Sub $300 Phone That Will Be Used As A Bargain DAP

Julius on 06/09/2018 - 20:58
Last edited 06/09/2018 - 21:24

Recently got my hands on an OPPO HA 2 SE and it has been killing my iPhone 8's battery life. If disaster hits, a survival plan should always include the smartphone so I was hoping to get a DAP. Now I could get SONY NWA-45 DAP or a 2nd hand Fiio X5… but hey, why limit the features when I already have a quality DAC/AMP? The iPhone 5s and LG G20 can be had for pretty cheap.

So I'm looking for a budget phone that has these key features:

(1) Phenomenal battery life - my phone battery drains faster when the dac/amp is connected
(2) Microsd slot - I am hoping to expand to 256gb to store FLAC files. Player of choice will be ONKYO for iPhone and POWERAMP for Android.
(3) Stackable with the Oppo - The Oppo clamps to phone using rubber bands. Therefore I would like the phone to be similar in size to the Oppo (my iPhone 8 had a really good fit)
(4) Sensibly placed volume and power button locations - can I use it with one hand?

Nice to have but not necessary features:
(1) The ability to use Spotify, Deezer and Tidal - manufacturers stop giving OS updates til a certain point. Sometimes I have those days where I am too lazy to create a playlist.
(2) Quality DAC - if I forget my OPPO
(3) A bright high res colourful screen would be nice. Of course, I'll be setting this to low when playing music.
(4) Decent call quality + dual sim functionality
(5) Decent build quality

Find Me A Bargain

Comments

  • merivetio on 06/09/2018 - 21:20

    Budget Sony phones come to mind - e.g. https://www.jbhifi.com.au/phones/Outright-Mobile-Handsets/so… for $249.

    Now that 1.5 (/5) star rating is a different story…might have to look further.

    • Julius on 06/09/2018 - 21:23

      I don't care too much about current models. It is a nice to have as streaming services will continue to work.

    • pippohippo on 08/09/2018 - 23:57

      It's a dud. I got it refunded after having it for a week. Battery was rubbish as well.

  • Flowerbomb on 06/09/2018 - 21:36

    Biggesr battery I can think of is the newly released mi max 3 with 5500mah. But its 6.9inch screen size might make holding it in one hand kinda tricky.

  • El Grande on 06/09/2018 - 22:04

    I was going to suggest a power bank but there is no headphone jack on your iPhone so You probably connect your Amp through the lightning port.

    • Julius on 07/09/2018 - 06:38

      The oppo has a headphone jack :)

  • NotAnAudiophile on 07/09/2018 - 08:22

    I have the same issue however I am using a Chord Mojo. For backup phone/DAP i use a Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. Has a headphone jack, and can stream everything. About $250-300 shipped.

    • Julius on 07/09/2018 - 08:42

      Can you please send me a pic of what your set up looks like?

      • NotAnAudiophile on 07/09/2018 - 08:46

        I'm using it as a home setup. So I don't use rubber bands, just connect up the Note 5 to the Mojo and use it that way.

        • Julius on 07/09/2018 - 09:09

          Interesting that you went for a Chord Mojo then.

        • NotAnAudiophile on 07/09/2018 - 09:14

          @JuliusSeizure:

          Only because on my main phone I use wireless LDAC via a Earstudio es100.

        • Julius on 07/09/2018 - 09:16

          @NotAnAudiophile: ah did you buy the chord with the intention of portability? It’s a great device but i thought you’d be looking into a desktop amp

        • NotAnAudiophile on 07/09/2018 - 09:55

          @JuliusSeizure:

          Yup portability but in a home sense. I don't have enough space for a powered setup. Needed to be battery.

        • Julius on 07/09/2018 - 10:21

          @NotAnAudiophile: ah I understand. I wished my Stax system was portable a around the home. I’m too afraid of damagin the amp haha

        • Julius on 08/09/2018 - 07:41

          @NotAnAudiophile: Oh I saw that you owned a V30! People on headfi say it comes close to the chord mojo. Would you agree?

        • NotAnAudiophile on 08/09/2018 - 08:38

          @JuliusSeizure:

          I wouldn't think so. V30 dac had the clarity but it's not a step up like how the mojo is. The mojo to my ears is the only one that makes every single sound source better and more lively, more musical. The v30 sounds very calculated and precise in comparison.

        • Julius on 08/09/2018 - 08:55

          @NotAnAudiophile: I thought so. Although the V30 has some awesome engineering, I'd doubt it would have competed with a dedicated dac/amp.

          Btw, I've looked into the Xiaomi Note 5. Pretty good choice so I'm shortlisting it. Just thinking maybe I should go with an older flagship model from a premium phone maker.

          Also, have you ever tried out electrostats?

        • NotAnAudiophile on 08/09/2018 - 09:17

          @JuliusSeizure:
          For me the Xiaomi is a backup phone as well as a gym phone. My main phone is now a Note 9. So long as it can act as a transport for the mojo I'm happy. I only ever tried Stax at the Melbourne HiFi show.

        • Julius on 08/09/2018 - 09:33

          @NotAnAudiophile: Ahhh. I actually don't know how people can handle Samsung phones as a daily driver. It just becomes so laggy over time. Of course, that won't matter too much for me because it'll be 90% a DAP.

          What are your thoughts on electrostats?

        • NotAnAudiophile on 08/09/2018 - 16:52

          @JuliusSeizure:

          Yeah I'm a phone freak as I've gone through 3 flagship in 9 months. Electrostats to me just aren't mobile…

        • Julius on 08/09/2018 - 19:50

          @NotAnAudiophile: Mobility aside, do you prefer them to the highest end dynamics (think HD800s).

        • NotAnAudiophile on 09/09/2018 - 00:31

          @JuliusSeizure:

          Hmm. The highest end I've heard is the Orpheus. I actually can't tell the difference.

        • Julius on 09/09/2018 - 03:14

          @NotAnAudiophile: You can't tell the difference between HD800s to Orpheus?

  • Julius on 08/09/2018 - 00:14

    Bump

  • ThatsCheap on 09/09/2018 - 02:26

    If you can, find yourself a used Galaxy Note 2 or Note 3 that comes with a ZeroLemon 9000+ mAh batteries. A lot of old phones are compatible with ZeroLemon batteries, so find yourself a used phone with a ZeroLemon battery.

    Advantageous if you know how to root the phone and install the latest custom roms available for whatever device you find.

    • Julius on 09/09/2018 - 21:39

      How much do these go for on the used market?

  • Julius on 16/12/2018 - 15:04

    Ended up with a wm1a

    • ozbargainer666 on 02/11/2020 - 20:57

      Thoughts?

      • Julius on 04/11/2020 - 19:52

        Great device. I've had it for 2 years.

  • ozbargainer666 on 02/11/2020 - 20:57

    Thoughts?

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join