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Showing 1 of 85 reviews about:
TheBatman
77
Oct 9, 2019
checkVerified Buyer
Look, I've only had it a few hours but unless it turns into a shitbrick, I am more than pleased with this purchase. And yes, I ordered it before it dropped in price to $99. I inserted the MicroSD from my FiiO X1 II, plugged the player into power and BAZINGA!
Music.
It easily joined my WiFi and while I will see about adding SiriusXM and Pandora to it, that is NOT why I bought this sweet device. The build quality is excellent. It is a tactile joy just to hold it and a visual feast for the soul through the windows that are one's eyes. Quality is more than evident in this DAP and those that feeeeeeel otherwise are just "feeling" and not thinking. Outside of looks, I am a very objective individual and can tell you all right here and now that the music that comes out of the gorgeous device sounds like...
MUSIC!
Buy it for what it is. A very high quality, beautifully designed and made Digital Audio Player. I just ordered two more. Why? Because I will give them as gifts to family and friends and for the record I may not give a crap about people that a friend once coined the term "frAudiophile" for, but I also NEVER give crap to loved ones. I am letting it charge overnight and will take it with me in my car to work and listen both in the car via either BlooToof or an Aux cable and at my desk via Aux into a table radio I have on my desk. And then I shall get back to any that care to read an honest, real-world-not-of-the-Matrix® review. If it goes to Hades on me, I will tell you so. If it works like it has so far, I will tell you.
Trust me...I know what I'm doin' when I'm reviewin'.
UPDATE: 10/21/2019
This excellent DAP is still delivering 8 or more hours of continuous play on a single charge. I let it sit for a few days with the battery at half charge and went to use it this morning and...GASP!!!! The battery indicator still indicated a 1/2 capacity ! I seem to recall reading here that was not going to happen. It would be discharged overnight (or something along those lines, LOL!).
Look boys and girls, I really am enjoying this DAP and if I have a problem I will report that too. Thanks!
Update: 10/26/2019
I enjoy my own Zebra Wood Explorer that as of today I have ordered a total of three (!) more of these gorgeous DAPs. One for a co=worker/friend and two more for my brothers. Again, I have only had this a short time but find no fault with it so far and so far as it concerns me, this DAP is excellente'!
Of course YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary) but I am a fairly careful driver and tend to get as much out of a gallon of goodness as I possibly can. To my eyes, this DAP is the best looking one on the current market and at a mere $99 (plus $10 more for the powered stand if you want one!) What have you got to lose? Oh wait...Yeah. $100 to $110(+ applicable taxes) , that's what you've got to lose. No regrets so far but if I come across any I will post it up here for all to read.
If they want to. ;-)
04/09/20 Update-A-Mundo!
Both of my players are...playing! Both of my players are gorgeous! I also have the matching charging stands and perhaps it is time for me to put them to use. And now for a Audiofool Alert!!! I sent the blootoof signal from my ZebraWood player to one of those all in one stereo systems (record player, AF/FM and CD with BlooToof) and I have to say that once again the music sounded like music. A virtual waterfall of memories flooding over my heart and soul.
It is about the music. I have always said that if you have to strain to hear a difference then what's the difference? To me, it would be my ego. Like most folks my ego is HUGE but I try to keep it in check in the real world. Look. I let one of my players sit for a month after charging it completely. It read (I think) 98% when I turned it on and used it. It then played for well over 9 hours non-stop. And it looked GREAT while doing it!
Again my friends. This player is a bargain. Highly recommended and I personally own two of them.
UPDATE: 05/27/2020
Huzzah indeed! I have just completed downloading SiriusXM, Pandora One and Amazon Music Unlimited Ultra HD onto my Zebrawood Echobox! All three along with 20,000+ songs on a microSD card play flawlessly. I am going to order more of these for my family and friends. My older brother has been enjoying his maple version but just told me he has a "problem" that needs my help so I will get back to all you good folks here once I know what's going on with his.
But I am sooooooo very pleased that I was (finally?!) able to put these on here because now I can help my friend who bought the ebony one for her use. I just gave her a small internet radio but she will no doubt be pleased she can use her Echobox in the back yard via Blootoof to a speaker! And I will help my big brother download his SiriusXM to his once I find out what his player's problem is!
The Echobox is superb, my friends!
UPDATE: 09/06/2020:
I have been using this as a source for my Sennheiser HDR195 wireless headphones with built-in DAC. Connected via Toslink cable and I am able to listen to my music onboard MicroSD or via the interwebs with SiriusXM, Pandora One and Amazon Music Ultra HD.
My older brother is using his as a source for his Onkyo AV Receiver. I gave him the Maple version with the matching dock. He and his wife are really enjoying it. I opened up the unit and it looks like (with care!) I can replace the battery when the time comes.
Christmas is coming and I will likely buy at least one or two more for family and friends. It really is a fine player. It's not really "heavy" unless you are really "weak", LOL! It goes with me on trips via car, truck or motorcycle and the BlooToof continues to work great! Highly recommended indeed!
Trust me. I know what I'm doin' when I'm reviewin'.
(Edited)
Recommends this product? Yes
TheBatman
77
Oct 10, 2019
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TheBatmanUpdate: The battery lasted just over 8 hours today. 8 hours of conitnuous music, abeit not at a stupid loud level because I am after all, an adult ;-) . It did shut off with 8% battery left and I checked and decided that was enough for me. I Three hours in I noticed that while I had shut off WiFi and Blootoof, I failed to put it in airplane mode. Once I did so it guesstimated via the readout that I would have approximately 9 hours total play time. Ooops...I suppose with just over 8 hours I should be somehow "offended". ;-)
A co-worker and friend asked me to order her one along with the matching stand. Just prior to this update I did just that. So far, so good. Yabba Dabba Doooooo!
Update #2: I had difficulty getting the Explorer to hook into my car's blootoof. I let my friend and co-worker know this and they tried it with their vehicles and were unsuccessful so they asked me to cancel their order. Not a problem. I don't often use blootoof but just a short while ago I had no problem toofing into my Bose Soundwear and Sony NC Blootoof headphones. So then, what we had there was a failure to communicate between cars and the Echobox Explorer. I think given a bit more time I could've gotten it to work but I don't blame my friend for not wanting to "risk" it. As it now stands, this thing easily mates to both my BT 'phones. Hmmmm...Maybe I should think about taking wireless more seriously? ;-)
I am thoroughly enjoying the music played through my Zebra wood Explorer and will give toofing into my car and my friends car and motorcycle another try down the road. If I'm successful toofing up with the aforementioned vehicles and Drop has another drop? I'll ask my friends if they want to get a couple of them but this time no backing out, LOL!
Like I said. I'm hear to tell the truth about my experience. I think $140 for my Explorer was a fantastic deal and $99 is even more so. I shall endeavor to persevere.
Lord, I hope some of you got that closer. :-)
UPDATE 11/01/2019: I let it sit offline for several days now. It was fully charged. I just turned it on and the indicator read "99%". So I got that goin' for me...
Now then, it is slow reading the microSD but if that were the end of the world the world would've ended a long, long, LONG time ago. It is playing via my new Dekoni Blue magnetic-planer 'phones right now. Schweeeeeet!
Enough for now. Yeah... I still like and recommend this excellent DAP.
Edit/Update 12/26/2019
I charged the unit up and let it sit unused for over two weeks. Powered it up and the readout stated 100% charged. I then played it for 7+ hours and recharged it. I gave my brother a Maple version and he thinks as do I, a fantastic looking player at an even better price!
(Edited)
fhcottoniii
4
Oct 26, 2019
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TheBatmanThanks! I was hemming a hawing for a while on this one, and because of your review, I decided to get it.
TheBatman
77
Oct 26, 2019
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fhcottoniiiI have been very pleased with mine and today ordered two more. One for a friend and another for one of my brothers. So far, it plays my music beautifully and looks soooooo good doing it! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine! All the best!
TheBatman
77
Dec 27, 2019
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Eddie_Vanjovii don't think that's possible as it is just a standalone DAP. But a damn good one and the best looking one I've yet to see. And buy! If I discover otherwise, I shall let you know here.
Steve007
25
Dec 31, 2019
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Eddie_VanjoviYes with active speakers, otherwise you would need a power amp in the loop as well.
TheBatman
77
Feb 11, 2020
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TheBatmanUpdate:
Okay...I charged the unit up just over 4 weeks ago and then shut it off and let it sit. I just booted it up and the battery read 95%. I then connected it via BlooToof to my HarmonKardon Onyx 4 and it is playing superbly!
I am truly enjoying this DAP. I've missed it these past few weeks but it's going with me in my car to work tomorrow because I like music and that's exactly what this gorgeous DAP plays. If I find another friend or relative that would enjoy it as much as I have, you can bet I will buy them one. This things is excellent!
TheBatman
77
Feb 15, 2020
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TheBatmanYes. It's time again for another turgid with truth, update!
On a full charge and via BlooToof, Echobox Explorer played for 12 hours and 45 minutes. It was hooked up to my HK Onyx Studio 4 and again, it played for 12 hours and 45 minutes. Superb-A-Mundo, indeed!
Audiodiplomat
6
Nov 23, 2020
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TheBatmanHi what APK version of Amazon Music Unlimited did you use? Also, if you tried Tidal, same question please?
TheBatman
77
Nov 24, 2020
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AudiodiplomatI am using Amazon's Ultra High Def service. It was affordable enough, especially so for multiple family accounts. I also have SiriusXM and Pandora One and to be honest I cannot tell any difference between all three. SiriusXM plays great in the middle of nowhere Aridzona (via Sat!) and I've always been a fan of Pandora and how they use their algorithm to introduce me to new music within my favorite genres.
With Amazon UHD, I can request albums, artists and song and that can be quite comforting as I listen to not just the music but the memories I associate with them. I have NEVER even given a thought to Tidal because of it's association (via company ownership) with a (for lack of a better word) "style" of "music" I loath, i.e., cRap and hippity-hop "music". Like "new country", or as I call it "hick-hop", i have no interest in supporting that style or the "fArtists" that put it out.
My players are both working great. I downloaded all three via Amazon's App Store. I have a 128 gig micoSD in each player for the times when I just want to hear "my" music and that happens quite often. All the best to you, my friend!
cw54115
0
Mar 11, 2021
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TheBatmanHi, could you are anyone reading this help with this--i bought this and all was great, then somewhere a while back i had a problem with it so i rebooted it are wte and now the thing will not let me connect to anything online, it acts like it does but i can not get tidal to work are amazon music etc, still plays my downloaded music fine but i want it for online music. cant get no answer from maker so??
TheBatman
77
Mar 12, 2021
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cw54115Remove the microSD with your music files then try a system reset so that the unit is as when it was new, i.e., noting on it but what came with it. You will have to turn on WiFi and search for your network and join again, just like the first time. Now try doing any upgrades that may appear. Next, download your music services and see if the will play. So long as your Wifi connects after the reset, you should be back in, my friend! Please let us all know how it goes. Thank you!
TheBatman
77
Apr 13, 2021
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cw54115Have you tried downloading apps from Amazon? That is where I get the stuff I use, primarily Amazon Music Unlimited, Pandora Prime and SiriusXM for streaming. You have to go into the system on your player and allow it to use "outside" sources. I think somewhere here I gave a brief description of how to do so.
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