For example, I’m sure the average joe doesn’t know just how expensive calligraphy pens can be, or how deep the rabbit hole goes on video game speedruns.

      • RedEye FlightControl@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        It certainly hearkens back to the nostalgia of having a dedicated audio player like the legendary walkman. The sad truth is that it’s an expensive lesson in obsoletion. If you think support for android OS lifecycle was bad… wait until you have a bug in your player.

        They are high quality and often perform very well, but at the end of the day, you have a sealed battery device that has a limited lifespan based on OS and firmware updates. I’d sooner recommend a good portable DAC Amp and using whatever source you prefer.

        My OTG setup is my cellphone as a media player. It runs PowerAMP and generally gets used with bluetooth on a FiiO BTR7 portable amp. 200$ for a fantastic balanced THXAAA series amp stage that works with any source, wired or wireless, vs over 1000$ more for a comparable DAP. The choice is pretty clear.

        Other high end DAPs have suffered similar fates and have poor resale values/audiences. Remember the Pono? I didn’t think so 😆

    • /home/pineapplelover@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I have a pretty cheap audio setup, moondrop Arias and akg k371 both using usb c to 3.5mm adapters. Chose this because it was the cheapest yet decent audio setup recommended by the community. Things from here only gets exponentially expensive with actual DACs, professional studio monitors, etc. Sooner or later you’ve sunk thousands of dollars into it.

      • RedEye FlightControl@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Sooner or later you’ve sunk thousands of dollars into it.

        Yep. Though I will argue that, at least for me, it’s so, so worth it. Music is a gift that never stops giving. If there’s one thing in my home that will ALWAYS put a smile on my face, it’s my dac/amp stack and my favorite cans. That’s priceless, imo. Very few other items that I own can do this.

      • Bloodyhog@lemm.ee
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        1 year ago

        Oh, didn’t we all? I certainly did, and that with “cheap” stuff. I was not trying to go beyond mid-fi ever, mostly because i cannot justify it for my old ears, and still managed to sink quite a few grand.

        Having this said, the purchases I consider best were actually cheapest: most enjoyment i got from a pair of Adam T5V as a desktop set up, cannot beat it at that price point in my view; and noname “sleeping headband” from Amazon, like 20 quid or so, that helped me listen to numerous audiobooks in bed with comfort. The latter one though is also the least sexy accessory you can probably get, so choose your spouse wisely! ) The court is still in session for the most recent purchase of Bathys to have OTG music. Sound quality is certainly there for a pair of wireless cans, just not sure yet about long term enjoyment and overall value for money.

        k371s were my previous pair - and if it were not for their lousy snapping headband, I could certainly recommend it as well.