The High End Portable Music Players For 2024
The Rundown
1. Best Overall: FiiO M11 Plus Music Player
The M11 Plus Music Player is FiiO's most powerful music player to date. It is equipped with a Quad-core CPU and runs on Android 10, delivering a seamless user experience. The high-performance ES9068AS*2 DAC chip provides tight bass and clear treble, while the latest Bluetooth 5.0 provides faster transfer speeds with lower power consumption, less unwanted harmonics, and a softer and purer sound. Read Review
2. Best For The Price: HiBy R3 Pro Saber, Hi-Res Music Player
HiBy R3 Pro Saber is a high-resolution music player, dedicated to all music lovers. Hi-Res MP3 Player focuses on high quality of sound and music. It has two display modes, the first one is larger and more detailed and the second one is smaller and easier to see from a distance. With it, you can enjoy your music anytime, anywhere. Read Review
3. Best Versatile: Surfans F20 HiFi MP3 Player
Meet the F20, a high-resolution music player with all the features you need. With a high-resolution audio playback up to 24bit/192kHz, you can enjoy a vivid and realistic sound performance. The humanized design of the F20 offers a comfortable grip and makes it easy to use. Read Review
4. Best Sound Quality: HIFI WALKER H2, High Resolution Bluetooth MP3 Player
The HiFi Walker H2 provides a high resolution audio experience with a built-in FM tuner, Bluetooth and microSD slot. The player is equipped with features that allow you to easily navigate through your music. The player also has Hi-Res Audio support for an incredible sound like none other. Read Review
Portable music players continue to be one of the most important and widely-used segments of the audio industry. With smartphones becoming more and more common, demand for standalone MP3 players has decreased over time. However, even in today’s modern world, there are still plenty of music lovers who prefer listening to their favorite tracks on a reliable device they can carry around with them wherever they go.
Portable music players come in a variety of different forms, from extremely affordable budget models to high-end versions that are as much about luxury as they are about functionality. This trend is not likely to change anytime soon, meaning that if you’re looking for an excellent portable music player then you’re in luck. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular high-end portable music players that are available on the market today.
In the end, we concluded that FiiO M11 Plus Music Player was the most highly recommended. Other options presented here are certainly worthy of your attention, and in order to assist you in making an informed choice, we have compiled a helpful shopping guide.
RELATED: Our staff and experts compiled a list of 10 mp3 players with display in 2024 based on 2,175 reviews from customers.
Our Top Picks
- 【All to DSD 】All to DSD technology is now in its 3rd generation, with 30% lower power consumption compared to the previous gen, less unwanted harmonics, and a softer, purer sound.
- 【Fully balanced THX AAA-78*2】The THX AAA-78 amps of the THX AAA Frontier series will let you experience every last sound and detail faithfully restored and placed in the soundstage, as if you were in the recording studio.
- More features:11.5hours battery life+2.5mm/3.5mm/4.4mm headphone outputs + Two-way LDAC Bluetooth + Two-way Type-C + USB Audio/DAC + SPDIF output + QC4.0 quick charge + 2.4/5G WiFi + DLNA + WiFi file transfer + FiiO Link + AirPlay
- 【High Performance ES9068AS*2】The M11 Plus player is equipped with 2 of the now out-of-production ES9068AS DAC chips with their unique, soft, and natural charm that will allow you to rediscover your music all over again.
- 【New Android 10 version】The M11 Plus audio player contains the first iteration of FiiO's version of Android 10. New functions such as dark mode, night mode, and three navigation options give you new ways to further enhance your media experience.
- 【MQA 8x decoding support】The M11 Plus lossless player supports decoding MQA tracks in 8x mode – allowing for rich, master-quality sound reproduction with high sampling rates in manageable file sizes.
- 【Legendary octa-core Snapdragon 660】In the M11 Plus music player is a Snapdragon 660 with a 4 big / 4 small core architecture plenty capable of providing a smartphone-like smooth experience.
- 【Multi-purpose player】you can use R3 Pro Saber for many things, such as digital source/USB DAC/Bluetooth receiver/Bluetooth transmitter/WiFi music receiver/Internet radio/Tidal & Qobuz ONLINE streaming/MSEB Tuner/A-B repeat multiple speed playback(The firmware needs to be updated to 1.6)
- 【HiFi Audio MP3 player with 2.5mm balanced output】Compared with the second-generation R2, R3 Pro Saber has balanced output ports .With four independent amplification channels, balanced output brings more powerful amplification, wider soundstage and exquisite detail.
- 【All-format support】R3 Pro Saber supports most Hi-Res lossless formats: FLAC, APE, WMA, WAV, AIFF, ISO DSD, DSD and OGG, etg. It is capable of MQA rendering to 4x, which is an audio technology that delivers the true original sound quality to listeners.
- 【Operating system dedicated to music player】HiByOS is HiBy Music’s platform product. it is continually updated for the latest audio formats and features, The operation is smoother and the interface is more user-friendly. Using the HiByLink function, wireless remote control can be realized, and the mobile phone can control device playback, volume adjustment, and playlist management.
- 【Hi-Res MP3 Player】DAC chips ES9218P, The core of SABRE DAC technology, with HyperStream ll modulator, supports native hardware DSD256 decoding, PCM playback at up to 32bit/384kHz. This music player brings out the edge in aggressive genres like metal, electro and ACG,Has obtained Hi-Res Audio (High Resolution Audio) & Hi-Res Wireless dual Accreditation.
- 【bluetooth mp3 player】For extreme wireless Hi-Fi experience, supports Bluetooth codecs including UAT/LDAC/aptX/AAC/SBC in Bluetooth 5.0 standard. Two-way Bluetooth, can be used as a Bluetooth receiver and transmitter. Wireless transmission function can also be realized through 2.4G&5G WiFi.
- 【Enjoy music】Enjoy up to 19 hours single-ended or 14 hours balanced playtime, with 1600mAh battery capacity(*The actual play time depends on different conditions.) Native capacity and expansion support: This unit has no storage space and supports up to 2TB capacity SD cards or max 20000 songs.If you have problem in use, please feel free to contact us.
- 【Dual Dac ES9218P professional music player】HiBy R3 Pro Saber is the third generation hifi music player launched by HiBy Music. From a single DAC chip decoding to independent decoding of left and right channels, the player avoids power noise and crosstalk between components to a certain extent, and also further enhances the fidelity of the audio and the power of the output port, so that the player has obtained better sound quality.
- ✔【 Lossless Audio】: Lossless Music Player Utilizes advanced PCM510xA 2.1 VRMS, 112/106/100 dB Audio Stereo DAC chip, with a maximum sampling rate of 44.1¨C384 kHz /32 bit. Supports all major lossless music formats: FLAC, WAV, WMA, M4A, MP3, MP2, AAC, APE, ALAC, OGG, AIFF, DFF, Native DSD64 (2.8MHz) DSD 128(5.6 MHz), etc
- ✔【 Humanization design】: This digital music player adopts 2.0" HD screen. Distinctive ALPS scroll control wheel enables fluent operation, a high-grade zinc alloy chassis gives a comfortable feel and touch, not to mention sturdy protection for prolonged durability
- ✔【Bi-directional Bluetooth 】: This high res audio player features of Bluetooth V4.0 of for communication that will change your life, double-way lossless wireless bluetooth transmission with APT-X protocol. Music player can broadcast to bluetooth-enabled devices such headphone, speaker etc; and also can be a Bluetooth receiver
- ✔【Outstanding Battery. Expandable Storage】Enjoy up to 10 hours of uninterrupted high-res audio by headphone or Bluetooth. F20 player does not have build-in memory, but an extra 32GB SD card already inserted in player. You can expand the storage up to 256GB via 128 GB SD card or via another 128GB USB OTG (OTG cable not included) and enjoy a music library as long as 14,000 songs
- ✔【High Resolution Music Player】: This bluetooth mp3 player owns outstanding superior audio, adopts advanced DSD decoding technology to reduce distortion; the hi-res audio player can capture the depth and breadth of each note. It's ideal for audiophile to enjoy live music
- MicroSD slot supports up to 256GB and USB OTG provided for enormous storage expansion. System can handle up to 14,999 music files. Small size slides easily into and out of any pocket. Perfect to carry.
- [MP3 Player with Bluetooth] 2-way Bluetooth 4.0 supporting high-definition wireless audio (Qualcomm aptX). Either work as a sender delivers signal or as a receiver to amplify music wirelessly.
- High-grade zinc alloy chassis lends the player its high quality, sturdy protection. 16GB MicroSD card and a pair of random earphone included. 30 days return policy without giving reason. 1 year replacement service.
- [Hi-Res Lossless Audio Player] Delivers in-depth detailed high resolution audio. Supports distortion-free hifi music with all popular file format of Flac, Wav, WMA, MP3 and Native DSD (up to 128 bit/5.6 MHz) using the famous Texas Instruments Burr Brown PCM5102 DAC.
- Easily navigate through the scroll wheel. Intuitively controls Play/Pause and Next/Previous with 1 finger. Line out and earphone out ports for flexible usage including in car auxiliary cable or a home audio system
- [Desktop-quality power supply]: The M17 portable player contains two power supplies – a battery power supply and a power supply powered by external DC power. The battery power supply allows you to use the M17 in situations where there is no access to a power outlet. Under DC power supply, voltage in the analog circuit is increased by 35% up to 11.5V compared to under battery power supply; and the battery is kept healthy since it is not used in this mode.
- [Desktop-tier heat dissipation]: With exceptional audio quality comes with large power consumption, so effective heat dissipation was a large focus when designing the M17 DAPs. Not only are "H" type heat dissipation and VC liquid cooling technologies adopted, the M17's 151g unibody aluminum alloy frame also effectively transfers heat out of the device. Finally, the cooling fan stand also further makes sure heat is rapidly transported away.
- [Connection methods]: With speakers: DC+LO+speakers; With computer: USB DAC+headphones; With desktop DAC: USB/coaxial output+DAC; With hard drive storage: DC+USB2.0+hard drive+headphones; With Bluetooth headphones: Bluetooth transmitter+Bluetooth headphones; Coaxial decoding.
- [Desktop-level connectivity]: The M17 DAPs features : 3.5mm output: headphone out/line out; 6.3mm output: headphone out; 2.5mm output: balanced headphone out; 4.4mm output: balanced headphone out/balanced line out; RCA coaxial port: coaxial input and output; USB 3.0 port: supports USB Host and Device modes, can be used for high-speed data transfers and fast charging; USB 2.0 port: supports USB Host mode, allowing external DACs or hard drive storage to be connected.
- [Immense 9200mAh battery]: The massive 9200mAh battery allows for a battery life of up to 10 hours on the M17 music player. It can be charged either through USB or through DC in from an external DC adapter. Battery capacity: 9200mAh; Charging time: 4.5 hours; Charging protocols: QC4.0+PD; Battery life: 10.6 hours (single-ended), 8.6 hours (balanced).
- [Desktop-grade gain]: Under battery power, there are 4 gain levels: low, medium, high, and headphone mode. When under DC mode, the enhanced over-ear headphone mode gain is unlocked, with a truly desktop level of amplification gain. In balanced output, gain can get as high as 16dB – allowing the M17 to easily drive most headphones.
- [Radiant RGB ambient light]: The M17 features a seven-color RGB ambient light system with extensive customization options. Colors can be set to be either fixed, to follow the audio, or to follow a cycle. The brightness of the ambient light can be set to change depending on the current power, volume, or temperature. And finally, the top and side ambient lights can even be controlled separately, allowing you to dial in exactly how you want your dazzling lights to be.
- [Desktop-league DAC ES9038PRO]: The left and right audio channels each contain a desktop-class, 8-channel ES9038PRO flagship DAC. This means that each audio channel has 8 parallel outputs summed together for superior resolution and minimal distortion for extremely pure audio reproduction.
- [A true smartphone-like experience]: Android 10 OS open to install 3rd party apps; Bluetooth 5.0 with support for aptX Adaptive, supports up to DSD512 and 32bit/768kHz, supports MQA 8x unfolding for master-level sound.
- [Desktop-class THX 788+ headphone amp]: Desktop-class amplification also plays an important role in the M17. FiiO and THX jointly developed the exclusive THX AAA-788+, an upgraded version of the original op-amp. Compared to the original, output power is increased by 225% up to 3000mW per channel with a lower output impedance – allowing it more effortlessly power all kinds of headphones.
6
![Sony NW-ZX507/S Walkman Hi-Res 64GB MP3 Player,]()
- USB Type C connectivity
- Use your favorite streaming platforms with Android support
- Truly authentic sound with Hi-Res Audio
- S-Master HX digital amplifier for pure sound quality
- Precision engineered for improved sound quality
- In the box Walkman USB cable Startup Guide Instruction Manual
7
![Mighty Vibe Spotify and Amazon Music Player]()
- SMALL & LIGHTWEIGHT - Mighty clips onto any piece of clothing, is smaller than a box of matches (1.5” x 1.5”), and lighter than four quarters (0.7 ounces). You won’t even notice that you’re wearing it.
- 5+ HOURS OF SPOTIFY AND AMAZON MUSIC PLAYLISTS & PODCASTS OFFLINE - Mighty plays your Spotify and Amazon Music playlists and podcasts offline without a phone, screen, or Internet connection. No data or WiFi is needed for playback - leave your phone at home and take your streaming music anywhere.
- BLUETOOTH COMPATIBLE - Mighty works with all Bluetooth headphones, speakers, and car entertainment systems. Pair Mighty with your Bluetooth accessory and it will automatically reconnect each time you want to listen to your music, no phone needed. Mighty works with wired headphones too.
- WIRELESS SYNCING - Use the Mighty mobile app to wireless sync your playlists and podcasts to Mighty, no cords or computer needed. Our Stay Fresh feature automatically updates your playlists while you sleep so you have fresh tracks every morning.
- DURABLE & KID FRIENDLY - Water, sweat, and drop resistant. Mighty’s screenless design and physical buttons makes it the perfect companion for any workout and for your kid’s playtime. No more broken smartphone screens!
8
![Astell&Kern A&Futura SE200 Portable High Resolution Audio Player]()
- World's first multi-DAC player; Equipped with the world's first Multi-DAC of 2 x ESS ES9068AS + 1 x AKM AK4499EQ)
- Independent AMP structure designed to compliment each DAC's characteristics plus DAC Filters to choose your preferred sound profile
- Audio performance and upgrades to feel premium Hi-Fi sound and experience presented by Astell&Kern
- A true high-resolution music player, bit-perfect playback up to 32bit/384kHz and Native DSD (DSD256)
- Up to 14 hours of playback and 256GB of internal memory plus 1 microSD card slot (up to 1TB cards)
- Hi-res Audio Supports DSD native up to 11.2 MHz and PCM audio playback
- ɸ4.4mm balanced, and standard 3.5mm, headphone outputs
- 256 GB Internal storage and 2 Micro SD slots
- High End Audio parts for great sound quality
10
![Questyle QP2R High-Res Portable DAP (Space Grey)]()
Product Images, Product Titles, Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to Look For in a high end portable music players?
Display Type
There are currently a variety of display options. There are three types of display available: Touch Screen; Multi-Touch Retina Display and Color Displays. You can make choices with touch screen displays. Multi-Touch Retina displays are the next generation of touch screen displays. They allow for selections to be made with just the touch of your finger. These displays are more easily readable by humans than standard touch screens. As the name implies, Color Displays are displays with colors. These displays cannot be controlled by a finger and are simpler. Color Displays are typically found on MP3 players. They have buttons that enable you to navigate the MP3 player.
Storage Capacity
Also, you should think about the MP3 player’s storage capacity. You should determine how many videos or songs you want to store and what data your computer has. You will then be able choose the right one. Storage capacity can now range from just 1 gigabyte to an amazing 160 gigabytes.
Size, Weight, And Shape
People who care about how the MP3 player looks and feels are likely to consider this factor. You can choose between a small and discreet one that you can conceal in your pocket or one larger to display to others.
Features Available
Some buyers consider other features before purchasing, such as an FM plus recorder or voice recorder and alarm facilities.
There are many features that can be added to your MP3 player depending on its brand. The more features your MP3 player has, the more it will cost you.
There are many features that can be added to your MP3 player depending on its brand. The more features your MP3 player has, the more it will cost you.
Ease Of Use
Also, you need to assess how simple the MP3 player can be used. If you are going to be using it, you might choose a more complicated model. If you're giving the item as a gift, you should choose one that is easy to use and intuitive.
Sound Quality
An MP3 player that provides excellent audio quality is the one you'd choose if you were a musician. An individual who isn't knowledgeable about sound quality and music wouldn't know the differences between different MP3 players made by different companies. Sony MP3 players are considered to have the highest sound quality.
Battery Life
It is important to decide if the player will be used on long journeys. Consider buying a model with a longer life battery if you do. Some players can last up to 30 hours. It may be shorter if it is being used frequently.
FAQs
What File Formats And Audio Codecs Do MP3 Players Support?
MP3 players can play what file types and audio codescs?Most electronic devices can support many audio formats. Some of these are compressed, which results in a decrease of quality. Some are slightly compressed, but they do not compromise on quality. Uncompressed formats can be found with the same quality but take up more space. Below is a listing of some common formats: WAV, FLAC and AIFF.
What Is The Best MP3 Player To Buy?
The best MP3 players depend on what you need. A small budget-priced 8GB MP3 player is good for children, but a larger Bluetooth MP3 player can be more expensive and feature built-in speakers, FM radio, and data transfer. Hi Fi lossless audio output is the preferred option for MP3 players.What Is Better, An MP3 Player Or IPod?
Original iPod was a simple MP3 player. The best MP3 players for budget are more functional than those of the past, and often cost less.Do All MP3 Players Have Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a feature that most MP3 players now have, but not all. You can verify Bluetooth by looking in the Bluetooth logo box. It should be prominently displayed. If you do happen to buy an MP3 player without Bluetooth, and only have wireless headphones, you don't need to panic. All of my non-Bluetooth models I tried came with cheap, wired headphones.How Good Is Your Eye Sight?
These display screens are very small, so you will need to have them if you wish to see the music being played. You can also use the screen to control the volume and even shuffle songs. It is important to test it in all weather conditions, indoors or outdoors. Are you able to see the screen clearly?Does Anyone Still Use MP3 Players?
Even in this age of Spotify and mobile phones, there are still many reasons for using an MP3 player. These MP3 players can be taken with you on trips or hikes and will save you money on your phone's battery. The MP3 Sport, a compact gadget that can be worn around the waist for running or exercise is ideal. The MP3 player is smaller than smarter counterparts and has a much smaller footprint.How Are You Going To Download Music To Your MP3 Player?
To transfer and download music files, you need to be connected to your computer. You will need a cable to connect your MP3 Player with your computer. The cable may be included with the package, but sometimes it is not. To transfer music, you can either use FireWire or a USB. USB is the fastest.Conclusion
It's challenging to determine the greatest product while deciding what to buy. We wanted to help you narrow things down by offering a list of high end portable music players above so you can make a better-educated decision before purchasing anything that might never work for you.
Would any of these ideas strike a chord with you? If that's the case, keep these in mind before making any purchases! You may also look into iBasso DX240 Digital Audio Player to find another option that is a good fit for you.
READ NEXT: The 10 Best Tablet 13 Inch Of 2024, Tested By Our Experts
About Tim Powers
