best standalone MP3 player with good EQ flexibility - Page 2

I am also looking for an MP3 player with the warmest "tube like" sound and a good EQ. I don't need video either. Any suggestions?

You might want to try Sony X1000 series.

Sansa Clip + with rockbox and a 32 gb sd card...

+1 on that.

 

Clip+ is very hard to beat for straight up music playing especially with the EQ options rockbox brings.

 

 

 

^What they said!!!^

I have not rockboxed my Clip Zip but the stock sound with out any EQ is night and day from my Sony X1060 using my JH13pro.  I found the Clip Zip to sound a little too closed in and lack resolution with an emphasis on bass next to the X walkman.  My IEM of choice is the JH13pro.  The X1060+JH13pro is a great combo when going ampless.  Of course the Clip Zip is a screaming bargain for its asking price.

no player should need EQ to sound good, EQ only adds distortion

But what's wrong with EQ in general if it's utilized correctly. Frankly I very rarely use EQ with anything other than the SE530's. I use a rockboxed clip myself and I like to nudge up the bass and treble by 4dB when I use my SE530's to give the sound a little more energy. It's only when the EQ is crap on the player it probably shouldn't be used (then again most pmp's on the planet have crap EQ).

 

From a scientific point of view all sound is distortion. There's no reason to not EQ if it sounds better to the user.

That's a falsehood. A quality device with a quality eq will make the music sound they way you like WITHOUT adding distortion. Look at the Cowom players, Sony, Rockboxed players. All are examples of devices with excellent eq's and sound enhancement features.

Don't state a fallacy,...an eq is just fine to use. Even my fav amp, the portable subwoofer - Digizoid ZO - sounds amazing with NO distortion.

Sorry, don't agree and never will, I always think if eq is needed for playback there is a

weakness in the system somewhere, very few excellent amplifiers have tone controls for

a reason.

 

I've been mainly a 2 channel loudspeaker listener for 30 years, and aside from having

rarely used HD600s and X-Cans, I'm quite new to the whole portable audio thing, so maybe my

tastes and goal are different?

 

My HM-601 sounds better with EQ off, my Graham Slee Voyager sounds incredible flat,

with Contour switch on it is ruined.

The recording and mastering are what they are, I accept their sound for what it is.

 

I totally admit when I was younger I've loved the treble up, but when I started

to listen to music (and write/play/record music) I realised getting the source right is

all important, get the sound you want from the beginning, then you don't have to add

the distortion of equalising.

 

Every recording has already been eq'd, if the bass doesn't make your flares flap

it's because the artist and producer wants it that way.

 

BUT each to their own and I accept that if we all liked the same thing the world

would be a boring place!

You have a right to disagree, but don't state your OPINION as a FACT. That's seeding false information. Your reality is not the same as everyone else's,...THAT'S a FACT!!!

 

Besides, as "every recording has already been equalized", who says I want to listen to what the audio engineer has deemed as sounding good. That's not "as the artist intended", as seems to be the popular argument. Most artists don't have a hand in mastering,... Therefore, EQ is necessary to get music to sound the I like. 

 

And an equalizer on a quality device, or incorporated into a high quality and costly system, can vastly IMPROVE the music we hear. And used correctly, and sometimes sparingly, will NOT distort.

 

Have a lovely day,...

Edited by nywytboy68 - 3/19/12 at 1:47pm

You should try Sony nwz-e345/e445 which is one of the warmest dap i heard, but still have lot of details. The only thing I don't like is closed presentation.

You don't have such airy presentation as from Sony X1050

 

btw Sansa clip+ isn't the warmest dap I've heard... rather one of the most balanced

 

and something for frequency responce freaks

 

 

 

Edited by Arthass - 3/26/12 at 12:39pm