Looking for a good mp3 player

[trinity]

I am planning to buy a mp3 player but I'm not sure on what a good brand to buy...just mp3 player not an ipod. Any tips people? Thanks!

 

[Seth=L]

I hear Creative has good MP3 players. I don't really think it should be to much different from unit to unit.

 

[avaserfi]

The most important things I have found when it comes to MP3 players are a few things.

How much storage do you need and what interface do you like the most. I would suggest going to your largest local electronics store and just play with the different mp3 players they have out on display. See which you are comfortable with and then thats the one you should get.

The best features along side good design is Creative in my opinion but thats just because I love the feel of them.

 

[zhimbo]

I've only owned a Creative Zen V - I love mine. The control is slightly finicky-feeling to use (a tiny little joystick) but works fine, no problems. The software interface is very nice and pretty much indistinguishable from the iPod. The transfer from PC is a little slow compared to other players (I'm told).

It has a mic for voice recording, and an analog line-in for making digital recordings (160kbps WMAs). I used it to make digital copies of some casettes and was pretty pleased with the quality of the final product.

The "plus" version gives you radio and video capabilites. Radio is nice, but the video is pretty limited (frame rate, screen size), so I just opted for a nice deal on the non-"plus" version.

It's a flash player - mine is 2GB, they go up to 8GB, I think. 2GB easily fits about 18-20 CDs, potentially a lot more if you use low bit-rate mp3s. If you're interested in putting a huge collection on instead of switching music in and out, you'll have to check out hard-drive players instead. Can't help you there.

 

[no. 5]

If you are looking for a MP3 player with good sound quality, these links may be of some help:

iPod bench test

The best-sounding MP3 players

 

[Sheep]

If you are looking for a MP3 player with good sound quality, these links may be of some help:

iPod bench test

The best-sounding MP3 players

Both of those links are bogus (no offense).

WmAx did his own test on a Creative Zen and Apple Ipod and the Creative faired better. Ipod's only sound good with a high output impedance.

I've AB'd my Zen mirco with my friends Ipod Video and we both preferred the Zen. Ipods also don't have band EQs, it's all presets.

SheepStar

 

[nav]

I've been fairly happy with my old iRiver for the last couple years. Since their new models will once again sport MSC/UMS, I'm considering buying one of those in a couple months. The only other PMP that's interested me is the Cowan iAudio X5, mostly because of its unbeatable format support; if they'd release a fully updated model I'd also consider one of them (lots of little things I'd like them to update, I could list them for the curious).

 

[no. 5]

Both of those links are bogus (no offense).

None taking, but did you read the links?

the declining frequency response from 10 kHz on down results in poor midrange, and unacceptable bass.

is from the "iPod bench test" link.

How are the links bogus, if I may ask? in the interests of knowledge, I would interested to know (and for the record, I nether have, nor want an iPod).

 

[Sheep]

None taking, but did you read the links?

is from the "iPod bench test" link.

How are the links bogus, if I may ask? in the interests of knowledge, I would interested to know (and for the record, I nether have, nor want an iPod).

Well one is Cnet, so thats a no go from the beginning, and the other is from a magazine that promotes expensive cables and has brand protection. As stated earlier, WmAx already measured an Ipod and Creative Zen, and the Zen was superior. It's also cheaper.

SheepStar

 

[no. 5]

Well one is Cnet, so thats a no go from the beginning, and the other is from a magazine that promotes expensive cables and has brand protection.

Ok fair enough, but does that mean the bench tests in those articles rendered moot because they erroneously endorse expensive cables?

As stated earlier, WmAx already measured an Ipod and Creative Zen, and the Zen was superior. It's also cheaper.

I'll have to look into the Zen when I do look for a MP3 player, is there a chance to get a look at WmAx's measurements?

 

[cutlas]

Creative Zen...

I also second the Zen...

I own the creative zen video micro (30gb) and I prefer it over my g/f's Ipod video. A nice feature with the Zen is the adjustable EQ - you can tweak this to your.

I would recommend, regardless of what way you go, picking up some higher quality headphones - its really night and day.

 

[zhimbo]

Oh yeah - definitely don't use the stock earbuds. All this talk about sound quality on this thread is irrelevant if you use the stock earbuds.

 

[skizzerflake]

The Creative Zen photo micro is pretty good. My impression is that sound quality has more to do with the head phones plugged into it and the quality of the codec that makes the compressed files than the unit itself. A feature that endeared me to the CZ is that it has an FM tuner and capability to record. It has a tiny microphone in the unit so you can record live and you can also record what's on an FM station. I use this a lot to time shift radio programs. It also uses generic mp3 files, which can be easily copied or moved to any other device; no DRM.

 

[trinity]

Thanks so much for all the responses guys, well I guess I'll just pick that creative's mp3's this week..

 

[zhimbo]

That was an unexpectedly unanimous thread, I must say.

 

[jonnythan]

Both of those links are bogus (no offense).

WmAx did his own test on a Creative Zen and Apple Ipod and the Creative faired better. Ipod's only sound good with a high output impedance.

I'd like to see WmAx's test.

 

[johndoe]

Thanks so much for all the responses guys, well I guess I'll just pick that creative's mp3's this week..

Since I agree with everybody about the creative players being superior to ipods (even if the sound quality was the same, they're less expensive and have more features), I'm only going to mention another upside to this manufacturer: REMOVABLE batteries. I have a spare just in case, which I bought from creative online store for $9.99 on sale. I own a zen micro 6gb and a muvo tx 256.
The one thing I don't like about the company is the multitude of different models and overly long product names.

 

[jonnythan]

I much prefer the iPods for the form factor, capacity, and interface.

Creative has nothing that compares to the 8GB Nano and Creative's 60GB players are significantly larger than the 80GB iPod. Creative's 60GB players are even larger than the 30GB iPod.

 

[zhimbo]

Creative has nothing that compares to the 8GB Nano

Sure they do: Creative Zen V Plus 8 GB. Cheaper, more features.

It's true that the ergonomics of the iPods are very nice (well, the Shuffle is way too minimalist).

 

[Sheep]

I'd like to see WmAx's test.

Whats stopping you? Ask him.

SheepStar