![]() There are even MP3 players here that can double up as a DAC to enhance the sound between your smartphone/laptop and headphones/speakers. Expandable memory also means you can keep all of your music at the highest quality possible, without worrying about those large file sizes taking up all of your player's storage space. Have an extensive digital music collection? Many of these MP3 players have microSD memory slots, so your assembled throng of tracks and artists need never stop growing. ![]() Some also add native MQA playback to that compatibility list, so you can listen to hi-res Tidal Masters through compatible players and playback downloaded MQA music in the best sound quality possible. All of the models above also support high-resolution audio files, from 24-bit FLAC and PCM files and even DSD. Every player here supports MP3 and AAC files of course, but we can all do better than that in 2023. Whatever your budget, you will be surprised at what you can get for your money these days. How to choose the best portable music player for you Read the full Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 review If you've got the money and you're passionate about sound quality (and have equally impressive headphones to partner it with), we'd wholeheartedly recommend the A&ultima SP3000. Detail is abundant, while the muscular, taut bass helps anchor everything to provide a cohesive, meaty soundscape. Across the board the A&K player has so much to recommend it, bringing together a tangible sense of musical insight as it coveys dynamic contrasts and rhythmic patterns with skill and intuition. That all brings us to the SP3000's raison d'etre, and this is where the premium player really, really shines. Elsewhere, A&K's engineers have worked to reduce internal noise via separate analogue with the aim of optimising the player's sonic performance. The SP3000 can handle high-resolution files up to 32-bit/768kHz, PCM and DSD512, as well as MQA, all of which is thanks to the use of Asahi Kasei’s new flagship DAC chip, the AK4499EX. There's certainly no issue with file compatibility. Bluetooth is on the menu, so you can use wireless headphones without a problem, and given the no-compromise nature of this design it comes as no surprise to find aptX HD and LDAC codecs on the spec list. The high-end player is packed with useful features and built to the highest standards, even if it's a bit chunkier than your standard portable device. If you really do value quality on the go, though (and have the funds to spare), the flagship SP3000 has to be on your shortlist. With a multi-thousand-pound price tag that puts it out of the reach of many, we'd understand if you wanted to dismiss it right off the bat. The superb A&ultima SP3000 certainly isn't for the casual listener. Operation can sometimes feel a little clunky ![]() However, this is a capable hi-res player worthy of your consideration if your budget doesn’t stretch to the more premium Astell & Kern SR35 player above. We'd like more dynamic punch and drive to songs that need it though the Sony can sound a touch reserved when a song demands outright fun or aggression. It can also play at loud volumes without ever sounding harsh or confused. In fact, there’s a familial throughline from the high-end NW-WM1ZM2 player to the A306 in terms of how mature and evenly balanced it sounds. It's a pleasingly detailed and clean performance. The Sony player is adept enough to turn its hand to various genres and can even discern the differences in file qualities, while all sounding comfortable to listen to for long periods. Internally, NW-A306 is packed to the gills with features: the hi-res file support is extensive and excellent at this affordable price, the full Android OS means it effectively operates similarly to a smartphone (for better or worse) and lets you download your favourite music streaming app, and it even supports LDAC and aptX codecs over Bluetooth. The available onboard storage is rather small in comparison to other players, but it is possible to expand the storage thanks to the microSD slot. The NW-A306's connections are minimal, but that's no bad thing: the USB-C cable lets you charge, transfer files and use the Walkman as a DAC, while the 3.5mm headphone jack can be used with a variety of good-to-great headphones. It's compact and fits in palms and pockets alike comfortably, and we love the scalloped textured back that gives us a good grip without sacrificing style. Internal music storage space is only half of what’s availableĪs a portable music player, the NW-A306 fits the brief perfectly.
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