Hi-Res players: features, top best models, selection criteria

New technical devices are constantly being introduced into people's lives. One of the latter is Hi-res players, which have a number of important features. Having familiarized yourself with them, with the top of the best models and with the criteria for their selection, it is easy to understand whether you need such devices and how to make the right decision.

For people who are even a little familiar with the English language, it is not difficult to guess what a Hi-Res player is. We are talking about a device with improved practical characteristics. Importantly, manufacturers cannot use such markings uncontrollably. They must follow the provisions of the Master Quality Recording standard. The bottom line is that audio files should contain not just a pleasant and beautiful sound, but the one that most accurately conveys the original voice or the timbre of the instrument.

Achieving this goal is unthinkable if a wide frequency and dynamic range is not achieved immediately. The sampling rate denotes the completeness of the conversion of the signal from "analog" to "digital". Experts are constantly striving to increase this indicator in order to achieve a more perfect result. But the bitness (in other terms - bitness) shows the degree of detail of the information about the sound that is saved after archiving. The problem is that simply increasing the bit depth immediately increases the file sizes.

But it's time to move from theory to practice. Namely, what the industry can offer to the average consumer in the Hi-Res segment. One of the first places is quite deservedly FiiO M6... Inside the player is a chip that combines an amplifier and a DAC. Thanks to the Wi-Fi block, you can always quickly update annoying music with fresh tracks from the Internet. It will also be possible to upgrade the firmware without physically connecting to a PC.

Also worth noting:

• AirPlay interface for music playback on iOS devices;

• the ability to connect microSD cards up to 2 TB;

• well-made USB-C connector.

Cowon plenue d2 costs twice as much as the previous model. But the chip of a special design allows you to save energy. The manufacturer even claims that thanks to such a unit, it will be possible to provide continuous operation for up to 45 hours. It is allowed to connect media up to 64 GB. In addition to the typical headphone jack, there is also a balanced input with a cross section of 2.5 mm.

Those who can afford not to save at all should take a closer look at Astell end Kern Kann... Of course, for this price, all possible audio signal processing standards are provided. The player has a built-in headphone amplifier with an output voltage of up to 7 V. Moving between parts of the file library is extremely well thought out.

In general, the number of Hi-Res players is still small. But it will inevitably grow, because the requirements for sound quality among music lovers are constantly growing. Experts unequivocally recommend not to trust any magazine publications and notes on websites. You can not blindly trust ratings, and even the recommendations of well-known people.... The fact is that the purchase of any player, let alone a first-class device, is purely individual.

Something that suits one person may not be liked by others. It is worth "driving" the device at all possible frequencies. And then the assessment of its potential will be the most correct. Even if someone does not agree with her, we repeat, everything is individualized here.

High-quality players in this category are always "weighty bricks"; lightweight and thin-walled devices do not justify their price. Of the additional options noteworthy:

• Bluetooth;

• Wi-Fi;

• reproduction of terrestrial radio;

• access to remote streaming resources (but you need to understand that extra functionality invariably loads the battery).

Video review of the Hi-Res player in the video below.