MP3 Player with Line-Out needed (story included)

[fraseyboy]

In a brief moment of insanity I decided to try my HD580's direct out of my Samsung YP-Z5 but this time I went into my bedroom and listened there for a change... I thought that it would probably sound crap but thats good because it would make my PC rig sound better...

But I preferred the sound of a cheap MP3 player to my computer rig. It wasn't that it sounded better, but I just liked it more. How can this be possible I thought. How can the crappy headphone out of an MP3 player beat a dedicated DAC and headphone amp?.

I think that it could be not that the sound direct from my MP3 player is superior but that I am in a place with no distractions (like forums, instant messaging, etc) where I can focus on the music completely without getting sidetracked, where I can listen as opposed to hearing. So I have decided that I will focus on having a bedside rig.



I will be using my Little Dot MK II as the headphone amp which will be connected to the line out of an MP3 player.

My specifications for what this MP3 player can do are not very demanding. It must play music WELL with good sound quality and it must have a line out. I do not care if the line-out is achieved with a dock as long as the dock is cheap or included. An FM tuner would be handy but is not completely necessary. If it is able to play FLAC some way or another that would be cool too but again, it is in completely necessary.

As far as capacity goes, 8gb or over should give me enough room for growth. I don't mind if its flash or HDD. Budget? Hmm. Not too much. Nothing over $170USD I think, used or new.

 

[texashorn91]

Wow. You will definitely have to change your budget for that. An ipod's line out cable itself is like $50, and thats a cheapo apple one. You would be better off just getting a nice comfy chair in the same room as your computer (not a nice computer chair, a real chair for relaxing in, separate from a computer chair), and just turn off the monitor, chill, and enjoy the music. Your rig is great as it is.

 

[Assorted]

Am I to understand that the Samsung rig:

Samsung YP-Z5 -> HD 580

is better than the computer rig:

Computer -> Beresford DAC -> LD MK II -> HD 580?

Why not sell the LD MK II then? It should expand your budget a lot.

 

[fraseyboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by texashorn91 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Wow. You will definitely have to change your budget for that. An ipod's line out cable itself is like $50, and thats a cheapo apple one. You would be better off just getting a nice comfy chair in the same room as your computer (not a nice computer chair, a real chair for relaxing in, separate from a computer chair), and just turn off the monitor, chill, and enjoy the music. Your rig is great as it is.

But thats an ipod. I don't really want an ipod. I'm sure there's players with line out for $170. I will stretch to $200 if necessary... And I want a bedside rig anyway so yeah...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assorted /img/forum/go_quote.gif Am I to understand that the Samsung rig: Samsung YP-Z5 -> HD 580 is better than the computer rig: Computer -> Beresford DAC -> LD MK II -> HD 580? Why not sell the LD MK II then? It should expand your budget a lot.

No no no. It's all about the location.

 

[breakfastchef]

Sounds like you need a Cowon (iAudio) X5 or X5L. Unfortunately, they have been discontinued. You might be able to pick one up on ebay in 20GB, 30GB or 60GB configurations. If not, look at other Cowon players (JetMall.net). All play FLAC and most have a line out.

 

[Caribou679]

Fraserboy, I think you need to look for a used Cowon X5 at iaudiophile.net or ebay or decide to get an ipod 5th gen, 30 gb, rockboxed, (like the one I want to sell) and an lod for it.

I am pretty much in the same situation as you are. I am going to get a LD tube amp and I am considering with what I will feed it.

I have my D2 but no line out. I decided I will use my X5 which has a broken headphone jack. I already use it with a line out (lod), so going from mini to RCA cables should do the job of feeding the amp.

Or use your Sony cd player, with the correct cable s it should drive fine.

for sure having 30gb and more of Flac available is less cumbersome than to change the cd continually.

regards,

 

[Febs]

A Toshiba Gigabeat F40 with Rockbox would do exactly what you need and can be found on ebay for under $100. (Make sure you get one with the dock, as you'll need that for the line out.)

 

[fraseyboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Febs /img/forum/go_quote.gif A Toshiba Gigabeat F40 with Rockbox would do exactly what you need and can be found on ebay for under $100. (Make sure you get one with the dock, as you'll need that for the line out.)

There are some available in New Zealand on its local online auction site but they are all insanely overpriced compared to ebay... The one I'm looking at is $200 for the 20gb model. It's definatly an option though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caribou679 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Fraserboy, I think you need to look for a used Cowon X5 at iaudiophile.net or ebay or decide to get an ipod 5th gen, 30 gb, rockboxed, (like the one I want to sell) and an lod for it. I am pretty much in the same situation as you are. I am going to get a LD tube amp and I am considering with what I will feed it. I have my D2 but no line out. I decided I will use my X5 which has a broken headphone jack. I already use it with a line out (lod), so going from mini to RCA cables should do the job of feeding the amp. Or use your Sony cd player, with the correct cable s it should drive fine. for sure having 30gb and more of Flac available is less cumbersome than to change the cd continually. regards,

I did want the X5 but again it's hard to find in New Zealand. Every now and then it pops up on trademe so I'll keep a look out.

What about the Iriver HP140?

 

[dickmadison]

I'm on a similar search as you regarding finding a player with a line-out. The only players I could find with line out are Ipod. However, since you don't mind having a doc (and I do) a sony A800 series player (lower gb, maybe 4 or 2gb) +$50 doc would fit the bill. There are many reviews in this forum that praise their SQ. I can't confirm...I'm in between it and an ipod nano or possibly a cowon something or other. I don't think sony's play flac though....You will have to sacrifice something. If you hear of anything else with line-out....i would love to hear about it. Good luck!

 

[DNA Doc]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fraseyboy /img/forum/go_quote.gif My specifications for what this MP3 player can do are not very demanding. It must play music WELL with good sound quality and it must have a line out. I do not care if the line-out is achieved with a dock as long as the dock is cheap or included. An FM tuner would be handy but is not completely necessary. If it is able to play FLAC some way or another that would be cool too but again, it is in completely necessary. As far as capacity goes, 8gb or over should give me enough room for growth. I don't mind if its flash or HDD. Budget? Hmm. Not too much. Nothing over $170USD I think, used or new.

Another player to consider is the Creative Zen Vision M 30gig, which can be had used or refurbed for right around your $170USD. It's got very nice SQ, as far as mp3 players go, both through the headphone jack as well as though the line out (which is accessed via an included dock). It's also got the FM tuner you want, but does NOT play FLAC.

Like many here, I own a bunch of mp3 players, but I find myself using the ZVM more than almost all others. I've got the original 60gig model (not the newer thin one) and typically go line out to a Xin Supermicro IV, with headphones dependant on what I'm listening to. Most of my mp3s are lame-encoded alt-preset insane 320s, and they sound very good with this set-up.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

 

[fraseyboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dickmadison /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm on a similar search as you regarding finding a player with a line-out. The only players I could find with line out are Ipod. However, since you don't mind having a doc (and I do) a sony A800 series player (lower gb, maybe 4 or 2gb) +$50 doc would fit the bill. There are many reviews in this forum that praise their SQ. I can't confirm...I'm in between it and an ipod nano or possibly a cowon something or other. I don't think sony's play flac though....You will have to sacrifice something. If you hear of anything else with line-out....i would love to hear about it. Good luck!

The Sony looks interesting but since I could get something with FLAC and line out for around the same price it seems pointless to go for that.

This dock here Sony New Zealand - Products is cheaper but it doesn't say if it has line out or not.

 

[Punnisher]

Can anyone confirm that the Sony a818 has a true line out with a doc?

I'm pretty much in the market for the same type of player, there just aren't many with true line outs right now.

 

[fraseyboy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punnisher /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can anyone confirm that the Sony a818 has a true line out with a doc? I'm pretty much in the market for the same type of player, there just aren't many with true line outs right now.

I read somewhere that ALO is working on a LOD but until then there is a dock with true line out.

Review: Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3)

 

[Caribou679]

Even if the "purist" will never connect an headphone jack to an amp, you can be sure I will try my Cowon players directly to the MkIII, or MKII.

If it sounds good through my headphones/IEMs, it will surely sound good through an amp.

I do it anyway with headphone amps now( go vibe and Pa2V2) and it surely does sound good.

Hope you find your Flac player.

regards,

P.S. I am buying a LD MKIII tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yiaks!!!It should ship before chineese New Year!

 

[kpeezy]

You have a lot more options than you're limiting yourself to IMO. Is there a reason you don't want to just move your entire setup into the bedroom? That's what I'm doing next week. Getting a device to stream data from my hdd at the computer into my bedroom where I'll hook up into a DAC. You could do that within your budget.

Either way, there is an iRiver H320 FS right now in the forums for ~$100 and it has a dedicated line-out jack. A mini>RCA cable would be all you need.