[stang]

I use Westone UM3X with stock Short comply tips. I have experienced the 32gb iPod touch 32gb 3rd gen which I currently own unamped and amped with a RSA P-51 Mustang amplifier. While I really liked the sound, I was fed up with carrying around an amplifier that was so different in size and shape from the iPod. I also own a Walkman X1060. My sister wants my iPod touch, although I do not know when she will buy it from me.

Likes and dislikes

Walkman X1060

LIKES:

Very beautifully made
Looks fantastic and feels great to hold
Extremey useful playback buttons and headphone out location
Fantastic battery life
Album Art scrolling

DISLIKES:

Warm, tubey sound
Not very good instrument seperation
Laid back, dark sound
Browser is useless
Format support
Software I have to use to get songs and videos on and off it
Price I paid for it

iPod touch 32GB 3rd gen

LIKES:

Awesome browser
Large screen, great for day time
Great sound quality
Different cases/skins for it
Once jailbroken, it's awesome
Some useful apps

DISLIKES:

Shocking battery life
Too large
Poor placement of headphone out
No physical playback buttons
Looks ugly

So if the X had sound quality similiar to the Touch, I wouldn't think about selling it, but I dislike the sound signature with my Westone's. Maybe buying shure Olives will put an end to this debating?

What kind of player has a sound like the iPod touch's but has far better battery life, the headphone out is located at the top of the player and the screen is if a good size; no iPod nano crap

 

[a_recording]

Well Stang, the iPhone 3GS will sound exactly like your iPod touch, and have the headphone jack on the top - and of course the screen will be larger too.

Of course, I can't imagine battery life being any better, and it'll probably be worse. Maybe you should buy one of those extended batteries for your Touch?

 

[stang]

Extended battery? Interested, please enlighten me

Internet slow here and researching isn't the best thing to do.

EDIT: Well it would work gret but I'd rather not carry around something bigger than the plyer itself. I couldnt stand carrying around my p-51 mustang amplifier. I think if I ever get a portable amp, it will probably be the ALO Rx. BTW, my X1060 hisses with UM3X. When it was amped it did not...iPod touch does't hiss

.

 

[majkel]

Sony NWZ-E445. Pairs very well with my Sony MDR-EX700LP. Can't comment about the Westone, though.

 

[stang]

Trying to EQ and muck around with settings on the X. I find the overall sound while being 'natural', I miss the brightness of the iPod. I think I am going to have to raise the 6.3k and 16k and then balance out the rest of the spectrum.

 

[Cosmic Fool]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang /img/forum/go_quote.gif Trying to EQ and muck around with settings on the X. I find the overall sound while being 'natural', I miss the brightness of the iPod. I think I am going to have to raise the 6.3k and 16k and then balance out the rest of the spectrum.

In my view iPods are more treble orientated. As I have trebe-sensitive ears I didn't like my UM3X with a Nano (4G) and a Touch (2G). Their sound misses 'body' an even sounds anemic to my ears. I actually love the combo X-UM3X: well defined bass, great stereo separation, extremely musical sound signature and plenty of details. We all hear differently, that's the only thing that's sure.

 

[stang]

YAY! I have been messing around with the X EQ and have found a beautiful combo! Less harsh than the iPod touch but keeps details, bass impact and less warmth and bass quantity, close enough to perfect for me!

Settings:

Playback Range: All Range
Equalizer: 0.4 = +1 1.0 = 0 2.5 = +1 6.3 = +1 16kHz = 0 Clear Bass: 2
VPT (Surround): None
DSEE (Sound Enhancer): Off
Clear Stereo: Off
Dynamic Normalizer: Off

Not sure if I should keep Clear Stereo on or not, will test it some more

EDIT:Apparently Clear Stereo does nothing, I hear a difference though. Can't explain it but I sure do hear a difference somewere. I HATE Dynamic Normalizer. All it does it when a part in a song isn't very loud, like an acoustic solo compared to a hardcore electric guitar chorus with screaming vocals, instead of it being, say 5db less, it brings it back up to 0db, the same volume as the rest of the song is, I dislike this because there is lag. There is about 2 or 3 secons oflag before it actually kicks in.

 

[Cosmic Fool]

Great to hear, Stang! Another advantage of the X (compared to iPods) is that it has a real EQ. Have fun!

 

[Szadzik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang /img/forum/go_quote.gif DISLIKES: Software I have to use to get songs and videos on and off it

What software? There is none required. Drag&drop works perfectly fine.

 

[stang]

Well getting album art on there at the same time can be a pain. Also having to convert video files to the right format as well. A fewmore things but I haven't hooked the X to the computer for a while, I guess it's time for me to sart doing that

 

[Installation]

So are you sticking with the x now?

 

[Szadzik]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well getting album art on there at the same time can be a pain. Also having to convert video files to the right format as well. A fewmore things but I haven't hooked the X to the computer for a while, I guess it's time for me to sart doing that

To me it looks more like you want to get rid of it and are looking ofr a reason, trying to find someone who will say: Yes, dump it, it is not good.

But fact is, it is one of the best DAPs on the market at the moment and its flaws seem very minor from the perspective of a head-fier, even one inexperienced like me.

 

[Buckster]

less separation of instruments on the X vs the Touch ? I'm surprised

on my X although its slightly more closed in vs the Touch, the soundstage is amazing, its the only portable device I've heard that I've had an impression of a 3d stage so instruments can be located by depth and location.

I'm not one who believes in burn in etc - but I do tend to find my X sounds less closed in after being on and playing for 1/2 an hour or so.

in fact while it is cold it sometimes feels like the balance l/r is out slightly, not by much at all - but enough to make some vocals instead of being locked dead centre feeel a bit centre right.

btw the Touch does IMO give a nice spacious sound, but I've begun to find it a bit artificial now, like one of those "expander" EQ modes

 

[HONEYBOY]

Hi Stang I'd like to ask how long you've had the X for?

 

[ilney]

Try different tips for the UM3X.