The DAP can be designed with either one of two software approaches:
1) based on Android, but the WiiM Home App controls the DAP directly via touchscreen (essentially like any other DAP using its own native music app, such as HiByMusic on a HiBy R4).
2) LinkPlay develop a version of the OS in the WiiM Ultra to run on a larger vertical display with the complete feature set of the phone/tablet app as the interface of the WiiM DAP itself.
The point of the DAP would the same sort of usage as the old iPods, so higher performance DAC and headphone amp integrated within than smartphones have (specifically the amp stage, something with the power to drive even moderately power hungry planar magnetic headphones), offering both, 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced (which can put out 4X the power of the single-ended output) outputs. It would have a micro SD slot for one’s personal library and then a WiFi radio to take advantage of either your phone’s hotspot or any other available WiFi. A Bluetooth radio with at least AptX Adaptive and AptX Lossless support if not also LDAC and/or LHDC.
The point is to have that same WiiM listening experience you have at home, but when you’re on the go.
My other suggestions about the added value functionality were to have a calibrated mic integrated for when you ARE at home to improve the functionality of your home WiiM devices’ RoomFit and sub calibration workflows. Additionally, since DAPs have physical buttons for Play/Pause/Skip/Repeat/Return and Volume Up/Down, it should be able to sync to your home WiiM device and act as a remote for the home devices when on the shared network. The big advantage here is that, unlike the normal remotes, which are synced via Bluetooth to the specific device/streamer that it belongs to, the DAP would work over WiFi so you can control whichever WiiM device you choose from any room in the house with WiFi, an especially useful thing to have if you don’t want to have to seek out the remote, want to control playback in a different room, and don’t want to have to open/unlock the screen and open an app.
Smartphones don’t have headphone jacks anymore, but not everyone wants to use wireless crap. A good quality DAC/amp integrated already makes any DAP better than a smartphone without headphone jacks for serious listeners. WiiM potentially can make the best UI on the market for a DAP, and the integration with the rest of the ecosystem would be icing on the cake.
-Ed
