Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › Upgrading from Creative Zen
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Upgrading from Creative Zen

post #1 of 11
5/14/11 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 

Hello,

I currently have a Creative Zen 8GB that has 2 main problems for me
- space is not enough, it has a SD card slot yes which sucks cause there's no integration with internal memory library and I think I've been waiting enough for Creative to not fix a bug, created on purpose to sell higher capacity players.

- doesn't seem like the output power is that good, for example I tried to use an headphone with 32OHM and 120db for sensitivity and I'm usually at 90-100% volume and I don't hear music at high volumes at all. I have the US firmware so no EU limits. Audio quality is very good instead.

 

 

I looking to buy a replacement that must have the following characteristics:
- MP3, FLAC, AAC support

- 20h+ battery life
- SD expandable or 16GB+ of space

- great audio quality with EQ and that can drive EASILY 32 - 64 OHM headphones with sensitivity from 100dB without amps

- sleep timer, I usually listen to music in bed and on the zen I like that I set it to power off automatically after 30 minutes that I don't press any button

optional:

- internet AAC/MP3 stream over wifi

 

 

I was looking at the Sansa Fuze+ that seems very popular around here and the price is soo low compared to the storage I could get. What worries me is audio quality and output power, and what exactly does SanDisk as a memory company know about audio quality and DACs? Plus could the fuze+ drive an HP like the HifiMan RE2?

 

Could we exclude the Creative series due to the low output power or the new models are better? Consider that I bought the Zen in 2008.

 

I usually listen to internet streams with my mobile and this feature included in the portable player would be amazing but I doubt I'll find something for about $150 (8gb + 16gb card).

 

Other players to suggest?

 

thanks

 


 

 

 

 

Reply
post #2 of 11
5/14/11 at 2:48pm

You may want to reconsider Creative.  Their Zen Touch-2 8gb android device is $140, and does everything you want except EQ. Sounds great out of the box though. There are plenty of android apps for internet streams available.

 

The lack of EQ bothers me too, but as I said it sounds pretty good without one.  There is always the chance they'll add that feature in an update since their earlier ZEN players have them. 

 

My review of the version with GPS and FM radio: HERE

 

4D


Edited by 4DThinker - 5/14/11 at 2:49pm
Reply
post #3 of 11
5/15/11 at 7:45am
Thread Starter 

the Zen Touch 2 looks more like a mistake than a product. still using resistive touch?

 

What about the quality on the new Nokia phones? Like N8

Reply
post #4 of 11
5/17/11 at 3:33am
The idea of it not having an EQ appeals to me.
Reply
post #5 of 11
5/17/11 at 6:04am

How about a Cowon S9 or J3? They both have good EQ which can be tweaked so that the players sound very good. My S9 has got no problems with my Sennheiser HD25 1:II (70 Ohm/120dB).

 

The S9 is a bit older than the J3 and can be found for relatively low prices. Looking at Amazon, the 16GB model costs $170. The 32GB model around $245.

You can get the J3 for around $180 (8GB), $209 (16GB) or $273 (32GB). The J3 is MicroSD expandable, so in theory you can get a 64GB J3.

Reply
post #6 of 11
5/17/11 at 6:33am

S9 and J3 are great players.  They don't have WiFi though. S9 doesn't have MicroSD slot.

 

Other Wifi enabled players include the Archos gen8 line.  From 2.8 inch screens to 10.1.  My favorite is the Archos 43it.  Here is my review of the 32it.  Great codec support.  Android 2.2. Hackable for the Android market/Google apps, and you can add the Amazon app store easily.  Already includes Appslib market.

Reply
post #7 of 11
5/17/11 at 6:58am
Thread Starter 

how's the audio quality on the 32it?

Reply
post #8 of 11
5/18/11 at 3:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by -sandro- View Post

how's the audio quality on the 32it?

Mine aren't a reference set of ears anymore, but it holds its own so long as great headphones are used.  Keep your receipt just in case.

 

 

Reply
post #9 of 11
5/18/11 at 4:24am

Do you know if Spotify works with the Zen Touch? If not, does the normal android mobile apps with version 2.2 work with the Zen touch?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by 4DThinker View Post

You may want to reconsider Creative.  Their Zen Touch-2 8gb android device is $140, and does everything you want except EQ. Sounds great out of the box though. There are plenty of android apps for internet streams available.

 

The lack of EQ bothers me too, but as I said it sounds pretty good without one.  There is always the chance they'll add that feature in an update since their earlier ZEN players have them. 

 

My review of the version with GPS and FM radio: HERE

 

4D


 

 

Reply
post #10 of 11
5/18/11 at 5:58am

Can't report on Spotify, but I see no reason it wouldn 't run if it's an android app that runs on android 2.2. So far any other app I've installed works fine, although with the screen some aren't worth trying.  No multitouch is my biggest gripe right now.

Reply
post #11 of 11
6/13/11 at 2:18pm
Thread Starter 

Is the creative touch 2 also hackable? did 2.2 bring something more?

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Portable Source Gear
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Portable Source Gear › Upgrading from Creative Zen