What's the Best Digital Audio Player for Me in 2022?

Check out our updated guide for the 2023 year end: https://bloomaudio.com/blogs/articles/whats-the-best-dap-for-me-in-2023

If you’re looking for a combination of portability and simplicity in your audio setup, few things can accomplish that as well as a digital audio player (DAP). The latest crop of digital audio players from iBasso and Astell&Kern feature top tier DACs and enough power output to drive most headphones, along with both internal storage for your music collection and app support for streaming services.

While the core features of DAPs ranging from the iBasso DX170 to the Astell&Kern SP3000 are essentially the same, there’s an array of differences in the specific features, performance, and even tuning of the DAP that come into play when you’re trying to find the best option.

DAPs under $1000

In the under $1000 range, you’ll typically end up with a smaller screen, and lower overall DAC quality, but still highly impressive sound. iBasso’s DX2xx series has long delivered flagship sound at a fraction of the price, and the DX240 continues that tradition. Likewise, the DX170 offers ludicrous levels of value for your dollar. From Astell&Kern, the SR25 MKII gives you a taste of A&K’s top-end tuning and luxury in a smaller package.

iBasso DX170 - $449

The iBasso DX170 looks like the most bare bones of the DAPs on this list, but it has surprising performance and versatility. For its OS, it uses a mostly stock Android 11, allowing installation of virtually any app and providing a largely intuitive UI for most smartphone users. DX170 uses dual Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC chips and offers a neutral, reference sound signature. Its 6.4Vrms balanced power output also means you can drive a wide array of headphones as long as you have a 4.4mm cable for them. 

The build is a small upgrade over previous lower-priced iBasso DAPs, and is more of a simple, functional unit, than one that wows with excellent design and craftsmanship. The overall performance is good, but not nearly as fast as the other devices in iBasso’s lineup. Overall, DX170 is great for simplicity and usability with excellent sound quality for the price.

Astell&Kern SR25 MKII - $749

Astell&Kern’s most wallet friendly DAP takes the opposite philosophical approach as DX170 in many ways. First it demonstrates Astell&Kern’s larger focus on the function of the device as a music player rather than a more generalized multimedia device, and prioritizes the management of a local music collection over app support and OS performance. It utilizes dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 chips for its DAC, but provides a more smooth, musical tuning. The build of the device itself demonstrates a high level of attention to detail in the implementation of the knobs and buttons, as well as excellent craftsmanship in its angular metal body.

SR25 MKII has a very premium look and the feel, but the UI performance lags behind the competition when using apps, and the screen is also the smallest on this list, meaning that the onscreen keyboard operation can be tough. However, if you want the smooth, sweet Astell&Kern sound along with their legendary build quality and design, SR25MKII gives you a lot of the classic Astell&Kern experience for a low price.

iBasso DX240 - $949

DX240 does everything DX170 does, just at a higher level than its little brother in the lineup, and adds the modular amp card feature. You get the same simple Android OS, but with an upgrade in performance. The overall sound quality is improved with its Sabre ES9038Pro DAC delivering a highly detailed, reference sound, with just a touch of smoothness to the highs that gives you strong definition and air without fatigue. The stock amp card provides a maximum power output of 6.2Vrms from the 2.5mm balanced output, but the swappable amp card system provides alternatives both for connection types and power.

It doesn’t look like much, but it’s a powerful, easy-to-use DAP that boasts sound quality that is competitive with DAPs at twice the price. DX240 is a great choice if you’re looking for a DAP that’s a step up in quality, but still provides a high level of value.

DAPs $1000-$2000

Once you get over $1000, you start getting flagship quality DAPs that offer some of the best quality in portable audio. The Astell&Kern KANN Max is the latest in their long running KANN series and represents the best option for portable power in a player. The DX320 is iBasso’s flagship, giving you a noticeable step up from the DX240.

Astell&Kern KANN Max - $1299

KANN Max is among the most powerful DAPs on the market, and few can match the combination of power and refinement that it delivers. It continues in the tradition of Astell&Kern designs that feature sleek angular lines, and high quality materials to create a player with a look and feel that’s in a class of their own. Sonically, KANN Max has a more neutral tuning than most Astell&Kern players, and it pumps impressive levels of detail out using a quad ESS DAC setup and up to 15Vrms of power.

KANN Max’s UI is in line with previous Astell&Kern’s DAPs, as is its performance. As strictly a player, the device is tight and snappy, and the app performance is a step up from the SR25MKII, but not as fast as the iBasso DX240.

iBasso DX320 - $1599 ($1999 for Edition X)

iBasso’s flagship player is quite possibly the fastest, most capable DAP on the market. The UI performance puts many top tier smartphones to shame and the large, high quality screen means it’s excellent for watching videos as well. The sound quality is also top-of-the-line offering incredible detail and strong spatial characteristics. The general tuning isn’t far off from the KANN Max, giving you a “mostly reference” sound with just a touch of extra sweetness in the highs and impact in the lows.

DAPs $2000+

At this level, it’s not just about getting a great player, it’s about getting the best portable design and sound quality imaginable. Few brands offer players at this level, and from our lineup, only Astell&Kern delivers this level of top-of-the-top-of-the-line player.

Astell&Kern Acro CA1000 - $2199

Acro CA1000 is a different take on the digital audio player. Rather than a truly portable, pocketable device, CA1000 is a larger, transportable player. But it’s not just a player, it can also function as a standalone DAC or amp. Acro CA1000 is an evolution of the KANN Max, utilizing the same quad-DAC configuration and output section, but Acro sacrifices size and portability for power and versatility.

If you don’t need a truly portable unit, and want something that can serve as a connection point at any number of places in your signal chain – or just a device that’s designed specifically for desktop use, rather than handheld use – Acro CA1000 is the most versatile player that A&K has released yet.

Astell&Kern SP2000T - $2499

The SP2000T is almost like an experiment in recreating the smooth musicality of SP2000 with completely different tech. Rather than use the AKM DAC chips that Astell&Kern favors for their flagship players, SP2000T uses an quad ESS DAC chip combined with a KORG NuTube based vacuum tube amp that captures Astell&Kern’s signature sound in solid state, tube, and hybrid mode. SP2000T offers you a range of sounds as well, as the solid state mode provides a more reference-like tuning, while the tube output offers a slightly smoother, warmer sound, and the hybrid mode lets you find the perfect space in between.

SP2000T is one of the best sounding DAPs out there, but its UI and performance fell somewhat behind by the time of its release. It remains an excellent choice for those who are more concerned with the sound than the usability, or listeners who will be using the collections features and not relying as much on WiFi connectivity and streaming apps.

Astell&Kern SP3000 - $3699

The SP3000 is a turning point for Astell&Kern. They introduced a new flagship AKM DAC chip in quad configuration, and managed to improve on the sound quality over their previous flagship DAPs – expanding the soundstage and enhancing the already exquisite detail. Along with that, they improved the UI and upgraded the performance to create the best all around player out there.

While it lacks the universal app support of iBasso’s DAPs, SP3000 provides a great selection of music apps and has system performance that rivals the DX320. For the ultimate convergence of sound, usability, and build quality, nothing beats the Astell&Kern SP3000.

What’s the Best Digital Audio Player for Me?

While there are a lot of options, there are a few considerations that can help narrow things down: 

• Do you need apps beyond standard streaming services?
• Is the material design and feel of the device a top priority?
• Are you looking for a more reference tuned DAP or one with a euphonic bend to it?
• Do you need extra power for your headphones?
• And, of course, what price range are you looking at?

Once you answer those questions, you should be left with a pretty clear idea of the best DAP for you. Whether it’s A&K build and a relaxed sound on a budget, like the SR25 MKII, a powerhouse like the KANN Max or ACRO CA1000, or you need the versatility and usability of an iBasso DX320 or DX240, there’s a DAP out there that will fit into your HiFi lifestyle.