Need large capacity mp3 player (100gb+) need some recommendations.

[|Tch0rT|]

It seems as if my Creative NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra with 160gb hard drive is dying. I have to get it do a disk clean up, reboot, and rebuild the library for it to be recognized as an MTP device anymore on any PC I hook it up to. That process takes about 30 min everytime. On top of that since the unit was never meant to have anything larger then a 60gb hard drive it's running into firmware limits on the amount of files and being able to keep track of all the ID3 Tag info (I get playback errors all the time on non-corrupted mp3's).

I've found about 4 choices so far:

iPod Classic 160gb, I'm leaning towards this one the most due to amount of accessories and the fact that my car CD player can control it. Downsides are the replacement battery issues, iTunes (I like drag and drop with File Explorer), apparently inferior SQ even with the line out wires (which I'd be using) compared to the 4g, 5g, and 5.5g iPods.

Zune 120, I'd almost take a Zune over the iPod but I'm not sure 120gb is quite enough for me. SQ is supposed to be good. Really the only other thing that scares me about a Zune is that problem they had not too long ago when a lot of them were locked out on a certain date for some reason. Anyway I know these are discontinued so if the prices of the Zune's drop a good deal it'll probably sway me over to them.

Archos 5 & 7 Internet Media Tablets, These seem interesting because they can be used to surf the web and check email (especially the Android powered Archos 5 unit) but that's not really a huge deal. They also zome in a lot of sizes bigger than 160gb. Downsides are they are more expensive (even more so with the Android model) and I hear the SQ isn't that great. The Archos 7 seems to be a bit on the large size.

Anyone know of any other units or recommendations? I mainly want large capacity and great SQ. I do not care about photos, videos, or any of the other crap really (the Archos are the only ones that seem to have any worth while extras like that IMO).

Thanks,

Ryan

 

[dippyboy_87]

Ok then you could always go with the classic 160gb as for the reasons you said above accessories, car CDP controls, storage, support etc. And you could always correct the SQ via an external amp if need be. And it is said that the line-out on the classic is cleaner than the previous generations. almost comparable to an imod out.
But i hate the hpo on the classic.

 

[ricthaman]

well,

I bought myself an iPod Classic 120GB last friday and am using them with my AKG K-518 and my UE Triple.fi 10 pro's, Directly form the headphone out it's fairly decent and enjoyable. When I use the LOD to my GoVibe v5 it's even better.

So I don't think you could go wrong with the iPod. The Archos SQ isn't that good and the zune, well, it's a zune.... The iPod SQ is imho on par with the Zune, the iPod just has different charistics. The iPod has very nice SQ actually, it has been stated many times befor just after it's release.

Grz

 

[penartur]

iPod Video (5th gen) supports 240GB hard drives. And virtually every hdd-based DAP should work with 120GB Samsung HS12YHA (Gigabeat F/X, Sony NW-HD5, iriver H1xx etc).

 

[estreeter]

My Asus netbook as a 250GB hard drive, HDMI out and a dedicated graphics card - sure, it needs an external DAC/amp, but get that lot together in a hotel room/dorm/whatever and you've got your own private entertainment centre - video, music, web surfing : all from something that fits in a small satchel. Failing that, my Sony X-Series makes me very, very happy.

 

[RedSky0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by penartur /img/forum/go_quote.gif iPod Video (5th gen) supports 240GB hard drives. And virtually every hdd-based DAP should work with 120GB Samsung HS12YHA (Gigabeat F/X, Sony NW-HD5, iriver H1xx etc).

x2

You get highly customisable sound with rockbox and drag and drop.

 

[|Tch0rT|]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm pretty set on the 160gb iPod Classic now. I really just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing some other unit somewhere.

The 5g iPod with upgraded 240gb hard drive is just way too expensive for me. That would be awesome especially running Rockbox but I just can't justify spending $250+ for the hard drive and who knows what for the 5g iPod if I can find one.

The Asus notebook. I thought about going that direction too but it's really too large for being used as just an Mp3 player. Not to mention boot up times and battery life.

Ryan

 

[penartur]

Quote:

The 5g iPod with upgraded 240gb hard drive is just way too expensive for me.

You can upgrade it to a 160gb. Or you can update virtually any slim (and thick as well) hdd-based DAP to 120GB using HS12YHA (~$120 on ebay) and, for some older models, ZIF->Toshiba adapter (about $2-5 for most of players and about $30 for some small players that cannot house large adaptor - i.e. NW-HD5).

 

[penartur]

double

 

[roebeet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by |Tch0rT| /img/forum/go_quote.gif The 5g iPod with upgraded 240gb hard drive is just way too expensive for me. That would be awesome especially running Rockbox but I just can't justify spending $250+ for the hard drive and who knows what for the 5g iPod if I can find one.

It's not like the Archos or netbook solutions are going to be much cheaper. I would also recommend the 5G + 240GB HDD route, just to keep the form factor small. If at all possible, try to find a 5G on eBay that is functional sans the HDD, so that will keep the price down (possibly under $50 US). And the MK2431GAH goes for around $250, as you mentioned.

If you can live with 120GB, there's the Zune as mentioned or possibly upgrading older players via a direct HDD upgrade (a ZIF adpater might be needed, depending on the unit). I have a Gigabeat F 40GB player than I upgraded to 120GB, which is running Rockbox.

 

[jhendrickson]

I've been looking for the same thing as the OP and have more or less decided the Classic 160 is about my only option.

I am interested in how you upgrade the hard drive on a 5th gen and was curious how one would go about doing this. My Google searches have not produced much.

Any help on that?

 

[roebeet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhendrickson /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've been looking for the same thing as the OP and have more or less decided the Classic 160 is about my only option. I am interested in how you upgrade the hard drive on a 5th gen and was curious how one would go about doing this. My Google searches have not produced much. Any help on that?

240GB Hard Drive for iPod Video (MK2431GAH): RapidRepair

Assuming this is similar to other iPod HDD upgrades I've done, it should be pretty straightforward: Add the drive, connect the iPod to iTunes, let it download the firmware / format the drive and it should work.

 

[penartur]

Quote:

Add the drive, connect the iPod to iTunes, let it download the firmware / format the drive and it should work.

However, rockbox will not work with such hdd out-of-box, you will need a custom build with modified SECTOR_SIZE and LBA_48 enabled.

 

[jhendrickson]

Thank you for the link. As stated previously the price on that is pretty ridiculous. Especially considering you can get a 320GB SATA laptop drive for $65. I realize we're dealing with proprietary technology here and you can't just throw any drive in there you want, but I guess that allows them to charge whatever they want.

Decisions...

You wouldn't think it would be that hard to find an PMP with tons of storage. Storage, generally speaking, is cheap compared to years past.

 

[penartur]

Quote:

Especially considering you can get a 320GB SATA laptop drive for $65. I realize we're dealing with proprietary technology here

This is not about proprietary technology, this is about compacthigh-density technology.
2.5" drives are a lot cheaper than 1.8" ones; but 3.5" are, in turn, a lot cheaper than 2.5" ones. Does this mean that 2.5" is "proprietary technology"?
And desktops are cheaper than laptops, does this mean that laptops are "proprietary technology"?
BTW, largest 2.5" and 3.5" hard drives (1TB and 2TB respectively) are not so cheap compared to a largest 1.8" (240GB), their price is also somewhere about $200-300.