[FreddyE]

Ok guys and gals what's the bottom line on PCD/MP3 players? Iriver 350 seems decent but disturbing hiss on optical out, which is really not a true out. The 150 that is disturbing in terms of inadequate power supply/battery usage but good sound. Wait for the 550 which at $180 when it comes to the US would be attractive. Sony has sacrificed long playing time for quality. Is Iriver the only game in town with a good optical out?

I am getting a JMT Meta 42 and am trying to match it with a good new source, but options really seem limited. I have used a Panasonic 370 which is adequate but I am looking for better sound. Any guidence would be appreciated. I have done my homework on these excellant boards but still no definitive answer.

 

[acs236]

I have the 350, and I don't think it has an optical out -- i don't know about the 500 or 550. Do you mean line out? The line out on the 350, as you said, is not a true line out.

 

[FreddyE]

Thanks for the feedback on the 350. To me it is down to the 350 on Amazon for $99 and free shipping. Can anyone give me accurate feedback on how bad the hiss issue is? The Chromex without the hiss problem but with sad battery performance. Or wait for the 550 to come in and the price to stabilize. I am seriously thinking of getting the chromex or 350 in the interim. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Lisa]

About the ChromeX battery life.

Yes it's not so good but better than the SlimX as far as I know.
I tested the battery life with regular CD's and with mp3 CD's and this is what I got.

I used 2 AA 1800mah NiMH batteries.
With regulair CD's I got 4,5 hours continueus playback.
With mp3 CD's I got 13 hours and 24 min. Using a CD with bitrates 128kbps, 160, 192 and alt preset standard. Most of them 128 and 160kbps.

With the internal batteries of the SlimX imp-350 you get less. 10-11 hours tops with mp3.
Only with the the external batterypack you will get more.

I use 4 rechargeble batteries for my ChromeX. Two are in the player and the other two are in the charger. This way I'm never without battery power.

One more note. I have problems with the adapter socket (I'm on my second ChomeX(long story) and both have the same problem) and I read that someone else has the same problems aswell so it might be a design flaw. The power sometimes stops, like you unplugged the adapter. So I allways upgrade the firmware with fully charged batteries so the upgrade won't fail due to power failure.

 

[FreddyE]

Thanks Lisa. That information helps. Any sense of the hiss issue with the 350? That model is attractive at $99, with ac adapter and advanced features. The battery play time on the Chormex is just so short.

 

[Lisa]

If you're planning on getting the imp550 later on and you allready have a battery charger I would go for the ChromeX. Simply because it is the cheapest option especially since you're just using it for a little while.

If the imp550 is still a maybe and you can return the 350 so you can have a listen , to hear the hiss or not for yourself, I would go for the $99,- deal.
It saves you the costs of a charger and batteries as long as you always use the internal ones. And you'll have the extra of a FM radio and slim design.

That's just my advise