DAPs (Digital Audio Players), iPod-like devices that bring “high fidelity”, are not as popular as they were a decade ago. However, there are still those who prefer using DAPs over cell phones or “USB headphone adapters” (portable USB DAC/amps). The reasons for this vary, but it’s usually due to battery life, lack of space for offline music storage, and the need for a dedicated music device that doesn’t have distractions (app notifications).
Before starting the list of “best DAPs (Digital Audio Players) of 2023”, it is important to emphasize that these indications are not a ranking, but suggestions of players (DAPs) that stood out in the market. Some of them I had the opportunity to experience, but others I wasn’t so lucky, but I was able to collect information about them that I couldn’t “take with my hands” through friends who had. Others, on the other hand, I could only read reports about through specialized websites from abroad.
Why choose a DAP?
By choosing a DAP, you will certainly have excellent audio quality and, at the same time, an independent device to listen to your music. Many like the idea of having something exclusive to enjoy their favorite musicians, without anything distracting them. If we stop to think about it, a cell phone really is a device with many resources to distract us, especially when installing social networking applications, games and instant messaging.
In a Digital Audio Player we find a more refined amplification system and a good DAC. While other devices promise an excellent DAC for converting high-resolution files, what will make the most difference is the amplifier built into them. It is for this reason that DAPs with good amplification generally have a battery life of ten hours on average, even using a large capacity lithium-ion cell.
Currently, due to the great success of streaming services, more and more DAPs have the possibility of installing music streaming applications that transmit audio files through the cloud, such as, for example, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, among others. The ease of accessing any song with just a few taps, having access to a library of more than 80 million songs ended up falling easily into consumer taste. Due to this fact, many have players that have this feature as a priority purchase.
List of Best DAPs (Digital Audio Players) of 2023
Best players under $100
Check below the best options for DAPs (Digital Audio Players) under US$ 100 taking into account the DAC (digital-to-analog-converter), amplification (output power and overall quality), features and interface.
Best players under $200
Check below the best options for DAPs (Digital Audio Players) up to US$ 200 taking into account the DAC (digital-to-analog-converter), amplification (output power and general quality), functionalities and interface.
- Hiby R3 Pro Saber
- Hidizs AP80 Pro X
Best players up to $500
Check below the best options for DAPs (Digital Audio Players) up to US$ 500 taking into account the DAC (digital-to-analog-converter), amplification (output power and overall quality), features and interface.
- FiiO M11S
- Hiby R5 (Gen 2)
- iBasso DX170
- Shanling M3X
- Shanling M3 Ultra
- Tempotec v6
Best players under $700
Check below the best options for DAPs (Digital Audio Players) up to US$ 700 taking into account the DAC (digital-to-analog-converter), amplification (output power and overall quality), features and interface.
- FiiO M11 Plus
- Hyby R6
- Shanling M6 21
- Sony Walkman NW-ZX707
Best Players Over $700
Check below the best options for DAPs (Digital Audio Players) above US$ 700 taking into account the DAC (digital-to-analog-converter), amplification (output power and overall quality), features and interface.
- Astell&Kern Can Alpha
- Astell&Kern Kann Cube
- Astell&Kern Can Max
- Cayin N8 II
- FiiO M15
- FiiO M17
- iBasso DX320
- Shanling M7
- Shanling M9
- Sony Walkman NW-WM1AM2
- Sony Walkman NW-WM1ZM2