[TegraStorm]

hello, I am looking for a large capacity portable music player as for my .FLAC library is 211gb, please do not persuade me that I do not need to have all my music with me as for I listen 95% of the time music on my phone (64gb) and I spend most of the day (3 - 5 hours) on traffic (yes, that long) and besides, i'll refuse to discuss. Recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I have been looking at the Fiio X5 and the Ipoc classic 240gb w rockbox, but the ipod classic seems too risky and its not that cheap to get compared to if i got the Fiio X5. Anything that can support 256gb or more would be great, thanks.

 

[cel4145]

If by "on traffic," you mean in your car, note that many car stereos now support USB drive connection, some of which can support portable hard drives (depends on the power output of the USB connection). I've used my WD Passport with my $150 Pioneer stereo, and it's an old mechanical hard drive. Since you already have 211 GB of files, seems like you might soon be reaching the limit of 256GB in flash cards. Once formatted, the 256 GB of flash cards probably would be something around 240 GB of usable space--that's over 90% full already.

 

[TegraStorm]

yeah almost, I mean public transport... and yeah im reaching a limit, the best i could do is, because i have converted every single of my FLAC files to mp3 then i could just put on mp3 the songs I like the least (but I still like) and save up some space, but im just mad that with the current technology I cant have a 1tb music player, or at least one that can connect to an ssd...

 

[cel4145]

MP3 makes more sense anyway. A lot of people delude themselves into thinking that they can hear the difference between 320K mp3 and flac, whereas in blind ABX testing, most people cannot. Read more here: http://lifehacker.com/5903625/mp3-or-lossless-see-if-you-can-hear-the-difference-with-this-test. ABX test yourself if you have not already.

So you are very unlikely to get a sound benefit in going from mp3 to flac. Although compared to most phones, the X5 itself will have better SQ. But with mp3s, you could get away easily enough with the X3.

 

[TegraStorm]

MP3 makes more sense anyway. A lot of people delude themselves into thinking that they can hear the difference between 320K mp3 and flac, whereas in blind ABX testing, most people cannot. Read more here: http://lifehacker.com/5903625/mp3-or-lossless-see-if-you-can-hear-the-difference-with-this-test. ABX test yourself if you have not already.

So you are very unlikely to get a sound benefit in going from mp3 to flac. Although compared to most phones, the X5 itself will have better SQ. But with mp3s, you could get away easily enough with the X3.

Yeah, on my phone i use poweramp to hear my music, so I did a personalized EQ and its wonderful for me, not perfect but it does the job really well. I can not hear the difference on some of my tracks, but I do hear it on others, I do notice a difference on some electronic and some rock songs (my library is big, so i would say I do hear the difference in 1 out of 4 tracks) but I do understand, Ive read about this, and im not sh***ing when I say I do notice it, and it isnt a "placebo effect", no the difference isn't big but I do dedicate a lot to music and i just love hearing every bit of sound there is, at times it is a little frustrating because I can hear some static or white noise from just plugging the headphones and not hearing music but oh well. (Im not talking about the sound when you first plug them, but when they are already plugged without any sound or music playing)

 

[TegraStorm]

Do you think that right now or next year there will be any way to get 512gb on the Fiio X5? meanwhile im ok with 2 128gb micro sds

 

[Brooko]

This man knows what he's talking about ^ 

 (Cel's post)
 
Here's how to set up an ABX test - worth doing for peace or mind (http://www.head-fi.org/t/655879/setting-up-an-abx-test-simple-guide-to-ripping-tagging-transcoding)
 
If you need to have FLAC - then the X5 would be most cost effective solution - with 2 x 128Gb SDXC cards.
 
Better (cost effective) option might be using something like a Fiio X1, X3 (or soon to be released new X3 2nd generation), a 64Gb card, and use either AAC256 or MP3 320.
 
FWIW - I use FLAC on my X5 - simply because I have enough space, and it's a replica of my total archival library at home (around 450 albums redbook).  But for day to day - I use either the X1 or X3ii with a 64Gb card and same library in aac256. 

 

[cel4145]

Yep. If you haven't done a proper ABX testing where you don't know which track is which, you are fooling yourself if you think you can hear the difference between flac and mp3. Most people that believe that they can and do a proper test find that they can't. Definitely do this before going any further on your deliberations over how much storage you need. You are likely spending money on something you don't actually need.

 

[TegraStorm]

ill try it out and tell you in a few hours, BTW you should update the first link to EAC

 

[Brooko]

Thanks - fixed it.
 
Please post back and let us know how you get on with the ABX.  And don't forget, files have to come from same master, and need to be volume matched.  Around 15 iterations gives pretty good data. I'm yet to find anyone - if the tests are done properly - who can tell FLAC from aac256.
 
Had a few people claim they could - and when I suggested I'd set up an independent test (ie someone else present and controlling it) - they've all declined.  I think that speaks volumes 

.

 

[TegraStorm]

  Thanks - fixed it.
 
Please post back and let us know how you get on with the ABX.  And don't forget, files have to come from same master, and need to be volume matched.  Around 15 iterations gives pretty good data. I'm yet to find anyone - if the tests are done properly - who can tell FLAC from aac256.
 
Had a few people claim they could - and when I suggested I'd set up an independent test (ie someone else present and controlling it) - they've all declined.  I think that speaks volumes 

.

Woah, I know what i'll use from now on to get my .FLAC to .mp3, these were my results:
 
foo_abx 2.0 report
foobar2000 v1.3.7
2015-03-08 17:24:00
File A: (01) Pull Me Under - Dream Theater.flac
SHA1: 37df10bb7c626dc9cf457c09cd1aa3c380fd7cd9
Gain adjustment: -6.41 dB
File B: Dream Theater - Pull Me UnderPull Me UnderImages and Words01.m4a
SHA1: 281837d32509e7cf6df929601ca54e8edeb43085
Gain adjustment: -6.37 dB
Output:
DS : Primary Sound Driver
Crossfading: NO
17:24:00 : Test started.
17:29:41 : 01/01
17:31:18 : 01/02
17:35:13 : 02/03
17:36:07 : 03/04
17:36:31 : 04/05
17:38:19 : 04/06
17:38:40 : 05/07
17:39:44 : 05/08
17:40:00 : 06/09
17:40:20 : 06/10
17:41:02 : 06/11
17:41:48 : 07/12
17:42:13 : 07/13
17:42:32 : 08/14
17:42:47 : 09/15
17:43:42 : 10/16
17:43:42 : Test finished.
 ---------- 
Total: 10/16
Probability that you were guessing: 22.7%
 
 
foo_abx 2.0 report
foobar2000 v1.3.7
2015-03-08 17:53:09
File A: Helios - The Morning Room.mp3
SHA1: f17c9d4ff9405e8f2b6790174e27982dbcb9a712
Gain adjustment: -5.17 dB
File B: 11 - The Morning Room.flac
SHA1: cc4f4c5f803ad996ee63d32bc90aea4ca602612a
Gain adjustment: -5.16 dB
Output:
DS : Primary Sound Driver
Crossfading: NO
17:53:09 : Test started.
17:54:01 : 01/01
17:55:55 : 02/02
17:57:23 : 02/03
17:58:01 : 03/04
18:00:14 : 04/05
18:00:48 : 05/06
18:01:26 : 06/07
18:03:13 : 07/08
18:03:52 : 07/09
18:05:56 : 07/10
18:05:56 : Test finished.
 ---------- 
Total: 7/10
Probability that you were guessing: 17.2%
 
 
I would do a 3rd but this is driving me nuts

 
It was very hard for me to difference it, and I just chose a random album so I wouldn't go without bumps, and DANG it was bumpy! thanks for this, I do notice a difference but it is pretty much not noticeable, and ill admit i just bypassed some of those because i was spending too much time on them... Im still looking forward to getting a high capacity player though, as for my MP3 library is 63gb, but i'll keep this stuff in mind, and actually, it was entretaining! I might just pick up this test once in a while. and i'll probably post the results. thanks for that, I dont like to live under lies (ahh, so ironic...).

 

[Brooko]

Good work!
 
The more tests you do - the greater the relevance.  Opens your eyes eh?  Anyway - pleased we could help. Can definitely recommend X5 - wonderful player and will give you the storage options you're looking for.
 
Interestingly, I'll have a PONO with me in a few days time, so I'll be posting a comparison between that and the X5 once I've had a chance to compare both.

 

[Za Warudo]

Your test was probably done in a quiet environment.  I really doubt there would be any difference if you tried to differentiate them under the noise of traffic.
 
But if you really want ~256GB capacity, another option is the HM-601LE ($150 with a RE-400), which after Rockboxing it can take 256GB SD cards, which would be cheaper than 2 x 128GB microSD cards.