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Good portable player with line out?

post #1 of 15
9/4/12 at 2:00pm
Thread Starter 

I'm looking to upgrade from my phone (Windows Phone with 8gb internal and 16gb MicroSD, takes up to 32 but I'll fill that up quickyl too so I wanna get a dedicated player) to a good portable media player, maybe for <$150 or so. I could use a Zune 80/120, but I'm worried about having a line out for if I want an amp later on, and I'd like a good DAC too. I know of the Fostex HP-P1 and iPod Classic, but I want something now and I can't afford $250 for an iPod Classic right now, and all the used ones are not that great (lots of scratches dents etc) and that combined with having to switch to iTunes (and convert my library) makes me want to look elsewhere if possible.

 

Anyone know any good FLAC (or WMAL) players that have lots of storage, above 64GB (like 80/120/160) and/or can take a large memory card? I think the HM-801 can only take 32gb sd cards, and I'd like to keep everything on one. I know there's the Cowon X7, but that doesn't have a line out. Does amping out of the headphone jack really work as well as people say it does on that? Would it be good enough to drive headphones anyway? I'll probably want some decent full size headphones soon, i.e. M50s, Philips Fidelio (whatever they were), Koss PortaPros or something else foldable or that I can keep around my neck.

 

Thanks for any help guys!


Edited by jtaylor991 - 9/4/12 at 2:01pm
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post #2 of 15
9/7/12 at 10:47pm

I recently bought an x7 to upgrade from a 4th Gen iPod Touch. It is driving a pair of Akg 550's & seems to do so just fine, I compared it with the Akai amp that drives the bookshelves in my room and couldn't find a really noticeable difference. Personally though I am struggling with this player, the sound is clear and expansive but i also find it really bright and thin. Even with the EQ dropping out much of the highs, lowering the mids and raising the sub-bass it still feels cold and thin. I posted a thread looking for something else but no replies yet (http://www.head-fi.org/t/626225/so-i-dont-like-the-x7-any-other-suggestions). 

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post #3 of 15
9/7/12 at 11:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Venasa View Post

I recently bought an x7 to upgrade from a 4th Gen iPod Touch. It is driving a pair of Akg 550's & seems to do so just fine, I compared it with the Akai amp that drives the bookshelves in my room and couldn't find a really noticeable difference. Personally though I am struggling with this player, the sound is clear and expansive but i also find it really bright and thin. Even with the EQ dropping out much of the highs, lowering the mids and raising the sub-bass it still feels cold and thin. I posted a thread looking for something else but no replies yet (http://www.head-fi.org/t/626225/so-i-dont-like-the-x7-any-other-suggestions). 

 

So you've tried using the Mach3Bass then?

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post #4 of 15
9/8/12 at 7:46am

Yeah, Kills the mids even more... I have a bearable personal set up, so ill either get used to it or fold and buy something else soon 

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post #5 of 15
9/8/12 at 7:58am

I highly recommend the Sansa Clip+ with rockboxed firmware.

 

It can accept a micro memory card of up to 32GB.

 

It can drive headphones of middle impedance such as my DT1350 (80 Ohms) easily without the need for another bulky "portable" amp.

 

FLAC files sound marvellous on this little player. 

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post #6 of 15
9/8/12 at 10:44am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Soth View Post

I highly recommend the Sansa Clip+ with rockboxed firmware.

 

It can accept a micro memory card of up to 32GB.

 

It can drive headphones of middle impedance such as my DT1350 (80 Ohms) easily without the need for another bulky "portable" amp.

 

FLAC files sound marvellous on this little player. 

I have about 50gb of FLAC though, so 32 won't cut it, and I've used ~20gb downconverting to 320kbps for my phone, and there's 29 albums I haven't converted yet, so 32 just won't do it (or at least last long enough) unfortunately :(

Thanks though

 

And OK that experience combined with my skeptiscism for driving power from the X7 i'll stay away from it too. I might just get an iPode but I don't really wanna use iTunes, and I can't rockbox the 160gb ones. This sucks :/

maybe use MediaMonkey? I'd still have to convert to ALAC though (the 320kbps conversion is done on the fly in Zune straight to my phone)


Edited by jtaylor991 - 9/8/12 at 10:45am
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post #7 of 15
9/8/12 at 12:53pm

Now I don't really like Apple, but a CF or SSD modded ipod video running Rockbox would suit your needs. 

 

If you go down this route, get the 80GB version for its guts as it supports larger storage capacity and get a 30GB bodyshell, as it is thinner and you dont need the extra space with cf or ssd mod. With Rockbox you wont need itunes anymore.

 

And they are all scratched because they just scratch so easily. 

 

I have one I'm willing to part with, but it has a few issues (nothing really dramatic) pm me for details if interested...

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post #8 of 15
9/8/12 at 12:53pm

use winamp (with winamp essentials addon) instead of mediamonkey. it has a very similar easy to use interface. plays and converts EVERYTHING (with the essentials pack). and has the very same milkdrop visualizer.

 

but it wont freeze and crash and slow down your computer.

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post #9 of 15
9/10/12 at 8:36pm
Thread Starter 

I think I'm gonna get a 7th Gen 240gb iPod Classic and rockbox it (apparently that is doable)

Thanks!

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post #10 of 15
9/10/12 at 8:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rock&rollfrenchfries View Post

use winamp (with winamp essentials addon) instead of mediamonkey. it has a very similar easy to use interface. plays and converts EVERYTHING (with the essentials pack). and has the very same milkdrop visualizer.

 

but it wont freeze and crash and slow down your computer.

Is this a common problem with mediamonkey? cause thats never happened to me?

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post #11 of 15
9/11/12 at 1:30am

Mediamonkey has never crashed my computer. I have a lifetime license to it, in fact.....

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post #12 of 15
9/14/12 at 5:18pm
Thread Starter 

OK so I have a question about MediaMonkey. So if I buy an iPod Classic and use the original firmware instead of Rockbox and want to use MediaMonkey...can it convert my FLAC on the fly to ALAC automatically? It said to get Gold to try it but I want to make sure it can do this specific function: FLAC > ALAC on the fly syncing.

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post #13 of 15
9/14/12 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtaylor991 View Post

OK so I have a question about MediaMonkey. So if I buy an iPod Classic and use the original firmware instead of Rockbox and want to use MediaMonkey...can it convert my FLAC on the fly to ALAC automatically? It said to get Gold to try it but I want to make sure it can do this specific function: FLAC > ALAC on the fly syncing.

The Gold version does convert while syncing....however, Gold initially encodes WMA, MP3(LAME), OGG, WAV, and FLAC. I have yet to find an ALAC encoder that I can add to it.

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post #14 of 15
9/14/12 at 6:28pm
Thread Starter 

Could it do 320kbps MP3? That's probably good enough for portable right? It's what I have now and I guess I'm satisfied :)

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post #15 of 15
9/14/12 at 6:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtaylor991 View Post

Could it do 320kbps MP3? That's probably good enough for portable right? It's what I have now and I guess I'm satisfied :)

Yes, it will do that.  Just a matter of learning your way around the options screen.

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