[wilflare]

hi all,
About to make my first mp3 player purchase in my entire life.
hope you all can give a little help here.

I'm interested in the iAudio X5 but after searching around the forums, it is said that the Sound quality is not up to par to the IPod.
Just want to know if this is really true or is it a matter of preference?
How does it compare up to the Irivers?

Do you all have any other recommendations other than the X5(with similar feature set) as I hope to have more options to choose from?
Does the iRiver H10 match up to it?

 

[BillC]

I have an iRiver H10 and an X5. The SQ from both is very good IMO. The X5s support of FLAC and ability to connect to a PC as a USB drive put it over the top for me.

FWIW, cNet recently did a blurb on the "best sounding" hard drive DAPs. They ranked the new Sony first, followed closely by the X5 and the iRiver 3xx. They ranked the iPod photo last among the "top tier" players.

 

[micaela]

I would be looking at the iriver hxxx rather than the h10. it is more comparable than the h10. I have the iriver h120 & the 320 - but can't compare the sound to anything else. But within the iriver line I would look more at the h3xx or the h1xx if you can find one.

 

[darkninja67]

The sound quality of the X5 is well above that of the ipod. Trust me. I own 4 hard drive based DAPs and the X5 is the best. The ipod sound flat to me where the X5 is much more detailed and has more dimension to the sound. Plus it has a decent EQ.

If you need somethine easy to operate then go with the ipod. The feature set of the X5 is much better than the ipod for the money though. That is a fact.

 

[firefox360]

I don't really think that Cnet reviews are really too popular amongts the members around here.

The iPods tend to have a very neutral sound, while (i'm guessing) the X5 has a little more "oomph" in the sound.

 

[wilflare]

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

Think I would be going for the X5L models, either 20GB or the 30GB as I will be playing all FLAC files.

But how would a H3xx series storage equivalent match up to the X5s?

 

[rab10]

I am also trying to decide on my next DAP, (to preserve my
irreplaceable iRiver H120.)

I really like what the iAudio X5 has to offer
(I will probably go with them.)

But Alternatives I am still thinking about:

I have also been looking into the Sony Vaio Pocket (for 40gb now
around "$250 -ish" is a deal for the hard drive capacity.) But I
have not read enough details about the difference in sound
between the Vaio Pocket and iAudio X5. I like the Vaio because many
reviews have stated that it sounds good, the 40GB is selling around
"$250-ish" $299 from Sony and Sony Retailers, solid construction,
replaceable battery, Included Remote Control, and Included Cradle (and
the cradle has a line-out.) However, SonicStage software is horrid, but
there is an alternative Vaio Music Handler (supporting drag-n-drop)
that is a great alternative. Anybody compared this player to the
current HD5 or HD3/HD1? When the Sony Vaio Pocket 40GB first came out
it was retailing for over $400, now $299 and hopefully dropping.

Apple Ipods (but use high impedence headphones or use
a combination of a portable doc and external headphone amp
with the IPOD for optimum sound.)

Plenty of accessories,
and support available for the Ipod. Could be connected easily to
ALPINE and BMW auto audio systems. $$$$$$$

iRiver H3X0 series players are good also, but are being discontinued and
probably no new firmware will be made available for their older players.

Their current "H" series might be worth looking into, I know the lower
capacity "H" series has an optional cradle with a line-out, line-in,
USBOTG, and a recharger in the cradle for extra battery.

If only Rio was still supporting their Karmas ...
Or had developed something better, with all of the Karmas excellent
features.

Quote:

But how would a H3xx series storage equivalent match up to the X5s?

Huh? Well, only the International versions of the H3xx series support true
USBOTG and Video playback. The USA H3xx versions, with the international
firmware upgrade (voiding Warranty and other issues,) will have Video
Playback and USBOTG to a certain extent. The only thing that might be
better on the H3XX might be the visual display of the player for video
playback. (but I am not going to be doing any full length movie watching on
my players - screen too small to enjoy a full length movie, and DVD movie
conversion process is tedious.) The firmware updates would be continued
with the iAudio X5 players, but doubtfully not for the H3xx players. The iAudio
X5 has full supported playlists-on-the-fly capabilities, and is smaller I think.
Both players have same file navigation, but the iAudio X5 is supposed to have
a self databasing ID3 tag better navigation option in a future firmware
development SUPPOSEDLY.

Good Luck.

 

[wilflare]

Thanks for your reply.
I meant how would a H3xx 20GB go against the X5 20G.
-but you have already answered. =]

Guess I'll will be going for the X5 as well. (Can I say it's really worth the price?)
Problem is my country only sells the X5L 30GB, the other variants may take some time.

EDIT: Just a question, How does it go against the latest Sony NWD-H5 and the Samsung YH-J70?

 

[luuk]

I haven't heard someone who's listened to the samsung yh-j70, I also don't know if it's already out there in the wild ( I don't think so, check dapreview.net).

 

[smiryan]

I used to own a iRiver H320 - never liked so got rid of it.

A mate has just got the iAudio X5 20Gb - nice looking player but I'm not certain about it.

Personally, I'm waiting for the Samsung YH-J70 which looks great and the specs seem to match.

 

[abitdeef]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilflare Thanks for your reply. I meant how would a H3xx 20GB go against the X5 20G. -but you have already answered. =] Guess I'll will be going for the X5 as well. (Can I say it's really worth the price?) Problem is my country only sells the X5L 30GB, the other variants may take some time. EDIT: Just a question, How does it go against the latest Sony NWD-H5 and the Samsung YH-J70?

I can tell you about the hd5 and the x5- the sound of the sony is good with a lot of bass, but the digital bass- treble settings make it sound "fake" and you can't use the eq with mp3 files (only atrac

). Also there is a tiny hiss if you use sensitive canal phones (shures, ety's ) very very faint( I had to try hard to hear it ), buts its there all the time (not just when music is playing).

X-5 is much more neutral and very detailed and clean, also the output is much higher and the eq set is stellar- 5 band user adj and all the presets (rock, jazz ect.) are user adj. too. sony has some reverb effects , but the bbe effects of the cowon sound much better imho. Also. there is absolutly no noise with any of the cans I have used.

Both sound good to me , but the cowon sounds more "true" and it's nice to have the higher output for different cans, and the cleaner signal

 

[jonnywolfet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rab10 But Alternatives I am still thinking about: I have also been looking into the Sony Vaio Pocket

whoah, seriously keep well away from the vaio. there is a reason why its cheap.
20 hours battery based on atrac3plus @33kbps!
buggy (i mean constantly crashing, freezing, general freakyness buggy) software.
no comment on navigation as this is a personal thing
sound quality 79db signal to noise? What? there should be a quality control.

try archos or rio (i know, rio.......) otherwise, stick with iriver, the 3xx series are killer.

 

[LFC_SL]

Hey Cnet did a roup test in which HD5 came out on top.

What about Samsung YH-J70? http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/...roducts_id=719

 

[smiryan]

Samsung YH-J70 wont be available until beginning of September.

It will be a great player though at a very good price.

 

[abitdeef]

Let me add one thing: Cowon iaudio x-5 is built like a tank

Reminds me of the way sony used to build stuff in the 70's and 80's

You know you could get the sony hd3 for 200 bucks and a nice free case to boot (not the marble bag lol).