Using sure E5 in ears. Need new mp3 player that REALLY ROCKS. Which one of these?.....

Don't know much about portable gear ...yet. I have a Samsung Z5 that just died and use the Sure E5 earphones (the clear ones). I Love electronic bass music like inner party system, crystal method, m83 and heavy stuff like rammstein, dream theater, and bullet for my valentine.

I'm looking for low body shaking bass, crystal highs and killer mid-range for nice crunchy guitars:)  I would like a player that can really make me feel like I'm listening to my home system where I run a SVS pb13 ultra and Paradigm studio 100s. 

From researching should I go with:

-Cowon J3 (obviously regarded as sounding great-but read sony had better bass due to bass roll off of the cowon...true?)

-Sony X 1050 (read it has great bass and UI ok, but less file support and smaller screen)

-ipod touch (gen ?) mixed opinion on sound quality but great UI and other neat stuff

-other recommendations?

I do need to keep it to $300

Thanks in advance

Looks like a nice piece. Have you heard the J3 in comparison? Or, how the screen compares?

Any reason to get a 32gb J3 over the 8 or 16gb  when they all accept the mini sd cards for expansion?

I currently have both the itouch 4g and J3 in hand, along with the Sennheiser ie8 and Shure E5c. Spent a few hours last night checking it all out. I must say the ie8s are fresh out du box...so most listening to compare the players was on the E5c which I've had for a few years, but i did compare listen to the ie8s some even though thy were not burnt in... I had too!

First impression with the itouch really surprised me to be honest, more on that in a sec. The J3, along with the itouch, were decent with no sound enhancements/EQ. On the J3, BBE and jeteffect EQ were very impressive when applied. Nothing sounded artificial and no inherent over the top effects making the preset EQs childish or over the top apparent (excluding the last two in case someone is looking for that I guess).  Nearly every preset (of which there are numerous) represented well, with serious though obviously placed into each one of them. Most presets on EQs I've owned and sampled usually sound very lacking in one, or most areas. Nearly every preset on the J was really great and sounded better than the 30 seconds I played with the custom EQ setting.   The custom user EQ ( total of 4) for you to save, seem almost infinite with sound configuration. With time you could really dial in these (4) custom sets to keep you satisfied with your favorite bands/ genres/ moods/ etc. I almost think I would need to brush up on frequency response to understand the array of influence each band has available in itself. BUT! There is always a but! The problem I'm seeing with the J3 is that when using the BBE/ jeteffect EQ (which really powers this sound machine) it produces what I feel is a lot of noise. The noise is most notable during moments the player is not playing a track when transitioning to the next song, or when you pause a track. It's not really that noticeable when a track is kicking, but when the music stops...the shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh was quite annoying and unexpected. Any suggestions?

Now, the ipod touch. I must admit, I really didn't want to like it. But what can I say, I DO. I immediately noticed that most of the EQ setting were not for me, but as I scrolled through the available selection there were about 3 that really made me start rethinking the ipod. Everything was there, the bass slam I love, nice highs and mids for cymbals and the guitar seem the reach right out and immediately engage me, grab me slap me around a bit. It was competing right along side of my favorites on the J3, and seriously at that. As before, I was not expecting this player to sound as good as it does for other reviews here. The ipod was also extremely quite with no noise when the EQ is engaged or any other time.

At this point, with only hours with the players my impressions are:

-The J3 has double the preset EQs plus endless possibilities with the user EQs that all sound good. ( I will most likely use 1 or 2 of the presets and leave it)

-The J3 has more headroom and can go to db I don't want to, even though I love it loud

-The J3 is producing noise along with the great sounding EQs(more subtle during playback, incredibly obvious at idle)

-The J3s screen is super colorful 

-I love the buttons on the outside so I don't have to use the screen to change the track if I don't want to

-Not a fan of the plastic feel

-Like knowing I can expand up to 64gb with the micro sd 

- It was awesome to just dump the tracks from the computer to the J3- it was that simple

-The ipod has way less EQ options, but iso4 gives a few that equal the J3. After hours of A/B the same tracks I could not choose one player over the other.

-The ipod UI is so killer. The J3s is nice, but the ipods is addicting. 

- itunes, well we all know what come along with that.

This player does not have the headroom the J3 has. I Love my jams loud and that being said, the touch volume is great, no more db needed. I have spent 20 years behind a drum kit and at its max is still its more than I even feel comfortable using.

-With using the line out through USB to and an amp, It could decrease the space between it and some of the J3s EQ options. ( Have read an amp and the J3 don't mix well together. Just curious if the 4g and amp could possibly trump the J3s audio. They are pretty much neck and neck with me. Yes, I'm still surprised at this. Any comments from you guys running amps with the touch???

- I did like cruising the net while listening

-I like all the other options/apps that this thing can do. I was really looking for audio quality player over anything else. I didn't even know what an app did...I came from a samsung Z5. Didn't realize how powerful this thing could be

-This thing is built like a tank.

-Wish it had an sd port

Ultimately I am looking for the best sound with an easy to use UI. The J3 has more options in EQ but the itouch sounds on par using the E5 and the ie8. I will be doing more listening today for a fresh approach.

After some dedicated listening, I find of course the J3 is producing bass better than the ipod. Other than that...I can't really say anything else about the sound, honestly. I do like being able to change up the EQ more often. I like the buttons on the J3 to change songs without looking at the screen and the sd slot. It also plays nice with the PS3.  I like the ipod because it really does sound good, UI is soooo great plus all it's other capabilities. I would like to experience the touch LOD with a ibasso T3, total bithead, icon mobile, or headsix amp. Or I could just keep the J3 for riding my bike and return the itouch and let my wife get me an ipad for Christmas. Not that's an idea! Unless you consider the Notion ink Adam. Wonder if the Adam will be ready in December?   I also find I'm really liking the Senn ie8s as well. Its been an experience using them along side the Shure E5.

J3 seems to have mounds of bass with the ie8. The E5 is also impressive but the ie8 bass seems more encompassing with a little more slam and overall body. Just curious how the ie8s are after a hundred hours or so. I've read they will be even better.