Portable audio: which device for the best quality?

[DoNotBugMe]

Right, I'm looking for a portable device, which will probably only be used going from one desk to the other (ie: i won't be using it *while* moving around).

I strongly dislike mp3s, or any form of lossy compression. I don't want to get in the 'lossy' debate/flamewar, let's just say those are not an option for me. I usually play flac or ape files if not cds.

I hear it's possible to use those portable dvd players and simply move cd tracks on them. Sounds good, as it would mean more music per disc. But which device is considered to have the 'best' sound? I can't imagine sound quality doesn't vary between portable cd/dvd players.

If you have any experience with those please let me know. My head phones are etys er4p. Any pointers/hints would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[Oski]

Steve, you may want to consider the new HeadRoom products:

Micro series DAC and Amp:

http://www.headphone.com/products/he...he-micro-line/


Desktop Amp with built-in DAC option:

http://www.headphone.com/products/he...-desktop-line/

Edit:

Oops just realized you may be looking for a music player only without the associated DACs and amps. As I don't have much experience with portable DVD players, hopefully someone will be able to assist further. But if you want a good upgrade from the typical portable player a DAC and amp setup can really improve the quality.

 

[bigshot]

If the desk has a computer on it, it probably has a CD/DVD drive. Just carry your CDs and a set of headphones. Getting a DAP and using lossless exclusively is a bit counter productive... unless you can afford a 60 gig model.

See ya
Steve

 

[Edvard_Grieg]

On Bigshot's note, while you could look at the Rio Karma or the iAudio X5 for FLAC (and the iPod for ALAC....), you could look at just getting a decent sized portable HD, loading it up with music, hooking it to your computers; putting in a good sound card (or look at some of the newer external cards); then setup the seperate amp/headphones etc

 

[iPodphile]

I believe the original poster was looking for just a good sounding source that plays CD tracks...it would be helpful to hear opinions on the current crop of PCDPs as to what sounds good.

 

[DoNotBugMe]

Thanks for the replies guys. But am I reading this well? The source is irrelevant as long as it's CD or DAP, what makes the difference is the AMP and DAC? I could get the same quality out of my laptop computer cd player output than out of a standalone cd player? I thought some players would have sounded better than the others. Please let me know if I understood you correctly.

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[Thisp]

The Rio Karma supports FLAC. In addition, it's the only player out there that plays music back properly, while other companies focus on playback of videos on crappy 2" screens.

Also, it has a nice dock for a desk, with ethernet and a true RCA line out on it.

Don't worry about the DAC. 99% of all well designed DACs(not laptop headphone outs) output the exact same results, and when measured this is proven true. It's a mature technology. And unless you're driving mini-speakers, pretty much any well designed external solid state amp will sound the same also(again, it's a mature technology).

 

[DoNotBugMe]

Yes, the Rio Karma did sound ideal, unfortunately it's also famous to be defective

I don't really want to take the risk as I had a few bad experiences with other products.

Steve.

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoNotBugMe Thanks for the replies guys. But am I reading this well? The source is irrelevant as long as it's CD or DAP, what makes the difference is the AMP and DAC? I could get the same quality out of my laptop computer cd player output than out of a standalone cd player? I thought some players would have sounded better than the others. Please let me know if I understood you correctly.

The quality of sound coming out of your laptop's CD player is comparable to most portable CD players. I don't see any reason to carry any separate equipment if you have a laptop and headphones. If your cans require amping, you should get a portable amp, but that depends on the cans you are using. Have you tried listening to CDs through your comp? Check it and see if it sounds good enough to you.

The main reason to use a DAP is if you are using compressed files. That way you can carry along more music than you ever could lugging CDs in jewel cases along with you. Using lossless files on a DAP kind of defeats the purpose.

Someone suggested just carrying a hard drive full of lossless files around with you. That would allow you to carry hundreds of gigs worth of music, and some of the portable hard drives are pretty small. Just plug the drive in and use the computer's player to play the files.

See ya
Steve

 

[Fourgates]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot The quality of sound coming out of your laptop's CD player is comparable to most portable CD players.

Surely you jest!

I can't stand how most laptops play back music. Resolution, dynamics, and tone. I rather use a cheap $50 CD player then any laptops. I've tried the IBM Travelmate, Sony Vaio, and Compac laptops and my cheapo Radio Shack CD player was still better. No doubt the higher Sony brand CD players will kick some serious butt. But using Foobar to decode and playback low compression or uncompressed wav files is a different story. If the sound card is decent it can even sound pleasing.

 

[bigshot]

I'm a Mac guy. Perhaps we're spoiled. CDs on all of my Macs have always sounded as good as out of a standalone CD player.

If PC laptops sound crummy, I would think the problem is software, not hardware. You shouldn't need a dedicated sound card to play a CD. Any CD drive capable of being a CD-ROM drive should be able to read an audio CD properly. The conversion from digital to analogue in a PC is a software issue, no?

In any case, if the computer itself can't be counted on to play the CD, perhaps a cheap portable CD player is what the original poster needs. I sure don't see any point spending hundreds of dollars on a DAP just to play uncompressed CD audio when an inexpensive discman can do the same thing without the added hassle of ripping and encoding to lossless.

See ya
Steve

 

[ZackT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot I'm a Mac guy. Perhaps we're spoiled. CDs on all of my Macs have always sounded as good as out of a standalone CD player. See ya Steve

As a one eyed biased Mac man myself I'd have to agree. Although I am considering an external audiophile external soundcard I don't think it's that nessessary. My powerbook to Klipch powered sub and sats straight from the headphone socket sound awesome.

ZT

 

[omendelovitz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoNotBugMe Thanks for the replies guys. But am I reading this well? The source is irrelevant as long as it's CD or DAP, what makes the difference is the AMP and DAC? I could get the same quality out of my laptop computer cd player output than out of a standalone cd player? I thought some players would have sounded better than the others. Please let me know if I understood you correctly. Cheers, Steve.

A straightforward question deserves a straightforward answer. Get an iPod (and then use ALAC) or get an iAudio M3 or X5 and use FLAC. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong... If you prefer bass to midrange, choose the iAudio; if you like neutral sounding playback choose the iPod (may be a tad weak on the bass for you, depending on your preferences).

O

 

[necropimp]

if these desks have a computer at each running the same OS get an external HD, load [yourplayerhere] and all your music onto it

 

[necropimp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot The conversion from digital to analogue in a PC is a software issue, no?

not even close... not even remotely close