PORTABLE FLAC PLAYER REVIEWS UPGRADE
The HM-901's modular construction makes it possible to upgrade the sound with the choice of plug-in amplifier cards.
The HM-091's user interface takes some getting used to, and there's some lag time between when you press a button and when the player executes the command. I find the HM-901's button layout and click wheel are easier to use than the FiiO and Astell&Kern players' controls, but the HM-901 is bigger and bulkier than those sleek players. The current flagship model, the HM-901, sounds better and more powerful than any other portable (battery-powered) music player I've tried to date. I'm guessing most Young supporters think his high-resolution music player is a brand-new idea, but HiFiMan has been making awesome-sounding music players since 2007. Neil Young's upcoming Pono Kickstarter project is reaching a broader, more mainstream audience. That's all under-the-radar audiophile stuff, though. That one took sound quality from a battery-powered device to a new high the HiFi M8 is the one to beat. The best-sounding one so far was the $700 Centrance HiFi M8. I've favorably reviewed the $200 FiiO X3 and $350 FiiO X5 players, and a bunch of portable digital converters/headphone amps you can use with your phone or computer. I cover a wide range of high-end portable music players on this blog.