Review of hidizs ' AP200 player — available in Android HiFi

Can be arbitrarily long to be like ostriches, burying our heads in the sand, or, like the three famous monkeys, close my eyes and ears in an attempt to dissociate itself from reality, but the fact is that the farther, the more portable players will move to Android. And today we'll talk about one of the most affordable models with this OS, Hidizs ' AP200.

Despite my personal dislike of the OS from Google, is currently the only method to implement in player support for Wi-Fi and streaming services without special effort on the part of developers. Practice has shown that most users really want these same services in full, and it's not even in price (funny to talk about this in countries accustomed to unlicensed content 99%), and convenience. Then you and nice tips «what would to hear more», and an almost infinite library right protagorean albums are automatically updated with new releases, and the same new-fangled MQA — interesting stuff. Of course, hypothetically speaking, large manufacturers are able to subsidize the development of firmware based on the same Linux or even uOS supports Wi-Fi and streaming, it will be expensive and, as a consequence, not very clever, but if it decides to do. Then in force licensing policy Tidal/Deezer/Spotify and all that, and all of these efforts will be in vain. Android allows you simply install the Google services, and then the user downloads the desired client, and with the license no problems, and client development, do the programmers of the service. If you add to it and the easy implementation of things like DLNA, USB OTG, and more — choice of OS for the developers of the players becomes evident.

In General, okay, that introduction went long, let's get back to the AP200. Hidizs ' decided not to waste the opportunity to stake a claim for a piece of the promising market and released (after 3 years of developing, reviewing 120 design options and the creation of 10 prototypes) is quite unusual on the iron player. There are two ES9118 chip (SoC interesting from ESS, including the DAC, amplifier and switch outputs), the strengthening TPA6120A2 headphone meets, in General simple but effective scheme. In Hidizs ' tried to squeeze from it the maximum using two high-quality master oscillator, a special screening of chips for protection from interference and so on and so forth.

The company managed to keep a very nice price tag, the base version in aluminum body with 32 GB of flash memory sells for about $ 300 and for the extra money you can get a version in stainless steel «body» with 64 or 128 GB.

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specifications

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• Processor: RK31884
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• DAC: 2 × ES9118C
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• OU: TPA6120A2
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• RAM: 1 GB
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• output power: 130 mW @ 32Ω
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• Recommended load impedance: 16Ω –150Ω
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• frequency Range: 20 Hz – 40 kHz
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• the Ratio signal/noise: 115 dB
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• Division: 75 dB
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• Output impedance: 4,8 Ω
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• Support format: APE, ALAC, AIFF, FLAC, WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, AAC, DSD (ISO, DSF, DFF), DXD
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• Max resolution: up to 384 kHz/32 bit, DSD up to DSD128
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• Wireless connectivity: WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with APT-X
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• onboard memory: from 32 GB to 128 GB depending on model
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• memory Card: MicroSD up to 256 GB
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• Entrance: the USB Type-C
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• Output: 3.5 mm
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• Screen: the 3.5″ IPS 960 × 640
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• Battery: 3100 mAh
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• hours on a single charge: 8-10 hours
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• charging Time: < 4 h
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• Dimensions: 107 mm × 61 mm × 16 mm
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• Weight: 145g aluminum version, 208 g steel

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Packing and delivery

Well, at least this time the box is a little different from «Canon» — for AP200 did not do «the jacket», leaving just the packaging is black cardboard with a black printing on upper cover and transfer performance characteristics and «features» on the back. For lovers of pristine box sealed in plastic.

Inside, of course, you'll find the player itself cord USB-C charging, plastic poluchal-bumper, spare protective screen (one pasted on the factory) and a few pieces of paper. I still have in the box was a cable with USB on MicroUSB C, but I'm not sure that it is included in the kit, so if you set the wires in the box important — consult the dealer before purchasing.

Of Course, I would like the kit to see more «full» the case, but in trying to squeeze the lowest possible price, Hidizs ' they sacrificed, and to buy up the «leather» version have for some money (however small).

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Design and control

What has always impressed me from Hidizs ' is that in the design they always went his own way. Like previous models, the AP200 has turned out unlike other manufacturers, while almost everyone else is trying in the least or hydrochloric cosplay as A&K, Hidizs ' produces another rectangle with rounded edges and a slight slant under the headphone socket at the bottom. Separate half a point I would have given «two hundred» for the resemblance AP60-II, lying together, the two players immediately evoke memories about a film about Austin Powers. Offering the discerning audiophile a variety of design options. Plain aluminum version uses the rear panel «under glass», and exists in three color options, more expensive steel model allows you to choose quality rear panel glass, carbon or wood.

If you are wondering whether to pay more for the option of stainless steel, you should consider a couple of factors. First, the aluminium here is quite soft, so scratches are not eliminated, and secondly, the steel version is decently heavy (about 200 grams versus 150), and it is quite noticeable during operation.

In General, the player is not overburdened with controls. On the left is the volume rocker with the brand «bend» above it is the play button-pause. To navigate through the tracks the developers propose to use a double tap on the volume button method is working perfectly, but rewind the track so will not work. For me it is, for example, is not a frequent scenario, but I think there are people for whom this is important. On top of the device placed power button, it also serves to turn the screen off with the lock.

The Right side without the controls, on the lower end put the headphone Jack (can be used as line output), USB-C connector and a slot for MicroSD cards. The player, of course, deprived of some nice bonuses available from competitors (another memory card and balanced output), but here it is necessary again to recall the difference in price. The company tried to saturate the player functions here and support USB OTG, audio output and USB for external DACs, and work as a USB DAC, but not all of them work equally well. In DAC mode there is a delay of sound, which would upset fans to watch the video, although for simple listening of music it is great. Also in the firmware yet promised HibyLink and support the aptX Bluetooth codec, however, Hidizs ' promised to add these two «features» in the near future (adjusted, of course, for the two-week celebration of Chinese New year).

The Front panel is almost entirely devoted to a screen and it is very good. Here available and great for player permission, and eye pleasing color reproduction viewing angles, and an increased brightness for a summer day (although, of course, to cover the screen with your palm still have). From the point of view pictures it is probably the best screen in the budget segment of the players. Touch practiced well, although very occasionally there are lags, but I suspect it is the fault of the firmware and not the screen itself.

While working in my standard test (wireless off, MEEAudio P1 in the role of loading, FLAC 44.1/16) was approximately 7 hours and 50 minutes, the result is not a record, but overall, not the worst. Fully charge (for tests I use the charger from iPad) took 2 hours and 15 minutes.

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Firmware

I Think the day is near when there will be enough to say that the firmware did Hiby and everyone will imagine it possible (in the lower segment of the players it has already happened, players with Android all this goes). There are expected there are two modes: pure Android comes with a Music player, hidizs ' and «Pure Music», in which the player replaces the launcher, eliminating the need to remember about wasps lying «down».

At the moment the firmware is «talking» version 0.2.2 Beta, although such numbering to Hidizs ' the norm rather than the exception, but in General the company has established itself on the positive side in the field «zapilivanija», so I think the updates will still be.

About Android mode is perhaps not much to describe except to mention the existence of the Play Store, everything is as expected: 5.1.1 the role of OS, additional «player» settings at the top of curtain, filter settings, DACS, and timers in the settings menu. In General, all very simple and familiar.

The Player a lot more interesting. It consists of three sections, which turn the horizontal swipe.

playback Screen. of Course, designers Hiby with their love of semi-circular progress bar of the track you want to expose to the wheel, this thing penetrated here. On the other hand, rewinding the track is still quite possible, and in General, the playback screen is simple and logical. Expected to find it ...