Audiophile high capacity DAPs: MIA (missing in action)

[Mike]

A recent article at CNET.com, discussing and listing available audiophile DAPs.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4321-6490_7-...ml?tag=bubbl_3

Sadly, not a single high-capacity player is listed. This is the opening that many of us have seen for a few years now. (You listening, iRiver? Right.)

Positively, the iRiver Clix is at the top of the list, both ratings and consumer-wise.

[LordMattman]

Interesting read, good to hear about the sound quality of the clix. But yeah, sad to see no higher capacity players as my music collection is growing too fast. (Although I do have a H340 in the mail. )

[Packgrog]

Don't confuse "advanced equalizers" with "audiophile".

True audiophiles will either use an iMod iPod (which reroutes the signal directly from the excellent Wolfson DAC chip to an improved line-out connector and thus requires and external amp), or (like me) an iRiver H1xx for the S/PDIF output to a higher quality external DAC.

Cowon/iAudio players seem to have generally the best sound quality straight from the headphone jack. But then, I've never tried the Clix. I will say that my Cowon A2 sounds better straight from the headphone jack than my iRiver H120 can sound with the line-out to a good headphone amp. The Cowon simply has a better DAC (and a pretty good amp stage).

The iRiver H1xx with S/PDIF to a nice DAC, though, beats them all. MUWAHAHAH!

-Packgrog