Lossless Portable Audio
Discussion
I've been using a Hifiman HM-801 portable player since mid 2011 to play FLAC format files since I ripped my old CD collection to FLAC for playing in the house via Sonos connect and the existing hifi.
It was one of the early attempts at a proper portable hifi, and I love the sound. If you google it, there are those that love it and those not so impressed (thinking it too warm, and not analytical enough). Then again, I'm a fan of class A and valve amps. It also has plenty of power to drive headphones so doesn't need a separate portable amp. The user interface is pretty clunky, and not easy to deal with playlists etc, but as I still tend to listen to whole albums, or will manually put a playlist together by putting the files into a folder on the SD card, this isn't an issue for me personally although YMMV. The battery also only lasts a few hours (7 or 8 I think) before needing a charge, but that's enough for me - just plug it in when I get home (same as a phone these days). Finally there's no on-board storage to speak of, but again, it's easy to put a few 32Gb SD cards in the case - you can fit a lot of FLAC files on a 32Gb SD card. Despite its drawbacks, I wouldn't swap it for anything.
Headphone wise, I don't get on with in ear models, but also as I was looking to use it on the daily commute (tube) that meant closed back, over ear headphones. I initially ran it for a few months with some senheiser PX-100s that I already had, which were ok, but decided to get something better. Tried a bunch of different ones - and eventually settled on Ultrasone Signature Pro. These are closed back so very good sound insulation, and low sound leakage, yet somehow they manage to provide an expansive sound stage like some of the better open back designs (decent Grado's etc). At the time they were £750 although I got 10% off due to getting them from Harrods - signed up for discount card. It seems they have come down in price since then, so even better value.
I was a little nervous about using them on the tube and the glass backing to the cups with the name of what they are was a little too obvious, so I cut a piece of black electrical tape and covered this, along with the "S-Logic" branding above the earpiece - they now look like any normal £50 set so don't attract any attention. They are also built really well having put up with 6 years of daily use/abuse and are showing no signs of the wear and tear. The only thing I have changed was the cable. Nothing wrong with the original, but the jack plug into the music player was a straight design and a right angled plug fits better inside the Hifiman case. The cable is easily replaceable as it attaches to the left earpiece with a bayonet plug.
I've had the opportunity to try several other players (more expensive Anstell Kern, etc,) and still prefer the old Hifiman. Interestingly, I've also tried the newer Hifiman 901s and in my opinion it's not as good a match as the older HM801. That's not to say it's not a good player as my wife loves the sound with her custom in-ear headphones.
To find out more about portable and headphone based hi-fi it's worth checking out Head-Fi.org.
They also tend to have an annual meet up in a London hotel which if you can make it, and get over the fact there's a large room filled with hi-fi geeks, gives a good opportunity to talk to and try out pretty much the whole range of what's available in the headphone/portable world.
My portable setup:
(case is a compact camera one that fits on my belt)
Headphones by conradsphotos, on Flickr
It was one of the early attempts at a proper portable hifi, and I love the sound. If you google it, there are those that love it and those not so impressed (thinking it too warm, and not analytical enough). Then again, I'm a fan of class A and valve amps. It also has plenty of power to drive headphones so doesn't need a separate portable amp. The user interface is pretty clunky, and not easy to deal with playlists etc, but as I still tend to listen to whole albums, or will manually put a playlist together by putting the files into a folder on the SD card, this isn't an issue for me personally although YMMV. The battery also only lasts a few hours (7 or 8 I think) before needing a charge, but that's enough for me - just plug it in when I get home (same as a phone these days). Finally there's no on-board storage to speak of, but again, it's easy to put a few 32Gb SD cards in the case - you can fit a lot of FLAC files on a 32Gb SD card. Despite its drawbacks, I wouldn't swap it for anything.
Headphone wise, I don't get on with in ear models, but also as I was looking to use it on the daily commute (tube) that meant closed back, over ear headphones. I initially ran it for a few months with some senheiser PX-100s that I already had, which were ok, but decided to get something better. Tried a bunch of different ones - and eventually settled on Ultrasone Signature Pro. These are closed back so very good sound insulation, and low sound leakage, yet somehow they manage to provide an expansive sound stage like some of the better open back designs (decent Grado's etc). At the time they were £750 although I got 10% off due to getting them from Harrods - signed up for discount card. It seems they have come down in price since then, so even better value.
I was a little nervous about using them on the tube and the glass backing to the cups with the name of what they are was a little too obvious, so I cut a piece of black electrical tape and covered this, along with the "S-Logic" branding above the earpiece - they now look like any normal £50 set so don't attract any attention. They are also built really well having put up with 6 years of daily use/abuse and are showing no signs of the wear and tear. The only thing I have changed was the cable. Nothing wrong with the original, but the jack plug into the music player was a straight design and a right angled plug fits better inside the Hifiman case. The cable is easily replaceable as it attaches to the left earpiece with a bayonet plug.
I've had the opportunity to try several other players (more expensive Anstell Kern, etc,) and still prefer the old Hifiman. Interestingly, I've also tried the newer Hifiman 901s and in my opinion it's not as good a match as the older HM801. That's not to say it's not a good player as my wife loves the sound with her custom in-ear headphones.
To find out more about portable and headphone based hi-fi it's worth checking out Head-Fi.org.
They also tend to have an annual meet up in a London hotel which if you can make it, and get over the fact there's a large room filled with hi-fi geeks, gives a good opportunity to talk to and try out pretty much the whole range of what's available in the headphone/portable world.
My portable setup:
(case is a compact camera one that fits on my belt)
Headphones by conradsphotos, on FlickrGassing Station | Home Cinema & Hi-Fi | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff