Picture Sunday: Hifiman HM901S

Disclaimer: Today’s Picture Sunday features the flagship Hifiman HM901S. This post is not affiliated to Hifiman, the player was sent me by a fellow audiophile for testing. Check out the other Picture Sunday posts in HERE.

Hifiman seems to be determined to keep it’s unique approach in DAP market. The company does not follow the design and technological aspects of others and keeps it’s business according to it’s own terms. As a result, the users feel somewhat special and their DAPs always have a separate place in the hearts.

In terms of usage, Hifiman HM901S certainly does not bring you to the point of throwing it to a wall, like previous offerings. A few small dents do not really hurt, and it is a noticeable improvement from that point of view. I congratulate Hifiman for this effort, who have been unable to do the right software for years.

Hifiman HM901S has a wonderful refinement in sound and overall it has no significant weakness. It can play very technical also being musical and wide sounding. It’s also definitely an all-round device, with a sonic performance that can overcome every challenge in the recording. I think it’s a DAP that gives a very honest and very controlled sound, and many headphones can easily pair quite well. In particular, it controls the roughness of IEMs better than other devices in my experience, making them less disturbing to ears. I think it also is a great DAP for reviewers because it doesn’t alter or color the sound.

HM901S was a DAP that I loved from first listen. Again the software is not very good, again it is big and cumbersome, the battery finishes quickly and it has an old-fashioned design. But once again the sound performance is mighty. I personally think it remains one of the top DAPs right now.

Hifiman is no doubt stands in a different podium than all other companies in the DAP market, and maintains that position with this model. Dr. Fang really knows this stuff.

4.8/5 - (68 votes)
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A keen audiophile and hobby photographer, Berkhan is after absolute perfection. Whether it is a full-frame camera or a custom in-ear, his standpoint persists. He tries to keep his photography enthusiasm at the same level as audio. Sometimes photography wins, sometimes his love for music takes over and he puts that camera aside. Simplistic expressions of sound in his reviews are the way to go for him. He enjoys a fine single malt along with his favourite Jazz recordings.

3 Comments

  • Reply July 2, 2017

    Rich

    I would consider the 901S if it had playlist capability. All of my music is organized by playlists and HiFiman is certainly behind the times in this regard. Most DAPs have playlist functionality including the discontinued iPod Classic which has had it for years.

  • Reply July 2, 2017

    Mustafa Yeten Yavas

    Very many thanks dear expert Audiophile and Reviwer Berkhan for your short but satisfied review of HiFi Man S901s DAP . As being one of the owners of HiFi Man DAP 901s and also one of the senior audiophile members of the well known Turkish Audiophile Club Techno – Fi which is esblished here in Turkey , we are waiting much more reviews from you dear Berkhan , regarding to the
    audiophile gears such as : Amplifiers , Digital Audio Converters ( DAC’s ) , Digital Audio Players ( DAP’s ) . Headphones , In Ear Monitors ( IEM’s) and etcetera .
    Mustafa Yeten Yavas
    Submariner2 . Member of the Head-Fi .org and some of other audiophiles communities abroad .
    Retired Captain Turkish Navy
    Istanbul Turkey

  • Reply October 20, 2017

    Miles Romain

    How does it stack up against Ibasso Dx200

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