Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
BaTou069
27
Jun 1, 2014
Nice drop, just bought an DX90 so I won't paricipate, but nice drop
Insatiable
21
Nov 12, 2014
BaTou069Why did you choose the DX90 over the X5. How superior do you feel the DX90 is to the X5, and how? What monitors do you use and do you use an amp? Just curious, as I am also in favor of the DX90, but I often get people who tell my that they like the sound of the X5 more and that some even returned their DX90 after purchasing an X5.
Niophant
21
Nov 12, 2014
InsatiableIf you do a quick search on google for DX90 vs X5 you'll find several comparison articles. A lot of them just talk about how great they both are, but if you read carefully most of the time they say the DX90 is preferred because it has a larger soundstage and a more neutral tone. The X5, apparently, is a little warmer and everything sounds 'closer' or 'more intimate'. I think it's the difference between listening to your favorite music at an open air concert vs in the recording studio with the band and most of the reviewers seem to favor the open air concert feel. Also, if you look at the specs of both the DX90 has a lower total harmonic distortion and lower signal to noise ratio making it technically superior to the X5.
A lot of people prefer to pair these with really neutral sounding IEM's. I think all of the Shure IEM's tend to sound amazing with the DX90.
Note: I don't currently have either of these players so this is just what I've read.
Insatiable
21
Nov 13, 2014
NiophantYes, I have read quite a couple of comparison articles and reviews, and while I have found the same general comparisons as you have listed in your comment, there was one particular thread on Head-Fi that was very concerning. It was the DX90 vs X5 thread (or maybe it was the other way around), and what I found on there was a majority of people preferring the X5, for a couple reasons. It worried me a lot because a lot of people were saying that they preferred the X5, or just didn't like the DX90 and liked the X5 more when they tried it out, and some even said that they hated the DX90 enough to return it. However, I didn't see anything like that towards the X5, there was only praise for the X5. There are some people like you who say that the DX90 is superior to the X5 in terms of having a more neutral and accurate sound with a larger soundstage, but there are some very experienced users on Head-Fi that prefer the X5, and when somebody who is very experienced, uses a lot of high end equipment and obviously knows what they're doing says that the X5 sounds better to them, that's when I start to cringe at the fact that I have already placed my order in for the DX90.
In the end, it's all about your own preference. One terrible inconvenience that I have is that there are no audio stores in Arizona that carry either of these great DAPs for me to audition first. Also, I cannot really order both to try them out then return one because I don't have that kind of money to throw around, I'm a student.
While a lot of people like to pair up the DX90 with some good neutral sounding monitors, I would probably pair it up with something on the warmer side of neutral, if that makes any sense. Like a GR07 MKII, or GR07 MKIIBE is a little bit on the warm side of completely neutral. I have also heard some people say that the DX90 is slightly bright.
Shure makes some good IEMs, but IMHO there are some way better IEMs out there for the price. For example, the Shure SE425 is not worth the money at all, really. The Shure SE315 is also not that good for the amount of money you pay. I think that the only Shure IEMs that have a good price-to-value ratio are the beginner SE215, intermediate SE535, and the SE846 for those advanced listeners. Also, most of Shure's IEMs are dark and warm, not cold or neutral.
The IEM I am currently using a GR07 MKIIBE and the circumaural monitors I am using are the HiFiMAN HE-400. I also have a Mad Dog from Mr. Speakers on the way. I listen to a wide variety of music so, instead of listing all the things that I like to listen to, here's what I don't like: most Country, and all of techno/trance, though I do like EDM, which is different.
Lastly, can anyone direct me to a good source of downloading good quality recordings in FLAC or AAC format for free or a relatively low price? HD Tracks is eating all my money lol :)
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile