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Tag Archives: Lotoo

Lotoo PAW 6000: Trickling Gold – A Digital Audio Player Review

DISCLAIMER: Lotoo provided me with the PAW 6000 in return for my honest opinion. I am not personally affiliated with the company in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation. I’d like to thank Lotoo for their kindness and support. The review is as follows.

Lotoo is an Asia-based audio manufacturer; world-renowned for their high-performing digital audio players and sources. Though they initially broke onto the scene with the explosive-sounding, button-rich PAW 5000 DAP, Lotoo hit an all-new high just recently with the flagship PAW Gold Touch; a DAP acclaimed for its clean aesthetics, rugged build, blazing-swift OS and reference-grade sound. It found favours among enthusiasts and professionals alike, especially those seeking for as colourless a sound as possible. But, at the end of the day, it was still a flagship product with a flagship price, ultimately limiting its accessibility to a certain type of consumer. Thankfully, Lotoo are not ones to rest on their laurels. What we’ve got here is their PAW 6000 DAP: A $1300, scaled-down LPGT with equal class and a musical, yet balanced tone of its own.

Image courtesy of Lotoo.cn

Lotoo PAW 6000

  • DAC chip: AKM 4493EQ
  • Output power: 300mW @ 32 Ω
  • Audio I/O: 4.4mm balanced (also line out), 3.5mm single-ended (also line out)
  • Sample rate support: Up to PCM 768kHz and DSD256
  • Key feature(s) (if any): LTOS, PMEQ II and ATE sound-shaping
  • Price: $1300
  • Website: www.lotoo.cn

Page 1: Introduction, Unboxing and Accessories, Build and Physical Controls
Page 2: GUI and Presentation, Navigation, Connectivity and Storage, Battery Life
Page 3: Sound Impressions, EFX, Noise Floor and Power
Page 4: Select Comparisons, Verdict


Unboxing and Accessories

Lotoo has always excelled at packaging, and their latest effort is no different. The PAW 6000 comes in a sleek, matte-grey box with – emulating the player itself – a pseudo-anodised finish and gold, metallic accents throughout. The image of the volume knob even has the same, cross-hatched texture as the one on the actual device; an incredibly clever detail. All in all, it’s a great effort from Lotoo with a clean look, a textured, shimmery finish and excellent accents all screaming luxury.

Inside, you’ll find the same packaging layout as Lotoo’s flagship PAW Gold Touch; really convenient and clean. At the very top is the player itself sat within foam, and underneath are its accessories divided between three smaller boxes. The first contains a truly in-depth, multilingual user manual, a warranty card and two, tempered-glass screen protectors. A part of me wishes they’d have one pre-applied, but it’s a no-issue. Installation is easy enough, and a pair should suffice for most.

In the second box, you’ll find the PAW 6000’s Type-C cable. Again, as with the Touch, I love the look-and-feel of this cable; wrapped in smooth, braided paracord, then finished with Lotoo branding and gold-plated plugs on both ends. So far, the build of it is solid too, but time will tell whether or not that’ll hold up in the long run. For reference, the black capsule that says Lotoo has now loosened on the cable that came with my Touch. Though it doesn’t hurt functionality at all, it is a ding towards user experience. So, hopefully, it won’t occur with the 6000’s cable here and ruin what’s otherwise a great extra.

And, in the third and final box, we have the PAW 6000’s gorgeous leather case. I’ve talked ad nauseam about what extras like these can do for a product’s sense of value and completeness, especially in the $1000-and-up bracket. So, it’s a huge joy to see brands like Lotoo delivering here on a consistent basis. Then, on top of that, it looks like they’ve addressed the couple issues I brought up on my Touch review as well. This case no longer has a slick, oily feel to it; now drier, smoother and more akin to tumbled leather. This has also made it tighter – more firm – to the grip. And, lastly, they’ve widened the gap at the bottom of the case, which means easy access to the player’s microSD card slot. Again, massive, massive kudos to Lotoo for not only continuing to provide these extras, but listening to feedback and improving them over time as well.

Visually, the different (or differently-treated) material has also given this leather a new texture. It’s not as granular as the Touch’s, and the finish is more matte as well, which I think gives it a more aged, artisan sort of look. The indentations for the buttons have also been brilliantly refined; now three-dimensional and clean-cut compared to the Touch’s, which isn’t as sophisticated. On the back, you’ll find the same gold stitching lining the border of the case, which – again – beautifully accents the gold on the DAP. Now, the one gripe I have – a subjective one – with this case is Lotoo have swapped out the almost-tribal-looking PAW Gold logo on the back with a cleaner PAW 6000 one instead. I preferred the former, because of how much attitude it had. But, again, it’s subjective, and I can see a lot of people preferring the understated look instead.

Build and Physical Controls

As we’ve come to expect from Lotoo, the PAW 6000 is an impeccably-built audio player. Like the Touch before it, it sports a CNC-milled, aluminium-alloy body, finished in an anodised matte-black without a jag, nor a bump, nor a wiggle in sight; truly outstanding. In the hand, the 6000, despite its robustness, is also impressively lightweight. At 225 grams, it’s barely any heavier than my daily-driver iPhone 11 Pro (with case). Then, a combination of thin bezels, tight bends and a levelled top all contribute towards the player’s wonderfully sleek silhouette, as well as its deeply modern, sophisticated aesthetic.

Furthering that motif is the 6000’s slightly altered contour, which does away with the Touch’s inward grooves in favour of smooth, outward curves; particularly, along the sides. This not only gives the DAP a more uniform silhouette throughout, it also prevents it from compromising grip at the same time. The 6000’s slight convexity makes it easy to wrap your digits around, compared to the more blocky outlines we’ve seen from DAPs in the past. Then, lastly, around the back, you’ll see a lavish, dark-mirror finish. It lends an aura of luxury to the 6000, and contrasts the matte nicely. Though I can also see it becoming a potential debris magnet over time, this shouldn’t be an issue, especially if you decide to use the leather case.

Button-wise, the PAW 6000 features the standard four: Power, Play/Pause, Previous and Next, along with a small indent on Play/Pause for easy navigation. I would’ve preferred the Touch’s layout of two bumps on the first two buttons, but, in use, I’ve truly had no issues with either. The buttons, again, are precisely milled and depress with a solid, satisfying click; a tad more than the Touch’s even. Then again, I’ve also had the latter for over a year, so that may be the difference. Lastly, you may also flip Previous and Next in software if you’ve perhaps already accustomed yourself to another brand’s orientation.

And, finally, topping off the PAW 6000’s shell is a Lotoo classic: The golden volume wheel. It’s been their calling card since the original, aptly-named PAW Gold, and I’m glad to see its continual inclusion and refinement with each new player. The 6000’s iteration has been sized down quite a tad from the Touch’s, owing to its smaller stature and its now-level top. As a result, it isn’t as easy to get to as the Touch’s, and it’s a bit more difficult to turn too. I’ve found if my thumb were right up against the case, I’d just catch the edge of the wheel with the tip. So, I probably would’ve liked the wheel just a hair wider.

The post Lotoo PAW 6000: Trickling Gold – A Digital Audio Player Review first appeared on The Headphone List.

Lotoo PAW S1: The Swiss Army – A USB DAC/Amp Review

DISCLAIMER: Lotoo provided me with the PAW S1 in return for my honest opinion. I am not personally affiliated with the company in any way, nor do I receive any monetary rewards for a positive evaluation. I’d like to thank Lotoo for their kindness and support. The review is as follows.

The past couple cycles have seen Lotoo go from strength from strength. The release of their PAW Gold Touch player saw them gain acclaim at the top flight. Then, the subsequent release of their more affordable PAW 6000 did the same in the mid-tier market. Much of that praise was attributed to their sleek, modernised aesthetic, impeccable build quality and all the proprietary software they packed in there too. Now, bringing all this and entry-level pricing into the mobile market is Lotoo’s PAW S1 USB DAC/amp. A balanced output, OLED display and Lotoo OS in hand, the PAW S1 is the dongle to beat.

Lotoo PAW S1

  • DAC chip: AKM AK4377
  • Available inputs: USB Type-C, Lightning (sold separately)
  • Available outputs: 4.4mm balanced jack, 3.5mm single-ended jack
  • Sample rate support: Up to PCM 32-bit/384kHz, DSD64 and DSD128
  • Output power: 70mW/ch @ 32Ω (single-ended), 120mW/ch @ 32Ω (balanced)
  • Key feature(s) (if any): OLED display, EFX sound-shaping, MQA decoding, LTOS
  • Price: $165
  • Website: www.lotoo.cn

Packaging and Build

This PAW S1 comes in a clean, compact package, adorned all around with sleek, matte-finished artwork. Also, on the top-left corner is a sticker from Pentaconn, which indicates that the 4.4mm socket Lotoo have sourced for this DAC/amp is of utmost quality. Inside is the S1 itself sat within a foam cutout. And, underneath that is a quick-start guide and a warranty card, along with the S1’s accessories also sat in foam. This consists of a short Type-C-to-Type-C cable to connect the S1 to Type-C devices. And, there’s a USB 3.0 adapter for, say, laptops and desktops too; all in Lotoo’s sleek, anodised aesthetic.

With this S1, Lotoo prove that – no matter the price tier – build quality is something they know how to deliver. Its chassis is excellently compact, yet impressive in robustness and heft. It’s by no means as luxurious-feeling as their bigger, pricier DAPs. But, given the price and size of the S1, you’d be hard-pressed to find a dongle that looks and feels as premium. It’s a near-unibody design with a screwed-on bottom panel. Despite how flush it sits against the rest of the chassis, I do wish Lotoo had put screws on all four corners, rather than just two. The end with screws feels solid and firm as I tap my finger on it, while the opposite feels ever-so-slightly loose. Again, it still sits flush against the rest of the device. But, it does take away a teeny bit from the S1’s near-flawless feel. That aside, however, Lotoo have, again, finished their product superbly; dressed in an even and seamless coat of anodised-black, then capped with sharply-defined engravings above and below.

We then get to the one of this device’s defining features: The 128×32 OLED display. The screen in its default state feature the current track’s sample rate, the S1’s gain mode (Low or High) and the current volume level on the upper third. Taking up the rest of this screen is the EFX profile you’ve selected, which essentially is Lotoo’s DSP or sound-shaping. Personally, I like how the S1’s UI looks. It’s clean, it isn’t too flashy and it tells you all you need to know. And, it’s lit up sufficiently with zero traces of backlight bleed too. Lastly, as a finishing touch, Lotoo have also incorporated some sliding animations that appear when you cycle through EFX profiles and gain modes, which gives the UI some life and adds that last bit of polish.

Bookending the S1’s body is the device’s I/O, which have similarly been installed seamlessly. The USB-C jack sits perfectly against its opening with zero crookedness or gaps, and the same goes for both the 3.5mm and 4.4mm sockets. There’s a touch more tightness to those audio outputs than ones I’d find on my laptop or DAP, but it shouldn’t be much of a worry. Lastly, the S1’s three buttons sit perfectly level and still, are engraved precisely and depress with a very firm, tactile click.

Ergonomics and Physical Controls

Clearly, given the S1’s compact, lightweight design, it’s an absolute breeze to carry around; whether in an in-ear pouch or your coat pocket, even. It isn’t as thin as some of Cozoy’s USB dongles, for example, but I reckon it’ll still make an easy fit in whatever space you’re carrying your other electronics in. That’s further aided by its detachable cable system. Speaking of, Lotoo’s included braided cables have good heft to them as well, so I won’t have to worry about those wires potentially snapping off if I hang this S1 off a table edge, or bending and kinking if I stuff the dongle in a trouser pocket. Overall, this is a DAC that’s as easy to carry as it is to keep, and built tough enough to withstand the hustle of daily, portable listening.

The PAW S1’s physical controls consist of three buttons, whose base functions are Function, Volume Up and Volume Down. Pressing the first brings up the EFX selection screen, where you can use the Volume buttons to cycle through this device’s 16 included EQ profiles. Pressing that Function button again will summon the gain selection screen, where you can either select High Gain or Low Gain. For example, for headphones and in-ears, respectively. Overall, it’s an easy, intuitive system that’s also quick, due to the dongle’s responsiveness. If I could make one suggestion, Lotoo could add a way to revert the EFX profile back to Stock in a single action. Perhaps, by pressing both Volume buttons at once. But, that is my only qualm.

Connectivity

This PAW S1 is capable of outputting both 4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm single-ended audio, though, obviously, not at the same time. Still, this addition of a TRRRS socket does put it a step above most USB dongles available today; a Pentaconn-issued one, no less. Volume on both outputs have a range of 100 steps, which should be beyond sufficient fine-tuning for most users. Then, for the input, you have the S1’s modular Type-C connector. By default, it connects to a Type-C-to-Type-C cable with, again, an optional USB 3.0 adapter. And, you could also purchase Lotoo’s Lightning cable attachment to use the S1 with Apple’s mobile devices. It features the same braiding and hardware as the default cable; a detail I love to see.

I’ve tested this PAW S1 with a couple other Type-C cables, and those results are a tad hit-or-miss. The ultra-long charging cable that I use with my MacBook does get this device to work, but it disconnects intermittently; presumably, because of a lack of power. The USB 3.0 to Type-C cable that comes with the PAW Gold Touch works perfectly fine. So, I’d personally recommend using the cables Lotoo provides for the best results. Though, in a pinch, most standard cables can work too.

The post Lotoo PAW S1: The Swiss Army – A USB DAC/Amp Review first appeared on The Headphone List.

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