Hi-Fi players are currently considered premium portable technology. Music lovers and fans of advanced acoustic developments are willing to pay large sums for the right to possess such a gadget. Today we will figure out what a “luxury” device is and whether its cost is reasonable, not only claimed by modern manufacturers, but also intermediaries in the implementation of hi-fi players in the consumer market.

About product

By a Hi Fi device for playing music is meant a portable audio device capable of “clean” transmission of the frequency range, using the advanced technologies used in the production of the type of players in question, as well as technical characteristics that allow to “fully unlock the potential” of the user's headphones.

For the correct perception of further information, a potential buyer of "luxury" equipment should clarify that the most popular question related to the comparative analysis of Hi Fi and MP3 players is in most cases not posed correctly. A hi-fi device is considered rather a definition that belongs to the class of high-quality portable "equipment" that can reproduce music frequencies as accurately as possible, which determines the "volume" of the sound "output". Speaking of MP3 players, they mean the type of players compatible for the correct operation with digital file formats of the same name. Thus, it is not practical to compare Hi Fi devices with MP3 analogues.

However, there are still a number of distinguishing features of the premium type of music gadgets from other devices that create a sound that is primitive for “audiophiles”. Such "unique" characteristics include:

  • the presence of a built-in amplifier in the vast majority of modern models of Hi-Fi audio technology, which allows reproducing the frequency range of the audio stream not only in headphones, but also when using it with larger "sound sources, in particular computers, smartphones, speakers and so on;
  • “Support” recordings of the highest possible resolution, for example, Lossless, WAV, AAC and others;
  • provided by the manufacturer of the DAC of higher quality, in comparison with simple smartphones or players of a lower class.

Given the high-tech design features of this type of portable audio players, their high market value is predictable. Manufacturers of Hi Fi players explain the “unavailability” of their product by a number of significant advantages for the user, which require financial costs when creating and selling players. These advantages, in addition to the above, include:

  • "Extended" equipment of the vast majority of devices, implying the presence of a proprietary protective cover, stickers, headphones, as well as functional cables in the basic supply from the manufacturer;
  • the presence of a built-in screen, not only greatly simplifying the management of the gadget in question, but also expanding its functionality;
  • the ability to “swing” even the most ordinary headphones - budget-price earbuds that are unable to “cleanly” transmit audio frequencies.

In fairness, it is worth noting that despite the long time hi-fi players have been on the modern consumer market, manufacturers have not yet been able to deprive them of significant shortcomings. So, before making a final decision on the feasibility of a large financial investment, a potential user of an expensive device should carefully study and analyze the following list of disadvantages of Hi Fi technology of the segment in question according to buyers. First of all, you should be prepared for:

  • the need to give a lot of money not only for the purchase of such a device, but also when the need arose for its repair, consumables, and so on;
  • "Evenness" and "dryness" of sound without pronounced "frequency accents", which is not always to the taste, for example, lovers of "bass";
  • difficulties in directly controlling the device through the “working” menu, due to the “excessive functionality” of most gadgets of this type;
  • lack of internal memory on some models of Hi-Fi players.

Top models

The following list of the best gadgets included in the top hi fi players clearly illustrates what technical characteristics should have the top rating devices compiled from the results of sales in 2019.

iBasso DX200

iBasso DX200

  • Supported Media Type: Flash
  • Built-in Storage Capacity: 64 GB
  • Operating System: Android OS
  • Supported formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF, DXD
  • Battery Life: 15 hours
  • Additional options: built-in slot for a memory card; Bluetooth and Wi Fi module; software for playing text, graphic and video file formats; digital equalizer; Internet browser, clock, organizer, notebook
pros
  • the ability to install "streaming" clients
  • high-quality sound reproduced frequency range
  • material resistant to external influences
Minuses
  • "Unresponsive" interface, provoking a "suspension" of the system
  • impressive size and weight of the gadget
  • unfinished operating system and "raw" standard applications for the basic functionality of the device

High-quality audio player of the “premium” line, capable of not only “purely” playing back the favorite music of its owner, but also launching video and text format files, allowing the user to make sure every time that iBasso DX200 is one of the best gadgets of its segment.

Cayin n3

Cayin n3

  • Supported Media Type: Flash
  • Built-in Storage Capacity: None
  • Maximum memory card capacity: 256 GB
  • Sampling Rate: 192
  • Supported formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, PCM, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF, SACD ISO
  • Battery Life: 12 hours
  • Additional options: Bluetooth module; A2DP; line output; USB host coaxial output; touch control panel
pros
  • reasonable cost
  • high accuracy of frequency transmission of the reproduced audio stream
  • high-quality assembly of the structure, as well as individual functional elements
Minuses
  • low sensitivity of the touch buttons and their inconvenient location
  • Raw software that is poorly manageable by the user
  • incompatibility with Linux

An affordable portable mp3 player that is not inferior in its functionality to expensive Hi-Fi gadgets, which usually differs from its rivals in a set of “raw”, rarely used options.

SONY NW-A45

SONY NW-A45

  • Player Type: Hi-Fi
  • Supported Media Type: Flash
  • Built-in Storage Capacity: 16 GB
  • PC Connection Type: USB0
  • Supported Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, PCM, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF
  • Battery Life: 45 hours
  • Additional options: the ability to work as a USB DAC, built-in microSD slot, Bluetooth, A2DP, NFC, built-in FM tuner, digital equalizer
Useful  Features of Texet MP3 Players
pros
  • sufficient screen expansion is large, for its segment, diagonal
  • simple player control with a well-thought-out function menu
  • high-quality transmission of the frequency range of the audio stream reproduced by the user
Minuses
  • lagging sound from the displayed image when watching a video via USB - connection
  • periodic “freezing” of the sensor and the system as a whole
  • the inability to sort downloaded songs, in particular the creation of playlists

A hi-fi player from a well-known manufacturer of mp3 devices, the difference of which lies in combining a wide range of functionalities with the simplicity of the “intuitive” control of a gadget that is usual at first glance.

iBasso DX80

iBasso DX80

  • Sampling Rate: 192
  • Supported Media Type: Flash
  • Built-in Storage Capacity: 64 GB
  • PC Connection Type: USB0
  • Supported formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, AAC, FLAC, APE, Apple Lossless, WAV, AIFF, DSD, DFF, DSF, DXD
  • Battery Life: 13 hours
  • Additional options: the ability to work as a USB DAC; 2 built-in slots for microSD; firmware option; line output, optical output, coaxial output
pros
  • high-quality built-in amplifier
  • compatibility with a large number of basic digital formats
  • good sound quality of music played by this device even when listening to it in the most ordinary headphones
Minuses
  • lack of ergonomic shape of the case
  • the presence of backlash buttons, giving the impression of fragility
  • short actual battery life of the device in comparison with the time of continuous operation "without recharging" specified by the manufacturer in the player’s passport

A great choice for users of music players who appreciate not only good sound reproduction, but also the build quality of the Hi Fi gadget itself.

Cowon M2 16Gb

Cowon M2 16Gb

  • Sampling Rate: 192
  • Supported Media Type: Flash
  • Built-in Storage Capacity: 16 GB
  • PC Connection Type: USB0
  • Supported formats: MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, APE, WAV, WMV, SWF (Flash), ASF, AVI, MPEG-4, WMV9, XviD, SMI, JPG
  • Battery Life: 13 hours
  • Additional options: software for playing text, graphic and video file formats; built-in voice recorder; microSD card slot; FM tuner clock; built-in speaker; firmware option; calculator
pros
  • natural “smooth” sound, which immerses the user as much as possible in the listening audio content
  • user-friendly interface, available for use at the "intuitive level"
  • long battery life
Minuses
  • low quality of the functional screen, which, in turn, is resistive
  • inconvenient location of function buttons
  • the inability to use a memory card larger than 64 GB

A reliable device whose technical capabilities are thoughtful and easy to use in the conditions of "real" operation of the gadget.

The above overview of the features of Hi Fi players, an assessment of their positive and negative aspects of use, as well as an examination of the top models of technology in this segment will undoubtedly allow the buyer to choose the right quality device among the huge variety of gadgets on the modern consumer market.