A player to replace my (cracked) D2

[noteventime]

Long story:
A year and a half ago I got a D2 to replace my dead clix2 and now I'm looking for a new player to replace my broken D2 (some clumsiness resulting in a cracked screen making the touch screen unusable).
 
I'm somewhat undecided on whether to get another 8GB D2 for $135 (prices converted from Swedish Krona) or the newer 16GB J3 for $270, which seems comparable to the D2 quality-wise and the novelty value of getting another player as I use video playback only for the occasional StarCraft game and some recorded university lectures. 
 
The thing is, I'd really like to get a non-touch screen based player, but from what I can see there isn't really a lot to choose from. The only alternatives I've seen are the iRiver e50 and e150, with the former lacking expansion slots. I really loved my iriver clix2 (still the best player I've ever used) but, from what I've read, the e150 seems rather inferior to the D2 in most aspects. 
 
My only absolute requirements are that the player mounts as a normal mass storage device (as I'll be using Linux terminal to manage data) as well as the player supporting both FLAC and Vorbis. I'll be using the player with an Alessandro MS1.
 
Short story:
My question thus is if I'm missing some other brand players (as you've noticed I've mostly been looking into iriver and Cowon players) and if there are any good reasons, apart from the display, I've missed for getting the J3 rather than a new D2 (I've read some of the j3 impressions thread here). 
 
Or should I give this up and go looking at something like combining a clip+ with a portable amplifier?
 
Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[j57park]

If you were content with the D2, you can't go wrong with the J3 because as far as SQ is concerned, it's BBE+ where as D2 was only BBE (I think...not too sure)
 
And it's hard trying to find a decent player that will play FLAC so you might not have much of a choice there actually

 

[tds101]

I have to agree here, the J3 is a wonderful upgrade, and the SQ is better than the D2 (using all the wonderful sound enhancements and the great EQ).
 
As for iriver players, I've never tried 1 before, so I can't help you there.

 

[noteventime]

 Quote:

If you were content with the D2, you can't go wrong with the J3 because as far as SQ is concerned, it's BBE+ where as D2 was only BBE (I think...not too sure)

I think the D2+ has BBE+, but from what I know this just means updated sound "enhancement", something which I'm largely uninterested in.
 
Nobody thinks the Clip+ with a portable amp is a better idea?

 

[stevenswall]

In the short run, a 32GB Cowon S9 is your best bet, For the long run, I'd recommend going with a J3... Both have hardware playback controls, and very responsive touch screens, just make sure to customize the firmware to your liking.

 

[noteventime]

Where I am the S9 actually costs more than the J3.

 

[Fantoon]

Let me guess, Dustin home?

 
Quote:

Where I am the S9 actually costs more than the J3.

 

[noteventime]

Quote:

Let me guess, Dustin home?

Guilty as charged

 

[j57park]

ya in canada too, the S9 is more expensive than the J3 by about $30