Headphones

This isn’t my review, but this product looks really interesting as a potential DAP buyer. It has Android 13 and is pretty compact compared to other DAPs. This was the only video review I could find of it. No balanced output, but if you’re using it for IEMS, that doesn’t really matter. Snapdragon 665 chip

SD card too

It also has the Google Play store, so even if this doesn’t support SRC outside the box, you could use UAPP and get SRC

The only thing that is kind of sketchy is the battery (2500 mAh) and the Cirrus Logic DAC chip, but I presume that this doesn’t really matter for IEMs.

Also, no systemwide EQ https://www.head-fi.org/threads/hiby-digital-m300-android-digital-audio-player-the-gen-z-music-player-discussion-thread.970428/post-17810474), but you can just use some app to do that for you and that doesn’t really bother me since I don’t EQ

This looks really good for $199

The problem with low-end DAPs is that they are freaking slow.

I'm not in the DAP market but this seems pretty solid for $200.

SRC bypass only affects USB audio output; the 3.5mm should be fine. The only problem is that Android doesn't auto switch bit rate, so you'd have to manually do it for each session (presumably using a3rd party app, in most cases). On a player of this type, it's doubtful that you would notice the difference anyway.

Does UAPP auto switch these days? I used it a few years ago, but tend to use my ios devices now (which do auto switch by default).

Sub USD200 for a CS43131 DAP ...

Honestly, I would rather get a Zishan Z4 (USD100, Dual ES9038Q2M) or Z5 (USD200, ES9039+RT6863D) instead, purely for better sound.

Couldn't you just buy a $60-$80 DAC like the ibasso-dc04-pro and attach it to your phone/PC? Feel like that would be the better play.