"Best" SDHC player.

[kazakore]

Please give me some recommendations and opinions on currently available SDHC mp3 players.

Requirement:
Has to be able to drive my HD25s.
Good audio quality.
USB connection.
Option to browse folder structure (not only by id3 tags!)
Decent battery life.
Good mp3 support (up to 320kbs CBR, 32,44.1,48kHz sample rate.)

Advantageous options:
Changeable batteries (AA/AAA [rechargeables?])
Line input recording.
Support of other audio formats (aac, flac, ogg vorbis.)
Support for higher capacity SDHC cards (most don't seem to say they can take above 4GB.)
Small and compact.


Umm sure I did have other points...

Not too fussed about video, but if I did get a full media player would like a decent range supported so I didn't always have to convert before putting on my player.
Internal storage isn't required but flash would be preferential to a hard drive due to weight and battery consumption.
I have a lot of electronic experience so would be more than happy to build myself one from a project/kit as long as I can get the PCB and programmed PIC.


Ones that have taken my eye so far are the Cowon D2 (even though it's video support isn't very good) and DIY kits like EchoMp3 and Make Daisy MP3 player. Most of the DIY ones don't seem to have 320kbs support listed though...

 

[tadad1]

The D2 offers all listed but removable AA/AAA battery and will currently accept up to 32GB SDHC.

 

[kazakore]

Yeah the D2 does seem to fulfil just about everything I want.

Also just been looking at the Creative Zens, which seem to cover most (if not all) the above and can be found quite a bit cheaper.

It is important to me to be able to browse files as they are stored on my device, play whole folders (and sub-folders.) I hate having to browse through a library created from the id3 tags or create playlists, so that is actually one of my most important features.

 

[RAQemUP]

I believe you can play files on the D2 by browsing through them by folder without looking at id3 tags.

 

[HipHopScribe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kazakore /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah the D2 does seem to fulfil just about everything I want. Also just been looking at the Creative Zens, which seem to cover most (if not all) the above and can be found quite a bit cheaper. It is important to me to be able to browse files as they are stored on my device, play whole folders (and sub-folders.) I hate having to browse through a library created from the id3 tags or create playlists, so that is actually one of my most important features.

The SDHC slot on the Creative players is kind of crippled, I know you don't want to use ID3 browsing anyway, so the fact that their players don't integrate the library doesn't matter, but the functionality is limited in general, here's more info on that (from ABi's review):

"I’m not going to tip toe around this one: like the Zen, the Zen X-Fi’s memory slot’s integration is simply terrible. It does not integrate with the main memory so you can’t really call it an expansion slot. While you still can access media from the card, nearly all media features are absent. For example, you cannot use bookmarks, add to playlists, view details, remove file, or look up artists- all of which are available when playing from the internal memory. Additionally, you are confined to the current menu position when playing media from the card. If you back out, the media stops playing. Also, unlike any other MP3 player with a memory slot, both sets of memory do not show up on your computer at the same time; you need to set the card to “removable disk” then plug it into your computer."

Also, Creative's players don't have line-in recording, don't have additional codec support beyond MP3, AAC & WMA, all files on internal memory will be sorted by ID3-tag only, and in terms of output, they're much weaker than the D2, and may have trouble adequately driving your headphones.

The D2 seems to be your best choices, it meets every request except changeable battery.

 

[tds101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAQemUP /img/forum/go_quote.gif I believe you can play files on the D2 by browsing through them by folder without looking at id3 tags.

this is correct as well as the compatability w/32gb sdhc cards. The only thing is the lack of a replaceable AA/AAA battery - seems to be an obsolete feature @this point in time. The HD25's are 85ohms (possibly?) so it will pair well w/the D2. This also eliminates the bass rolloff by having the higher impedance (60ohms or better solves this issue).

 

[faichiu]

there not a lot of choice if you need sdhc slot.

 

[nsx_23]

Cowon D2. Absolutely brilliant player.

 

[kazakore]

Thanks for the detailed answer HipHopScribe. Seems it's not worth going Zen to save a few pennies but I did kind of suspect that, just kinda hoped it wouldn't be the case.

nywytboy68 the HD25s are 70 ohm, the SP version is 85 ohm (although a lower quality driver and I always end up getting myself in a tangle in their cables.) From what you say 70 ohm is still good enough though

Well it looks like, if I do decide it's really worth getting a dedicated, portable music player that the Cowon D2 is the way to go.Getting a bit fed up with using my phone (Nokia 6300) although it is convenient...

 

[Aevum]

the D2, dosnt have the AA battery, but the built in battery is basicly the best in its class, 40+ hours, some people reach mid 50´s.

 

[RAQemUP]

Yeah, I just bit on a Cowon D2 16gig myself. They just got back instock at zipzoomfly.com for $199 (without shipping). I'll go without a SDHC card for awhile as I just want to skip straight to a 32gig SDHC when they hit the $100 (or less) mark.

 

[Elluzion]

^yeah zipzoomfly looks cheap but they charge tax, thats why i bought it from amazon, its way cheaper.

$215 shipped, at amazon from JetMall

 

[LostPhil]

Careful though, the file limitation stands at a rather low 4000 files on the internal memory and an additional 4000 on the SD card (so 8000 maximum split over both).

Unfortunately, it can't allocate more to either and take from the other, it will always be limited to 4000 per memory no matter what the size of each.

Using FLAC you shouldn't have a problem but might want to hold off of 32gb cards if you're using lossy and stick to multiple 16gb cards

Other than that, I've had no problems with my 4gb card and 4gb internal. Might consider upgrading to a 16gb card myself soon.

 

[tds101]

To be completely honest there presently is no other player in the D2's class that integrates the sd card as well. The Sansa players have full microSd integration but thats about it. Choices really are limited.

 

[kazakore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostPhil /img/forum/go_quote.gif Careful though, the file limitation stands at a rather low 4000 files on the internal memory and an additional 4000 on the SD card (so 8000 maximum split over both). Unfortunately, it can't allocate more to either and take from the other, it will always be limited to 4000 per memory no matter what the size of each. Using FLAC you shouldn't have a problem but might want to hold off of 32gb cards if you're using lossy and stick to multiple 16gb cards Other than that, I've had no problems with my 4gb card and 4gb internal. Might consider upgrading to a 16gb card myself soon.

32GB = ~32,000MB / 4000 gives an average of 8MB per file. That's really not so bad, especially as I listen to quite a lot of mixes rather than single tracks. You're even likely to average around that with 256kbs mp3 and above music tracks, let alone if you have a few videos.


I'm not necessarily 100% set of SDHC although some kind of expansion via card is a must and they have the highest capacity so make most sense...