I definitely understand the logic and I went through the same questions when I started as well.
Why have a portable DAP when I already have my phone?
Why have something that can play offline files or stream if I already have my PC?
But like what M0N mentioned, most of these devices were designed with IEMs in mind and to try to get the best performance and playback possible. They focus on low noise and performance with sensitive IEMs.
When I started to upgrade my DAP, I got the same scaling as if I went from an entry level amp/DAC to a mid-tier one like a BF2, to a high-tier one. It certainly scales and if you have the IEM that can pick up on those details and microdetails, you will benefit from it.
Unless you can find a DAC and desktop amp that specializes to use with sensitive IEMs, you will likely get a much better performance and synergy with a good DAP.
okā¦ lets prove my pointā¦
I meant it soundwiseā¦ If you consider bluetooth a bottleneck in your system, you should definitely spend money and get that higher-end DAP
butā¦
I cant imagine a world, where I (as a student) would spend money on a DAP instead of portable dac/amp
I can follow you (I have a Xduoo 05 Plus ) and for some it would be enough and for others their
needs require a Dap.
I think it comes down to personal preferences, but I like that the opportunity is there and we can all find what fits our own needs.
OK this has been an interesting discussionā¦Desktop Vās Portableā¦not sure quite where it should be posted so Iāll start a new thread in Off Topic
~7 years ago, I moved from summit-fi desktop to portable. The move was swift and brutal, LMAO. I simply got tired of being tethered to a desk/listening station. I work from home 80% of the time (even pre-pandemic). I like moving from the upstairs office, to the kitchen, to the man cave in the basement, to the front porch, to the backyard patio, etc, and simply put my listening device in my pocket or goofy case I wear on a belt when at home.
Now, where I depart is my unwillingness to pay above a certain (arbitrary) amount for battery-powered audio devices. My audio budget is a fraction of a fraction of what it once was, and I make a lot more money now than I did 6+ years ago. I just dislike the idea of buying something I know is powered by a degrading power source that I may or may not be able to/be willing to replace. I also thus far have avoided dongle life because my phone is for voice & text, not entertainment consumption. Iām like one of the five people on earth with this outlook, hahahaha.
All of this is supremely YMMV. Just giving one manās perspective & partial journey.
So there are many ways that can determine lifetime of a tube. How many times you power them on, what type of bias you run them at, how hard you push them, and temperature. Tubes also have somewhat of a bell curve of performance where it starts off bad, burns in, reaches the peak of itās performance, and slowly continues to get worse after that. They donāt just stop working, just over time as they reach the end of their life they sound more and more dull and lifeless generally. Also over time I think the actual vacuum inside the tube can get air in too. Also manufacturing quality plays a large role in tube life, a cheaply made tube will not last long
This type of thought more becomes relevant in the higher end side of things, generally for midrange daps vs midrange dac/amps this isnāt going to be a major concern as long as you use something like uapp/hiby/another direct dac connection for phone transport, this isnāt going to be a super noticeable difference until you start taking those steps into the higher end
Yeah I figured. Here I am, yet again considering going full portable and selling off my gear to pay for a higher end DAP. Now that I have the Zen Iām questioning some of the pieces I have.
I also have a separation of phone which is for communication and a DAP which has more storage capacity and a different battery so music and communication arenāt competing on the same device.
) and for some it would be enough and for others their
