Hello Everyone!
I just joined this forum today after reading through a lot of the great information here! Now my question is this:
Which is the best audio player for under $300?
The reason for the price limitation is that I'm in college so I have very very limited funds. The device I am currently using right now is a iPod Video 5G with a pair of Shure SE315 IEMs. The headphone jack on the iPod is breaking and the battery has a very short life even after a full charge. So as a result, I decided my money would be better invested in a new player.
I've read mixed reviews of the new iPod Classic 6.5G ranging from decent audio quality to lacking in comparison to the iPod Video 5.5G. I've looked at the Cowon J3 player as well but the thing thats worrying me about the Cowon is how finicky the player is with Mac OS X. As for Sony's Walkman X 32gb it seems like a good option but the cost of $400 is a little much for me. I want to see if you guys had any opinions on a good player.
My main criteria for the player would be the following:
- Under or Around $300 (Wouldn't care too much if its over but just try to keep it under $400)
- Good Sound Quality for use with my Shure SE315 and possible future upgrades.
- Support for FLAC and/or ALAC files
- MAC OSX Support (A Big One)
- Good Battery Life
- Large Capacity for Lossless Files (16gb or Over)
Ideally I would like to keep this as just a player and IEM sort of deal, meaning I'd like to avoid using an external amp if at all possible.
One final mention is that I would like to have the best sound quality possible for the price range and capacity. I really don't need frills like internet, video or games. My sole use for the device is listening to music and nothing else.
Thank you all for your help and I look forward to becoming a member of this great community!!
-Kevin
