Is There a Perfect Portable Media Player?

[pds6]

Here are reviews of: 5th gen iPod; Zen Vision M; Sansa SanDisk and Cowon A2.

Some are a little bit higher and some a little lower. Not one blows the others out of the water. Your statement: "Is the ipod less than half as good aurally as the ZVM or the x5 or th h120", is simply not true.

 

[bazmonkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mher6 /img/forum/go_quote.gif So what exactly is rockbox? Just a different media player to install on your DAP?

Different firmware, yes. Originally it was created out of frustration with the original firmware on older Archos jukeboxes. It's usefulness is in the just plain superior amount of audio codecs supported (it's like 11 codecs or something), added features and customizing options (such as a fully adjustable crossfeed and parametric equalizer), and a general geek factor. It can take some getting used to, especially if the original firmware on your DAP is "flashier", but if your interest is in utilizing your DAP to play audio as best it can, Rockbox is as feature-full as it gets. After getting one player that Rockbox supports, I don't think I'd ever get a DAP that it didn't.

And I wouldn't hold my breath concerning Rockbox finding its way onto the A2 or any PMP. It's focus is really on the audio, and there's a lot of features of a PMP that Rockbox doesn't even attempt to implement or support.

 

[chris_ah1]

How is it like with battery life?

 

[drippydonut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris_ah1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif How is it like with battery life?

Rockbox? On which target?

On both the iriver H1xx and H3xx it has improved battery life, so a stock H3xx can get about 20 hours of playtime.
Upgrade the battery to a 2200mah one and people have reported getting over 32 hours out of their Rockbox'ed H300s.

Other Rockbox'ed players might have worse playtime if they are relatively new targets and haven't been optimised yet.

 

[nabulous]

Okay, so it appears that all hd-based dap's have their own strengths and weaknesses, and i believe the zvm has the weaknesses i care least about. I guess its size is a dsiadvantage, but only next to the ipod which it outperforms. I went to tweeters and looked at one in person and at the risk of sounding cliche', it does feel firm and good in one's hand (that came out all wrong

) anyhow, i think i might just order it tonight on amazon ($200 shipped). Just this morning a thread alerted me to a steal on amazon, where i got a set of Sennheiser hd201's and Koss KSC75's for <$14...So a brand new set of mint closedback senn's and the ever-popular ksc75 for $25 shipped!
but I understand the zvm has no rockbox, should that be a detraction from its merits? (after i brooded over it not being ums compatible)

 

[pds6]

nabulous says:
Quote:

I understand the zvm has no rockbox, should that be a detraction from its merits? (after i brooded over it not being ums compatible)

You did the research. If this is the player for you and it is available at a great price, then it is time to pull the trigger.

Good Luck

 

[Packgrog]

As pds6 said, it really depends on what you want to get out of it.

I've been an avid Rockbox user with my H120 for over a year now, possibly two. It adds quite a lot to the usability of the device. However, every time I switch between my H120 and my Cowon A2 these days I find myself frustrated with the inferior sound quality of the H120. At this point, I've decided to just use my Cowon A2, at least until I can get ahold of a good quality amp to use with the H120. Right now, sound quality is starting to outweigh usability, and the A2 wins for quality. Once I have an amp for the H120, I should have the best of both worlds and will switch back. Especially once I can afford a Micro DAC! *cackle*

If usability is the primary priority, you'll want to track down a player that can support Rockbox. If sound quality is key, look at the reviews and decide from there. Again, though, the Cowon A2's sound quality blows me away, and you can get a 30GB model for $300 right now on NewEgg (it's listed as JetAudio rather than Cowon), PLUS you get one of the best portable video players on the market.

Good luck, man!

 

[chris_ah1]

Out of curiosity, where would you get a very high capacity battery to upgrade a H340 or H140?

I've looked around but can only seem to find 1700mah or ipod batteries.


I am hoping that they get rockbox on the 80G 5.5Gs by the time I come to buy one in June.

 

[Packgrog]

Look on the MisticRiver forums for more info about batteries for the H1xx and H3xx players.

 

[konish]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Packgrog /img/forum/go_quote.gif Again, though, the Cowon A2's sound quality blows me away, and you can get a 30GB model for $300 right now on NewEgg (it's listed as JetAudio rather than Cowon), PLUS you get one of the best portable video players on the market. Good luck, man!

Packgrog,
I could not agree with you more. I LOVE the SQ out of my recently acquired A2. Absolutely stunning. I also find the EQ setting does not distort the music like the ipod presets. Also, it doesn't seem to have any effect on the battery life which is awesome. My only complaint is the archaic way music is managed and its pretty big. I wanted desperately to like my ipod better, but even with a Bling Bling line out and Zero audiocraft amp, it just doesn't sound as good.

R/
Dustin

 

[jinp6301]

im gonna be the arse and recommend the Rio Karma which is discontinued and is basically impossible to get. Its the holy grail of all DAPs!

 

[nabulous]

Alright, i must announce that earlier today i went ahead and ordered the zen. This is the period where i make post-purchase evaluations as i think of all the players i didn't buy...can't wait till it arrives, along with the cans.

 

[stevenkelby]

No! Why did you do that!

Only joking, they are great, you'll love it.

 

[pds6]

nabulous says:
Quote:

[T]oday i went ahead and ordered the zen.

Didn't we tell you, any dap but the zen.

So sorrrrrrrrry.

 

[nabulous]

The zet-vee-emme arrived in the mail yesterday (amazon grossly overstates their estimated delivery time, online it said i could expect it by dec. 9th) Anyhow, it looks and feels great, and after charging it for some 12 hrs, and transferring files for 6 hours, i finally got to sample the sound, albeit only through the tacky buds that are bundles with the player, and it sounds leagues above my roommates nano. i can't wait till the ksc75s arrive.

on the less negative side, the glossy front plates will suck out oil from your fingertips like a vacuum. and i have yet to acclimatise myself with the touch-scroll mechanism. I keep misselecting items when using it. hopefully my clumsy fingers will just figure it out over time.