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HDD Players. (Zune80 vs Archos 5 G9)

post #1 of 5
10/26/11 at 7:33pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking into getting a HDD-based player. At the moment the Zune 80 appeals to me, but I'd like to know my options.

 

I can get a Zune80 for around $100, give or take. I can also get a iPod5.5 30GB for $30 with a damaged jack (easy fix.), but I probably wont. I looked into replacement HDDs and they're severely overpriced.

 

I want to know what my options are in the $100-$150 range for HDD PMP/DAPs, or if it's worth it to save up for a iPod Classic/Archos 5 IT, or a Archos 5 G9 500GB, or if there are better options within that range.

 

Does anyone here own an Archos 5 G9 tablet? I haven't found many really concise reviews. Especially on the audio spectrum. How does it fare, SQ-wise?

 

Just as a note, I will not be amping my sources. I'm working with easily driven budget and mid-fi equipment. (Pl30, SR60i, XB500)

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post #2 of 5
10/27/11 at 8:22pm

I used to own a Zune 120 and loved it. Sold it when I stopped using Windows and got an iPod Classic. Definitely a downgrade. IMO the Zune was better than iPod in every way: SQ, interface, software. Sounded great with SR60i's. You don't really need to save up for something bigger unless you really need the extra storage space. On that note, you might check out the Cowon X7, although it's a little more than iPod Classic at $280. Cowons are supposed to have very good SQ though, plus customizable EQ and effects, which is really cool.

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post #3 of 5
10/27/11 at 8:36pm

The Archos G9 hasn't come out yet (at least not the hard disk versions that I know of...).

I have the Archos 605, Archos 7 160GB and Archos 70 Tablet (which I'm getting rid of because I don't use it).

Love the ability to have my music collection.

 

The Archos 7 is the one that I have used/use the most.

It has a "problem" though that sometimes the disc falls asleep (that's my way of putting it) and

then it cannot read any files and you have to turn it off... that's the BIGGEST negative I find on it.

This is my take on it --> http://bienvenidogeeks.blogspot.com/2009/08/archos-7-review.html

 

Remember that that one is the "oldest" generation (it didn't have Android!).

 

I think I will get the 250gb G9 (archos 80) later on (maybe next year).

 

So if you don't need more than 120gb, then you can go with the Zune.

 

Now... I have to say, Archos, being an European company, they MESS UP WITH THE VOLUME LEVELS because

of a law that they have over there so... it does goes up "loud" but not to the level of a Sony, Cowon, iPod, etc.

 

just an fyi.

 

 

Good luck!

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post #4 of 5
10/27/11 at 10:22pm
Thread Starter 
The idea of occasionally rebooting the archos 7 does not bother me. Electronics are finicky by nature and people need to accept this.

My experience with volume levels are the sine 30 and my e260 with rockbox. How does the volume compare? The pl11, 30, mx90, and ath-em7 went VERY loud with little effort from the players. I'm able to block out all ambient noise with NY pl30, which isolates significantly less than my pl11s with my volume at -30db in a school lunch room with 2-300 occupants.

Features aren't too terribly important to me. I'm a fundamentalist and a purist in many ways. I understand that no hardware or software will have kinks and am perfectly capable of researching how to make the best of design flaws in lieu of better performance. Although I roclboxed my e260, I do not use the equalizer or any effects or gapless playback. No eq is fine if the player itself is functional, has good SQ, high capacity, and battery life.
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post #5 of 5
10/28/11 at 12:25am

As far as I know, every HDD player in existence has already been mentioned. So basically it looks like your options are:

 

Zune 80 if it already meets your needs. ~$100.

 

iPod Classic, Zune 120, or X7 if you need more storage. X7: best SQ, best battery. Zune middle SQ, lowest battery and iPod lowest SQ, middle battery. (Info on X7 based on reviews, Zune and iPod I know by experience.) ~$200-300.

 

Archos if you need even more storage. Don't know much about Archos so no comment on SQ and battery. Everything's ~$300 from here on out. If I understand correctly the Archos 48 and X7 are pretty similarly priced new at least, so there isn't really a reason not to get the extra storage of the Archos, unless you care more about the praised sound quality of the Cowon.

 

There's also Archos 70 or 80, but those are full-sized tablets. Don't know if size/form factor matters to you or not. The Archos 48 and X7 share a similar small tablet type of form factor, compared to the iPod and Zune which are more of the pocketable mp3 player type of design. I guess that's everything in a nutshell. biggrin.gif


Edited by manveru - 10/28/11 at 12:53am
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