Good DAP suggestions around the 300-400$ mark

Equipment / Electronics / Gear / Accessories DAPs
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Hey guys I’m looking to buy an android based DAP and my budget is around 300-400$. I used to own a hiby digital m300 but didn’t quite work for me, was a lil too small in the hand, it had a few issues also it was low on power. Looking for something a lil bigger (more robust feel in hand)

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Both a few more :dollar: either iBasso DX180 or Shanling M3 Plus are worth checking out…Hiby R4 is a great little DAP smaller and lighter in hand, versatile and cheaper too.

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Thanks a lot

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I know @ToneDeafMonk has reviewed quite a few reasonable priced DAPs on his channel maybe he’s got some recs too?

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Will check his channel out, thanks!

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Fiio M21 is another popular one in the space

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Yeah been eyeing it the last few days, saw a few reviews… on avg seem to be on the positive side

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Worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzOpdXe5pRU Neither of these guys are new…

That said, I have both DX180 and DX340 with amp13 and amp15. They both sound great but 340 has the edge in overall smoothness, texture, stage and holoferocity but the 180 is oh so pocketable. Different use cases, complimentary for me.

But I think money is better spent on additional IEMs or headphones to have variation of presentation vs. subtle changes in electronics.

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Thanks will check it out now!!

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Just finished seeing Andy’s video… Was very enlightening… I’ve only ever heard / used 2 DAPs before, one being the hiby m300 I owned and the other one was the Hiby R6 pro ii which I heard in Zeppelin & Co in 2023 (paired with the storm).
I think the video kind of re-enforced the criteria I had which was more along the lines of size and robustness of the DAP as compared to how they’d sound. I also know that I need an android DAP cuz I use apple music in edition to local flac files…
I think I’ll go for the fiio m21 cuz it seems to be bigger and a lil thicker than the R4… My hands are a lil on the bigger side so the size helps.

Thanks for the help!! :pray:

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I switched to the Shanling M3 Ultra after the Hiby M300, and frankly it’s day and night. More power, smooth Android, great grip. At that price, it really ticks all the boxes.

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What exactly about the m300 didn’t you like? Other than the power and the not smooth android exp?

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Did you end up getting the fiio M21. ? . I have the hiby m300, & smaller R1, plus a good priced new open box M11s. I like them all. But the m11s is the best for home use for me. I only use them to play music files. I don’t stream my music, so don’t use a fair few functions. M11s can power all my headphones inc…grado, sennheiser hd 600, hd580, hd660s. And focal elegia. Etc

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I have ordered it… Will take a few days to arrive.