything you want to try against it. Plus a phone has the ability to run what you want as in apps, music stores, etc, etc. Most dedicated music devices dont give you these options at all.
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The latest version of Chord’s GoFigure app makes setup a lot more user friendly, just remember to FULLY charge the Mojo2/Poly combo before trying to set it up 
. But……. totally plug n’ play, nah!
Sounds fantastic though, so perhaps a no pain no gain scenario 
.
ATB, J
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Such pricey cans need the best frontend.
I’m in the phone + portable DAC/amp camp as well and have several DAC dongles to play with. I actually use my main phone as a music player although I have surplus old phones laying around. I use an old phone to control the Lumin streamer though.
Since someone here mentioned Unique Melody Maven II, I tried this IEM sometime last year and it’s good. Nevertheless, I settled with BGVP Solomon and it’s the best sound I’ve experienced so far when matched with iBasso DC Elite.
FWIW I prefer IEM to headphones mainly for portability, sound quality and comfort.
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A Sony WM1Z (1st gen) sounds like good vinyl on its own with inky dark background, it’s that good.
You’re got to be quite careful matching with the Elegia. Let’s just say they have a unique tuning!
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Have the A&Ks actually been tested with a 2TB card? I ask because I found that the so-called card size limit on my own AK380 didn’t actually exist and I currently use a 1TB Micro SD card without any issues.
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I have owned and borrowed various portable music players over the years. If you are after headphones listening whilst on the move, or staying over in a hotel, then in the end utility and capable performance start to matter more (in my opinion) as opposed to extreme top end performance like you may have at home.
I do find the iPhone with tethered headphone amp DAC like Audioquest Dragonfly Cobalt or higher bandwidth Bluetooth such as Apple’s AirPods Max work really well now. I use the latter mostly if travelling alone for work.. and I get those immersive, potentially emotional replay experiences. Yes it’s not like the home system in terms of nuance and finesse, but it sufficiently communicates the music in an often non ideal environment.
With regard to services on the iPhone I use, Apple Music and Tidal… nice thing both integrate well with the car too using CarPlay.
If however I was looking for a top end headphone system for mostly portable listening at home, I would go a different route.
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Yes, they do have a fairly unique, and at times frustrating, sound. Pondering replacing them with something like the Ecoutè TH1 headphones. I’ve also got a pair of Grado SR235’s which I prefer the sound of to the Focal’s but they’re not as comfortable and being open-backed they’re not very public-friendly to wear out and about.
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Yes they’re definitely interesting 
I’ve tried to sell my pair a couple of times but I seem to go back them for a fun blast every now and then.
Elegia do go quite well with the Poly/Mojo2 though. The Mojo’s lossless equalizer is useful if used tastefully 
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I tried it on my SP3000 but it resulted in frequent hangs. Went back to 1TB and all good. However, I heard that the SP4000 will take 1.5TB. I will know soon when I get mine.
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I found this topic interesting as it’s close to something I’m trying to achieve. We have a compact Motorhome and if we add up the of weekends and long trips around Europe, we spend at least 12 weeks part year in it. I’d therefore like to install a simple to use, music system in it. My home system is based around a Uniti Core (with a 2TB ssd and another external ssd for backup). The Core feeds into an NDAC/555PS. We have around 1000 cds stored in the Core as WAV files. The Motorhome has a ZTE mobile wifi router with its own data sim and connected to the vehicles 12v supply. We’re in the process of installing a large capacity Lithium battery and inverter. This means we could run a 240v or 12 v system. The ZTE can allow multiple devices to connect to it so we currently stream radio via an iPhone or tv apps using a Firestick. At the moment we just use wireless speaker either by Bluetooth or the tv headphone socket. What I’d like to be able to do is take my WAV files with me either on an ssd or 1TB micro sd card.
I’m therefore looking for a device that can: stream WAV files from an ssd/micro sd card, radio from an iPhone or directly from the internet, and TV audio via Bluetooth or an optical cable. I would like to also install a pair of compact speakers preferably wired as it would be difficult to get a 240v supply to them. They’d need to be wall mounted.
weight is always an issue in a Motorhome along with space, if it wasn’t, I’d just get another MuSo! I also don’t want to use the vehicles own radio, I’m sure there is a better solution out there.
I hope this makes sense a wondered if anyone has done something similar or has any thoughts on some potential solutions.