First mp3 player... help

[ElephantTLK]

Hi!

I am buying my very first MP3 player. And i wan´t something that offers very good sound, easy to use UI and long battery life. Video support is really not important as i am looking at an AUDIO player. But if it supports it... Nothing wrong. Let me just say that i have a lot of my music stored in FLAC, APE format. Ripped with EAC. Around 240 GB of it. And i have also a lot of music ripped to mp3 (192-320). Over 60 GB of it. So its welcome that player supports at least FLAC format. But if not its not problem because i can always re-rip it to mp3.
So here is my list:

- Cowon iAudio D2 (8GB)
- Cowon iAudio 7 (8- 16GB)
- Meizu M6 SL miniPlayer (8GB)
- Samsung YP-P2JC (8GB)
- Apple iPod nano 3.Generation (8GB)
- iriver E100 (8GB)
- iriver clix2 (8GB)
- SanDisk Sansa Fuze FM (8GB)
- SanDisk Sansa e280 (8GB)
- Creative Zen (16GB)

Note that space (in GB) is not that important. Everything around 8GB is ok. I listed Zen just because of around same price you get 16GB.
So what i need is:

- GOOD sound
- easy, nice, quick UI
- battery life

Everything else in not priority but is recommended.

 

[Rico67]

Without hesitation :
Ipod Nano + ALO cryo dock cable+Hornet.
or
Ipod Nano + Alo jumbo dock cable+Predator.

all this setup 'll give you great sound from the LOD of the Nano.

 

[4saken]

Well if you are looking for something without an amplifier, go with the D2. Seems to tick all your boxes, and you can get (somewhat) cheap memory upgrades with SD.

 

[Redo]

I ordered an iAudio 7 16gb today. The UI/Controls were the only nagging point, but most who have it say it's really not bad at all.

Rated at 60 hours battery life, real conditions more like mid 40's, accepts lots of file formats, supposedly has a hair more body than the praised D2, decent amp section, was a winner for me. We'll see what it's like when it gets here, I'll mainly be using it on the road though (I do not expect it to compete with my home rig at all).

So I can't speak from experience yet, but I found it extremely hard to choose anything but the iAudio 7 after contemplating many choices for a few days. If you don't care about video and want good sound, battery life, and have file format flexibility, I'd say the iAudio 7 should be at the top of your list.

 

[ElephantTLK]

Amplifier is not a problem here. I forgot mention that i will use it a lot of time in my car with AUX-in. As i have an Opel Astra H 1.9 and it have an AUX-in between seats.

But i will use it also on street, walk... Nano sure sounds great but...

 

[ElephantTLK]

Any other recommendations?

 

[ElephantTLK]

Ok guys i found one more thing. And its iPod Video 30GB for almost the same price as Cowon D2 and in new condition. What do you think? Is SQ good?

Anyway here is the link: APPLE IPOD 30GB VIDEO BLACK / WHITE - GENUINE ORIGINAL

Is it ok? Mainly for music use. Or is D2 still good player?

Edit: and what generation is iPod on link? Probably 5th? Anyway is this good buy or is there something better?

 

[rrc589]

I've been seriously considering this player lately, you might want to add it to your list and check out some reviews . . .

Sony Walkman NWZ-A728

 

[tds101]

Samsung P2 - Great SQ - UI is nice - SQ is excellent.

Touch - Great for in-ride use as it's got
endless hookup ops. Line out is 1 of the best for in car use. EQ is kinda' crappy though - underrated for SQ - better than most say, just not THE best. Great overall device.

Zune 80 or equivalent - it's coming along nicely - good for the ride also & great SQ - no EQ though.

I have the D2 AND A829 - both sound amazing in the car, and that's w/a crappy cassette adapter.

 

[ElephantTLK]

Now i am even more confused. Is this iPod in link 5th generation. It´s 30GB version. Is SQ good?
As i said now i am even more confused. So new list:

- Apple iPod Classic 30GB
- Apple iPod Nano 8GB
Is there difference in SQ? Which is best?

- Cowon iAudio D2
- Samsung P2

 

[robojack]

Not a fan of iPod's, not because of the relatively poor battery life (although that is a major pain), but because how it ties you to iTunes. I'm a huge drag-and-drop fan when it comes making my own folder structures and music placement, and iPod's just don't let you do that with iTunes.

The D2 is great, since it allows you to keep expanding your player. I have a 4GB from a year and a half ago, and it's been given new life since I added a 16GB SDHC card. Heck, I could keep multiple SDHCs on me, and have a huge library of music. With SDHC usage, I get about 40 hours or so of battery life. Not too shabby, IMO.

 

[tds101]

The 30gb is 5th gen and it's got better SQ then the 8gb nano or 6gen classic. And between all the choices you've listed in your LAST post ElephantTLK - the best for Sq is the D2. There's many an ongoing debate about the D2 on head-fi, but it really sounds amazing. The only real competitor is the new sony players. So, get a D2, and know you really can't go wrong.

 

[ElephantTLK]

Ok thanks. Yea i like to make my own folder structure and where is music... Because i ripped all my music with EAC. I like it. But iTunes are not that bad. Anyway D2 sounds great (on paper) choice. So i will probably buy it. I hope that is really good player because it´s not the cheapest one.

Edit: so SQ is good? Comparable to iPod? Because some posts here are saying something about rolled off bass, to bright, small soundstage? i don´t want this type of player.

 

[tds101]

I've tried all the ipod's and if your going unamped, even w/the bass roll-off issue, it's definitely better sounding than the ipod. The sound staging is much better than ipod. The ipod is flat and lifeless compared to the D2. W/an amp the ipod's shine - unamped there's no comparison - get a D2 and listen for YOURSELF!!! Only you can make the final decision.

 

[ElephantTLK]

Well in car i have aux-in. Thats enough for all players. Also i have go-vibe 5 amp. At home i have good amp. Darkvoice 336i. And headphones that i use at home are: DT880, HD595 and soon maybe D2000. What bothers me most is that bass roll-off issue. Because i will use it also at home. And DT880 are not bass heavy phones. So i am wondering if this is good combination? Anyway i think that D2 is probably best option. But then again iPods are... Don´t know.