Choices: Sony HD5 or iAudio X5L?

[steelben]

Hi there, need some advises from you folks.

Lately I've jumped on the mp3 bandwagon (a bit late?

) and now I'm looking for a mp3 player (with capacity at least 20GB). After searching the market I've shortlisted 2 players: Sony NW-HD5(20GB) and iAudio X5L(30GB).

HD5 is my 1st choice on the list as I've always have confidence in Sony products for its sound performance. However, after checking the prices with my local stores, I find that the HD5 is a bit "expensive". The iAudio, which comes with color screen, video playback capability, photo display and larger HDD capacity (30GB), is just selling a mere US$50 more than HD5. This is really tempting and I don't mind spending a bit more for those features. But my concern is how's the sound performance of the iAudio X5L? Sound quality is always my 1st pirority when choosing a player. I've read good reviews about the HD5 for its excellent sound performance but not too sure about iAudio. By the way, if I buy the HD5, I'll be using it to play mp3 (not ATRAC) and I know the HD5 doesn't have EQ to work with mp3 files.

Anyone please give some advises. Many thanks in advance.

 

[Roach]

if you don't need the extra features then there's really no need on buying the x5... if you don't mind the fact u have to use software inorder to transfer songs into ur device then the HD5 is suppose to be really great (though there is the button cracking problem...)
there's also the xs202 which has same features as the hd5 (more or less) and costs much less....

hope i helped a tiny bit

 

[bangraman]

The X5 lacks tag based navigation. It means that you must file your music folders in the way that you want to navigate it. It's (the L) also got a slightly shorter battery life. It's notably bigger. The main control (a tiny joystick) is not as comfortable to use as the Sony's comparatively larger buttons.


Apart from that, the X5 has some advantages in terms of music player features to the HD5 even if you leave out the video aspects. Playlisting is not significantly more difficult (although both pale in comparison to the iPod / Karma), it has on-the-go playlisting capability, speed of navigation is as quick. If you're playing back MP3, then the X5 has full control over the sound with EQ and other effects whereas the HD5 only has treble and bass controls. Neither is gapless in MP3 mode.


Sound quality? The X5 is better. Less 'slow', less muddy even taking into account tonal differences and more upfront detail.


I can't really recommend either wholeheartedly as a music player at the moment. But if I had to choose, I'd go with the X5 despite it lacking some polish, because you get so much more.

 

[BIGtrouble77]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangraman The X5 lacks tag based navigation. It means that you must file your music folders in the way that you want to navigate it. It's (the L) also got a slightly shorter battery life. It's notably bigger. The main control (a tiny joystick) is not as comfortable to use as the Sony's comparatively larger buttons. Apart from that, the X5 has some advantages in terms of music player features to the HD5 even if you leave out the video aspects. Playlisting is not significantly more difficult (although both pale in comparison to the iPod / Karma), it has on-the-go playlisting capability, speed of navigation is as quick. If you're playing back MP3, then the X5 has full control over the sound with EQ and other effects whereas the HD5 only has treble and bass controls. Neither is gapless in MP3 mode. Sound quality? The X5 is better. Less 'slow', less muddy even taking into account tonal differences and more upfront detail. I can't really recommend either wholeheartedly as a music player at the moment. But if I had to choose, I'd go with the X5 despite it lacking some polish, because you get so much more.

I'm not sure what the sony's battery life is, but the X5L is rated for 35hours (15 for the regular x5). If Sony beats that, as you suggest above, I'll be immensely impressed.

You forgot to mention a few critical features the X5 has, namely usbotg, video capability, bookmarking, FLAC support, line in recording, a very good internal mic and the fact that it works as a mass storage device.

As for size, I believe you are comparing this to the X5L which isn't a fair comparisson because it uses a much larger, heavier battery.

Finally, Cowan has announced that tag based navigation will be implemented in the near future. Porting of the Rockbox firmware has also started for the X5, which will never happen for Sony's players. Rockbox trumps every dap out there with features.

Edit- I noticed you were only listing the audio features. So the only thing really relevat above is that tag browsing will be implemented as will rockbox.

-BT

 

[TooNice]

How about a line out? The X5 provide it through a hub thingy, how about the HD-5?

 

[bangraman]

I prefer to rate players on what they are now, and not what they will be.


The Sony claims 40 hours. iAudio claims 35 hours with the L. And sizewise, even the non-L X5 is somewhat larger than the HD5.


The HD5 provides a switchable line out through the headphone socket. It's not too bad. The X5's Line Out has some problems but I don't think that sounds too bad either. You can also tap an effectively Line-Out signal from the X5's hedphone out by turning all effects and EQ off, and turning the volume up to max.

 

[GuffMorgan]

Also if you only plan on doing mp3's like you said then you can get around using SonicStage all together with this...

http://www.syndetics.net/sony-hacks/sonicstage.html

Use at your own risk, but I'm using it on my HD5 and I like it a lot more than SonicStage (basically a k.i.s.s. program) plus you don't have to load the software on every machine you go to as it runs off of the device.

I went with the HD5 due to battery life, ease of battery replacement once it dies, the harddrive disengager (G Sensor), the size of it as well as the build (it feels very solid and I like that the shell isn't made of plastic at all), the buttons on it (as long as it doesn't crack, but I haven't had a problem yet), I like the navigation on it, sound, etc. Though I wish it had more options on sound format, but it's a Sony so you pretty much go in expecting only a few available formats. Another reason I went with the HD5 is because I really just wanted something to play music, I didn't want a lot of options to mess around with.

This is just based on what I think (obviously) of the HD5, I never have messed around with the X5L so I can't offer up any comparisons.

 

[steelben]

Thanks for the advises, folks.

Looks like iAudio is more value for money when compare to HD5. For an extra US$50 I can get a lot more features with X5. Although those features may not really important to me but why not? I'm actually looking for the x5 20GB (not 30GB) but haven't found a local store carrys it yet. I think 20GB should be even cheaper. Perhaps Sony should revise the price for HD5; even their PSP is selling cheaper in my country!

About my main concern about sound performance, bangraman you think the X5 outperforms the HD5. This is indeed interesting. Thank you for sharing so much info about the X5. Wish to hear more opinions from people in this forum. By the way, sorry I may sound a bit stupid, but I don't quite understand about the 'tag based navigation' thing you mentioned. Care to elaborate a bit more? I'm still a newbie when come to mp3 player.

Roach, thanks for the warning about the cracking button on HD5. I too aware about it from some websites. I wouldn't worry much about it 'cos the Customer Support from Sony in my country is quite helpful, I believe. However I'm not too sure about the support from iaudio in my country. Now it reminds me that the product reliability of iAudio is also a main concern to me. So far has anyone had encontered any problem with the x5?

TooNice, as far as I know the HD5 does come with line out option. The connection is still via the headphone jack and you need to select the 'line out' from the menu screen. It works like my current Sony PCDP, I think. Don't know about the sound quality of the line out on HD5 though...

Regards.

 

[steelben]

Guffmorgan, I just read your post. Thanks for the great link. If I bought the HD5 I would give it a try for sure.

 

[GuffMorgan]

Tag based navigation refers to, atleast this is what I'm assuming, ID3 tags on mp3's. The device arranges the songs by the tags instead of the folder structure (with it going Artist > Albums > Songs). Though it's very very pick on the HD5, like say you have The Beatles and the Beatles, it will see those as two different artists and will arrange it as such, so you have to be very anal with the tags.

 

[bangraman]

I have it working on the HD5, but the Music Manager is somewhat limited in how it displays tracks. It is however perfectly acceptable as a drag & drop client, provided your music is tagged properly.


Without the superior song management and playlisting capability of iTunes/iPod, I personally don't see that much point in being required to use something like Sonicstage beyond it being easy to rip & transfer within the same interface (technobabble parlance: it does not 'add value'). While The MP3FM allows drag & drop, it is dependent on tag information to organise the music.


If drag & drop is important, then certainly the X5 / H320 / etc are miles ahead of the HD5, even with MP3 File Manager.

 

[freakycody]

the x5L is a USB mass storage device, meaning i can just plug it into my computer, and since i can put music on it just by dragging it on, I do not need software to transfer my music correct? Basically it will work exactly the same as my nomad muvo2 4gb. Is this correct?? I do not want to install software to use it, so this is a big selling point for me. I also like the fact that it is folder navigated (is this right?). Thanks for any info.

 

[bangraman]

The X5 is USB Mass storage and it is folder navigated.

 

[bangraman]

I ought to add that if you're considering aftermarket headphones for the X5, it should be 32 ohms impedance or over. 24 ohms should be borderline, avoid 16.

 

[roy_jones]

The only thing stopping me from going with the X5L right now is the line-out. It really bothers me that there is consistent reporting that it is a weak point within the system. I guess I should probably concede to myself that there probably isn't a lot of practical benefit to using the line-out with a portable set up. My E4c's are low-impedence enough that they don't require an amp on something like the X5...not to mention the practical disadvantage of having to transport the set up with my Porta Corda. But then, what's the point of having the PortaCorda in the first place? It's kinda frustrating.

I haven't noticed very many people mention that they run their X5 with an amp. On one hand that's a testament to the equalizer and headphone-out of the X5, and on another hand it surprises me because this is touted as an audiophile-type player...and you would think that would predict that there would be more people setting it up with a portable amp.

I guess I'm either going to have to look at getting another Ipod, and running a line-out to my amp using that set-up...or selling my portable amp, and just getting an X5 and using the headphone out exclusively.