Dynamics. I adore Mahler and always use his 2nd Symphony to test dynamics. I favour Leonard Slatkin’s beautiful interpretation on SACD ripped to DSD files. The Paw Gold has native DSD support and I think it shines on this kind of file. On the tremendous climaxes of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in the fifth movement, the Paw Gold reproduced the macrodynamic swings gorgeously. In the first movement, I could easily follow the full buildup from pianissimo to maximal forté. On contemporary Japanese composer Takashi Yoshimatsu’ composition Kamui-Chikap Symphony with the BBC Philharmonic under the wand of Sachio Fujioka, the Paw Gold showed similar success with microdynamics. This performance sounded very much alive and life-like present. Here is a good place to mention the transient response of this player. All the instruments remained sharply defined during the Kamui-Chikap Symphony. However, there were no overemphasized harmonics here but instead a minor decrease of upper harmonic brilliance.

Soundstage and imaging. Soundstaging with the Lotoo depended on the recording. It had neither unbelievable width or depth on small jazz bands nor narrow constriction on orchestral recordings. Its soundstaging was more accurate than any other DAP I've heard. I thus never had an imaging experience with any portable player as I had it with the Paw Gold. On Cannonball Adderley’s immortal Something Else, it was hard to fathom how his alto sax moved in all three dimensions depending on his body movements. This I thought was really amazing. I also had more space between instruments than over the AK240. Depth wasn't as great as with the Hugo on orchestral pieces but still not flat or shallow. Image focus was sharp and well defined, not blurred or soft. On Gavin Bryars’ Sinking of the Titanic/Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet album, instrumental bloom was tremendous. On the London Philharmonic’s The Greatest Video Game Music album, holographic imaging and layering came off very well. 


Pace, rhythm and timing. No, you can’t dance to the Paw Gold even using Enrico Rava’s Rava On the Dance Floor album. When I listen to the beautiful cover of Michael Jackson’s "They Don’t Care About Us", I shouldn’t sit where I sit. I should dance even though I can’t. The tempo or groove on the Paw wasn't sluggish of course but it didn't possess the AK240's upbeat propulsion. On PRat, I'd peg it between the Hugo and Tera.


ATE/PMEQ. If you are looking to figure out how to efficiently work the PMEQ on the Paw Gold, don’t bother. I couldn't figure it out either. Though Lotoo have the best DAP to market in my opinion, they don’t have an English owner's manual to go with it. I only can say that its more descriptive curves worked charmingly. Even though I hate equalizing devices and always ran the ATE/PMEQ off, I could still appreciate what they offered. Brighter or dental EQ offered an obviously bright or dental sound. Sweet EQ was sweet, no surprise. Style 701 had a kind of AKG K701 sound and Style 990 clones a Beyerdynamics 990 character. 


Comparison. When I compare the Paw Gold to the Astell&Kern AK240, the latter is more fun, easier to get into the tunes with and shows off more body. The Paw Gold is less stressed, better imaging, more accurate and has better harmonics. Lotoo's midrange is smoother and there's more overall detail. Physically the AK240 is less compact. Its volume knob and OS have serious issues once we consider its price. Lotoo's UI is faster and more responsive. Compared to the Tera Player, the Lotoo offers more transparency and resolution. I'd peg their musicality the same but the Lotoo images better.


Conclusion. If you are looking for fun and body on the beach, PRaT or high intensity, the Paw Gold is not for you. If you are looking for a light elegant looking DAP, it isn't for you either. Then a smaller Astell&Kern might suit better. If you are looking for natural sound, transparency and accuracy, tonal balance with excellent imaging and wide dynamics, then let me recommend to you the best DAP I have encountered until now, the Paw Gold. Chinese reformer and politician Deng Xiaoping once said that we should do more and talk less. Even if you can’t hear much about the Lotoo Paw Gold in the West, I can assure you that it does more. Congratulations to the company for a brilliant effort at a statement portable audio player.

Lotoo website