Audio tech here refers to the audio player. Thinking back to the last 10 years, TVs, smartphones have improved a lot, and even earphones have become earbuds. From that point of view, the audio player has not improved much. But a music loveer finds refreshment through music during having a cup of coffee or eating cakes in leisure time.
To expect something from an inferior MP3 player is to ask for a moon in the sky, which is virtually impossible. But it is possible to get that satisfaction by picking up a high res digital audio player. Here, we bring a list of the best Dap under 200$ so that you can comfortably pick a Dap to verify the top-class music listening experience.
Top 5 Best DAP Under 200$ Reviews
FiiO M6 Hi-Res Lossless MP3 Music Player
After taking a look at the pricing, features, it is easy to decide that FiiO M6 is a great portable music player. Moreover, no other brand has yet surpassed the FiiO brand in terms of portable music players. FiiO has more M series DAP, but M6 offers the best price and perfect size with some excellent pros.
The 3.2″ display of M6 seems bigger than most. Its bezel-less display is a highlighted point; it looks impressive. The touchscreen display panel allows all access to the system. But the volume buttons are by the side to adjust volume from the pocket.
It includes Dual-mode Bluetooth version 4.2 to provide a better range. All necessary Bluetooth codecs are included here. It connects to WiFi also provides lower latency. The battery is not a concern for the user of this device. 13 hours of playback time with a fully charged M6 is incredible.
You can pass the whole day with it. You can install android music streaming apps like Spotify, Tidal, and Deezer in it. The storage section features 2GB internal storage and supports up to 2TB memory cards. 2GB internal storage is not enough. So, you must use a MicroSD card.
Highlighted Features
- The 3.2″ Full touchscreen display is easy to access almost all the functions.
- The Dual-mode Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity provide better sound quality and range with low latency.
- 2 TB expandable storage support allows storing thousands of your favorite songs.
- The large battery 1200mAh provides 13 hours of battery life that pass your complete day.
- This high-res Dap supports an android music streaming app so that you can enjoy tons of music without downloading.
Downsides
- The manufacturer does not include a screen protector to protect the display externally.
Surfans F20 HiFi MP3 Player
Everyone loves touchscreen Digital Audio players. But, how an mp3 player stands on the second position on the best DAP list. What special thing did the Surfans F20 HiFi do? Let’s find out. Let’s start with the display. It comes with a small 2.0″ HD screen which is half of the whole body. It is not a touchscreen panel, but the display is colorful. The color of the display is very bright and accurate.
All the buttons are included on the front part. The play button is quite big. The design of the other’s button is quite similar. Unwanted click mistakes may occur unlikely because of unexpected pressure in the pocket. But the front part is easy to use. You will love the compact design of it. It easily fits in your wallet as well as your pocket. You don’t require an extra carrier to keep it.
It supports almost all lossless music formats. Moreover, it includes a 4.0 Bluetooth connection. The battery is very efficient that provides continuous 10 hours of playback time. No one listens to music for 10 hours daily, no matter how big the music lover he is. So, you can easily cover a full day with a full charge. A small display is an advantage behind this remarkable battery life.
Highlighted Features
- Bi-directional Bluetooth that features an APTX codec for high-quality wire audio output.
- The 2.0″ small display provides an HD quality view with colorful light.
- The advanced DSD decoding technology reduces distortion and enhances the listening experience.
- This Dap has internal 32 GB memory storage, which is efficient for many users.
- It allows you to enjoy uninterrupted 10 hours of non-stop audio via Bluetooth.
- It allows enjoying a big music library of 14,000 songs with 256 GB expandable storage.
Downsides
- The device has no internal memory storage.
Sony NW-A55 Mp3 Player
Sony is one of the most trusted brands in the Tech world. Sony’s products are also expensive. But we are lucky that NW-A55 is available for under $200. It is complicated to get such a value-for-money device from Sony at present. It is a great deal from Amazon under $200. With the best UI, colorful display, and top-notch sound quality, no music player in the market can compete this audio player. And Sony also has a different brand value.
All the tech users love a clean operating system. Clean User Interface is the primary reason behind keeping Sony NW-A55 on this list. If you keep the clean operating system aside, the above two products will provide you with better service at a lower price. If you want the smoothest software experience, it is the best digital audio player under $200.
The rest of the feature is not the best, but enough for experiencing high res audio daily. The NW-A55 provides LDAC Bluetooth output for compatible headphones. NFC chip is very impressive and pairs easily with my Sony WH-1000XM3 headphones. It includes an HD touchscreen panel. The touchscreen panel is an advantage for users.
Because we have become accustomed to using smartphones, smartwatches, smart bands, etc., so, we should like touchscreen panels. Moreover, this display is quite vivid and colorful. It comes with a metal frame body. The metal frame is responsible for heavy and solid build quality. The battery section is also good.
Highlighted Features
- The HD touchscreen display is vivid and feels great to experience.
- You can make necessary customization through the display.
- This device comes with Sony’s own OS that is very neat and clean.
- The amplifier provides hi-Res Audio with authentic sound.
- Expandable 2TB storage allows you to experience tons of music from a single device.
- The metal frame makes the device very durable.
Downsides
- The device feels heavy because of the metal body.
- Its backdated data port will lag behind to keep pace with the current era.
Sony NW-A55 Mp3 Player-Best Battery Life:
If you’re looking for a battery-powered DAP that offers solid performance and long battery life. Then the Sony NWE394 is an excellent option. It has a large internal storage capacity, is lightweight and easy to carry around, and comes with several handy features, including an FM tuner and support for FLAC files.
HIDIZS AP80 Hi-Fi Bluetooth MP3 Player
HIDIZS AP80 is remarkable budgets DAP. Its quality in the budget can set an example for other brands. The display size is only 2.5″, and it covers the front portion of the player. So, it is smaller than other similar mp3 players in this segment. The display is touch responsive, smooth, and colorful.
All kinds of access are possible with the touchscreen. The side buttons come in handy in some cases. Side buttons are easy to use. You can easily switch or pause the song whenever you want from your pocket. It supports various file formats. It supports up to 348 kHz, whereas the most famous FiiO M9 supports only 192 kHz. It doesn’t mean that M9 is better than AP-80, but here AP-80 is a clear winner.
Bluetooth version 4.1 is used in this DAP to provide a long 10 meters of range. In your home, you can listen to music with Bluetooth headphones only without carrying AP-80 around. 11 hours playback time is enough for your day out. So, the battery section is enough to provide full-day backup. It does not have any built-in internal storage and MicroSD card. But expandable 1TB memory support is enough to store thousands of songs.
Highlighted Features
- This device comes with a compact minimalistic design with a 2.5″ small display.
- Ess flagship ES9218P DAC chip and DSD technology provide studio-quality sound in higher than CD quality.
- The huge 1Tb expandable storage allows storing a big number of songs.
- The high-capacity battery helps you to enjoy up to 9-12 hours of playtime.
- LDAC wireless technology enhances the wireless audio listening experience.
- The device supports almost all types of audio file formats.
Downsides
- It does not support a car audio system.
Astell & Kern A & Future SE200 High Res Audio Player
Astell Kern A future brand makes almost premium digital audio players. After The SE100, it is the second most premium Dap from Astell Kern A future.
The quality of Dap these days is generally excellent. Though you will find less improvement than other gadgets but it is enough for dap lovers. Premium music players are the best from every side. If you are a VIP person or demand a pair of IEMs, then it is for you. Otherwise, skip this DAP.
It is the world’s first multi-DAC player and a true high res music player. The level of the sound is awesome, with a strong base and zero latency. It provides a terrific sound experience to the users. It includes 5 inches long HD touch screen. The display quality is unbeatable. This device comes with a ceramic body.
The use of ceramic materials gives the user a more premium feel and improves the wireless network’s performance. On the right side, the volume wheel with an LED ring inside indicates the music playback information, including the volume range, the bit-rate of the currently running track, and the current DAC configuration used.
On the left, it adds some physical buttons for power on/off, play/pause, track change, etc. The big battery provides 14 hours of non-stop playback time. It includes 256 GB internal storage. It also supports external 1 TB SD card slot.
Highlighted Features
- The world’s first multi-DAC player includes 5″ long HD display.
- It is a true high-resolution digital audio player that provides premium Hi-Fi sound.
- Internal storage is so large that the user can load enough amount of music.
- It supports all file formats and playback up to 348 kHz.
- You can to enjoy uninterrupted 14 hours of non-stop audio via Bluetooth and WiFi connection.
Downsides
- The device is pretty much expensive. Everyone cannot afford it.
- The firmware is challenging for inexperienced users to use.
Why DAP is Better Than Phone?
Smartphones are very upgraded there these days. You will also notice a massive improvement in the processor industry. But it is very hard to find information on portable audio players like the FiO M6 or SONY NW-A55. Phone and DAP both have their own fair points, but for some reason, a DAP is definitely better than a phone.
- DAP comes with a huge storage option.
- Thousands of music can be kept in one place.
- Top-notch sound quality and a good amount of storage on a reliable budget.
The main advantage of a DAP is the sound quality and the ability to take a large offline music library with you. DAP is in great demand among iPhone users. But in our opinion, it is unreasonable to compare the good and the bad between mobile and DAP. It depends on each specific use. The truth is, a small number of people use DAP. Without the aspects of sound quality, huge music library, overall, a DAP can in no way be equivalent to a smartphone.
DAP Under 200$ Buying Guide
A DAP is an electronic device that can play and store high-resolution music or audio files. For some, it’s a lot like an mp3 player. But there are many differences between DAP and mp3 players. A DAP is far better than an mp3 player. DAP can play MP3 files, but playing mp3 files is very little work for DAP. It is special in playing full-resolution digital audio. This type of audio is higher than CD-quality audio.
A DAP is called by different names like a high-res audio player, multimedia player, portable audio player. DAP is not a new concept. We had got the first digital audio player from Sony Walkman in 1979, and from then on, the path of development of portable music player continued. However, compared to other modern gadgets, the industry is a little behind.
Common Features
There are some common features you must check before buying a DAP. Here you have to take a look at the feature that suits your budget. DAPs that cost under $200 must-have these features. Before buying a DAP under $200, you must check –
- Audio Conversion.
- File Types and Codecs.
- Operating System.
- Balanced Output Connection.
- Standard Jack Connector.
Audio Conversion
The quality of the audio player entirely depends on the DAC chipset. This chip converts an analog signal to a digital signal. It works in a particular sample format and is converted to a certain bit resolution. Analog systems with no bandwidth limitation are removed with an unliving sieve.
This occurs before conversion, thus avoiding distortion by audio signals whose frequency is higher than the sample rate. It is a technical subject and hard for an ordinary user. Simply put, you need to purchase a DAP with a good quality DAC chipset. DAC chip processing power determines how audio performs while translated from digital to analog.
Of course, there is a day and night gap between the low budget and the high budget converter. You can’t expect performance like the $500 chipset from a $100 converter. You have to find the best DAC chipset on your budget. If you try to compare this matter with a mobile chipset, you can easily understand. Snapdragon 865 is far better than Mediatek Helio G95. But under $250, Helio G95 or 90T is the best chipset.
File Types and Codecs
Digital audio players must support all types of audio formats. You are paying $200, so it is important. Because a DAP can handle audio formats locally and encode them at different bit rates, audio bit-rates may seem like a new word to you. You can compare it with the camera’s megapixels. Higher megapixels provide higher detail in the image. Audio file formats have three different groups.
- Lossless Compression Formats: ATRAC, FLAC, and MPEG-4 ALS.
- Lossy Compression Formats: MP3, AAC, Vorbis, and WMA lossy.
- Uncompressed Audio Format: AIFF, AU, WAV, or PCM.
Digital audio composes in audio file format. A coding format of the audio file is the bit layout. It may be compressed or incomplete to reduce size. Codec does two things. It encodes and decodes raw files. To understand it, you must go very deep. As a user and listener, we need the best listening experience.
Storage
High Res DAPs come with internal storage and expandable memory storage through MicroSD card slots. Our most popular and known audio format is mp3. The file size is small in mp3 format. However, DAP’s audio file size is much larger than mp3. So, we suggest buying a DAP with a minimum of 32GB internal storage and at least 1 TB expandable memory slot.
Operating System
An operating system is a software-based interface that allows you access all features and make customization. Without operating system, hardware has no value. Some DAPs provide android OS, whether some provide their own OS like Sony. For many, downloading music is a pain. They prefer streaming applications to listen to music.
And if you want to listen to music offline, you can download any audio player like Shuttle music player, rocket Player, etc. Ecoute, Vox is a great audio player for iPhone users. OS should be clean and smooth anyway. Some brands have bugs in their own operating system. Try to avoid those DAPs. Many users want to compromise some features because of the fresh and smooth operating system.
Balanced Output Connection
Let’s talk about balanced and unbalanced output connections. Before starting the explanation, you need to know that you should avoid an unbalanced output connection. But why? A balanced output connection provides a positive impact on audio performance. Balanced circuitry improves signal-to-noise ratio after converting from digital to analog audio.
The balanced output provides an impedance-balance effect on the connected cable, allowing the audio signal to be transmitted better. Light dimmer zones affect unbalanced connections, causing ground loops in audio equipment to crumble.
Standard DAP Jack Connector
Six different sizes jack connection for DAP is discussed above-
- Stereo-mini-jack (3.5mm): It is the most popular audio output found in every smartphone, laptop.
- Stereo-mini-jack (2.5mm): It is smaller than the regular headphone jack. You will find a 2.5mm balanced output jack in rare cases.
- Stereo mini-jack (4.4mm): This jack is common for Sony product users. It is larger than the standard headphone jack and comes with a 4-point connection at the end.
- Optical (3.5mm): Its size is equal to that of a regular headphone jack. You will get this jack on the Mac computers. It carries stereo digital audio.
- USB C-Type: If you want to link your DAC to a computer, you must need this jack. USB plugs vary for different interface sizes.
- USB (Micro B) OTG: You need a USB OTG jack to link your DAP to an external DAC.
How To Setup and Use Dap Under 200$?
You can easily set up a DAP. You need wired headphones or wireless headphones to listen to the audio to Dap. You can use an earphone instead of a headphone.
- At first, store some music in the Dap audio library.
- Plugin the headphone jack into the Dap and enjoy the music.
- Use volume buttons to increase or decrease sound.
- Pair the devices with Bluetooth if you want to listen to music with Bluetooth earphones.
- Keep the Dap in your pocket and enjoy music.
How I tested the DAPs:
To test each digital audio player, I loaded each one with several hundred MP3 files. So I tested the players’ sound quality by playing various types of music (songs, classical music, etc.) through them and rating them on a scale from 1 to 5.
I also rated the players based on their ability to support FLAC files, as this is an important consideration for people who own extensive collections of musical tracks that are encoded in FLAC format. Finally, I measured each player’s dimensions and weight before writing my review.
Digital Audio Players Comparison Table:
Sony NW-E394 NWZ-E438 FiiO M6 Hifi Lossless MP3 Music Player Price $249.99 $299.99 Capacity 128GB 512GB Sound Quality Excellent Good FM Tuner Yes Yes Support for FLAC files Yes No Dimensions (WxHxD) 4.1 x 3.9 x 1 inches 4.7 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches Weight 3 ounces 5 ounces Battery Life Up to 25 hours Up to 50 hours If you’re looking for an efficient way to convert audio files, a 3rd party converter is your best option.
Both the Sony NWE394 and the FiiO M6 Hifi Lossless MP3 Music Player offer excellent sound quality at a fraction of the cost, making them ideal choices if you’re looking to invest in some high-quality audio equipment without breaking the bank. However, if you want a larger storage capacity than either of these devices offers, consider investing in a digital audio player with more internal storage capacity.
Overnight Sensations MTM:
If you want a really cool-looking and functional DIY bookshelf speaker, the Overnight Sensations MTM is perfect! This stand attaches to your wall using Velcro and has two built-in speakers that provide clear sound while keeping you organized.
It also comes in a variety of fun and funky color options, so you can really personalize it to your style. Plus, because it’s made out of foam and fabric, it’s easy to move around if needed. The Overnight Sensations MTM is perfect if you’re looking for an affordable and unique way to add some sound quality to your bedroom or home office!
Bookshelf Designs using NLA Drivers:
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, we recommend checking out NLA Drivers. These drivers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so they can be custom tailored to fit just about any bookshelf! And because they’re made with high-quality materials, you can expect them to last long.
Plus, they offer great sound quality without spending lots of money. Both options are great choices if you want some unique and functional DIY bookshelf speakers that will enhance your home décor.
Final Words
The best DAP is going to depend on your listening needs and habits. In addition to the price points, some key connection types you need and whether you want your player to play music as well.
If you need a premium audio player with lots of features, then SE200 is the best option for you. Now you can easily choose the best portable DAP player from the digital audio player mentioned above based on your budget and preference. I hope now you know the best DAP under 200$.
Frequently Asked Question
1.Why Can I Not Connect My Bluetooth Headphone To The Dap?
Ans. You must pair two devices for the first time during use Bluetooth headphones. From then on, if you turn on Bluetooth, they will connect automatically.
2.Are Dap Players Worth My Money?
Ans. Good quality music output surely makes a Dap player worth your money. Experiencing music with true sound is remarkable in one word. A Dap will give you the gift of true sound in every bit.
3.Can I Use A DAP As A DAC?
Ans. DAP and DAC are two different devices. DAPs have a balanced headphone jack. But DACs connect a DAP to a PC.
4.Can I Use Audio Streaming App In My Dap?
Ans. Yes, you can install audio streaming apps in your digital audio player and enjoy music. Mp3 players don’t have this feature.
5.How To Access The Storage/SD Card After Connecting Dap To The Computer?
Ans. Dap uses the MTP protocol and couldn’t be properly recognized until the MTP driver is installed. Please make sure your Dap is under USB mode, then connect the Dap to the computer to recognize it.