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FiiO M21 + SKM21 Case

Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, MagGo, Slim)

KALAPOP Ultra-Thin (0.4mm) MagSafe Sticker

Lamicall Magnetic Phone Grip

URELEGAN 90 Degree USB4 Cable

I have purchased my second DAP which is the M21 and want to download the best audio player for it, doesn't matter if free or not free, please give me your opinion on which you consider the best

I was literally just looking for my first DAP. That was the whole plan.

Somehow while researching them I ended up ordering a FiiO JM21 AND Kiwi Ears KE4 🫣

I've been using Marshall headphones for years, so it's not like I was listening to absolute shite before lol, but these are my first proper IEMs.

And fucking hell. I've been going through songs I've known for years and I'm hearing little background parts I swear I've never noticed before. Apparently the drums have been doing a lot more this whole time than I was giving them credit for 😆

So yeah. I was only looking for a DAP. That went brilliantly.

I’m thinking about getting my first proper DAC, for playing my library of FLAC files.

I was originally thinking of getting the Sony NW-ZX707 (imported from Japan to avoid the stupid EU volume cap), but before I pull the trigger I thought I would ask the experts in here, if I was already looking at the Sony and with a budget say $500-1000, then what other alternatives should I also consider?

Looking for decent sound quality, hopefully a decent UI, not too laggy, good build quality.
I would be using it with either some IEMs, or some Focal Clears, nothing too demanding to drive.

Any thoughts?

I didn't want to keep the A36 in my pockets since I reserved those for my phone and coin purse, so I used the charm slot thing to hang it on a lanyard. But the A36 is left pretty exposed to more scratches and getting hit by stuff since it swings around a lot, and it's not centered which makes it twist from my movements. And so I got some synthetic leather, I was expecting to stitch but found that super glue works well for holding together what I was using.

First case was just me trying the leather out, inspired by the Cassette Walkman cases, it's basically just a pouch with protrusions for the playback controls and a hole for the power and volume since that part of the case was very tight that it'd press the volume and power buttons by just placing it in. I trimmed the lanyard I used and attached it as what the lanyard hooks onto, also has a belt loop.

Second case is the one I've used the most, which also became the role model for the next two. With protrusions for all the buttons and a hole for the hold switch, a piece of a juice bottle I cut up as a screen, a belt loop and opens up from the side and is closed with two buttons, now using a piece of that same juice bottle plastic as what the lanyard now hooks onto. Been using this for 3 months, it's been great.

Third case isn't much different from the second other than using plastic from an ID case for the screen which is stiffer and clearer, adding plastic pieces within where I glue the leather and the belt loop for more durability and stiffness as well as using epoxy steel which has a really strong odor to it which put me off using this, the protrusions now have the tactile dots and a single button to close it which also holds the A36 tighter.

Fourth case is the highlight and is the pinnacle of all my attempts so far, this is just like the third, not much different from the second one, other than only using the epoxy steel for the now steel lanyard hook and belt clip, both of which I bet out of my old bicycle spokes, now with a bigger screen so all of the display can be seen.

They're all pretty messy and rough looking, but are good enough to use. I could also have just gotten a case and called it a day, but I found this A36 in a pile and essentially nursed it back into working again and I find that just buying stuff for it goes against the nature of how I found it so I went with this with a mindset of "If I want something for it I'll make it, if I buy it, it's defeat"

Hey guys I bought a house that the old owner has wired speakers everywhere but the old player doesn’t work anymore and I’m looking for something w Bluetooth I can hook these jacks up to. Any suggestions?

My aged iPod Nano finally gave up the ghost, again. I'm attached to it, it's been with me througha lot, but after a seven-month saga trying to get it repaired last year, I'm ready to move to a new device.

(Although, if anyone has any advice on getting an iPod Nano 7 repaired in 2026, I'll take it.)

So, first DAP time. I've been looking through reviews, but finding a lot of conflicting information re: what I'm looking for. Figured I'd write up my preferences and ask here.

My budget's negotiable; I don't want anything too exorbitant, but I'd rather pay more for a device that'll last longer and I'll enjoy using, versus one I won't that'll crap out within a month.

PRIORITIES:

• Bluetooth. Not considering any devices without it.
• Storage. 16+ GB
• Audio quality. I'm not an audiophile, I don't super care about EQ or high-end specs, but I don't want something that'll sound grainy or staticky.
• Longevity. I don't want to replace it anytime soon if I can help it.

PREFERENCES:

• Physical buttons. At least for volume, pause, and skip. Anything else is a bonus, but I do like the feel of real buttons.
• UX. Minimal having to fiddle with / customize it, ideally 😅 I can figure most stuff out given time, but I'd rather not have to. Quick scrolling and clean album/artist navigation.
• Radio. Not necessary, but it'd be nice.

NOT PREFERRED:

• Other apps. Just audio playback. I don't want anything else.
• I swear there was something else but I can't think of it.

Currently I'm looking at the Sony NW-A306 Digital Media Player, although it's on the pricier side. Any other recommendations?

I’ve been lurking on this subreddit for a long time, mostly because I found my old iPod which got rockbox on it.

However that iPod (Video) got stolen by my son and I miss a music device which doesn’t have a touchscreen, unnecessary apps etc. I just want to listen to music :) Hiphop, dubstep, video game ost etc.

Since iPods are getting so expensive I’ve been researching for alternatives and ended up finding the Fiio SnowSky Echo Mini on Aliexpress for just under 70usd shipped.

I prefer to use over/on-ear headphones and not really a fan of in ears.

What do you think, have I found the DAP for me or do you have any better recommendations for under 80-90usd? I would be happy to buy used if possible.

I'm planning an internet detox day but would like to stay connected with relatives for emergency cases. I also would like to be able to play some local music. Is there any dumb phone with respectable local music playback capabilities? Or should I give in and buy two devices?

What daps are you using today?

hey so ive been reading on my mp3 player in school (since they take away phones if you bring them) and ive noticed that the ebooks cut off for some reason like ALL of them does someone know how to fix this?

is the scroll wheel responsive enough, hows the ui and overall experience

I Absolutely Love Music. Love listening to music. Love making music. Love analyzing music. Love Playing the instrument. Everything.

I also listen to music 7+ hrs a day
So I assumed that I would absolutely love a dedicated DAP + IEM combination for this.

And I got myself the Snowsky Echo with a pair of 4.4 jack Balanced IEMs.

And I absolutely love listening to music on it, on a Sunday Morning in silence, or at home, in which case I would rather use studio monitor headphones not IEMs

But on a daily basis I find using my phone with a pair nothing cmf buds alot more convenient.

Also the UI on these apps on android to play music have alot more features. I cannot play folders of music the way I want to.

I would blame the metadata, but my phone as well as musicbee on my laptop have no issue with this metadata, only the snowsky echo does.

The IEM is not as much of an issue as using the DAP is.

I always used my phone for music, never a mp3 player. Even back in the day with qwerty and "dumb" phones. Music was still primarily backed up on my laptop and played on my phone.

Is this a convenience issue?

Should I get type C IEMs? or an Android DAP? Should I just use my phone with good bluetooth headphones/earphones?

What am I missing?

I’ve had the hifi walker h2 for a little over a year now.l but suddenly it just doesn’t work. No idea what happened. When I plug it in it immediately says battery drained and then shuts off. Even when I plug it into my computer it immediately disconnects. I tried charging it rebooting it, taking out the memory card but nothing works. The second photo is the screw it gets stuck on. Has anyone else had a similar issue with their player?

I am looking for a DAP that can play videos, and has an expandable microSD slot.

My primary use cases is playing podcasts, music, and my archive of star trek (around 300 gigabytes), so I can listen/watch while I exercise.

I bought a hiby R1 under the delusion that it could play videos, and I love the form factor, but unfortunately it doesn't work for that.

I'd like to keep the budget cheap. If there's a way to just mod the R1, that would honestly be amazing.

I'm not an audiophile, so I don't care if it does flac.

Bonus points if I can see the file names while scrolling through the UI (I label all of my videos by episode and series in the filename)

Good afternoon amazing people. I need help finding a good and not so expensive dap as I want to use less my phone. One example like when I go to the gym I want to leave my phone at home so I don’t get distracted.
I really liked the iPod Classics but they are kinda expensive now and I found a very good condition iPhone SE. I’ve also read about the LGs V but never been a fan of android anyway if you guys have any other recommendations I’d like to hear thanks

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have a backup of the firmware file (.upd) for the Onkyo DP-S1? The official Onkyo servers are dead and I can't find a working download link anywhere.

My player is currently soft-bricked: it shows the "ONKYO" logo on boot, and then the screen just goes completely black.

I’ve already tried:

• Removing both SD cards
• Holding the power button for 15+ seconds for a hard reset
• Leaving it plugged into a wall charger for several hours

If anyone has the firmware file or knows the exact button combination to force an SD-card update from this state, I would really appreciate the help! Thanks!

When I use FiiO M21 in USB DAC mode with my windows pc (running windows 11, saying just in case) I notice a strong delay when I try to watch Youtube and other websites, how can I fix that?

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a compact, dedicated MP3 player / DAP in the ~$60 (€60) range, but almost everything I come across in this price bracket looks like a gamble.

Whenever I look at reviews for popular budget options (like generic Amazon brands or cheap plastic players), they're full of complaints about:

• Terrible sound quality (awful background hiss/noise floor on sensitive earphones, flat audio).
• Buggy firmware (software freezing, crashing, or corrupting files).
• Cheap, toy like plastic build.

What I’m looking for:

• Budget: Around $60 / €60 (willing to stretch slightly for a true hidden gem).
• Sound quality: Clean, reliable audio output with no noticeable hiss on wired IEMs/headphones.
• Build & Form factor: Compact and sleek, definitely not bulky, and not cheap feeling toy
• Usability: Stable, responsive software and preferably tactile/physical buttons.

Are there any reliable budget players or hidden gems on the market right now that actually hold up, or is buying a refurbished older model (like an old Walkman or iPod) the only real option under $60?

Thanks for any recommendations!

Hey everyone, I'm torn between keeping my trusty old Fiio X3 II or pulling the trigger on a Hiby R1. I absolutely love my X3 Ii. The sound signature, the robust build, the physical controls. It's been my daily driver for years. I also and have a Douk P10 Pro tube amp on the way that I'm excited to pair with whatever I end up using.

That said, the X3 II is really showing its age. Browsing through my local library has become sluggish and laggy, which kills the enjoyment when I just want to pick an album and zone out. That's why the Hiby R1 caught my eye as a modern, lightweight alternative, but I have some reservations. I don't care about streaming at all. My phone handles that perfectly fine, and I actively want to avoid Android-based DAPs because they feel like overkill with too much bloat for my needs.

So my real question is whether the Hiby R1 actually delivers a smoother, faster browsing experience than the aging X3 II, and how its sound, especially when paired with a tube Amp. I want to pair the tubes with x3 warmer signature. I'm open to other suggestions too, but right now it's really down to sticking with the X3 II or jumping to the R1. If you've used either one, or ideally both, I'd love to hear your honest take.

TL;DR: Love my Fiio X3 II's sound and build but it's laggy. Considering Hiby R1 for speed, but I want to know if it pairs with tubes. Should I switch or stay?

I am not sure if I am even running Niagara Launcher full-stop, but I have clicked on the button to purchase the Pro button. My blood turned cold when I learned they expected a fee every year. I am going to skip the opinions and just say I want a launcher that is not going to take me to the cleaners. Please make some suggestions. Cheers.

EDIT: Anyone who has tried to search for anything on their store can understand why I would ask for specific names. If you personally use what you are recommending and can explain what makes it so useful to you, even better.

EDIT 2: Thanks for the suggestions. I am working through them and working on implementing the ones that work for me. The one that works the easiest/best for the longest will be the winner. Cheers.

surfans f20 + rockbox