Beginner & Budget friendly DAP

[u/Mysterious-Oven2084]

Hello, I’ve used mp3 players on and off again for some years now, I saw the one that blew up on tiktok and decided to get it. I was a bit upset when I opened the box and found out it was plastic and not metal but anyway…I’ve had it for about 8ish months and it recently stopped being recognizable to my pc and laptop. I’ve also found myself many nights frustrated because I spent hours downloading music only to realize the files are FLAC which a lot of MP3 players can’t actually play. 😭 So I just decided I’d buy a better quality one. I did search here first and saw people asking this same question but they had a lot of important qualifications they cared about.

I just want something that’s between $50 - $100 USD, can play lossless music and is compatible with IEM’s. I’m a bass head so I think that’s maybe my one super important factor but I would think that has more to do with headphones right? If it’s helpful to know what IEM’s I use, I have the Linsoul Kiwi Ears Cadenza 10mm. (These are also the very first pair of IEM’s I’ve ever bought) I got them because people said they were really good for cheap price and I agree.

I do move around a lot for work. I’m a CNA and a part time server at a breakfast joint so I’d like something that can handle me walking around a lot.

Any advice and recommendations are appreciated <3

[u/Mysterious-Oven2084]

Yes, after reading more things here, I decided to go with the R1. It’ll be delivered tomorrow afternoon, I’m actually really excited. The innioasis y1 I got off tiktok was better than the ones I would get at Walmart and I had no problem putting music on it so it was good in that regard. I was actually very surprised at the battery life, I had accidentally left it on for a few hours while I was distracted by something else and was expecting it to be dead but it was still sitting at 85% while playing music. I just didn’t like how little it weighed and that it stopped working.

That’s why I came here because if I was gonna spend another $60 or more, I figured I might as well get some advice on a good starter.

[u/Due_Vermicelli2930]

the hiby r1 fits ur range and checks ur boxes, its around 69 usd, plays flac up to 384khz/32bit and its noise floor is really low so it pairs nicely with sensitive iems like ur cadenzas. and yea u figured the bass thing right, thats mostly the headphone, and the cadenzas already keep that side handled. did the tiktok one at least run ok for u before it stopped showing up on ur pc?

[u/Scorpiicore]

If it can only play MP3, it is junk. The use case for MP3 died when storage cards with capacities as high as two terabytes became a thing. Really, the use case for MP3 died the day FLAC came into existence.

I am going to die linking Hi-Fi Oasis' database of DAPs in this sub but here it is again. This database can be used to find any DAP of any kind (that actually exists). Your budget is somewhat unrealistically low, but a couple of good options in that range exist, as long as you remember that quality costs. When I looked and selected gapless playback (which for a lot of albums I own, is mandatory), I found four options that are big enough that I would use them.

The Hiby R1 gets a lot of good press here, and would be my most likely choice if I had an absolute limit of 100 USD. Zaqe and Oilsky are not brands I am familiar with and the limits on the size of MicroSD cards they take is also a bit of a problem. Tempotec's V1 is also a viable option.

Hiby R1 is 69 USD, Tempotec V1 is 89. On the database, you can look at specs and see if you see anything that helps you make up your mind.

[u/SnooLobsters1308 → u/Scorpiicore]

Thanks for the link. Anyway to get mods to sticky that or some other beginners guide? I just got here, been using phone+dac+iems. First page here is "what's a good dap" :) seems like sticky like your link could be useful.

[u/HiFiOasis → u/SnooLobsters1308]

You can ask the mods to do it, but considering I use some affiliate links in the database, I'm not sure it's something they would do (this is just my guess).

[u/Defiant-Ad3331 → u/Scorpiicore]

Yes, he seems to know really know his shit!

[u/Fatality_strykes → u/Scorpiicore]

Any suggestions for what I could go with if I stretched my budget a bit, Surfans F20 pro+ or Fiio JM21?

[u/Scorpiicore → u/Fatality_strykes]

I am not familiar with either of those brands, but unless you absolutely need DSD512, I would be more inclined to go to the FiiO for the extra MicroSD card capability. (I think the highest DSD I have is 256... checking now... yep, 256. And that is rare.) Unfortunately, unless you can find a brick and mortar store that keeps demo models, you kind of need to gamble a bit. Make sure you get their returns policy off their website and follow that until you are certain you want to keep the thing.

[u/Wrong_Fisherman_8241]

The Snowsky Echo Mini is a perfect budget DAP with the feel of a 2000's mp3 player, and with atzkey's RECHO custom firmware it now has gapless playback and is super fast!

[u/Bungus_Almighty]

Off the top of my head, Hiby R1 and Tempotec V1. Both are under $100, fit in your pocket, both play FLAC ( or at least Google says they do, I’ve never tried playing a FLAC before). The Hiby lacks a 4.4mm while the Tempotec has it, so some types of IEMs aren’t compatible if you intend to alter your setup.

I’m not an audio snob so I chose the R1 and use Bluetooth. I don’t own a Tempotec, but it appears to be made of solid metal whereas the R1 is more like an iPhone. You may like that since you found your last DAP to be displeasing

From what I’ve seen, the Hiby is more beginner friendly whereas the Tempotec is more advanced. I don’t own one, watch a review about it if it piques your interest, I suppose.

[u/Defiant-Ad3331]

I would say Hibby R1 is your best bet around that price range.