Portable Music Player

[freesteve]

Please recommend a portable high quality music player that I can use in my Lexus w ML sound system via audio cable. I need to store lossless music only; perhaps it can read a usb or a small portable drive ??? Like to keep the investment under $ 1 k. Thanks in advance.

[DigDug]

AK100 or AK120 is the only way to go. IMO

Also a decent mini to mini cable (Audioquest make several for this application)

[maelob]

Astern Kern Junior or Fiio x3

[freesteve]

Thanks... I will acquaint myself with AK...

[freesteve]

where would you go to purchase from a reliable source ... thank you.

[maelob]

amazon, moon audio, Bh photo, crutchfield

[YashN]

If I had the budget:

 

 

Woo Audio’s epic WA8 Eclipse is the world's first battery-operated vacuum tube headphone amplifier. Featuring SET Class-A transformer output for transparent sound quality, a built-in 24bit/384kHz DAC

 

They don't mention DSD but it's a SABRE DAC which normally can do that.

 

[ccklone]

Hey Now,

 

Sony Walkman ZX-2, fantastic bit of kit. Hi Rez + DSD. Built like a tank. Lots of storage, 128GB internal, external micro SD up to 128GB officially, but some have had success with the 200GB SanDisk. I use it with the Sony LOD in the truck. Android OS. Use a TRRS plug for balanced output. I download lots of Tidal tracks for offline use. Connect to my iPhone as a wifi hotspot for streaming over LTE. I like mine a lot.

 

--

Finest kind,

Chris

[jcbenten]

If I had the budget:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]26404[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

They don't mention DSD but it's a SABRE DAC which normally can do that.

 

 

That is cool! I wonder if an external battery pack can be connected. One of those 20K mahr for phones and such. Battery life is pretty short without. Also need a hard shell case for the backpack to protect the tubes.

 

I have the Sony ZX1 & ZX2 and like them quite a bit. Use the ZX1 at the gym and cutting grass and the ZX2 everywhere else. The 200GB Sandisk does work in the ZX2.

[DigDug]

where would you go to purchase from a reliable source ... thank you.

In Canada I highly recommend http://www.hifiheadphones.ca

 

Great service and knowledge.

[DigDug]

Astern Kern Junior or Fiio x3

In this price range I highly recommend Pono, less fatiguing than the other options at $400. Amazing DAC built in for the money. AK JR does have a better screen and user experience though.

[TubeLover]

In this price range I highly recommend Pono, less fatiguing than the other options at $400. Amazing DAC built in for the money. AK JR does have a better screen and user experience though.

 

+1 on the Pono! An amazing bargain for what you pay. Read the Stereophile review.

 

JC

[DaQi]

Another vote for the Pono. Great sound for the price.

[oso]

How about the new pioneer player? It plays MQA as well; Pioneer XDP-100R is world's first MQA-ready hi-res music player | What Hi-Fi?

[burnspbesq]

If I were in the market for a portable player now, the Onkyo would be at the rop of my list.

 

Portable Audio | DP-X1 | Onkyo USA

[gmgraves]

Please recommend a portable high quality music player that I can use in my Lexus w ML sound system via audio cable. I need to store lossless music only; perhaps it can read a usb or a small portable drive ??? Like to keep the investment under $ 1 k. Thanks in advance.

 

HiFiMan HM-650. $400 to $750 depending on amplifier module you buy it with. The basic amplifier model, at $400, will be more than adequate to drive the input to a car stereo. Of course, a Pono at $400 would be fine as well. Just make sure your passenger doesn't mistake it for an Italian chocolate bar and try to eat it!

[lucretius]

Please recommend a portable high quality music player that I can use in my Lexus w ML sound system via audio cable. I need to store lossless music only; perhaps it can read a usb or a small portable drive ??? Like to keep the investment under $ 1 k. Thanks in advance.

 

Does the ML sound system have iPad/iPhone/iPod integration? That is, can the system take the digital signal from the i device? If so, I'd go that route. The car is not exactly an anechoic chamber, so I wouldn't waste too much money.

[whoozwah]

I don't think car audio will ever be hifi like your home rig so I would stick to something simple. You can do a helluva lot worse than the current gen ipod touch 128GB and for the money, not much better.

[gmgraves]

I don't think car audio will ever be hifi like your home rig so I would stick to something simple. You can do a helluva lot worse than the current gen ipod touch 128GB and for the money, not much better.

 

My HiFiMan HM-650 playing through my pair of HiFiMan HE-1000 headphones in the balanced mode plying 24/96, 24/192' and DSD files sound much better than any car or home stereo that i have ever heard. It's just awesome!

[whoozwah]

Cool deal man. I'm glad you like your equipment

[tranz]

Audioquest Firefly and your phone.

[Teresa]

Audioquest Firefly and your phone.

 

Oops! I thought you were discussing Firefly the science fiction series, one of my favorites.

 

I noticed there was no comma, so I did a google search and discovered that Firefly is a USB DAC made by Audioquest. Sorry about that, I deleted my original comment.

 

My only telephone is a 20 year old corded Conair landline, it's all I need.

 

If I get a portable digital player in the future I would like it to play both 2.8MHz and 5.6MHz DSD.

[bmoura]

The Questyle Q1P ($599) and Q1PR ($899). True DSD 128 Playback (no DSD to PCM conversions) unlike the Onkyo, Pioneer, HiFi Man, Sony and some of the other players in the under $1k portable price category.

 

Questyle, Questyle Audio - Questyle Audio

[Teresa]

Thanks Brian, it looks really cool.

[bmoura]

Thanks Brian, it looks really cool.

 

It is. The $599 model is harder to find in stock than the top of the line Q1PR at $899.

Both are excellent values for the price.