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Best sound quality? (details inside)

post #1 of 24
10/6/08 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 
I was considering a 16gb Cowon D2, but I read it has a cold, unnatural sound without effects or an amp (neither of which I intend to use). I'm already getting a 4gb Sansa Clip as a "beater" player, but I was wondering if there is something similar to the D2 in features/formats/battery life (of course the battery life won't be able to match up, though) with equal or better sound quality, but with a warmer, more natural sound. I listen to mostly rock, but I listen to pretty much everything. Some of my music is also very complex and distorted (i.e. Dinosaur Jr.). I'm currently using Skullcandy FMJ's, but I'm hoping to upgrade to SA6's (or maybe Grado SR225's) in a few months.

Thank you so much to any help given!
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post #2 of 24
10/6/08 at 6:32pm
Sound quality is subjective. Try the Sony range, iPods, actually try the D2. Just try as many as you can and make up your mind that way! Lots of people on here don't rate the iPod touch, but I love it!

(I'm not a fan of Cowon, I had the X5 and it did sound a little unnatural and processed to me)
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post #3 of 24
10/6/08 at 7:08pm
Cowon iAudio 7 and iRiver Clix 2 have supposedly better overall SQ
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post #4 of 24
10/6/08 at 7:12pm
I'm partial to the Sony players, though my Touch 2G has such clean sound. It really is amazing. Still like the D2 though, but the interface is a turn-off after using the Touch for awhile, SQ is great still.
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post #5 of 24
10/6/08 at 7:29pm
Personally I like the sounds of Sony or Samsung players. The Sonys in particular sound very warm and pleasing, but still very detailed and have incredible bass. But they do hiss, which can bug some people.
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post #6 of 24
10/6/08 at 7:56pm
Thread Starter 
I checked out the Clix 2 and it looks pretty nice. Does it have any outstanding issues or bugs?

And does anyone have any idea how the Cowon S9 is supposed to sound? It looks amazing, but unless it has a warm, natural sound I won't be buying it at release (or at all).
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post #7 of 24
10/6/08 at 8:15pm
+1 for iRiver.

I had the iRiver H3xx series and the H1xx series I believe (the one with the joystick) and they had GREAT sound quality.

I'm thinking about purchasing another iRiver.
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post #8 of 24
10/6/08 at 8:25pm
Thread Starter 
I also noticed the Clix 2 plays WAV but not FLAC. What's the file size difference between the two?
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post #9 of 24
10/6/08 at 9:11pm
Thread Starter 
I am now looking for something with the same sound, sound quality, and (for the most part) features as the Clix 2, but it has to support FLAC.
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post #10 of 24
10/6/08 at 10:05pm
Still wondering why a device with no EQ is automatically 'cold' sounding. Every time I've tried using an EQ on any audio component, the quality drops and it sounds 'unnatural' (zing!).

As to player suggestions, if you have to have an EQ you'd probly be best off with a Sony.
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post #11 of 24
10/6/08 at 10:17pm
Thread Starter 
I don't need an EQ. In fact, I'd like to not have to use one. I want the player to have amazing sound quality that sounds similar to the Clix 2 without any EQ'ing required. The Clix 2 WOULD be perfect, but I'd rather have support for FLAC than it's space-hungry brother, WAV.
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post #12 of 24
10/7/08 at 4:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by i_don't_know View Post
I don't need an EQ. In fact, I'd like to not have to use one. I want the player to have amazing sound quality that sounds similar to the Clix 2 without any EQ'ing required. The Clix 2 WOULD be perfect, but I'd rather have support for FLAC than it's space-hungry brother, WAV.
Zune is amazing without eq, treble extends forever and the bass has awesome texture. Truly my #1 in sound with the new touch being a very close second. No flac though.
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post #13 of 24
10/7/08 at 4:17pm
Thread Starter 
So I guess if I want lossless in the kind of player I'm looking for, I'd have to go with WAV? How much WAV encoded music could I fit in 1gb (just so I have something to go by)?

EDIT: Nevermind, I looked it up, and it's ridiculous. 6 hours on 4gb. I NEED FLAC support.
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post #14 of 24
10/7/08 at 4:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by i_don't_know View Post
So I guess if I want lossless in the kind of player I'm looking for, I'd have to go with WAV? How much WAV encoded music could I fit in 1gb (just so I have something to go by)?

EDIT: Nevermind, I looked it up, and it's ridiculous. 6 hours on 4gb. I NEED FLAC support.
cowon players do flac like the d2, or the sansa fuse with the new firmware. zune does wma lossless.
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post #15 of 24
10/7/08 at 4:38pm
just rerip your flac to wma lossless.. same compression rate (take a grain of salt) and practically the same size. Still lossless.

I'm loving my zune 120 right now. Couldn't get any better if you don't mind the lack of EQ. But the zune sounds amazing though.

btw the clip's SQ is amazing. good choice for a beater player.
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