These Flagship Music Players are the Best Money Can Buy | Moon Audio
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- Опубликовано: 18 июн 2024
- Buy the Astell&Kern SP3000 here: www.moon-audio.com/astell-ker...
Buy the Sony WM1ZM2 here: www.moon-audio.com/sony-nw-wm...
Buy the Cayin N8ii here: www.moon-audio.com/cayin-n8ii...
Today we're going to look at the portable heavy weights of the DAP world: the Cayin N8ii, the Astell&Kern SP3000, and the Sony NW-WM1ZM2. These are arguably the best you can get in portable music players and sound quality in the audiophile world. Premium components, premium internals, premium features, and of course, premium sound quality: you're not going to get any better than this. If you have the cash, and you want the best, but not sure which one to pick-then this is the video for you.
Read more about the Astell&Kern SP3000: www.moon-audio.com/astell-ker...
Read more about the Sony WM1ZM2: www.moon-audio.com/sony-nw-wm...
Read more about the Cayin N8ii: www.moon-audio.com/cayin-n8ii...
How to install APKs directly onto Android DAPs without the Google Play Store: www.moon-audio.com/astell-ker...
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Learn more about our custom Dragon Cables: www.moon-audio.com/dragon-aud...
Check out our blog for the latest Hi-Fi content: www.moon-audio.com/blog/
Ready to become an audiophile? Start learning here: www.moon-audio.com/headphones...
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CHAPTERS
0:00 | I'll have some of your finest DAPs, please sir...
1:05 | Introduction & Overview
2:21 | Design & Build
6:46 | Specs & Features
11:31 | Android Security Notice
12:33 | Sound Comparison
17:26 | Verdict
19:06 | Learn More
#audiophile #dap #flagship #portable #headphones #musiclover @sonyelectronics @cayinaudio9112 @AstellnKern 
Наука
A lot of people are complaining that the Sony has Android but I bought the Sony WM1AM2 model over the Astell and Kern because having Android means I can listen to Audible, SCRIBD and listen to music videos on youtube. Thats worth a lot to me on top of being able to purchase and listen to my own high resolution music. For me, Android is a huge plus.
have you tried others DAP before decided to bought sony? care to share your thought? thanks in advance
Но и огромный минус
@kamdag8457 What's the huge minus?
I use both android and Apple. And I can tell you that android is better. From the area of extreme customization and more acceptable for a lot more different formats and OTG cables work way easier. I noticed people that use apple are trapped in that ecosystem. And sometimes willing to step out, but most of the times not, and that’s the problem. Apple doesn’t change, it’s the same products every year and people keep buying it at high prices, without the creativity or pushing the industry Forward like Samsung and other Android phone maker’s like Sony etc…..
I wish Pioneer stayed in the game
Thums up for excellent, not rushed presentation. It was very enjoyable throughout.
Thank you kindly! 🤗
Excellent video, very informative! Thanks!
How is it that you don't have more subscribers, this is legit one of the best audio tech channels I've ever seen.
Thanks a bunch! Help us spread the word. 😎
Because they sell these devices they would never give negative feedback
low number of exclusive audiophiles on youtube .
Excellent breakdown video of these luxury items. 15:17 jump-scared me.
Interesting to see a DAP with the top of the line ROHM chip. I have the SMSL D300 DAC and am really enjoying its sound.
Lack of the standard LINE OUT jack (even function!) in Sony DAP's is a really outstanding feature.
Excellent video! I kinda think that Sony would be the way to go for me. gotta save some money!
I'm supprised that you didn't mention the DSD remaster engine on the Sony. I personally think that's a more superb feature than the vinyl simulator. If you want a sound that's more natural and soft, less analytical but without losing all the details and extensions, you gotta try it out.
Only so much time in one video! Sony has some awesome sound enhancements, and the DSD Remastering Engine is one of them. Check them all out here:
www.moon-audio.com/sony-nw-wm1zm2-walkman-music-player-review 🙂
Hello guys and thanks for this extraordinary informative for me video.
I have a question/problem with some detail, the OS what they used because I am a huge fan community and listen my music ( from AC/DC to Beethoven) on MBP, or iPad or iPhone!
In some case I buy someone (must admit I prefer SONY) can I transfer via bluetooth or viresley on that peace mobile gadget any way?!?!
Thanks in advance for any ansver guys!
No mention of Sony's proprietary S-Master HX DAC amp vs the equally interesting DAC and amp sections of the other two?
I purchased the AK 3000 from you and run it in my 2023 C8 Z51 Corvette line out through my AUX in my car bypassing my stock head unit. With your Dragon cable and my AK as my head unit, the sound and detail is incredible. I have never heard better detail sound with my Wave files through this AK DAP. I played the same file though my USP thumb drive in my car and the difference is incredible. AK knocked it out of the park with there 3000...WOW!! just WOW!
But have you upgraded the amps and speakers in your Corvette? That will make a much bigger difference.
@@southy238 Yes I will be running Focal and JL audio in the very near future.
@@mountainspider342 funnily enough that’s exactly what I’m running in my M2 Competition. Focal Utopia M TBM tweeters and 3.5WM midrange with 8 inch under seat woofers and a 12 inch JL HO Wedge subwoofer in the trunk. I’m considering moving to an AK in the future but currently running a full digital system with Apple CarPlay. So we’ve approached the issue of car audio from opposite directions but will eventually land somewhere similar!
@Dark Rake Glad to hear you're loving it! That sounds like a stellar car setup. Thanks for supporting our small business! 🤗
@@southy238 Nice!!👍🏼
I like music that are somewhat similar to the ones produced by an artist named Jannik; he/she has works such as "grace", "The history", and "a story of fate". Which Music player would suit me the most? Much appreciated for some advices, thanks.
Underrated channel
Appreciate it! 🙂
Can these DAPs bypass Android redampling and include Apple Music
I bought the A and K bottom of the line on sale, sounds amazing, so I C a n only imagine what the flagship sounds like😮
you tend to waste alot of time w good audio
@@iikatinggangsengii2471 There is no way to "waste" your time with good audio.
Please cut the chase which 1 you like? you make it differcult for me to purchase, I like Cayin 8ii or Sp3000 this would be a setup in my car, need snappy bass, dynamics, presentation 3D who wins Ricky.
That intro reminds me of most high end audio videos. 😂😂😂
i personally heard careless whisper on WMAM2 & it blew me away , for me it wins overall hands down . only downshide , these are extremely costly
Will this work with my AirPods?
Great comparison, ive ordered the WM1AM2 model. I just wondered, can you use the USB-C or wifi/Bluetooth to connect to your PC (PC output to Walkman Input to earphones) so as to use the player as an amplifier for connected headphones for whatever you are listening or watching on your computer? Ie using sound out on your PC?
Yes you can through USB
@@saulidze That's great, thank you and thanks for such a fast reply.
Afaik you can, but cmiiw there are some noticeable delay if you use a wired connection as dac.
I love my Pioneer xdp30 . I wish Pioneer stayed in the game .
Where are these three DAP made ?
Which one would be best for complicated music, Heavy Metal ( Thrash ) instrumental of the 90s or Vivaldi and Mozart extreme music ?
Sony is the best, and build quality is superb, but you don't need the gold (Z) model. I paired with Noble Audio Spartacus. Will blow your mind
Could I please ask where I can buy the stand you used for the WM1ZM2, much appreciated!
Sure! We've got a few of these Nulaxy phone stands that work great for most DAPs: nulaxy.com/products/nulaxy-a4-cell-phone-stand/ 🙂
@@moon-audio That’s brilliant, thank you so much for your reply!
Arent all these stoll dependent on the digital or flacc file composition? Or can these overcome somewhat garbage in? Also what about up convertions of lower quality files? I have zero info on DAPs. So this may be a newb question
In my experience, the better the quality the DAP, the less forgiving they are for the "garbage in" principle. Esp if you use high quality uncolored IEM's. I'm willing to bet that a 192kbps mp3 would sound worse on these DAPs than they would on a $100 Chi-Fi DAP. The DAC's in these would be too analytical, too revealing. As for the up conversions, sounds like putting lipstick on a pig. If the information has been taken from a file, no manner of "up conversion" is going to help. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
@@arupian666 thanks I'm moving from Noble Audio TWS to IEMs so still in crawls mode
Hi, as a beginner I was wondering if Shanling daps are any good as an entry level into hi-res audio? The Shanling M0 Pro seems to have good reviews for someone starting out?
I know alot of audiophiles that would say no...the QC issues if Shanling are always an issue.
Chinese DAPs in general have severe QC and QA issues lol
Which of these daps sound best with focal stellia?
I have the AK SP3000 and the Focal Stellia and the sound is awesome. The Meze Elite is warmer though. Connected both using 4.4mm Balanced.
I listen to metal and rock music which one is best for rock in general, I like bands like Deftones Change in the house of flies which one is best for such music ?
In some ways this comes down to personal preference, that said the SP3000 is very popular with most of our employees who like Rock!
AK SP 3000 the one and only
Luxury & Precision P6 Pro? UI is a bit clunky, what with it having to be used essentially on shuffle, but most of the people I talk to still consider it the best they've heard.
Overpriced . There is ni way they should be that high for a clunky UI and a sound I can get for a lower price
Chinese DAPs have horrendous QC and QA issues they suck lol 🤣
Great intro scene,my gf was pissed I laughed out loud at 2am in bed
😂
Can you connect to an Auxiliary in on a amp?
Depends on the player! Astell&Kern uses the headphone out and you use the drop-down to select the line level out function. Sony does not have a line-out option, so you use the volume control to tailor the correct level without clipping or overdriving the input of the amplifier. The Cayin N8ii has a dedicated line-out output. Hope this helps! 🙂
You can read more here: www.moon-audio.com/blog/best-daps-music-players-2023
Don't forget LG V series phones paired with USB Audio player app.
Or any hi-fi music app.
Great video as always! But no mention of Fiio M17?
@Angel I disagree..what fiio does is hit certain pirce points,but then underachieving to these other daps in said price point. I have bought tons of fiios and that's always the case
@@DJ_BROBOT True to that. Fiio tends to have the technical side down, but severely lacks in the nuances. They are great mid-range options, but not in the same league with the other flagships.
Noob question, why Sony has 3 times more battery life? Does it output less power to headphones ? Or is just the engineering of their hardware and software android adaptation? Thanks
It's a combination of both.
So when the batteries become worn out, does one have to chuck the things in the garbage?
The batteries have a very long lifespan, and even though you can't be replaced by the customer, you can always send it back to the manufacture for them to replace it for you!
Hello. What Headphones (over -ear or in-ear) you recommend for these DAPs? Especially for Metal. Some people say SP3000 is not good for Metal, and Cayin N8II is better in that case. Unfortunately never had a chance to check. Which one is best for Metal? Your IMHO please.
Our office metalhead and cable-maker, Darrell, suggests the Cayin N8ii for metal due to its dual vacuum tubes. SP3000 would be good for more analytical metal. For headphones, the Focal Bathys or the Meze Liric are great for metal! 🤘
@@moon-audio just out of curiosity since I'm also interested, what are some bands and subgenres your metalhead is using as reference?
The intro was quite appropo. These are the expensive, high-end options.
How about DAC dongle? What is your best reccomendation?
You can find our most recent Dongle DAC recommendations here: ruclips.net/video/BOw2i7G_b6U/видео.html 🙂
@@moon-audio Thank you!
I would take the Sony b/c of the 40 hr battery life. Which one does moon audio choose 😏
Well, we've already got all three DAPs, so... 😂
But seriously, it's hard to choose a favorite. Each has their own unique sound! 🙂
I would choose the Sony too. They can be modded and the feature set to thse players is over the top goodness
Why no HiBy RS8 ?
What about the ibasso 320 MAX ti ?
It is an excllent DAP, we will consider it if we decide to make another Flagship video!
what is astel&kern sp3000 can't streaming music ?
The Astell&Kern SP3000 can stream music from Qobuz, Tidal, and many other streaming apps! Learn more here:
www.moon-audio.com/astell-kern-sp3000-dap-music-player-review 🙂
Ok Ricky is like legit funny
Which of the DAPs can efficiently power a Susvara?
High end DAPs from A&K, IBasso, and Cayin can all drive the Susvara from the balanced outputs. Very few DAPs have enough power to drive them "efficiently" as they draw a lot of power to sound their best. The A&K SP2000T, SP3000, the IBasso DX320 MAX Ti, and the Cayin N8ii will all work very well with the Susvara.
Sound wise Cayin N8ii is the best DAP now
Ibasso DX 320❤
That's our pick for a Flagship DAP at a bargain price! 🙂 Check it out here: www.moon-audio.com/dx320-dap-music-player.html
One thing to note the sony is a digital amplifier ,that's why they do not say what dac they use its not got one as the amp does it .
What about the Luxury & Precision DAPs?
Overpriced
The FiiO M17 is still the most versatile DAP on the market when it comes to inputs/outputs features and has plenty of power! Half the price of these DAP’s. Astell & Kern’s SP2000 is still their best sounding DAP. The other two you’re not getting much for the price…
Agree. You don't get as much audio difference compared to a higher end iem or headphones.
true, the 'more affordable' flagships are highly recommended since theyre just straight up fun/ wow at everything
highest end ofc better but true considering the prices one might find disappointed w their upgrade
Why was the FiiO m17 not compared?
i think Apple should compete in this market especially since they're pushing HiRes Classical and lossless in Apple Music. they should sell something like an "iPod Special Edition" specifically for HiRes listening and a portable device for 3D audio recording.
Apple is and will always be for kids and people who don't care about the best audio resolution.
Nothing about Apple makes sense these days.
They offer Hi-Res files but none of their products can resolve Hi-Res files.
They push USB-C on MacBooks and iPad but refuse to implement it on the iPhone.
What they need to do is to make all iPhones Hi-Res players. They also need to make Hi-Res earphones and headphones.
@@Rockthespaceship Totally agree!
Apple can never compete with these DAP players since they are all about earning money. Companies like AK, Cayin, Sony, Luxury and Precision are not only about making money, they truly want to be the best. These companies have passion like no other. Their engineers and scientist are there to push the limits.
@@greaterbayareahero1401 Totally correct and totally agree! 😊
Alao mention that Sony could have a sound limit feature, which dont allow to listen in high gain.
European version has a sound limiter due to laws, there isnt a workaround for it, the Non-European version doent have a sound limiter. So there are 2 variants.
Fiio ms11 plus ess all day for me , forget the super high price.
the quad-DAC in my $50 LG V30 phone sounds pretty good too, just saying.
Je te crois
I prefer the Sony design but I hate the tiny cover artwork in, there's the only view on the Sony, no way to show the artwork bigger?
That's how they make the battery last so long buddy! Guessing it's an OLED screen which wasn't mentioned in this review of all 3. The black real estate on the Sony's screen boosts its juice massively!
Wow. These units are around 3.5K each.
looking for mp3 player with bluetooth, long battery life..
no wifi no online shit
just want to upload music via computer
Cowon is what you want. Their philosophy is they don't like anything effecting the audio at all so no apps, or bluetooth or wifi.
Oh my goodness I can't afford that. Bye!
You will get a larger sound difference in higher quality iems or headphones. DAC are such an overpriced item with a larger diminishing returns compared to Iems or headphones.
@@Sweetaccord DAPs* are the overpriced items with diminishing returns in this context. but agreed logically with the base argument - better to invest in a good headphone/speaker/IEMs.
@@harshpherwani6590 True
The start is ridiculous. And sony has the best eq.
My Apple iPod classic lasted from 2008 till Audible books voided Apple and Microsoft last month April 2023, Steve Job's was just another Elon Musk with views of the future and made them using the best engineers in the world...
I would love to have them but for the price I can take a vacation to Europe.
Not convincing, but sony does have a style of its own, that's undeniable. But the 1am2 and 1zm2 (I previously sold the 1am2 pending the release of the fio m23 later this year) I experienced multiple crashes and button failures when playing local music I purchased, the supposed musicality is just tuning and every manufacturer is different. sony's claimed playback times are far from satisfactory and it's not unreasonable that other brands continue to top the sales charts in Japan. The 1zm2 is really good, he's very sony, but there are so many options that have arrived at this price that it's very debatable whether it's worth recommending unless one is a sony fanatic f. As for the 1am2 there are so many cheaper and better options than him.
Wrong 🤪
I have Astell&Kern Alpha Kann has got Bluetooth connection. Making me sick of it.
Well that explains why moonaudio blocked my account. Look im sorry for eating the DAPs I purchased from you ok. I wont do it again
Sorry I was a Tesla in another life?
This video has so many Acronyms. That it make no sense to me .
The prices........they scare me.
Just get an LG V60, and save your money. If you know, you know.
Can the Lg v60 really compete with these Daps?
@@ScottSterling21 ofcourse, LGv60 does better if not the same. It has quad DAC from Sabre, do your research.
@primusloy LG v60 is lacking in amp section. And just because it has a quad dac setup from Sabre does not mean it competes on the same level as top of the line daps.
@@primusloy AKM shits on Sabre 😂
Sony is Sony
true people should stop thinking too much abt it, its like football teams you know, if barcelona owner bought 20 teams doesnt mean every players are messi, staf still different approaches and recipes etc
I just want to know with $4000 what he would purchase personally.
for empty room ofc everything, 800 each i guess
for real self not sure not really need anything audio wise, but guess if its gift the astel dap
So big and bulky.
Good luck to push the Sony up to 20H, sony always lies about the batterie life.
Nope that's a blatant lie my sony lasts me 3 weeks without needing to charge I ❤ it
Im the 666th like on this video, loved it
_____________☝️💩👈🤣
Literally over 3k usd.....
My MYMAHDI blows these away
So the fiio ms 17 garbage ? I don't think so , and super hi price doesn't always mean luxury status , 900 can beat a 3000 price . Mentally people think more expensive automatically better
J'ai le M15 et je ne l'apprécie pas forcément ( avec un Clear)
@@Thomas22RUSCH33 English only
@@Angel-AbC9 F*** Yo* 😅
WARNING WARNING if sony is favuritt dont by Euro versian, it goot less power
I will get 5 of them... and load mp3 audios downloaded from 144p RUclips videos.
Let's see how many audiophiles i triggered
Yea the sony musicality is called distortion some ppl enjoy high 2nd order harmonics tube amps I'm looking your way but for that kinda money nope 3rd party tests show its terrible along with the astell&kern 3000 test worse then much cheaper options
Hiby RS8 and Ibasso DX320 MAX both trump the SP3000. The SP3000 is overrated.
Outdated processors, outdated Android OS, laggy UI. You have to be nuts to buy one of these over a similarly spec'd Chinese DAP.
All these Daps run some old version of android, so it’s always a laggy experience. Even worse for Chinese Daps, it seems they have no quality control. I bought a defective Dx170 and had to return it. A 50$ budget android runs better
@@RaisinEnjoyer I agree with you, but there are some decent Chinese DAPs. I just bought a Hiby R6 gen 3 and it's decently non-laggy with its Snapdragon 665 and Android 12 and sounds great with my planars.
@@astifcaulkinyeras the Chinese daps seem to be on par to the expensive brands like Sony and astell for half the price. From my experience and what I’ve seen, all daps are set up to fail because of android
@@astifcaulkinyeras I got mine too. I love it!
Chinese DAPs suck lol never pay 4k$ for a Chinese DAP 🤣
Nearly $16,000 worth of equipment sitting on that table lol
Yes, we had to be very... VERY careful. 😂
Hi, everyone please check out sundar f20 a fraction of the price and the sound is exceptional. Check it out. Don't give any money to those companies.
Eww 🤢
all fake hahahah