What will replace ipod for quality portable music. ?

[Beef Oven!]

I ordered myself an iBasso DX50, which I'll be picking up at the weekend. I don't think this one has been mentioned here. There seems to have been quite a proliferation of new digital audio players of late, so I did some hunting around for opinions and this was my decision, though there didn't seem to be very much to choose between it and the (somewhat more expensive) Fiio X5. I'll be back in a few days with some initial reactions.

I did look at that and almost bought it. In the end I've ordered a Fiio X3 2nd generation at a similar price (£159 in UK).



The iBassoDX50 looks great.

[Richard Barrett]

You're right, it does. It arrives in a nice little box with a USB cable, a coaxial cable, a silicone cover... and that's all. There's no manual, nor is there one on the iBasso website that I could find, although I did find one elsewhere. Is it a good sign to have to begin with such an initiative test...? First thing to do apparently is load up the latest firmware.

[Beef Oven!]

You're right, it does. It arrives in a nice little box with a USB cable, a coaxial cable, a silicone cover... and that's all. There's no manual, nor is there one on the iBasso website that I could find, although I did find one elsewhere. Is it a good sign to have to begin with such an initiative test...? First thing to do apparently is load up the latest firmware.

Not a good start, but according to whispers, this unit excels on sound quality, not user interface/friendliness. So I guess the best is to come!

[Richard Barrett]

So I guess the best is to come!

Quite. Actually the setup was pretty easy. What I particularly like is no faffing around with iTunes... instead the DX50 appears as an external drive (as does the flash card I put in it) and all you have to do is drop the stuff onto it. Of course on this trip I would have to have forgotten the USB3 cable for the hard drive I keep all the music on, so I just have a few things on the laptop I can load in. Telemann so far sounding excellent.

[Beef Oven!]

Quite. Actually the setup was pretty easy. What I particularly like is no faffing around with iTunes... instead the DX50 appears as an external drive (as does the flash card I put in it) and all you have to do is drop the stuff onto it. Of course on this trip I would have to have forgotten the USB3 cable for the hard drive I keep all the music on, so I just have a few things on the laptop I can load in. Telemann so far sounding excellent.

Indeed, I'm looking to side-step iTunes. Part of the reason why I'm getting a DAP alongside my iPod Classic.

I often have snags like your forgotten USB3 cable on my trips, and I find some of my most enjoyable listening come through being 'forced' on me.

Happy listening, and please do keep us posted on how it all goes with the DX50.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I'm surprised no-one has challenged the OP. It implies an assumption that the iPod gives good quality sound (rather than compressed mp3 quality).

[Dave2002]

I'm surprised no-one has challenged the OP. It implies an assumption that the iPod gives good quality sound (rather than compressed mp3 quality).

iPods are perfectly capable of storing music in lossless formats, such as ALAC. Some enthusiasts have suggested that the iPod DACs can be improved upon. For anyone who wants to substitute some other form of output there are, or were, several iPod docks which were claimed to have better DACs. Many users have been happy enough with the iPod hardware as it is/was.

Here is one such dock, currently still available - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-iPho...s=digital+dock Others may be no longer available, perhaps because of a low demand within a small niche market.

[MrGongGong]

I'm surprised no-one has challenged the OP. It implies an assumption that the iPod gives good quality sound (rather than compressed mp3 quality).

(lets not go there?)

[Beef Oven!]

The iPod classic is a brilliant gadget, I'd even go as far as saying that the iPod is the greatest invention of the last 50 years. Even topping the mobile 'phone.

It's not for nerds though.

[MrGongGong]

The iPod classic is a brilliant gadget, I'd even go as far as saying that the iPod is the greatest invention of the last 50 years. Even topping the mobile 'phone.

It's not for nerds though.

The VCS3 was invented in 1969

nuff said

[Dave2002]

Here is one such dock, currently still available - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Digital-iPho...s=digital+dock Others may be no longer available, perhaps because of a low demand within a small niche market.

Other docks which were good in the past included the Wadia 170i and I think this Arcam - http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00R2NY6G...F9MK3YPA73JJXS

Looks like the "need" for such devices has now reduced considerably.

[Richard Barrett]

Well, all I can say is that now I've listened to the DX50 more extensively (Abbado's Bruckner 9 and Hannu Lintu's Turangalîla last night) I am simply not interested in hearing an iPod ever again, given the enormous difference in detail and depth. It was good while it lasted. Apple of course could have offered a new unit with removable solid-state storage and better DACs (though I dare say not with the extremely unfashionable replaceable battery (!!!) that the DX50 has), but I guess they concluded the profit to be made wasn't astronomical enough.

In short, this DX50 comes with my recommendation.

[MrGongGong]

In short, this DX50 comes with my recommendation.

Is it better than a DX7 ?

(strange names people choose sometimes..... I'm always expecting Peter Zinovieff to appear on the EMS)

[Beef Oven!]

Well, all I can say is that now I've listened to the DX50 more extensively (Abbado's Bruckner 9 and Hannu Lintu's Turangalîla last night) I am simply not interested in hearing an iPod ever again, given the enormous difference in detail and depth. It was good while it lasted. Apple of course could have offered a new unit with removable solid-state storage and better DACs (though I dare say not with the extremely unfashionable replaceable battery (!!!) that the DX50 has), but I guess they concluded the profit to be made wasn't astronomical enough.

In short, this DX50 comes with my recommendation.

The Fiio X3 ii that I've ordered doesn't have a replaceable battery. I thought a replaceable battery is a good thing - you don't have to junk the device when the battery loses capacity.

I'm pleased to see that there's a huge difference between the DX50 and the iPod. I expect a similar experience when the X3 arrives. Btw, what headphones are you using?

[Richard Barrett]

Btw, what headphones are you using?

On the road I'm using RHA earbuds, MA600 I think is the model number. At home I use AKG K702s.

Is it better than a DX7? well its piano sounds are a lot better...

A replaceable battery IS a good thing! but it isn't the kind of thing Apple do these days.