I agree. The iMod only if you plan to connect direct to an amp, thus saving a step in between DAP and amp. With the emergence of devices like CLAS and HP-P1, the iMod isn't necessary anymore, and has been superseded.

Of course, if you prefer your sandwich to be slimmer, then the iMod saves a layer. The only "modding" I'd do to my iPod would be finding a 240GB HDD and install it in.

Astell & Kern AK120, from iRiver. Plays ALL lossless format available in existence. It's a USB DAC (to connect to your PC), it's a DAP with storage up to 192GB (brushed aluminium build quality rivaling iPods and Zunes), and it's an Amp. The be-all-end-all all-in-one device.

www.astellnkern.com

I've seen people recommending Colorfly up there before and I'd wanna inform that there are better options out there than the Colorfly C4 or the clunky iBasso DX100, both at USD750-800 and USD829 respectively and higher, depending on where you look. With the same amount of money, you can already get the Astell & Kern AK100 at USD699 instead of the AK120 model. Don't have to get the AK120.

I'm in a position to consider a purchase of a new DAP as well. Here are my criterias:

1. Digital transport only. Never felt that I can get enough power and drive from a DAP alone. If it was a light travel day I'd be with my WS99BT or B&W P5 Wireless and AptX it with my S6 Edge.

2. Large enough storage. Herein lies the dilemma. DAPs with dual storage slots like X5ii aren't Tidal-friendly (which will be my 3rd criteria later). Although storage problem will be solvable with swapping microSDXC cards (when are the 200GB microSDXC getting here la?), that is not really ideal.

3. Tidal-friendly. That covers Qobuz too if or should I decide to splurge on that. Therefore the DAP must be able to install the Tidal app. Hence either iOS or Android only. Unless you go desktop route, which what I am doing with my 2015 MacBook and Chord Hugo.

4.. Minimum 24bit/384khz, DSD for future-proofing(somewhat). I could live with 24bit/192khz, since that's where highest quality of the content I listen to is at. Therefore requires data stream to the DAC after playback decode on the DAP to the DAC at those quality rates, via whatever connection that it has (coaxial, SPDIF or USB).

With these criterias, the DAP only works as digital transport, therefore the bigger storage size it is, the better. And please no clunky UI bullshit like in the Lotoo PAW or its equivalent, no matter how godly the DAP's sound processing or amplification circuitry is, it's useless since the DAP will be digital transport only. The DAP fucntion is to display the UI smooth enough, and to process, decode and play the files of the quality mentioned above, pass those signal to the DAC (Chord Hugo) via SPDIF, coaxial or USB.

With all those said, I believe my option has been reduced to either Android smartphones with USB OTG function, iOS device with Onkyo HF player (can decode and play up to DSD via PCM conversion), or hybrid DAPs with Android functionality(to be able to install Tidal, Spotify, Qobuz app) such as the Sony ZX1 or ZX2. Am I correct to assume this?

I'm sure if I eliminated the need to Tidal, my options are wider open than it is now, but I use Tidal (and to a certain smaller extent, Apple Music) to discover new music and new artists. Don't get me wrong, there are artists who are my staple diet in music, I cant live without Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald and Diana Krall, but I like the new upcoming ones like Ed Sheeran and Charlie Puth as well, and would not have discovered them without Tidal or Apple Music.

So, are my choices limited to Sony ZX1/ZX2, iOS devices (iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch) and <insert whatever Android smartphones here>? I've just tested my S6 Edge--> Chord Hugo, works fine but damn crackly and noisy unless I turn on airplane mode. No such crackle and fuzz with my iPhone 6 Plus. And then there is the problem of storage. Which I foresee will never be enough with the burgeoning filesize of HiRes content. Hence why I see Tidal being the solution.

iPhone works fine. Android works fine once you enter Airplane mode. Player needs to be portable, so desktop unit is a no go. I may be moving to work in East Asia soon, so desktop unit is not an option.

Tidal is a must. Downloading and transferring is archaic to me, plus the spur of the moment music discovery is addictive to me. My scope of music used to only be retro music and jazz, but now with Tidal, music discovery is at my fingertips. I used to scoff at modern music not being up to par to my taste previously, but my activity has moved from sitting down and actively listening (which means desktop/home setup), to moving about (commuting) and work trips (transportable setups). Listening to just select few downloaded albums kinda makes me a closeted listener, and not exploring the other options available.. I dont wanna grow up to be an old fart who listens to Diana Krall and Eagles all the time.

Thanks to Tidal, I've just discovered an enjoyable listen to Robin Thicke's new single "Back Together" yesterday, a mish mash of retro 80s funk and disco and modern hip hop and rap track. I wouldn't have discovered this is the track wasn't slipped into one of the Tidal playlist I was listening to.

I've narrowed it down to the 2015 iPod Touch and Sony ZX1 (both have 128GB options) for digital transport AND Tidal streaming. I've also revived my AK120 (new updates plays DSD files via PCM conversion) with two 128GB cards for that need to transport music around.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Aug 17 2015, 04:45 PM