:V

There's been a massive amount of innovation in the lower end of DAPs, and you can get a lot for under $100. Here are the main ones I recommend:

Snowsky Echo Mini - This is the most affordable one, at only $65 CAD (I think it's even less in the US) and the one that I ended up buying. Designed to look like a cassette player. The main drawback is that the interface is slightly unintuitive and it doesn't have a touch screen, but I've been delighted with mine.

Hiby R1 - This goes for $85 USD, and is the most widely recommended of the bunch for its friendly UI and wide range of utilities. Has a touchscreen and buttons.

Tempotec V1 - Similar to the Hiby R1, although the specific features are slightly different. Also has a touchscreen and buttons. Price is comparable with the Hiby.

Innioasis R1 (honourable mention) - Designed to look nearly identical to an iPod Classic, including a fully functional clickwheel. The sound quality on this is notably worse than the other DAPs I listed above, and the Bluetooth is widely reported to be unreliable, but I have to include it for people who want an iPod again (and don't want to shell out $300+ for a modernized Classic) and because it has an extremely active modding scene. Price is comparable with the Echo Mini.

I ended up giving it away as a gift and getting a Hiby R1 instead, which has been a much smoother experience, with far more basic functions than the Echo Mini - so I’m going to add my voice to the chorus saying that it’s the best low budget/starter DAP for anyone who wants to get into them.

I've opened a few slots for commissions in this style 🍡🧃🍰