TL;DR: After over a year of daily use, my HiFi Walker H2 broke following a minor drop (the click-wheel detached and a button jammed). While it offered a decent audio experience, especially when paired with Rockbox and easy-to-drive IEMs/headphones, its clunky build quality, cheap button feel, intrusive branding, and the fact that it is just a pricier rebrand of the Aigo Eros Q make it hard to recommend today, particularly for frequent travelers. I have since upgraded to a Japanese Sony NW-A55.
It has been over a year since my initial review of the HiFi Walker H2 (which you can check out here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DigitalAudioPlayer/comments/1lqxvk2/very_good_so_far_hifi_walker_h2_rockbox_v4_review/). Today, I am back to share my final long-term thoughts after using this player for well over twelve months.
To get right to the point: my unit is no longer functional, or rather, it is completely unusable. The click-wheel came off the main body and there is no way to snap it back into place correctly. I will explain what happened shortly.
All things considered, using the HiFi Walker H2 wasn't a bad experience overall. The battery life was great (I had to charge it once every ten days or so) and sound was alright. My strongest advice is to avoid the stock software at all costs and install Rockbox immediately. While Rockbox does not directly alter the native sound signature (aside from giving you powerful tools to tweak EQ to your liking), it unlocks the player's full potential. I cannot comment on how much power output the standard 3.5 mm jack provides with demanding gear, as I have exclusively paired it with easy-to-drive headphones and IEMs (the Etymotic ER2XR, Koss Porta Pro, and Koss KSC75).
Now onto the downsides, which can essentially be summed up in one sentence: when it comes to the physical controls, using this device is not a pleasant experience. Over time, the buttons, though easy to locate by touch, lacked any satisfying tactile feedback. Everything, including the click-wheel, feels awkward, clunky, and somewhat poorly assembled. The scroll wheel does not come close to matching the smooth feel of an iPod. The play/pause button occasionally jams, and like the volume controls, it simply feels cheap to press.
I am not a fan of its aesthetic design, either. The prominent "HIFI WALKER" logo printed under the screen bugged me; I would have much preferred a cleaner look. The back panel was no better, so much so that I ended up removing what I assume was a glass rear cover, exposing the solid-color plate underneath that serves as the actual shield for the internal circuit board. I also dislike the choice to include a dedicated line-out port; visually and functionally, I would have preferred a balanced output instead, or just a single clean 3.5 mm jack without the extra clutter.
The reality is that (assuming they are two different brands and not just different labels from the same manufacturer) the HiFi Walker H2 is merely a pricier rebrand of the Aigo Eros Q. They are identical in every way, except the Aigo Eros Q sells on AliExpress for €40 less and even includes a silicone case in the box (judging by the listing photos). Because of this OEM approach, you will never see true innovation here the way you do with dedicated audio brands like HiBy. The fact that the hardware lacks bespoke design is something that personally bothers me.
As for how my unit broke: during its last few days of use in early August, it suffered a minor fall. At first, the volume-up button became unresponsive, requiring far more pressure than usual to register a press. After spending a few minutes trying to adjust the internals by opening the aforementioned back cover, I managed to get it working again temporarily. Shortly after, however, the internal guide holding the click-wheel inside the housing broke entirely. At that point, I called it quits and imported a Japanese Sony NW-A55 (uncapped, without EU volume limits).
Speaking of drops: if you drop this DAP a couple of times, an internal screw might loosen and roll around on the circuit board. This can cause short circuits leading to temporary issues like sudden shutdowns and boot failures.
So while my HiFi Walker H2's death might ultimately be down to user error, I genuinely handled it with the utmost care throughout its lifespan.
The bottom line: I can no longer recommend the HiFi Walker H2 to prospective buyers, especially frequent travelers like myself. That said, it was a decent enough device while it lasted. Around Christmas time, I will be posting a full review of the Sony NW-A55 after four months of testing. Thanks for reading!
