Review of hidizs ' AP60II player is a compact beauty

The Appearance of the first player was the event really noticeable. Player, released in 2014 and is still enjoying good demand, — that, you know, a strong bid for success. For a long time from the camp of the company heard no sound before , which was good, but a breakthrough did not. But the end of last year brought us two models of the company, and today we'll talk about the second audit of the AP60.

Despite the affordable price and good feature set, the first «shestidesyati» not gained much popularity due to some flaws in the sound, not the best because of the touch buttons control. Meanwhile, the segment of inexpensive but high-quality solutions in a compact format clearly required some kind of model. And then Hidizs ' really did almost incredible, they are meticulously gathered all the deficiencies of the first revision of your player and removed them, releasing an updated AP60. Of course, improvement on all fronts could not do for free (and I would like to write about a surprising not the changed value), so the price of the player have grown to $ 120, however, in this case, the overpayment clearly is worth it.

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specifications

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• Processor: X1000
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• DAC: AKM4452VN
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• OU: MAX97220A
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• frequency Range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (-0.5 dB)
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• output power: 35 mW @ 32Ω
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• Output impedance: 0,1 Ω
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• Total harmonic distortion+noise: 0,005%
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• signal/noise: >109 dB
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• Dynamic range: >105 dB
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• Division: 106 dB
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• Supported resolutions: PCM up to 192 kHz/24 bit, DSD up to DSD128
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• Support format: FLAC, APE, WMA, WAV, ALAC, AAC, OGG, MP3, AIFF, DSF, DFF
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• Bluetooth: 4.0 with aptX
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• Screen: 2″ TFT, 320 × 240
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• Entrance: MicroUSB
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• Output: 3.5 mm
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• Battery: 1000 mAh
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• hours on a single charge: 10-12 h
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• memory Card: MicroSD up to 256 GB
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• Dimensions: 75 mm × 42 mm × 14 mm
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• Weight: 71G

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Packing and delivery

The Exterior design of the packaging meets «brand» a yellow stripe, a little spoiling is good the rest of the design. Inside the player, power cord, screen protectors (one already glued from the factory, and I raise my glass to the companies that do this) and plastic protective polucha on the rear panel.

In General, everything is quite simple, but for a budget player — it is normal. By the way, Hidizs ' for the first generation AP60 was a very nice leather case with a flip that sold still. I haven't checked, but I think for the second generation it also must be suitable.

the

Design and control

That is the main area where the efforts of developers. The second version of the player is pleasing housing made of aluminium with a striking back «under glass». Changed the materials significantly improve the perception of the player, it looks much more expensive than the first generation. AP60-II there are five (at least not yet) color options, they are all rather subtle, but look stylish, so we can safely choose any of them. The build quality of the player is very good for this price level, nothing creaks, not loose and not loose.

For more «wow-factor» this gadget is small in size, it is really compact and light weight (despite the mentioned on the box 50 grams, weigh-in showed 70) allows you to easily carry it even in your pocket light summer shorts.

On the left side are the volume rocker brand (if desired, it can be switched in the menu on the navigation tracks), it has a curved shape, and the finger he falls to the desired place that allows you to use it without looking. Above is the power button, it also locks the screen. On the right side put a slot for MicroSD cards, the lower the headphone connectors and MicroUSB. The latter is very versatile, it serves for charging and file access, it allows you to connect AP60 as a USB DAC. Also the player understands USB OTG pendrive and can serve as a USB transport, connecting to external DACs.

By the Way, about charging. In my standard test (MEEAudio P1 as a load, FLAC 44.1/16 as material) the player worked 9 hours and 40 minutes. Charged it fast enough to fully charge demanded less than two hours, overall good results for such a compact player with full DAC.

Pleased and the updated front panel. First, the screen. Don't know where Hidizs ' take parts, but the display is «shestidesyati» really happy, despite its small size, it has good resolution and color reproduction, very good viewing angles and even some margin of brightness (as I'm waiting for the summer...). Second, the control unit, the first revision of the player in a small area below the screen was placed just six touch buttons, which led to erroneous clicks and awkward controls «blind». In the second revision the buttons were mechanical, and they still have only four. Simply put, the plate under the screen acts as a 4-position switch, so now you can easily control the player without removing it from the pocket (though that pocket fuss side could be perceived the wrong way).

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Firmware

Some processing undergone firmware. The basis is still code Hiby, offering familiar. The developers slightly changed the navigation, making it logical and convenient. To navigate menu buttons «up»/»down», to select the functions press «right», the button «left» click to return back. On the playback screen «up» «down» are used to navigate tracks, «right» — start playback, and includes a pause. On the playback screen and the tracks for a long hold «right» opens a secondary menu, long press «left» will return you to the main menu.

The menu Itself is divided into four sections.

browse music by folders. everything is obvious: choose an SD card or USB OTG USB flash drive (if it is connected, make automatically removing unnecessary menu Chinese programmers don't want for many years) and enjoy the media library in the form in which you created it. The pop-up menu you can add/remove track to favorites or delete it from the memory card completely.

browse music by categories. There is all too familiar: once all the tracks, albums, artists, genres, favorites, playlists and recently played tracks. Pop-up menu, then for some reason another, and offers in addition to the removal and favourites to add a track in a random playlist.

music Settings. Here, too, everything is as usual:

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• update library (fast enough)
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• gain
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• output mode DSD
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• equalizer (10-band, but traditionally it is better not to include)
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• order of play
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• remembering the current position when switched off
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• gapless playback
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• maximum volume
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• volume when switching on (to remember or to set a specified value)
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• balance

System settings. I Think a simple enumeration will suffice:

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• language (Russian is present)
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• Bluetooth (turn on, search for devices, activation HibyLink). As before, the player can serve not only as a transmitter but also a receiver, so you can, for example, to stream music from the phone to the player, but «welcome» it is limited only SBC codec. However, it is still a nice opportunity
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• USB mode (memory access or USB DAC), the DAC operates with a slight delay, so listening to music is quite possible, but the video can be difficult
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• brightness
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• working time backlight
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• clock settings
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• go to the next folder when playing (why is it not in the settings of music — I don't know)
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• functions of the side buttons (volume or scrolling through tracks)
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• sleep timer, idle and sleep timer
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• formatting a memory card, upgrade firmware, information about the player

The play Screen is the usual other players with similar firmware, most of it is album art. Requires a little getting used to the fact that navigation through the tracks is the vertical buttons, but after the reorganization of the reflexes of the problems it causes. Immediately expected, there is an additional menu with the desired settings and functions.

In the latest firmware added a clock function, first press the power button you see the clock plus the name of the current track, and only the second will return you to the player control. Fortunately, the buttons start to work already on the screen with the clock, so to switch tracks or pause the power button just press one time. If you watch without the need to shut it down.

In General, the IOS works very quickly and without any problems, the player is conveniently operated and is pleased with obedience. By the way, judging by the reviews online (I personally have not tried), the firmware from the second revision can be installed on a first generation player, but the feasibility of this action remains in question.

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Sound

To listen To the device used the following headphones: , , , , Campfire Audio Andromeda , and others.

If you take into account the price of this player, the sound was very good even. Hidizs ' fixed the lack of bass of the first version, with the Rev...