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Creative Zen Vision:M or iPod 30GB

post #1 of 23
12/20/06 at 10:24pm
Thread Starter 
I am wondering which is better? (both are same price at my local stores)

Creative Zen Vision:M 30GB
http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zenvisionm/

Or the new iPod 30GB?
http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html


Which has better sound quality?
screen?
picture/video quality?
overall?

Which one would you pick?

Thanks
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post #2 of 23
12/20/06 at 11:05pm
Which has better sound quality?

ZVM

screen?

ZVM

picture/video quality?

ZVM

overall?

Depends on how much you value iTunes (zero value in my case as I won't buy DRM tracks locked to a specific manufacturer) and the slightly superior user interface on the iPod, but in most other respects the Zen is a better player. It's also slightly thicker but compensates with better battery life.

Which one would you pick?

I'm sure you can guess...
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post #3 of 23
12/20/06 at 11:43pm
Love my ZVM....however, if you do decide to get it...get a Best Skin Ever or Invisibleshield. The coating on the ZVM is awful and scratches really easy.
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post #4 of 23
12/21/06 at 12:43am
Agreed with above. Plus the ZVM is $200 right now at circuit city.
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post #5 of 23
12/21/06 at 1:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ILikeMusic View Post
Which has better sound quality?

ZVM

screen?

ZVM

picture/video quality?

ZVM

overall?

Depends on how much you value iTunes (zero value in my case as I won't buy DRM tracks locked to a specific manufacturer) and the slightly superior user interface on the iPod, but in most other respects the Zen is a better player. It's also slightly thicker but compensates with better battery life.

Which one would you pick?

I'm sure you can guess...
I agree with that, except I find the ZVM interface superior to the iPod interface. I had the 5G 30GB iPod before I got my ZVM and there's no way I'm going back. ZVM FTW!
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post #6 of 23
12/21/06 at 1:15am
Thread Starter 
I've never seen anyone with a ZVM but numerous people with the new ipod. so I thought the new ipod is superior to the ZMV.

BTW, is there an advantage of video formats to each player? So you can put avi files on the ZMV but not the ipod?

Also, does the ZMV have the headphone jack problem that I had with my Zen micro?
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post #7 of 23
12/22/06 at 8:00am
no, it's very sturdy on the ZVM
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post #8 of 23
12/22/06 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amuse View Post
I've never seen anyone with a ZVM but numerous people with the new ipod. so I thought the new ipod is superior to the ZMV.
How many people do you think do their research before they buy a product? Very many just buy an iPod because it's an iPod. I guarantee you a vast majority of iPod users do not even know what the Zen Vision:M is.

I'd say the ZVM is superior in all manners except accessory availability and compactness.
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post #9 of 23
12/22/06 at 8:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3X0 View Post
How many people do you think do their research before they buy a product? Very many just buy an iPod because it's an iPod. I guarantee you a vast majority of iPod users do not even know what the Zen Vision:M is.

I'd say the ZVM is superior in all manners except accessory availability and compactness.
I agree, and that's why I bought it.
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post #10 of 23
12/22/06 at 11:04pm
ZVM for the win, i just bought one, i am really impressed, this thing plays videos, converts videos (if need be), can show television, movies, etc, the screen interface is very smooth and really colorful, you have like 6 or so interfaces/colors you can choose as your background, you can add photos, etc it's really easy to use, i didn't even read the book (actually i never read the book, i like to have a go at it first without help), it has radio, what more could you ask for? The ZVM also won a few awards if that counts for anything...i never understood why people want ipod when it lacks features other players have and it's more expensive with less features! It's a very limited player imo, unless of course you're not into all that, then i could understand...ZVM is simply the challenger to iPod imo
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post #11 of 23
12/23/06 at 12:09am
Which has better sound quality?

I did a blind abx test (which I doubt most people have done) and discovered that when not EQed the Creative and iPod have the same SQ. Although if you are going to us EQ then Creative has better SQ.

screen?

The Vision M hands down. It has a 262,144 color screen vs the iPods 65k. Both have 320x240 resolution. Although The iPod is easier to see in sun light than the Vision M.

picture/video quality?

See above answer.

overall?

The advantages of the iPod are gapless/ itunes (smart playlist)/ lossless support
The advantage of the Vision M are FM/ more codec support for video/ custom EQ

So that really boils down to personal preferance.

Which one would you pick?

I'll be purchasing an 80gb iPod because of gapless playback, the space, itunes (smart playlist specifcally) and also I could really care less about an FM tuner (radio by me is horrible)....

Both are really good players with nice specs. I just think that getting a player without gapless is taking a step back.... but that's my opinion.
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post #12 of 23
12/23/06 at 12:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digitalbath3737 View Post
Which has better sound quality?

Both are really good players with nice specs. I just think that getting a player without gapless is taking a step back.... but that's my opinion.

Why is gapless so important? Gapless means zero time in between tracks correct?

With my Zen the time between tracks is very short/ .5 second or less. Are people that impatient?
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post #13 of 23
12/23/06 at 12:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by GreatDane View Post
Why is gapless so important? Gapless means zero time in between tracks correct?

With my Zen the time between tracks is very short/ .5 second or less. Are people that impatient?
It has nothing to do with being impatient. It's about hearing the music the way it's meant to be heard. I'm going to assume that you don't listen to live music, electronic or albums that are supposed to be gapless (mars volta for example)?

Gapless
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post #14 of 23
12/23/06 at 1:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Digitalbath3737 View Post
It has nothing to do with being impatient. It's about hearing the music the way it's meant to be heard. I'm going to assume that you don't listen to live music, electronic or albums that are supposed to be gapless (mars volta for example)?

Gapless
I use *random play all* with my DAP mostly. The only live music I listen to is from DVD concerts that I transfer and fade in>out in the process.
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post #15 of 23
12/23/06 at 3:46am
Wait, ZVM has no gapless? Weak. Happy I kept my V instead of returning it.
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