sansa clip+ vs. sony x1060

Mind is I ask whats wrong with your D2 ?

Clip+ is more on the cold side of the sound while without EQ X1060 is on the warm side of the sound. however, CLIP does not have a working EQ but you can EQ the X easy. I cannot tell you if it can drive 780 because when I still have the X I didn't have a full can to test.

Two very different DAPs. I have both. I like both. You can load 24GB (give or take) onto the 8GB Clip+ ($62 on Amazon) via 16GB micro card, but that will cost you another $45 or so. So that combo is about $110 for a very nice 24GB DAP. The Sonys are $338 for 32GB and $278 for 16GB. So the multiple is 3x not 10x.

SQ-wise, I think it depends on the phones. The CK10s I own diminish the SQ gap between the two DAPs, when I have flac files on the Clip+ and 192 and higher WMA and MP3s on the X.

EQ-wise, the Sony is a much better purchase, if you need it. I like the Clear bass in particular (the only slider I use).

As for the power to drive your phones, that I can not answer. I do have to crank both players to near max for some tracks, usually older rips with less compression in the original mastering (classic rock, for example). But with newer music, much of it mastered for loudness, that isn't the case.

Another option is to watch for Woot! sales on the Fuze, which has basically the same SQ as the Clip+. I just nabbed one for $27 (2GB) and plan on using my 16GB micro card with it.

To me, there's no contest. The sound on the Sony X series is the best I've heard on a portable media device. (That may change when I get a Nationite S:Flo though)

Clip is a good device, but the difference is substancial.

Why not wait for the Sony A840 series? It is being released very soon (today in Australia ) and has the Sony X's digital amp without all the extra features like wi fi or touchscreen that are pushing up the price. That's my strategy

I bought a Fuze with the hope it would stop my hanckerings of a X series

I still have the Fuze - which I don't use any more, and now also have an X1060 !

lol

thats true - but the X series are being heavily discounted (in UK at least)

therefore you may find a discontinued X is cheaper than a new released A ?

I used to think that the gap between the X and the Clip+ was pretty deep, but now that I started listening to flac files on the Clip+ with the CK10s, I don't feel it's as wide as before. That was my point about phones. And no EQ needed on the Clip+ for me. I think phones can make a difference is all.

I haven't tried the Clip+ but do have a Fuze - and whilst the SQ is very very good for the price (very punchy bass) - I found it sounded rather grainy

the X sounds luverly

I can listen to the X over long periods without fatigue

Can the X delete files from itself. I think the Fuze can?

No option to delete music files from X itself, except FORMAT option (LOL)

In term of SQ, i dont find X "overwhelming" or "substantially" good over my other players. Maybe my ears problem...

I have never tried the X series but i have never heard bad about it. I do however love my 4gb clip+, with 2x 8gb microsd cards with a 16gb in the mail. Just waiting for the damn 32gb to be available.