[bamboobrown]

Ok,
So for all you cats out there wondering what the comparison is like, I got my hands on a Zune today (I work for a major partner of Microsoft's so we have free ones sent to us for evaluation and demo purposes) and was able to do the comparison.

Hands down, the iMod wins. I was really expecting the Zune to at least give the iMod a run for its money, but I was totally wrong. The Zune suffers from the same problems that the iPod had before the iMod, the music sounds thin and muffled in comparison to the iMod. I think Vinnie breeds junkies, because once you listen to an iMod there is no going back. Both the Zune and the iPod sound muffled, as if someone is trying to force a tremendous amount of sound through a really small space. Instruments lack a sense of space to reverberate on their own, and bass lacks a feeling fullness. Now please keep in mind that all my comparisons are in contrast to the iMod itself, and not to one another, since I don't have an unmodded iPod on hand, I can't comment, but I'm basing my comments on my past experience with my iPod before getting the iMod done, and based upon my listening experience with the Zune today. That being said, I did like the Zune's features and functionality, too bad they can't make it sound like an iMod, or too bad Vinnie doesn't mod Zune's. Anyhow, I can go into it more if anyone wants, but the bottom line is that Zune vs. iMod is basically the same as iPod vs. iMod, they don't stack up to the unbelievable separation clarity produced by the iMod.

Peace,
Bamboo

 

[EsthetiX]

I find inconsistencies in your statement due to the fact that the vast majority report there opinions with great difference. IE; Zune is praised highly for its audio quality...

 

[kamal007]

care to describe in details? amps used, headphones used, music? etc

 

[antonyfirst]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamal007 /img/forum/go_quote.gif care to describe in details? amps used, headphones used, music? etc

Yeah.

 

[blinx]

the only thing is, you can buy a zune for 200 bucks online while a IMOD 4G and 5.5G are 200 and 250 respectively, thats just for the mod itself.

So if you take that into consideration bamboobrown, does the zune really sound that bad?

 

[StevenBrouwer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by EsthetiX /img/forum/go_quote.gif I find inconsistencies in your statement due to the fact that the vast majority report there opinions with great difference. IE; Zune is praised highly for its audio quality...

Well I don't see much players getting bad reviews apart from the popular Ipod bashing and ripping on mp3players that are already quite a lot cheaper than the average brands. It always like EXCELLENT or GREAT etc. not much critics on the portable forum. I don't find it strange most people have only 1 dap and off course think it's AMAZING.

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenBrouwer /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well I don't see much players getting bad reviews apart from the popular Ipod bashing and ripping on mp3players that are already quite a lot cheaper than the average brands. It always like EXCELLENT or GREAT etc. not much critics on the portable forum. I don't find it strange most people have only 1 dap and off course think it's AMAZING.

You have a point. Although I wouldn't describe Zune sound as "thin and muffled" even comparing to my home system. That description sound more like used headphones were undedriven. Did OP use amp, what headphones were that, was it exact same audio file in both DAPs, was the volume matched.....
We need more data?

 

[EsthetiX]

Hmm. OP, you have nothing more to say? K, well... I guess your opinion should really be taken with a grain of salt then (especially without any details).

 

[wgr73]

Lol, true!

 

[Max F]

Did you try the Zune with the same amp? If not, then this comparison is pointless. What headphones did you use. Not saying that the Zune is better or even as good as the Imod, but I would never call the Zune thin and muffled sounding. Its actually quite warm. I could see that it could be called more closed in but I imagine that this would be helped by an external amp. As far as i know, the Imod has to use an external amp.

Overall, the OP sounds like a blatant ad for the Imod.

 

[Assorted]

x2

 

[johnnylexus]

this is a tough crowd

 

[blazin_it_alwyz]

Yeah you guys are being a little harsh. The way that the review came off to me, is as follows.

On a scale from 1 to 1000, A regular iPod is about a 42/1000. A Zune is like 60/1000. But an iMod is like 780/1000. Basically, yeah the Zune might sound a little better than the iPod, but they are both in the same league that they completely suck compared to the iMod. So being they are both close in double digits on that scale, they both group into the category of sounding like the sound is funneled (once again compared to an iMod).

I don't consider myself to be more experienced than you guys when it comes to stuff like this, but that is how the review came off to me. I also assume he reproduced the conditions with both DAP's, but it doesn't really help that he isn't responding to any of the comments.

But lastly, I really don't think the iMod really needs any advertising, especially on this forum

Also I don't think anyone REALLY expected a Zune to compare to an iMod. I wouldn't even expect 6 or 7G iPods to compare to a 4G iModded iPod.

 

[mcmyers]

I think the questions posed to the OP are totally valid. It would help his case to know what amp was used, what headphones, what he did to equalize the situation, etc.

But the open hostility to his opinion is a little over the top. Questioning his integrity just because you think the Zune has a good reputation for audio quality is totally unnecessary.

The cool thing about these forums is that people are generally respectful of each other. It's fine to disagree, to ask questions. But things are getting a bit out of control when you accuse a guy of being an advertiser, and not a real Head-fier, simply because he hasn't responded to you in 24 hours.

 

[dr.morton]

With all this iMod this or iMod vs. we should possibly see a seperate iMod category soon?