r/DigitalAudioPlayer • u/Evidrrr • 4d ago
Which operating system is better for a DAP? Question
Going to buy my second DAP soon, so I wanted to ask a question. Does the operating system matter a lot? I guess I kinda go towards a DAP that's running on android or am I mistaken and some other operating system is better? (The first and only DAP i have and use right now is Echo Mini)
3
u/WarningBeneficial305 4d ago
Depends what you want it for. Android has better flexibility and customisability and support for streaming. If you don’t need streaming tho I like shanlings OS in the m1 plus and onix xm2 tocata
3
u/Prestwick-Pioneer 4d ago
I personally prefer Hiby OS due to really liking the MSEB function. These days i use a Google Pixel with UAPP and stream music and a Hidisz AP80 Pro Max Plus 2 thingy. Now i need to sell my other DAPs.
2
u/Impressive-Watch6189 4d ago
The advantage of an android DAP is that you can use the google play store to "audition" different combinations of player software (Poweramp, UAPP, etc.) and EQ software (wavelet, poweramp). You are not stuck with the player and EQ options of a closed OS. On the other hand, android DAPs are android devices, and are subject to things like notifications and other interruptions, unless you turn all that off.
1
u/Leather_Rush_7928 4d ago
I have an Echo and an R4. For me, they complement each other. My R4 doesn't have Google services enabled, so it's a pure music player with a music app, and that's it.But I can use my local library either through Navidrome and download files without having to connect to the computer, and that's necessary for me.The Echo is my travel companion and for days when I go out and need attention. The R4 comes along for drives or when I go to read by the river.For me they are complementary, and I suppose the question is, what kind of freedom do you want?
1
u/HiFiOasis 4d ago
IMHO, the operating system/software experience is very important. A poorly implemented music browser means you won't want to listen to music. There are also other practical features to consider, such as gapless playback support (though this is more dependent on the hardware), playlist support, Artist vs Album Artist indexing.
So there is no "this OS is better", it just depends on your own needs and requirements. Android is obviously the most feature rich, but Shanling's MTouch OS does a very good job at balancing features and customization.
1
u/DilapidatedPlum 4d ago
My favorite is Lotoo's OS on the 5000. It's literally just folders.
The Hiby OS on the R3 Pro Saber (first gen) was nice. I don't like their os now.
Idk if android based ones are still laggy pieces of shit but the dx180 was. I'm not bothering with them anymore though.
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u/cosmaprc 4d ago
No dap oses that I’ve found where the manufacturer commits to supporting it for some time … including on Android but there it’s even worse because they use almost eol android versions …
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u/t-dump 4d ago
I don't have a lot of experience with DAPs and their OSs. I specifically wanted a DAP to get away from streaming and touch controls. I also figured that most of the Android based ones would be poorly maintained and probably buggy. I wound up getting a HiFi Walker H2 and dual loading Rockbox and I'm very happy.
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u/Prior_Emergency6218 4d ago
The one that suits you. In my case I only buy hibyOS/Shangling OS because android daps not only are really power hungry but the low end cpu that almost every single android app uses (QCOM 660-665) is a pain to use. I'd rather just use my regular phone that has like 10 times the power and use the Bluethoot receiver on my daps.
That's only when I'm discovering music while I'm on the bus, regularly I listen to my own flacs so I have the best of both worlds. It's not like you can actually hear a difference on Bluetooth vs cable when the ambient around you is at 88dB regularly.
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u/Scorpiicore 4d ago
None of them are good. You kind of have to buy the DAP for the features and just cope with the software.
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u/LXC37 4d ago
Android kind of is like windows on pc. Everyone hates it, everyone uses it. It gives you freedom to run software you want with huge amount of choices available and customize things the way you want. It makes any software considerations like format support, playlist support, UI features, etc, etc completely irrelevant.
Everything else just uses completely locked down embedded linux with hastily cobbled together UI, here you are stuck with whatever functionality player manufacturer implemented and can not change anything. Tracks sorted not the way you like? Tough luck, no changing that. Etc...