iRiver IHP-140

[totalnewbie]

Hi, new, nice place, blah blah blah

That aside, let me begin.

I think it's about time I got a HDD mp3 player to replace that old, battered CD MP3 player I have.

I looked at my options and immediately wrote off the iPod. It looks nice, but that's about all, I think. The battery issues and the fact that the 20 GB iPod is still more than the 40 GB players makes me want to write it off immediately (and I did).

So then I looked at the Rio Karma. It doesn't seem that bad, but I very much dislike that flywheel, the case/bag (and I can buy another one, but that just adds to the cost), and the fact that it looks like a Gameboy to me.

The Creative NJ3 is huge, so I'm sorry, but I can't.

The Zen Xtra seemed a bit on the large side, the buttons on the side are a definite negative, and so is the green backlight/smallish LCD, from what I read. Other than that, I haven't read much about it, so if someone could offer thoughts, that would be nice.

And the iRiver IHP-140 is the last one I've been considering. I've read a great deal about it and from what I can tell, it seems like it is doing fairly well for itself. The software issues seem to have been fixed by the new firmware update, so that is a relief. However, at its fairly steep pricetag (US $385 on newegg.com) makes me a little anxious to actually buy this. So, I figured, I might as well ask here anyway.

So my main concerns: software? The good, the bad? I read about the file-management system someone wrote about (extra download at iRiver website) and was wondering about some more specifics...?

Stock headphones? I haven't any good ones of my own, and would prefer not to buy some new ones, though I will if need be. Under US $50, if at all possible... any suggestions would be nice, though I haven't looked at the headphones boards. Probably wander there tomorrow when I have time.

Durability? I'll be taking this around with me everywhere, so durability is a must. However, I do not plan running and/or smashing into things at high velocity, so consider it the usual walking around for a few hours wear and tear.

Sound quality? So far, I've only had crappy headphones, a set of speakers that are above average compared to the average person, a pos compared to most of you, it looks like , and car speakers from '95, so I would say that my name (totalnewbie) applies when it comes to sound quality. The music I will be playing will be almost exclusively mp3 from 128-320 kbps which, yes, I know, isn't as great as FLAC/ogg/whathaveyou/but it's what I have, damn it.

The controls seem to take a few hours to get used to, but beyond that, I haven't heard many complaints. I don't mind taking time to learn it/get used to it, so if it will STILL be a problem, please notify me.

And was I right in reading that the EQ is only bass/treble? That would be bad

The display! How does the LCD screen look? Size? What fits on the screen and what doesn't? If someone would be kind enough to take a couple pictures of the screen in its various settings (normal playback, file browsing, etc) that would be EXCELLENT.

Batteries are around 16 hours, I hear, so if anyone has experiences with unexpected power shortages (mmm, maybe <12 hours) that would also be nice to hear about.

I can't think of anything else at the moment, if anyone would like to give me a bit more info, that would just make me happy in my special place (my heart, my heart, you perverts).

Thank you all for reading! And even if you didn't, thanks for visiting.

<insert notable quote here>

(I'll be going to sleep then going to work, so please excuse me if I don't comment for a few hours.)

 

[Dweebgal]

i have an ihp-140.

3 things that bug me slightly.

1. It does take a bit of RTFM to get all the features down.
2. I prefer to browse by database, and the database is laughable ATM. (although i do manage with the file/folder menu ok)
3. Shuffle isn't a real shuffle, it's plays the songs mixed up, but in a deffinate order.

 

[br--]

Quote:

3. Shuffle isn't a real shuffle, it's plays the songs mixed up, but in a deffinate order.

I'm interested. Can you elaborate?

 

[Thaddy]

This is what I think about my newly acquired iHP-120. Hopefully it can answer some questions for you.

 

[Dweebgal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by br-- I'm interested. Can you elaborate?

if you switch on "shuffle all". it will play the songs mixed up (different songs from differnt folders) but it seems to play them in a predetermined order, i.e song x always follows song y.

hope that makes sense, it's the best way i can describe it

 

[Patchmaster]

That must be an iRiver "feature". My SlimX does the same kind of shuffle.

 

[totalnewbie]

Is there any way to reshuffle the songs? That is, if I add a song, will it regenerate the same list and mix that song in the middle, or will it generate a whole new list?

 

[Sweet Spot]

The only way to get it to re-generate the shuffle order is to re-boot it. Supposedly in the next firmware update (which is a month late already) there will be a new, improved and "real" shuffle. What the hell that means, is anyone's guess at this point because Iriver sure has a funny way of looking at things. I guess we shall see....sometime...hopefully this year.

 

[totalnewbie]

Well, as long as it can be reshuffled SOMEhow, I suppose it won't be a real problem so much as it would just a minor (perhaps increasingly major) irritance.

Well, from what I can see, it looks like there's nothing major to make me say "no" to this, so I think, tomorrow, I will look around for some cheap prices. If anyone wants to offer some before I look, that'd be great

Also, just to make sure (though I don't see why not), it is compatible with USB 1, yes? I do not think my computer has USB 2, but I'm really not sure how to check. I looked around yesterday, but I think my googling ability is off. Geez, I feel so silly for asking a simple question like this, heh... thanks everyone, you've all been a great help.

 

[Mexicorn]

I've had an ihp-120 for a couple months now and absolutely love it.
Some answers to your questions:

software: there is none really. you plug it in and it's automatically a 'removable disk' like a USB external HD. This is great since you don't need any proprietary software, whoever the only downside is you have to keep track of what you have on your computer and on your iriver, since you're manually dragging stuff over. However this is easily fixed by downloading one of many free folder synch programs available, which will synchronize a directory on your computer with your iriver

stock headphones: they really aren't too bad. i'm in the same boat as you when it comes sto "headphone newbieness", but I felt that the sound quality was rather decent. As with most earbuds though (at least with me), they do come out kind of easily and sound rather distant unless you're pretty much pressing them against your ear. For under $50 you could easily get a very decent replacement to those..just look around on the headphone forum.

Durability: it's very solidly built. it has some sort of magnesium/metallic body which feels like it could take its fair share of abuse. HOWEVER, we're talking about a HD player here, and as with all hard drives, violent movements are BAD. It will be fine for walking around and such, jogging will be a bit dangerous with it, and a drop to the floor will have a chance of killing the HD. This is pretty much the same for all HD players on the market though...this is why flash players are so much more expensive for so much less memory...no moving parts..

Sound quality: as I said before i'm a total newb in sound quality terms, but it's great for me! i'll let an audio veteran fill in more detais

controls aren't pickup&go like ipod i'm sure, but once you get the hang of it you're fine. I knew how to do pretty much everything on it the first day, and was easily fumbing through buttons without even looking in a week.

Display: it has about 19ish characters I think? not sure exactly, but it does scroll long titles (doesn't scroll album names unfortunately). Some people say the display in the remote is a little small, but I find it just fine. You can also control EVERY part of the player using just the remote, which is a big plus.

Batteries: I took this thing to France on vacation...had it playing through most of the 7hour flight, on and off a lot during 2 weeks, and lasted half the trip back...on one charge. I think that's decent enough, don't you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by totalnewbie Also, just to make sure (though I don't see why not), it is compatible with USB 1, yes? I do not think my computer has USB 2, but I'm really not sure how to check. I looked around yesterday, but I think my googling ability is off. Geez, I feel so silly for asking a simple question like this, heh... thanks everyone, you've all been a great help.

Yes, the player does work with usb1, but it will be slooooow. We're talking hours and hours for 10+gigs of music. If you have windows xp (with service pack 1...which you probably have unless your winxp is a "borrowed" copy...) then it's pretty cheap to get a USB2 PCI card for your computer. Try searching online for "PCI USB 2" or something like that and you can find a card for <$20 easy. If you're not sure how to install it, then you can either find your local computer nerd to help you, or you're free to ask for some help over here.

Hope that helps

 

[jthm]

You could do like a couple of us are doing and wait to see what July brings, there are at least 4 new DAPs coming out that month plus Sony's line of Hi-MD.

Personally I'm interested in seeing the Creative Zen Touch and Sony NH900. The Zen seems to suit your needs perfectly with the exception of being 20gb, however it is a fraction of the price for the iHP140

 

[john_jcb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dweebgal if you switch on "shuffle all". it will play the songs mixed up (different songs from differnt folders) but it seems to play them in a predetermined order, i.e song x always follows song y. hope that makes sense, it's the best way i can describe it

So if you turn it off and back on and select shuffle do you get the same songs in the same order. To hear a new song you would need to fast forward to where you left off? On the Zen Xtra I had it appeared to be random each time. However I never got to listen to enough to figure out if there was a pattern.

 

[Dweebgal]

the shuffle is the same order everytime, regardless of turning off or on. the only time i've noticed the order change is after laoding new music

 

[totalnewbie]

Could you tell me what else are being released...? And the Sony NH900 seems to be a minidisc player...? I'm trying to get away from discs by getting a HDD player But, perhaps iRiver will consider a price-drop, though since it apparently retailed for US $499 to begin with, that seems unlikely...

 

[Sweet Spot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dweebgal the shuffle is the same order everytime, regardless of turning off or on. the only time i've noticed the order change is after laoding new music

Er...no it's not. I'm thinking that you either have a bum unit, or you somehow missed the firimware update ? Can't see the latter being possible though. It's ALWAYS different for me. Always really has been.