Best Hi Res Audio
The Sony Walkman NW-A560BT stands out for its exceptional battery life, consistently delivering over 40 hours of continuous playback at 192kHz FLAC resolution. Its robust build quality and high-fidelity audio performance make it a premium choice for audiophiles prioritizing long listening sessions....
The Cowon Plenue 2 is a high-resolution audio player designed for audiophiles seeking detailed sound reproduction. Utilizing a Texas Instruments DAC chipset, it delivers superior digital-to-analog conversion. This device provides a portable platform for enjoying lossless music files and is particula...
The Cowon Plenue L is a high-resolution audio player designed for discerning listeners. It utilizes a Burr-Brown DAC to deliver detailed sound reproduction. Its robust build quality and premium components make it suitable for audiophiles who prioritize accurate playback of lossless music files. This...
The Cowon Plenue S is a high-resolution audio player designed for discerning listeners. It utilizes a Burr-Brown PCM1792A Digital to Analog Converter within a CNC-machined aluminum housing, providing detailed sound reproduction. This device caters to audiophiles and music enthusiasts who prioritize...
Edifier's WH950NB is a hidden gem that offers high-end features like LDAC support and spatial audio at a much lower price point than Sony or Bose. It provides very capable active noise cancellation and a long battery life of up to 50 hours. While the brand doesn't have the same recognition as others...
The 1More EVO is a well-rounded contender featuring a dual-driver setup (dynamic + balanced armature) for detailed sound with crisp highs. It supports LDAC and uses SoundID to create a personalized sound profile. Noise cancellation is powered by a dedicated QN1 processor and is effective across freq...
Why this score?
The 1More EVO scores 8.6/10 due to its dual-driver setup for detailed sound, support for LDAC, and effective noise cancellation. However, the higher price point and limited battery life are factors that bring it down slightly.
Scoring methodology
The Roland LX708 delivers an incredibly realistic piano experience through its PHA-50 hybrid keyboard action and advanced sound modeling. The SuperNATURAL Piano sound engine recreates the nuances of an acoustic grand piano with exceptional detail. Multi-speaker system provides a wide and immersive s...
The Astell&Kern A&norma SR25 is a digital audio player positioned as the mid-tier model within the company's entry-level A&norma product line. Released as the successor to the SR15, it features a redesigned audio circuit for improved digital-to-analog conversion and extended battery life. The device...
Released by Cowon Systems in 2017, the Cowon Plenue R is a premium high-resolution digital audio player designed for audiophiles. It features a dual digital-to-analog converter setup, utilizing advanced chips for balanced audio output and high-fidelity sound reproduction. The player also includes ph...
The Sony Walkman NW-ZX300 is a high-resolution digital audio player released by Sony in 2017. It is engineered around Sony's S-Master HX digital amplifier technology, which is designed to reduce noise and improve the quality of high-resolution audio files. The device features a premium milled alumin...
The Sony Walkman NW-ZX507 is a premium digital audio player introduced by Sony in 2020, targeting the high-end audiophile market. It features an Android operating system, allowing users to download and run high-resolution streaming applications directly on the device. Internally, it utilizes a high-...
The Sony HT-NT5 is a 2.1-channel soundbar system released in 2016. It consists of a slim, wall-mountable speaker bar paired with a wireless subwoofer for low-frequency reproduction. The system supports 4K HDR video pass-through via its HDMI connections and includes built-in Chromecast for wireless a...
Why this score?
Detailed, expansive sound and strong connectivity were widely praised; limited deep bass and an aging feature set temper current standing.
Scoring methodology
Qobuz is the purist's choice for high-resolution audio streaming. It distinguishes itself by focusing squarely on sound quality and music culture, offering the highest available resolution FLAC files (up to 24-bit/192kHz) without engaging in format wars like MQA. Its catalog is meticulously curated,...
Why this score?
Qobuz scores 8.5/10 due to its commitment to high-resolution audio and a curated catalog, but it is limited by higher costs and availability issues.
Scoring methodology
The Soundcore Space A60 stands out with its powerful bass response and impressive active noise cancellation. Featuring a custom 12mm dynamic driver, it delivers deep, punchy low frequencies perfect for genres like hip-hop and EDM. The ANC effectively blocks out distractions, while the comfortable er...
The Sony Walkman NW-A306 is a high-resolution digital audio player released in 2023, running on the Android operating system to support installation of streaming applications such as Spotify, Tidal, and Amazon Music. It features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, a touchscreen interface, and Sony's S...
The Sony SRS-RA5000 is a high-end wireless home speaker engineered to deliver spatial audio experiences. It features an omnidirectional design with upward-firing drivers intended to reflect sound off ceilings and walls, creating a 3D listening environment. Compatible with Sony's 360 Reality Audio fo...
The Sony Walkman NW-A55 is a compact digital audio player from Sony’s Walkman A-series, introduced in the late 2010s. It provides a touchscreen interface, support for high-resolution audio formats, expandable storage through microSD, Bluetooth connectivity, and Sony’s S-Master HX digital amplifier a...
The Sony Walkman NW-A105 is an Android-based digital audio player released as part of Sony’s modern Walkman A-series. It combines local music playback with Wi-Fi access for compatible streaming applications, supports high-resolution audio, and uses a touchscreen interface with expandable storage. Th...
The Sony Walkman NW-A17 is a compact digital audio player in Sony's A10 series, released in 2014. It supports common compressed formats as well as lossless and high-resolution formats including FLAC, and Sony lists DSD playback support for the model. A microSD card slot expands its built-in storage,...
The Sony Walkman NWZ-A15 is a compact digital audio player from Sony's A10 series, introduced in the mid-2010s. It is a dedicated, non-smartphone music player with physical controls, a color display, expandable storage, and support for high-resolution audio formats. Sony paired it with the S-Master...
