7 Best HD Music Players In 2023,Editor’s picks
WebFeb 7, · Best MP3 player for portable music players from Astell & Kern, Onkyo and more. By Becky Scarrott. Contributions from. Olivia Tambini, Christian de Looper. WebJan 5, · The CXN (V2) is the best music streamer out there at this price point. Specifications. Inputs: 2x USB type A, USB type B, optical, coaxial. Outputs: XLR and WebVery expensive. Price When Reviewed: $3, Best Prices Today: $ at Astell&Kern. You’ll still need deep pockets to afford the world’s best digital audio player, WebJan 12, · Top 7 HD Music Players In 1. Sony NW-A45/B Walkman with Hi-Res Audio. Check Price on Amazon. Check Price on Walmart. NW-A45 is a budget-friendly hi ... read more
This upgrade allows you to continue using your high resolution music player as your library of music grows. Streaming: As we mentioned earlier, some of our recommendations can play both local music files and high resolution audio available on premium services. FiiO is one of the biggest names in the the high resolution digital audio player space, and its M9 offers all the right features. The one that stands out most is its ability to play digital music from any source. It can play lossy MP3 AAC files, high resolution FLAC, DFF, DSD files, and music from high resolution streaming sites. It also supports codecs digital technology standards like aptXHD, LDAC, HWA, and SBC to reduce or eliminate compression when listening to music on Bluetooth headphones.
The M9 has both a 2. You should get about 10 hours of music playback per charge, and the device recharges via USB-C, a universal standard for a lot of modern tech. It only has 2GB gigabytes of storage, which is its weakest link, but you can upgrade it by up to 2TB Terabytes with a MicroSD Card. Once connected over USB, you can output audio from your Mac or PC through the M9 and out of its headphone jack. Buy FiiO M9. It can play all of the popular lossy and lossless audio formats, and output them through a headphone jack or over Bluetooth. It does not support Wi-Fi, though, so you can only play music from your local music library. Your mileage may vary on this. Related Jake Paul vs.
The NW-A55 fares pretty well on the technical side. It has 16GB of storage, with the option to increase it with a MicroSD Card. Sony says this audio player gets up to 45 hours of music playback per charge, and recharges using a proprietary connector. Buy Sony NW-A55 Walkman. On the audio side the SR25 supports everything from MP3s to DSD files, both from your local library and music streaming services. The SR25 has a headphone jack, but also supports Bluetooth with lossless audio codecs for the best possible sound. This level of precision can reduce little pockets of distortion deemed acceptable by other players. It has 64GB of onboard storage — the most of any player in this guide — and you can add up to 1TB more by using a MicroSD Card.
It gets up to 21 hours of music playback per charge, and recharges over USB-C, which is pretty solid. Copyright © Penske Business Media, LLC. All Rights reserved. By Brandt Ranj Brandt Ranj Contact Brandt Ranj by Email. View all posts by Brandt Ranj. August 27, The Greatest Singers of All Time. The Greatest Songs of All Time. The Greatest TV Shows of All Time. Some other plus points of the M6 are the large almost bezelless screen, USB-C charging, and 14 hours of battery life during the review. Links: Official Fiio M6 Webpage. Another budget music player on this list this time from Hidizs. This is the ultra-light, ultra-portable DAP you have been looking for.
It has a bug 2. The Operating system is rock solid even when we had a 1TB micro sd card installed with GB of music. Bluetooth is another draw and it includes support for the LDAC standard but ultimately we just like the sound on this little player. It works great at driving headphones up to ohms and does equally well with all but the most sensitive of IEM's. The only thing it lacked was a balanced output. The Surfans F20 has gained a bit of a cult following. It's a high res DAP with a focus on those who keep their music library on an SD card rather than using lossless streaming apps. It's an old-school audiophile DAP that offers a lot of value for money. All major lossless file formats are included and there is also Bluetooth output should you wish to use it. Sound quality and the low price more than makeup for the lack of touchscreen and apps. It's a spacious sounding DAP with lots of power and a dark black background. Finally, the last thing I love about the Surfans F20 is the tank-like build quality and tactile clicky buttons, and scroll wheel.
It really gave me that throwback to a simpler time where I wasn't tapping on screens and could just use my DAP for what it was meant for. Listening to music. For a long time, Fiio has been in control of the cheap DAP market but in recent years they expanded their line and are considered one of the best music player and amp manufacturers on the planet. The M11 plus is the companies latest mid-priced offering and it's probably their best in terms of price to performance. The M11 Plus supports a range of high-resolution audio formats such as DSD: DSF: DFF PCM: APE: Flac: WAV: AIFF: ALAC: WMA: PCM: MP3: OGG: ACC. This music player packs a heavy punch for both its size and price and competes with many of AK's entry-level models on sound. The interface is less refined but it's still a hell of a bargain. Just look at this spec list. Stunning doesn't even begin to describe the chassis of the NW-WM1Z. The entire body is milled out of copper and then gold plated making it a premium feeling mp3 player as well as a handsome one.
When Sony goes big on any product they really go all out and you do feel that even at the ridiculous price point they aren't cutting corners. The internal cabling is an all-new design with a Kimber design braid. The special FT capacitors made for the player give tonnes of power. Even the amplifier is bespoke with their own S-Master - HX delivering rich detailed sound into the balanced headphone jack. A big beautiful touchscreen adorns the front of the player making it easy to operate and we loved the clean and tactile feedback derived from the physical playback buttons on the side.
To top it off it's another high-resolution DAP with large internal memory GB and a micro SD card slot to expand it by a further 1TB to hold all your high res music files. Link: Sony NW-WM1Z Music Player Webpage. Dethonray blew me away with their Honey H1 which we declare the best portable headphone DAC in or tests. They make end-game products that deliver outstanding sound quality and have loads of power to drive audiophile headphones. The first thing you will notice is there is no large touchscreen on the DAP. It has its own Linux operating system that relies on physical input buttons. With that of course there is no app support. The screen is also terrible, low resolution, and not that bright. However, the sound is ridiculous and there are a lot of techs that go into it to make it so. For example, there are separate power sources for amp and decoding. EMI shielding for components. If you have hard-to-drive headphones and want one of the cleanest and most transparent soundings DAP's on the market then this is the one for you.
The AP80 Pro by Hidziz is an ultra-portable hi-res music player packed full of features you find on bigger DAPs. It's meant for people on the go who don't want to carry obscene large music players as a second device. It's small and discrete but has enough power to drive most high-end IEM's. The all-metal body feels premium and durable, it's also available in three separate colors to suit your style Black, Blue, Silver. It has music playback control buttons on the right-hand side allowing you to play, pause and skip tracks. Just above it is a small volume pot to allow you precise control over listening levels. Using dual flagship ESS Sabre DACs the AP80 Pro handles lots of high-resolution music formats including native DSD. On the bottom the even made room for dual outputs with a standard 3. Storage can be expanded to GB via the micro-sd card slot and the battery lasted for 8 hours balance and 12 hours regular respectively during our review.
Link: Hidzis Website. This is the second Ibasso player to find its way onto our list and it makes for a great day-to-day listening device. In many ways, this is a perfect example of execution with very little room for improvement when the price is taken into consideration. The DX is the little brother of our favorite DAP the DX and it is a true Hi-Res experience. MQA is also there so it's one of the best DAP's on the market for playing back MQA files when out and about. Users are also treated to the ability to swap the amp units making it a versatile player in terms of tuning and power. It's compatible with balanced headphones through the jacks on the bottom and supports Hi-Resolution streaming via Tidal.
We would like to give a warm welcome to the list of Luxury Precision with their P6 Pro music player. While not the inventors of the modern audiophile DAP they sure have made a name for themselves with a number of their high-end products. The only thing I can't get over on this device though is the price. The P6 Pro works well and sounds great, its also incredibly well made but I fail to see the point when you can get the same level of performance with products that are half the price. The company likes to use a lot of buzzwords and hype to describe the internal architecture but the end result is in the sound. It sounds amazing but not enough to justify its price. Im including this player on the list because it is an engineering marvel and if you can find one at the right price it would be worth a buy.
Another year another Shanling M6 hits the shelf. Since the release of the original M6 a few years ago Shanling has been tweaking its most popular music player and this time they nailed it. The player runs on Android OS meaning there are no problems integrating the player with your favorite music app. The Fiio M17 High resolution audio player is one of the most advanced models this year. For many, the Fiio M17 is set to become an end-game music player, a hi-res DAP with all the killer features, stunning build quality. We will be getting one in for review but the feature list is so insane on this player we will let the specs do the talking for now:. Powerful Dual DAC chipset featuring dual ESPro flagship-grade DACs. Multiple Headphone output ports: 2. Out of the balanced connector, it can supply headphones with a massive 3 full watts.
Best portable music and MP3 players Buying Guide: Welcome to What Hi-Fi? Whether you want to save your phone's memory and battery or need your on-the-go sound to be as good as it can possibly be, look no further than our pick of the best MP3 players on the planet. Despite the demise of the iPod Apple waved goodbye to the last remaining model in May , the music player market still has some top brands in it. Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test. Whatever your budget, you will be surprised at what you can get for your money these days. Every player here supports MP3 and AAC files of course, but we can all do better than that in All of the models below also support hi-res files such as DSD , FLAC and PCM files , with some also adding native MQA playback to that compatibility list, so you can listen to hi-res Tidal Masters through compatible players and play back downloaded MQA music in the best sound quality possible.
Have an extensive digital music collection? Many of these MP3 players have microSD memory slots, so your assembled throng of tracks and artists need never stop growing. Expandable memory also means you can keep all of your music at the highest quality possible, without worrying about those large file sizes taking up all of your player's storage space. Some have built-in access to streaming services, too, while others have even more functionality that mirrors a phone's. But all of the products in this list share one thing: excellent sound quality. And if you're here, that is probably important to you. So, let's find you a player you will be happy with And each new generation invariably proves more talented than the last. Last year, it was a What Hi-Fi? Notably more expressive and eloquent than any other portable music player we have encountered at this price, and far beyond anything that smartphones are capable of, the SR25 MKII demonstrates just how good music on the move can sound, while also remaining reasonably affordable.
And we stress the word 'reasonably': because while it pushes performance forward, it also pushes what is acceptable as an entry-level price. Still, if your budget can stretch to it, this is a truly stunning player with superb build quality to match. How about a customisable PMP with interchangeable DAC modules? That's the idea here — and we liked it so much, we gave it What Hi-Fi? To personally tailor your sound, the SE goes one step further than the slightly older SE which has two user-selectable DAC configurations built into the player in that it features an interchangeable DAC module design. Of course, these can be considered optional extras; experimental paths that can be taken or completely ignored.
After all, the SE is an all-in-one player in itself, with the default module containing the ESS ESPRO DAC. It boasts a more powerful built-in headphone amplifier than the previous Kann series players it succeeds, too. And thanks to the rearrangement of various components and the use of smaller resistors and capacitors, it promises added power in a smaller and more portable chassis. It's still slightly bulky but will fit in a coat pocket and supports most music file formats, including MQA, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF, WAV and native DSD It's similarly wide-ranging when it comes to wireless codec support LDAC , aptX HD, aptX, AAC and, naturally, SBC Bluetooth. There's bit and DSD file compatibility; three headphone outputs 2.
The biggest selling point? Sound quality. We cannot fault its sonic chops. The Alpha is as meticulous and honest as it is zealous, with an expansive presentation, punchy bass and good levels of detail. Fundamentally, players such as this must deliver hi-res music in a portable design — and it delivers this in spades. Live recordings are leant a degree of spaciousness and realism rarely heard. Our Product of the Year Award winner is still one of the best portable music players at around this price bracket a few years on. Boasting an easy-to-use interface, stacks of storage and plenty of hi-res file support — not to mention serious levels of detail and a dynamic sound that's synonymous with the brand — it promises a severe step up from your smartphone sound.
Arguably the ultimate high-resolution portable music player in this price bracket, the Kann's solid build combines with impressive battery life and a long list of features. There are both unbalanced 3. Even when fed lower-resolution tracks via streaming services, the Kann maintains its character. Admittedly the aesthetics might raise a few eyebrows — and the newer Kann Alpha is a slightly more svelte model. But make no mistake, this is a talented machine you will struggle to put down. Not many portable music players will find common ground with the SP — and that goes for price, build and performance. This is a one-of-a-kind player, which is as impractically portable as it is inaccessibly priced.
If it were a car, it would be a Bentley Arnage — a luxurious ride for special occasions, rather than something to use for the weekly shop. This is a subtle presentation, rather than a barnstormer, which befits its high-end price tag. We have state-of-the-art testing facilities in London, Reading and Bath, where our team of experienced, in-house reviewers tests the majority of hi-fi and AV kit that passes through our door, including the higher-end portable music players that might well be used in a portable hi-fi or desktop scenario. These music players are placed in our pockets during the review period too, of course, so we can gauge how portable and easy to use on the fly they really are. Most important in our reviewing process is that each product is compared with the best in its price and class.
What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we keep our Award winners nearby to enable comparisons between new products and ones we know perform highly in the category. We are always impartial and do our utmost to make sure we are hearing every product at its very best, so we try plenty of different types of music and give each plenty of listening time and time to run in. We use a range of headphones at levels likely to suit a certain player, too. It's not just about sound quality, of course. If a product has noteworthy features — such as a battery life, built-in streaming services and DAC-performing abilities, in the case of portable music players — we always ensure part of our testing involves testing the claims made by its makers.
All review verdicts are agreed upon by the entire team, rather than an individual reviewer, to eliminate any personal preference and to make sure we are being as thorough as possible. There is no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict. At What Hi-Fi? Looking for a bargain? See the best hi-fi deals. These are the best smartphones around right now. Get clued up, stat: MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC: all the audio file formats explained. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi? Ruben is a Staff Writer at What Hi-Fi? and longtime consumer technology and gaming journalist. Ruben's a dedicated gamer, tech nerd, and the kind of person who misses physical media. In his spare time, you can find Ruben cooking something delicious or, more likely, lying in bed consuming content. Open menu Close menu What Hifi What Hifi What Hi-Fi? THE WORLD'S 1 TECH BUYER'S GUIDE. opens in new tab opens in new tab opens in new tab opens in new tab opens in new tab.
AU Edition. Australian Hifi. Sound Image. Trending Best Buys Newsletter Best wireless earbuds Best TVs Bristol Show Our expert review:. Specifications Storage: 64GB expandable by 1TB via microSD. Headphone outputs: 3. Battery life: 20hrs. Dimensions: Weight: g. Reasons to avoid - 64GB internal storage. Specifications Storage: GB expandable by 1TB via microSD. Battery life : 10hrs approx. Reasons to avoid - Extra DAC modules are relatively pricey. Headphone outputs: Balanced 2. Battery life: Reasons to avoid - Clunky streaming service integration. Battery life: 9hrs. Dimensions: 9. Reasons to avoid - Design may not appeal to all. For those who don't mind spending a little more for the ultimate in hi-res sound quality.
Battery life: 14hrs. Reasons to avoid - Design might not appeal to everyone. Not very portable or accessibly priced, but it sounds like no other PMP we have heard. Battery life: 8hrs. Dimensions: 13 x 8 x 1. Reasons to avoid - Average battery life.
Best music streamers 2023: upgrade to a wireless system,How we tested
WebVery expensive. Price When Reviewed: $3, Best Prices Today: $ at Astell&Kern. You’ll still need deep pockets to afford the world’s best digital audio player, WebJan 12, · Top 7 HD Music Players In 1. Sony NW-A45/B Walkman with Hi-Res Audio. Check Price on Amazon. Check Price on Walmart. NW-A45 is a budget-friendly hi WebJan 5, · The CXN (V2) is the best music streamer out there at this price point. Specifications. Inputs: 2x USB type A, USB type B, optical, coaxial. Outputs: XLR and WebFeb 7, · Best MP3 player for portable music players from Astell & Kern, Onkyo and more. By Becky Scarrott. Contributions from. Olivia Tambini, Christian de Looper. ... read more
It is at least as good if not better than half the ones on this list and it has a superb power amplifier built in, for free! These days, ever improved sound quality, hi-res audio support and seriously impressive built-in DAC s Digital-to-Analogue Converters are making already impressive players even better. The player supports wireless connectivity — it features both Bluetooth with aptX support and Wi-Fi. If you are going to be using it, you might choose a more complicated model. Uncompressed formats can be found with the same quality but take up more space. When Sony goes big on any product they really go all out and you do feel that even at the ridiculous price point they aren't cutting corners.
But it's not high end music player sound, sound, sound. Formats: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, high end music player, OGG, APE Normal, High, FastAAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF. Navanski - Completely agree with you. A: DAP stands for Digital Audio Player. The only downsides are fairly small internal storage which is not a huge deal since you can install 2 microSD cards and a relatively small battery. After all, the SE is an all-in-one player in itself, with the default module containing the ESS ESPRO DAC. If you are going to be using it, you might choose a more complicated model.
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