Good pairing with Sennheiser HD380 Pro headphones and I am enjoying the experience so far. In terms of sound, the AP80 has a flat response with good detail retrieval and fairly wide staging at this price point. If you require adjustment, MSEB is like a super EQ and can dramatically alter the sound to your taste.
It easily has the power to drive the (54 Ohm) 380 Pros, and I would suspect also headphones with higher impedance. I rarely have to turn the volume up beyond 70 (out of 100 steps).
I only use wired connection, so cannot comment on Bluetooth pairing.
The AP80s main two faults are its power button/volume dial and the touchscreen. A day or two after purchase, I was considering getting a refund because the volume dial seemed cheap and difficult to alter the volume when the device's screen was off. This meant having to take the unit out of my pocket and using two hands to adjust the volume - a small, but irritating problem. Since then, I have learned the best way is to have the player in a pocket on your left, adjust the volume with your middle finger of your left hand. Thumb and forefinger will naturally provide more stability on the player this way. One thing to note: the dial 'clicks' when adjusting - I would much rather it be a smooth silent dial.
The screen is not the best in terms of responsiveness. I frequently have to press several times before the unit responds. Not a deal-breaker, but still annoying.
Overall, the AP80 represents bang-for-your-buck for those in the £200 or less market (though the Cowon Plenue D may soon be discounted, D2 to be released). This is a good buy if you favour sound quality over functionality, want a more detailed rather than exciting sound, and do not require 2.5mm balanced output. I have previously owned DACs by Cozoy and used an LG V10 for music. The AP80 has them beat on sound, probably because of its good DAC/amp implementation. This will last me a year or two before upgrading to an iBasso DX120/150 with IT03 earphones.
| Brand | HIDIZS |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | HIDIZS |
| Model number | HIDIZS AP80 |
| Part Number | AP80 |
| Digital Storage Capacity | 1 TB |
| Card Reader | HDMI |
| Operating System | Hiby 3.0 Linux Version |
| Special Features | Hi-Res Certification, LDAC |
| Standing screen display size | 2.45 Inches |
| Colour Screen | No |
| Power Source | Battery |
| Batteries Included | No |
| Batteries Required | No |
| Wireless Type | Bluetooth |
| Connector Type | Bluetooth |
| Supported Standards | MP3 |
| Memory Card Slot | Micro SD |
| Includes Rechargable Battery | No |
| Product Dimensions | 5.79 x 4.9 x 1.35 cm; 70.02 Grams |
| Item Weight | 69.9 g |
| Manufacturer | HIDIZS |
| ASIN | B07HFQDYQP |
| Item Model Number | HIDIZS AP80 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium ion batteries required. |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Date First Available | 27 December 2018 |