Best sounding MP3 Player???

[notnormal]

Yeah the main reason for keeping a lossless format is that ripping/tagging only has to be done once. That's the most time consuming task. Afterwards, transcoding to the lossy codec of the month is simple. Most of the time I just use a script (linux) to transcode the file, retain the tags, and whatever else I need. It also helps if you can use an old spare computer. That way the process can be left running for days without tying up resources from your main computer.

 

[Jetlag]

I am going to disagree somewhat. I use UE-10 Pro IEMs and can most definitely hear the difference between a MP3 or WMA encoded track and the same track in FLAC. I've gone as high as 320kbps and still can routinely detect a difference. I'm not a poet so it's hard for me to describe the difference, but there is simply more music there and it sounds superior. I think a pair of stock freebie ear buds may not yield the same results, but when I listen in a very quiet environment there is a difference to me.

I use WMA files when I am at the health club, rollerblading or skiing as there is to much backround noise to be able to tell a difference, plus my mind is occupied with other things at the time.

With a 20GB HDD, I can still fit over 50 full CDs on my Karma in lossloess FLAC. It is not anywhere close to my full music collection, but will keep me entertained for a long time.

I most definitely agree with ripping and storing in a lossless 'tag-able' format. This way you can rip into whatever other format you like without having to re-rip form the CD. I store all of my music on a homemade server in both FLAC and WAV format along with the cue sheets and tag info. I also back it up to an external HDD as having to re-rip my entire collection would positively suck. Also, this keeps my music collection 100% DRM-free.

 

[calvinhobs]

Has anyone heard the difference between the Zen Touch and Zen Xtra???

Or any info on which is a better product/less problems?

 

[catscratch]

There are no audiophile-quality portable players that I've heard so far. Not the iPod, not the X5, and not the Zen Micro, each of which I've owned at one point or another. The closest I've seen to audiophile-quality sound in a portable were some vintage Sony PCDP's, but that's about it.

As a current owner of the X5, I can make a few comments:

It has a pretty even sound, with good treble and bass extension, slightly bright. Clarity is about average, but it does manage to convey a good soundstage with music that actually has it. Overall, it's fairly similar to the Micro.

However,

The quality of the player is offest by it's ability to play lossless. I don't know about people not being able to tell the difference with 320k mp3 and lossless - I know I can't tell the difference with music that I either don't know or am only marginally familiar with, but with music that I know by heart, on gear whose sound signature I am familiar with, I can tell the difference. I've done DBT with my friend and I've been able to nail the 320k file and the lossless file every time - with music that I know well. While audible compression artifacts are kept to a minimum with 320k, there are differences in soundstage, detail, and texture that give 320k away.

Based on that, I would recommend the X5 over the Zen Micro, simply because using .wav files on a 5 or 6 gb player is not very practical. I don't have experience with ALAC, so I won't say whether or not the iPod with ALAC is better than the X5 with FLAC.

In any case, if you're looking for genuine hi-fi playback out of a portable system - forget it.

IMO.

 

[bangraman]

FYI, I meant real-time transcodes from FLAC to codec required. That's what I need in order to make my multiple codec requirements practical. And it doesn't exist.


I mean, it's fine if you have a very limited music collection to keep track of but otherwise, too cumbersome to manage multiple codecs.

 

[calvinhobs]

For those of you who may know...

Out of ALL the Creative Zen MP3 player line which players support lossless?

Any idea if the Sleek will support lossless?

 

[notnormal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman FYI, I meant real-time transcodes from FLAC to codec required. That's what I need in order to make my multiple codec requirements practical. And it doesn't exist. I mean, it's fine if you have a very limited music collection to keep track of but otherwise, too cumbersome to manage multiple codecs.

Yes, the transcoding of FLAC files does take time and is not "real-time". But the management of multiple codecs is really simple when using script files (*nix).

 

[swmtnbiker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinhobs Out of ALL the Creative Zen MP3 player line which players support lossless?

Answer? None. Creative players support MP3, WMA, and WAV. That's it. WAV is lossless of course, but not a practical lossless format because of file sizes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinhobs Any idea if the Sleek will support lossless?

Probably not. Creative's format support seems to be set in stone. I wouldn't look for it to change any time soon, if at all.

 

[calvinhobs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpippel Answer? None. Creative players support MP3, WMA, and WAV. That's it. WAV is lossless of course, but not a practical lossless format because of file sizes. Probably not. Creative's format support seems to be set in stone. I wouldn't look for it to change any time soon, if at all.

Thanks, you're right...I got an e-mail back from Creative saying the same thing.

Here's my dolema...I love that the creative players have a low signal to noise ratio and therefore a clear sound with less distortion. But I love that lossless provides a lower compression rate and higher sound quality. So I'm not sure what to do!

What players out there have lossless, and which of them are the best???
I've simply heard that the Creative players are some of the best sounding units you can by...even if it doesn't play lossless...

 

[SimpJee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisfromalbany Best Neutral sound = Ipod line out

Yes, I've heard this more than a couple times. Which lead me to buy a fourth gen color iPod with a pocketdock.

Still waiting for the pocketdock, and the new phones

 

[Girdag]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinhobs Thanks, you're right...I got an e-mail back from Creative saying the same thing. Here's my dolema...I love that the creative players have a low signal to noise ratio and therefore a clear sound with less distortion. But I love that lossless provides a lower compression rate and higher sound quality. So I'm not sure what to do! What players out there have lossless, and which of them are the best??? I've simply heard that the Creative players are some of the best sounding units you can by...even if it doesn't play lossless...

Try the Rio Karma. Generally agreed to have great sound, one of the best equalisers on a DAP if you want to tweak it, one of the few players offering gapless playback, and supports FLAC. Plus, its very cheap at the moment (assuming you can find one).

 

[calvinhobs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Girdag Try the Rio Karma. Generally agreed to have great sound, one of the best equalisers on a DAP if you want to tweak it, one of the few players offering gapless playback, and supports FLAC. Plus, its very cheap at the moment (assuming you can find one).

Didn't have any luck finding one of these...any other ideas??? Again, all I truly care about is getting an MP3 player that reproduces clean, distortion free, highly detailed & accurate sound. Plus reliability would be a bonus...I don't care about options and color screens personally...plus equilizers. Just the best, most neutral sounding MP3 player on the market. I'm having a hard time finding it!

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinhobs Didn't have any luck finding one of these...any other ideas??? Again, all I truly care about is getting an MP3 player that reproduces clean, distortion free, highly detailed & accurate sound. Plus reliability would be a bonus...I don't care about options and color screens personally...plus equilizers. Just the best, most neutral sounding MP3 player on the market. I'm having a hard time finding it!

http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage....ime&id=1001537

Rio Karma for $199. Definitely not a neutral sounding player, it'll sound like crap out of the box so you must eq it to sound great.

 

[calvinhobs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gloco http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage....ime&id=1001537 Rio Karma for $199. Definitely not a neutral sounding player, it'll sound like crap out of the box so you must eq it to sound great.

I'd like to find a player that sounds great not using an equalizer.

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvinhobs I'd like to find a player that sounds great not using an equalizer.

You might want to revert back to one of those japanese walkmans...i'm talking about good ol cassettes because, frankly, none of the dap's i've heard sound good without some eq'ing...the karma sounded the best out of all of them followed closely behind by the nomad jukebox 3 and the zen micro was far behind. The reason i mentioned a cassette walkman is due to the fact that was the last time i didn't need the eq for a player to sound good.

Best of luck. Naturally, i'm being a bit sarcastic because it pisses me off that my karma is falling apart and i think its a lovely player with a good interface and hell, the sound is ****ing great with my shure's, grado's and my sony 7506's. The sucker can even drive my SR100's to make them sing quite nicely.