Coming to the market for personal music players, the company Lotoo, as they say, “gone with the trumps.” Their debut model, the Paw Gold is different excellent (according to reviews) sound quality, a bit clumsy design and the absolutely wild price tag. Despite this, the sound allowed the player to take their rightful place on Olympus audiophile flagships. Realizing that one megadosage model does not go far, Lotoo decided to release a budget model, creating PAW 5000, who became a hero of today’s review.
Developing the budget player in Lotoo approached very unusual. Unlike other manufacturers who are trying even low-cost solutions to use the full DAC and amplifiers, Lotoo made a player based on TI TLV320AIC3105. This is a typical chip codec that integrates a simple DAC, amplifier and digital signal processor. Complements the list of unexpected solutions support Blutooth, allowing you to connect the player to external speakers and wireless headphones. Another interesting feature is USB 3.0, which allows faster exchange with the player data. It is also worth noting that the lack of a DAC is not prevented developers to implement support for DSD (I think you use software conversion to PCM).
Usually, the use of codecs is the prerogative of the most inexpensive players (of the same type xDuoo X2), but in this case the player is clearly valued highly by the manufacturer. To purchase the Lotoo PAW 5000 in Russia for 24 500 rubles, which makes him a player of the middle segment, although in the world the cost of the player is even more expensive. Surprisingly, PAW has its own niche and unique features that make it competitive in the current market players.
Specifications
- CPU: ADI Blackfin 514DSP
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz (±0.5 dB)
- Total harmonic distortion: <0,002% @ 1kHz
- Maximum power: 75 mW @ 16Ω
- Maximum voltage: 1 Vrms
- The ratio signal/noise: >100 dB
- Battery: 1700 mAh, 3.7 V Li-pol
- Working time on a single charge: up to 10 hours
- Screen: 2″ TFT, 220×176
- Memory card: MicroSD up to 2 TB
- Weight: 110 g
- Dimensions: 98 mm × 55 mm × 18 mm
- USB interface: USB 3.0 Micro-B
- Outputs: line/SPDIF (3.5 mm TRS), naushnikov (3.5 mm TRS), balanced (2.5 mm TRRS)
- Bluetooth: 4.0
- Support formats: DSD (DFF/DSF/ISO), FLAC, WAV, APE, OGG, AAC, ALAC, MP3, WMA, M4A
Packaging and delivery package
In Lotoo has tried to do everything possible to underline the status of this player, is no exception and packaging. After removing from the main box “jacket”, you can open it in the middle. In the bottom half on a velvet lodgment rests the player, in the top part holds the accessories. In addition to direct player and there are different instructions-garantiyku in a set put USB 3.0 cable, strap for wearing the player on his arm and the plastic cover for quick fastening device on the belt.
By the way, Lotoo tried to emphasize the “sports” component of the PAW 5000, in addition to the shoulder strap about it also says a special “sport” mode where you can adjust the speed of the music, adjusting it to the rhythm of my run.
Design and management
This very item has become a major factor playing in favor of this device. The player class is made so that picking up, you don’t want to release. Front and back cover made of metal and are attached to a plastic frame in the middle. For caps Lotoo picked a nice color and texture, a bit reminiscent of professional cameras. The similarity with photographic equipment does not stop there, because the main control is the scroll wheel with built in button. Unlike other models, there’s not to hang onto the wheel as many different functions, and generously gave the player a lot of buttons, of which almost all have two purposes (short and long press). And buttons, and the wheel — very pleasant in a tactile way. Buttons are pressed very clearly and have enough speed, the wheel has a clear click, though the pointer has snapped points sometimes happen, but, in General, the control raises no objections.
The left side has the volume buttons and two switches, one controls the gain of the second damping factor. Not quite sure why you need to turn on the second switch, so how the sound becomes “softer”, maybe with some headphones it will be useful, but I was not. On the front panel in the top row are two buttons to switch between songs and rewind and the button for selecting the folder for playback (long press can be changed via the settings). Underneath the bar is the back button (long press — go to settings), equalizer control and a round button on/off and lock, inscribed in annular led indicator. Indicator when power on starts to pulse blue, if you don’t like it — this behavior can be turned off in the menu.
On the bottom edge hosts the slot for MicroSD card, on top — all three nests of the interfaces on the right — USB 3.0 connector. By the way, if a high-speed cable at hand, you can use regular MicroUSB.
The screen on the player used a quite simple but he has a good stock of brightness, and a smart approach to design has allowed to create an interface that invokes a definite wow effect. The fact is that during play, the player shows a real working level. There is a two-way indicator showing the levels of channels, and multi-system, showing the levels of signals in different frequency ranges, the switching is accomplished via long press on the play button. It carries away so that you forget about the low resolution screen, and no graphical menus, and not always the easy control wheel.
Library player has nothing, he plays music by folder, select and listen to or you can access the complete list of songs for lovers of casual play.
I player a lot, they are grouped into several menu items. In the playback settings you can select the order of playback, the time display, the gain of DSD enable/disable line out and adjust channel balance. The system settings include: auto off time, backlight level (brightness and length), firmware upgrade, language (English and Chinese), format the memory card, and more interesting features such as showing battery status and test memory card speed. Bluetooth settings allow you to disable and enable the wireless interface and connect to detected devices. The last two menu items are responsible for turning on the sport mode and function selection for long press on upper right button (available many useful options).
Separately, I note the possibility of the player to manipulate the sound. There are some interesting settings for digital signal processing (bass boost, treble underlining, etc.) as well as parametric EQ. The equalizer has presets that are traditionally optimized for different styles of music, and the opportunity to choose up to five frequencies and set the level of boost/cut. In General, for fans to twist the sound of PAW 5000 is a very good choice, all the more so through the use of integrated in the codec DSP EQ almost does not spoil the sound.
The overall feel of the player is very positive, it is small in size but plump, in a hand lies as native, operated conveniently and cause a lot of positive emotions. Collected all at the appropriate level.
From a full battery charge the player worked for 10 hours and 40 minutes and the charging time was 3 hours 5 minutes from charging to the iPad.
The sound
To listen to the player we used the following headphones:
- HiFiMan Re600
- ZMF Omni
- Oppo PM-3
- Dunu DN-2000J, Titan 1, Titan 3 and Titan 5
- Lear LHF-AE1d
- Ambient Acoustics AM10
In General, the lack of a separate DAC coupled with not the most powerful amplifier makes itself felt. Compared with competitors in its price segment, the player plays a little simplistic, the design depth of the scene — does not possess the quality, but, in General, the developers have managed to achieve a very interesting sound, with emphasis on detail and neutral supply. The player has a number of interesting features that make it unique, and, thanks to the elaboration of the midrange when listening to this player, it does not want to find fault, so he drags his sound.
Bass player in General is quite good, he even tries to play the subwoofer, but the main impact energy is invested player in the area of mid bass, the deep bass is not very detailed. They are not so much played, but simply indicate their presence, but, overall, it’s better than the complete absence of this region of the spectrum. Midbass and above — good, bit smaller than I would like and they are a bit dry, but well controlled and resolution almost reaches the competitors in the price category.
Midrange is very good on detail and speed, that the player can compete with many more expensive models. In the supply of MF, he has a bit of softness is not enough, the player feeds them dry, without an attempt to suppress something or to brighten. This makes PAW 5000 dependent on headphones and quality recordings, the slightest weaknesses will be dragged into the light and shown to the user with all the ruthlessness. On the other hand, the small nuances and emotions, the little passes very well. The player builds a wide enough imaginary scene, but it lacks depth.
HF worked slightly worse MIDs, but still quite good for the price category. Just like MF, Lotoo is not trying to soften them, so if you are critical to this part of the band or have bright headphones, there is a small risk of getting an overabundance of brightness. Although, I can say that for my taste at 5000 RF do not cross the line beyond which they become much, even with headphones like the DN-2000J he plays this part of the range is easy and very nice.
Compatibility
Unfortunately, filling the player is not allowed developers to make it powerful enough to consider it a universal solution. 75 MW at 16Ω clearly indicated that the major “partners” of the player — earphones-plugs and light in the swinging of the headphones. So you’ll have to consider this fact when choosing headphones for PAW 5000. Fortunately, the selection is good models of IEM in recent years — a very, very large. The player showed good form with many earphones, Dunu Titan since all three versions, and ending with Trinity Audio Engineering Delta. The main thing that you should consider when choosing headphones is own taste, neutral flow player allows you not to think about compatibility. The only exception is very very bright headphones with bass reduced.
Genre is a very versatile player, he copes well with simple styles (thanks to Abbasova substrate) and complex genres (here it is necessary to thank the detail and resolution). The quality of the record player is quite sensitive, on a scale of ten I would rate sensitivity in 9 points.
And, as usual, a few examples
Pantera — Cowboys from Hell. The case when even a debut album made it clear that we face a future supergroup. The original sound, Groovy riffs and interesting melodies, all that we love this team. With Lotoo PAW 5000 they sound very interesting, detailed midrange well the player manages to convey the aggression and speed of this gang.
King Crimson — Larks Tongues in Aspic. Another tune, perfect this player. Great games percussion, anticipating this composition, passing into the main fabric of this magalonas ringtones is where the PAW is feeling very confident. Of course, he lacks a bit of depth in the construction of an imaginary scene, but the volume and width, as well as the detail and ease of presentation with more than compensate for this.
Gerald English, London Symphony Chorus & Orchestra — O Fortuna. Perhaps the most famous piece for large choir in one of the best versions. Also, perhaps, the work on which the hero of the review can show their best side. A detailed midrange, good bass background is exactly what you need for a correct understanding of such recordings and inducing goose pimples on the skin to which they are entitled. Of course, to find fault with the study material and then, but sinking into the polyphony of choirs, this is not desirable.
Conclusions
Overall, despite some shortcomings, the youngest PAW has a very interesting sound for those who love to hear the details and nuances of the music and appreciate the analytical and impartiality of the source, here it is, perhaps, no equal in the category up to 500 dollars. To this is added the small size, stylish design and the tactile delight of control and visual interface. Overall, a very cool player for music lover without much bias to the audiophile who wishes to get a superior device.