At $200 and with few alternatives at this price level, I decided to give it a go. Introducing the Fiio X3Ī bit more research led me to the Fiio X3, which was getting rave reviews, some even claiming that it sounded not far off the Astell&Kern. But when you start looking at real audiophile players (items such as the Astell&Kern AK120 cost approaching $1,500), it starts to look a little pricey for a device that’s going to get limited use.

That led me on a search for a more sophisticated device, with the understanding that I’d need to pay considerably more than the $70 I’d shelled out for the Sansa Clip. Even with a pair of Sennheiser CX300 II in-ear headphones, which improved the listening experience beyond recognition, the highs were still piercing and the ability to recreate complex jazz rhythms almost nonexistent.

Then came a Sansa Clip on the back of good reviews. The MP3 player was convenient, and I invested in better earbud headphones in the hope I’d get a more pleasant sound, but I didn’t. Over the years I’ve owned various portable devices, starting with a Walkman and then a MiniDisc, before moving to a MP3 player in 2005 – all purchased in the hope of trying to recreate a little of that magic produced by my home system.

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