muvo2 vs. muvo TX

[pompoen]

I'm looking into buying a flash based player. I will be jogging with it a lot. And I really dont trust a HDD for that.

I consider usb 2.0 to be a major plus. Unfortunatly, that seems to reduce the options to the creative muvo2 and the muvo TX.

The muvo2 is supposed to have better sound quality, while the muvo TX is only half the size.
I compared both the pro and contra's of each player but I'm having a hard time to make a decision.
Choosing is loosing...

I will use a sennheiser PX100 and a sony ex51 with it. I'm considering to buy a Beyer DT 231 or a HD497 as well.

Hopefully your replies and this poll will make my life easier

Thanks alot,
Jef

 

[pomegranate]

I'm not so sure you should be worried about having USB 2. With the smaller capacity of flash players, it's not going to make much practical difference. Using USB 1 I think you would be able to transfer about 1 to 2 songs per second. Even using the biggest capacity flash player (1gb), this would only take a few minutes to "fill up" from empty. Come to think, this is probably why there aren't more flash players with USB 2 - it's not crucially neccessary.
If you are open to USB 1, you have a lot more choice. There are some very-nice looking alternatives out there. Have a look at
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/...ges/index.html. Of course my opinion is no more worthwhile than your own!
Some people might advise against the Muvos as the screen is a bit small, some say too small to be worthwhile. Also the Creative site says that the Muvo2 has a hard disk, not flash memory.
Edit: I'm not going to recommend a specific player as I'm not practically familiar with them.

 

[Skeeve]

The muvo2 most people mention on here is using a mini harddrive, but there is the muvo2 x-trainer that is the same size and shape but uses 512mb of flash memory.

Personally, I wouldn't be too worried about a flash player being on usb1 either and then it would open up options such as the excellent iriver flash players, the usb-drive style such as the i-bead among others and istr other people rating the iaudio players quite highly.

 

[whistler]

The Nex IIe or Nex Ia both have flexibility and are compact in size. I have the Nex IIe and find the sound quite good.

 

[ezra2323]

I'm a runner and have been using the iPod Mini for over a month now on my runs. Not one problem. I highly recommend it.

 

[pompoen]

Thanks for the replies,

usb 2.0 isnt an absolute requeirement, just a big plus. But I thought that filling 512Mb at usb 1.0 would take 15 minutes. Knowing myself, I'll regret not having usb 2.0 everytime I change my music.

I considered the ipod mini, but availability in Europe is a big problem. And allthough it is most likly that the microdrive can sustain running with, I still wouldn't trust. With a flash based player there is nothing to be worried about.

I'll order the muvo2, the x-trainer version or a deguttted one from ebay.

Thanks again

 

[TonyTripleA]

I bought the MuVo NX 256 and thought it was great till I upgraded the Sony EX71 buds to etymotic (the slippery slope of Head Fi emerged and my wallet was already falling). Frankly, I wasted my money... but got a nice flash drive (or is that my wife ended up with a nice flash drive).

If you just want music to exercise to, then the flash player is okay. If you want music to "listen to" go the MuVo 2 or some other quality player. The sound quality of the MuVo NX is in fact poor. Even moderate quality headphones will seem limited with the NX/TX. When I plug my MuVo NX into my stereo and then compare the Ipod... this lack of quality makes itself very clear (sure, the NX was never intended for this use). Would you pick it with standard buds, maybe not. With good headphones/canalphones yes.

My advise, get the better sound at the start. I cycle with my Ipod and its never missed a beat. HD players are good if you are not too vigorous with them.

Cheers,

TonyAAA

 

[GSTom1]

I can see a difference between the Muvo2 and the Muvo TX, but feature wise, what is the difference between the Muvo TX and the NX? Does the TX replace the NX?

I think buying a gutted Muvo2 (4GB) from EBay and putting in your own flash card is probably cheaper than buying the Muvo2 X-Trainer.

 

[austonia]

Quote:

Originally posted by GSTom1 I think buying a gutted Muvo2 (4GB) from EBay and putting in your own flash card is probably cheaper than buying the Muvo2 X-Trainer.

Absolutely the best deal. Upgradable for the future too. you can put together a 512mb flash player for like $150.

By the way, USB 2.0 should be considered a requirement buying any player over 128mb. I had an iRiver 390T player with 256mb and USB1, and it took half an hour to fill at that rate. It was just too much for me, I didn't want to wait that long before going to the gym...

 

[GSTom1]

Quote:

Originally posted by austonia Absolutely the best deal. Upgradable for the future too. you can put together a 512mb flash player for like $150.

I hear that Creative Labs are making the compact flash drive much harder to remove in their new batch of Muco2s. Too many people buying the Muvo2 and ripping them out. Has anyone heard anything about this?

 

[pompoen]

thanks to all, especially to TonyTripleA

I'll get a muvo2

 

[Sczervok]

MuVo 2 and MuVo 2 x-trainer are the same thing except for what they stick inside the player. x-trainer should have something of a CF flash card, and the regular one should have a 4 gig microdrive.

You should get the MuVo 2, rip the microdrive out, and stick the flash card in. If you want to, you can sell the microdrive for $300 some and buy the CF card for less. You'll end up making money instead of spending it.

pomegranate, you've mistaked the transfer speeds. It's one song a second for USB 2. It takes me 5 seconds to transfer a 4 minute 128kbps mp3 song with USB 1. And for me... it's kinda bumming me cause I only have a flash player at the moment.

Good choice at the MuVo 2. You're going to be lucky if you ever get it though... a 3 hour window in which you can still grab your own player before they sell out again. Amazon lets you reserve your player ahead of time, but who knows until when?

 

[TonyTripleA]

Pompoen,

Let us know how you find it when you manage to get it. Those MuVo 2 units dissappear fast in the U.S.

In Australia they are outrageously expensive but for about A$600 you can at least buy them (thats about US$500). One aussie store has them on "special" for A$475... still a lot more than you guys get them for... in fact an ipod in Aussieland is only A$450 so eventually that was what helped push me in that direction... (well I admit I was sucked into the next model up and ended up spending A$600 anyway, but heck, this is Head-Fi so its expected right?).

Cheers,

TonyAAA

 

[pompoen]

availability of the muvo2 isnt a problem here in Belgium.

For example, in a shop less then a mile away, they've built a 5ft tall pyramid of muvo2's.

Unfortunatly, prices are between 300 and 350€. Because of the current conversion rate that is about 350 and 400USD. But I dont know if thats a fair comparison. And offcourse the 21%VAT makes a difference as well.

I will be flying to Los Angeles in 2 months from now and I'm considering buying a muvo2 with a 128/256Mb CF card, now, for jogging. And buying a really good HDD based player when I'm the States.

Arrgghhh, the choices are driving me mad.

Now back to study, I have an exam on fiday.