I know what you’re thinking: why the HELL would anyone buy an MP3 player in 2018!?
Simple: sound quality.
If you’re an audiophile and you demand the best, possible sound for your music, most smartphones don’t cut it.
Yes, some handsets have high-quality DAC units inside them but even today these phones are few and far between
And this is where MP3 makers have managed to carve a niche for themselves.
They cater to those that want the ultimate in portable sound quality.
And these are some of the best options you can buy right now (providing you don’t mind dropping some pretty serious coin).
Astell & Kern AK Jr
This MP3 player is super slim and portable compared to its predecessors, which were a lot more bulky.
Plenty has changed under the hood too, with a 14% increase to its output level versus the outgoing model (1.95 VRMS vs 1.5 VRMS).
Best Deal: Amazon – £249.99
It also has a full color, LCD display that displays artwork and makes for easier menu navigation.
This device is PRICEY but it is more or less the cutting edge of high-end, DAC MP3 players.
Specs & Features
- World class leading Wolfson DAC, 64GB on board memory - expandable to 264GB via Micro SD card
- Solid machined Aluminium Body, Thin and light - 93g, measuring 6.9mm at its thinnest point
- Easy to use intuitive drag and drop file transfer & USB DAC feature for home or office
- Bluetooth enabled for music streaming to headphones and speakers, high voltage output to support wide range of earphones and headphones
- Supports all file formats: DSD, WAV, AIFF, FLAC, ALAC, APE, MP3, AAC, WMA,OGG
Cowon Plenue 1
Cowon has been making MP3 players for A LONG TIME. I had one way back when (before the iPhone even existed). And they’re still at it today.
Only now they’re making some of the finest looking and sounding high-quality MP3 players in the business.
Best Deal: Amazon – $599.99
The Cowon Plenue 1 is the sharp end of Cowon’s DAC MP3 player stick. It’s design is beautiful. The performance superb. And it can also store up to 256GB of music.
It will also support a wide range of formats too, as you can see below.
Specs & Features
- Hi Res Audio file support and fantastic sounding output
- Burr-Brown PCM1792A DAC with world class performance
- Up to 256GB of storage capability
- Extensive file support - DXD, DSD, FLAC, AIFF, APE, WAV, MP3, WMA and OGG
- Full metal body with anodized finish
Cheaper Alternatives?
If you’re after a DAC MP3 player, but you don’t want to pay top-TOP dollar, there are other options available.
And these are as follows:
Shanling M2s Lossless Digital Audio Player | £149 Cowon Plenue J | £239 Cowon i9 Plus | £129
by rgoodwin via Featured Articles
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