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Sony NWZ-X1051 or Apple iPod Touch 32 GB Version

post #1 of 13
10/31/10 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking to purchase either the Sony NWZ-X1051 or the Apple iPod Touch 32 GB version this week to replace my dead Sansa Clip Plus and I really want a touch screen music player. At Frys Electronics, they have the NWZ-X1051 for about $259 and for the iPod Touch I will be ordering it at amazon.com at their current price if I decide to get one. I also have the Denon AH-C710 earphones. I listen to MP3s at 320 kbps and I really don't mind switching over to AAC codec from Apple. Here are my requirements:

  1. Must have excellent audio quality.
  2. Solid build quality.
  3. Must be portable to take to the gym.
  4. Very good battery life.
  5. Apps would be also nice.

 

There are armbands for the iPod touch, thats a plus for me taking it to the gym, but I don't think that there are armbands for the the Sony NWZ-X1051.

Which music device would be better for me; the Sony or the iPod Touch and why?
 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sony Walkman X Series (X1051 & X1061) 16GB & 32GB Video MP3 Player Silicone...
post #2 of 13
10/31/10 at 4:26pm

1: Both are equal, but the Sony has a slightly better EQ w/custom settings + great bass.

2: The Sony is rock solid, but the iPod touch is no slouch either - I like the touch myself.

3: Both are equal in this aspect, but I'd get a case no matter what, and the touch's back IS a scratch magnet.

4:Equal IMO.

5: As you should know by now, only the touch can help you there - unless you consider Slacker an app worth getting the Sony for, considering that the touch does Slacker & Pandora as well.

 

I vote touch, as a former X-1061 & touch owner. I hope I may have helped a bit, YMMV.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by kage View Post

I'm looking to purchase either the Sony NWZ-X1051 or the Apple iPod Touch 32 GB version this week to replace my dead Sansa Clip Plus and I really want a touch screen music player. At Frys Electronics, they have the NWZ-X1051 for about $259 and for the iPod Touch I will be ordering it at amazon.com at their current price if I decide to get one. I also have the Denon AH-C710 earphones. I listen to MP3s at 320 kbps and I really don't mind switching over to AAC codec from Apple. Here are my requirements:

  1. Must have excellent audio quality.
  2. Solid build quality.
  3. Must be portable to take to the gym.
  4. Very good battery life.
  5. Apps would be also nice.

 

There are armbands for the iPod touch, thats a plus for me taking it to the gym, but I don't think that there are armbands for the the Sony NWZ-X1051.

Which music device would be better for me; the Sony or the iPod Touch and why?
 

Reply
post #3 of 13
10/31/10 at 6:27pm

^^ I would agree. There are tradeoffs to both players, but if you want to use at a gym, you might consider something smaller anyway. The touch is quite heavy and the X isn't small. both will weigh down your gym shorts quite a bit and in worst case, get damaged by sweat. I'd opt for a shuffle or a gumstick sony instead for just sport use.

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post #4 of 13
10/31/10 at 8:03pm

True, even a Sansa clip/clip+ for the gym.

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post #5 of 13
10/31/10 at 9:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nywytboy68 View Post

True, even a Sansa clip/clip+ for the gym.


I had a Sansa Clip+ for over year and recently disposed of it two weeks ago, because the battery couldn't hold a charge more than 35 minutes and sometimes it randomly powers off.

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post #6 of 13
11/1/10 at 6:02am

which is exactly why one should invest in one over an iPod touch or Sony X for use at a gym. If that happens to a 200$ or 300$ player, you'll really feel rotten. For gym use, I'd keep it simple and cheap. I use an iPod shuffle for exercise.

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post #7 of 13
11/1/10 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 

I decided to get the iPod Touch and will be getting the iPod Nano next month. I really don't mind the music the gym plays. The iPod Touch will be my home player and the Nano that I will be getting next month will be strictly used for the gym.

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post #8 of 13
11/8/10 at 5:45pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kage View Post

I decided to get the iPod Touch and will be getting the iPod Nano next month. I really don't mind the music the gym plays. The iPod Touch will be my home player and the Nano that I will be getting next month will be strictly used for the gym.


I ended up selling my one week old iPod Touch 4G two days ago on ebay for very close to the retail price. I could of returned it to the Apple Store, but they charge restocking fees and I only return items if they are defective. The reasons why I sold my iPod Touch are:

1. I will never use most of the features on it.

2. I did not like audio quality on them. It lacked bass and had a very shallow soundstage. I did not use the Apple earphones that came with it, I used my Denon AH-C710 earphones. As most people here will say that Apple is not focusing on audio quality anymore, just only features.

3. I prefer the physical control buttons instead of touch screen.

 

Yesterday, I bought the Sony NWZ-S545 for under $90 before sales tax at Best Buy (price matched Fry's price) and I like it better than iPod Touch. The audio quality on the NWZ-S545 outperforms the iPod Touch on every aspect. Again I used my Denon AH-C710 earphones. The only thing that I don't like about the NWZ-S545 is the minor light leakage on the right side edge on the screen, but I really don't care about it because it occurs on most TN panel LCD screens of some degree and I wouldn't look at the screen when the music is playing.

 

The Sony NWZ-S545 is my choice in-home portable music player. Now its time to for me to research a gym music player.

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post #9 of 13
11/9/10 at 5:50pm


How amazing how we all perceive things differently. I owned Sony, Cowon, and Sansa players and always avoided Apple products mainly because of biases against the company. But curiosity got the best of me and this week I got myself a Ipod Touch 4G.

So far I am really impressed by the player and particularly the SQ. The first thing I noticed and liked was the solid bass and 3D soundstage (compared to the S9). Go figure??? 

Originally Posted by kage View Post




I ended up selling my one week old iPod Touch 4G two days ago on ebay for very close to the retail price. I could of returned it to the Apple Store, but they charge restocking fees and I only return items if they are defective. The reasons why I sold my iPod Touch are:

1. I will never use most of the features on it.

2. I did not like audio quality on them. It lacked bass and had a very shallow soundstage. I did not use the Apple earphones that came with it, I used my Denon AH-C710 earphones. As most people here will say that Apple is not focusing on audio quality anymore, just only features.

3. I prefer the physical control buttons instead of touch screen.

 

Yesterday, I bought the Sony NWZ-S545 for under $90 before sales tax at Best Buy (price matched Fry's price) and I like it better than iPod Touch. The audio quality on the NWZ-S545 outperforms the iPod Touch on every aspect. Again I used my Denon AH-C710 earphones. The only thing that I don't like about the NWZ-S545 is the minor light leakage on the right side edge on the screen, but I really don't care about it because it occurs on most TN panel LCD screens of some degree and I wouldn't look at the screen when the music is playing.

 

The Sony NWZ-S545 is my choice in-home portable music player. Now its time to for me to research a gym music player.

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post #10 of 13
11/10/10 at 4:59am

I had a Sony X1050, sold it, used the Clip+ for a while, started to miss the X's sq and re-bought it. smily_headphones1.gif Best sq from a DAP I've heard so far (I've heard every DAP but the Sflo2 and Hifiman).

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post #11 of 13
11/10/10 at 5:12am

impossible to go wrong with SonyX....no match for it right now, at least to my 40 yrs old ears..

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post #12 of 13
11/10/10 at 12:41pm

@Negakinu- that's good to hear.  I know the battery (non-replaceable) was a bit of an issue, so I made sure to get a new one.  I was wondering what you would get as a replacement.  You went back to the X! 

 

Are you going to be interested in the 160GB Cowon X7?  It's big, but will all that storage and an EQ... 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Negakinu View Post

I had a Sony X1050, sold it, used the Clip+ for a while, started to miss the X's sq and re-bought it. smily_headphones1.gif Best sq from a DAP I've heard so far (I've heard every DAP but the Sflo2 and Hifiman).

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post #13 of 13
11/10/10 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CEE TEE View Post

@Negakinu- that's good to hear.  I know the battery (non-replaceable) was a bit of an issue, so I made sure to get a new one.  I was wondering what you would get as a replacement.  You went back to the X! 

 

Are you going to be interested in the 160GB Cowon X7?  It's big, but will all that storage and an EQ... 

Quote:

 

The X7 isn't very interesting to me. Too bulky, low res screen and I don't care about all that storage. 16gb 320kbps now is enough for me, makes me appreciate the few albums on my player better. Too much choice keeps me from choosing. smily_headphones1.gif Actually, I think 32gb of lossless albums on a DAP is the sweet spot. 
 

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sony Walkman X Series (X1051 & X1061) 16GB & 32GB Video MP3 Player Silicone...
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