[GeneralSmirnoff]

  Hello Head-Fi,
   I have owned many MP3 players before. I've owned iPod's, Creative Zen's, and many other players that never really gave me audio quality but a pretty screen and capacity I will never fill up (at least not without any lossless support). I have just purchased a pair of Sony MDR7506 headphones, and I'm loving the audio quality. However, my audio source is the onboard audio on my motherboard and my Creative Zen MP3 player.
 
I am looking for an MP3 player that does not offer looks, a pretty screen, or a large capacity. I am simply looking for an MP3 player that will give me great audio quality that will be superior to my Zen and onboard audio on my motherboard. It would also be a plus is the player can be used as a DAC for my computer as I have been looking for a soundcard as well. 
 
My budget is around $100, give or take, however I am on a tight budget so if there is a player that is $50 and still offers superior quality to an iPod, I'll take it. I do accept refurbs and maybe used players if it is an amazing deal.

 

[gbamboo]

Hard to find a player in this range for a very good sound quality
 
Maybe try a used Hifiman 601.

 

[mashimaro]

sansa clip+
Hippo Gumstick
 

 

[rymd]

Not sure you're going to find a portable player that'll crush an ipod for under $100...
I thought the sansa fuze/clip was barely better than the touch 3g, and you could try looking at the cube c60/hisoundaudio rocoo/gumstick, but I doubt any of them would be that much better than an ipod. I would just buy a compact desktop source instead like a low end musiland or fiio

 

[GeneralSmirnoff]

I have heard good things about the audio quality of the Sansa Fuze and the Clip+, will they be an upgrade from my cheap Zen and the onboard audio on my PC?

 

[faichiu]

I too owned many many MP3 players and none of them generate good sound quality to my ear.  
 
I keep coming back to listen to my vintage discman d303, d350, d321 that makes my ear comfortable.  
 
I wish in the future there will be good sounding all in one player with same audio quality like those discmans.
 
Quote:

  Hello Head-Fi,
   I have owned many MP3 players before. I've owned iPod's, Creative Zen's, and many other players that never really gave me audio quality but a pretty screen and capacity I will never fill up (at least not without any lossless support). I have just purchased a pair of Sony MDR7506 headphones, and I'm loving the audio quality. However, my audio source is the onboard audio on my motherboard and my Creative Zen MP3 player.
 

 

 

[GeneralSmirnoff]

I have done much thinking and I have decided that I will be buying the Sandisk Sansa Clip+. A lot of people on this site seem to love this player for the size, price, and audio quality. It is under $40 and fist everything that I wanted.
 
Thanks for all the help guys