Zune hd versus s:flo2 - Page 2

not identical, it is PMP , non dual dac, etc...
and please turn off your caps lock

T51/S:Flo2 is the only player with dual dac from what i know, but i don`t know if that technology is really give huge effect to sound??

on par or better..... maybe Sony X1000 (unamp category only) , Hifiman 801, Cowon line (unamp category only), and Samsung M1/P3 is also not bad.

Definitely the s:flo2 for SQ

Well I have listened to the S9, old Zune 80, and ZHD. Comparing the Zunes I like the HD much more, the clarity from the newer Wolfson WM8352 impressed me alot coming from such a thin and light player. I even prefer the ZHD to the S9 at the stock settings, after alot of tinkering around with eq settings i know the S9 can sound better.

I can compare the Zune30, Zune16, ZuneHD and the SFLO:2

In short the SFLO:2 pretty much kills the Zune's plus pretty much every other DAP on the market as far as SQ goes. The SFLO:2 really is a marvel of SQ. I have a $20,000 home rig with a Lexicon processor, separate mono block styled amp, Anthony gallo speakers, custom cables etc.

The SFLO:2 provides as good of SQ as my home rig. It is amazing that a little 160$ device can pull that off.

But the Zune's have some of the best sound for a mass market DAP.

The ZuneHD sounds really good and warm and detailed. This player has some good hardware and is a good sounding player that would please most people.

It's issue is the EQ presets suck and there is no custom EQ. The ZuneHD lacks a little in bass and vocals are recessed. This could easily be fixed if it had a custom EQ and it could compete with the SFLO:2 but would still lose out even then. Overall though nice job from MS.

Zune16: This is a second gen flash Zune. Sounds nice and clean but sounds very flat and kind of boring. No EQ presets at all which is part of the reason.


Zune30: Sounds really good and was my main player for almost 4 years. Clean and analytical sound not very warm, pretty good details and separation.
What made this player sound great was the Acoustic EQ preset. This EQ preset was damn near perfect and made the device sound really really good. Great bass, great details nice vocals. It sounds more mechanical and less natural than the ZuneHD and has less details and not as good separation. But it has much better bass and vocal are not recessed.

The SFLO:2 is that good though if SQ is your main concern just go out and get one.
If a portable player ever comes out that sounds better than the SFLO:2 I will be amazed.