Recommend a 1G player?

[lbholde]

I plan to mate a new 1G player to a pair of Etymotic ER6i earphones and I could use some recommendations. I don't want an iPod. I don't need video. I prefer one with an FM tuner. My main concern is ease of use and good sound. 95% of what I'll listen to will be mp3s ripped from my own CDs. I'll be using Win XP w/USB 2.0 to load to the player. I would prefer one that has the ability to make playlists, or at least to organize music some way. Thanks.

EDIT: I guess I should add that I'll be using it mostly in the gym. So it has to have an arm band thing, no hard drive models.

 

[azncookiecutter]

Any of the Cowon iAudio flash players should be good enough.

 

[lbholde]

Quote:

Originally Posted by azncookiecutter Any of the Cowon iAudio flash players should be good enough.

What do you think of:

Creative MuVo TX FM
Creative Zen Nano
iAudio G3

 

[nsjong]

Samsung YP-C1Z or YP-MT6Z

Both have 42 battery hour capacity.

Great sound if you upgrade to the newest firmware.

If you don't need that many hours, get the iAudio.

If you wanna try Sony's Atrac convertor (SLOW), get the NW-E507.

 

[lbholde]

Interesting. So, you don't like the Creative models I asked about?

Why do you recommend the Samsung (besides the battery life) and the iAudio?

Thanks.

 

[nsjong]

iRiver T10 will do you some good but that's pricier than the rest.

There are really none 1GB players better than these... All of them made in Korea except Sony's. haha.

 

[daba]

I recommend the iAudio 5 1GB model. Great SQ and has a voice recorder and FM radio. I go exercise with mine all the time; it comes with a protective screen and an jogging/arm band as well.

 

[angler31337]

I like my iAudio U3 1G, but it might be a little too powerful for your ER-6i -- if you do a search, you'll find a few threads to that effect. The G3 is nice, but I just can't stand not having USB2, even if I'm only filling 1 gig. iRiver T10 is great, but expensive. The iAudio i5 is good (and runs on replaceables), but you might think about waiting until the i6 comes out. Shuffle is supposed to have pretty good SQ, but I can't stand not having a display. Good luck.

-Angler

 

[lbholde]

Thanks everyone. There are so many to choose from. What do you think of the iRiver 799 or 899? I can't tell much of a difference between the two. And how do those two compare to the iRiver T10?

Is there likely to be a difference in sound quality between the three iRiver models?

 

[azncookiecutter]

It's just different exterior designs, the 799 and 899. Both should serve you well.

 

[sgrossklass]

Just steer clear of the iFP79x/89x if you want to use them as USB mass storage, since they are by far not as good with the UMS firmware as with the non-UMS one.

Dunno 'bout the Creative model, but both the iAudios (G3, 5, U2) and the Samsungs mentioned are based upon Sigmatel STMP35xx chips. (And the iAudios give good sound, with a very low noise floor and enough voltage swing to drive even some more demanding cans like my old 600 ohm 94 dB/mW HD420SL, into which my G3 should still pump about 0.5 mW per channel when cranked up fully, which hasn't been necessary.) Firmware support seems to be a slightly weak point with Samsung (looks like you're well advised to bookmark this page), Cowon is rather good here.
Ah, now I see why I had never looked at the Muvo TX FM - I wanted something with Vorbis support.

 

[lbholde]

These iAudio's look nice, but there's one problem... they don't seem to come with an armband. That's a showstopper for me.

Regarding the iRiver 799... when you load the firmware that lets it become a USB mass storage device, what functionality gets degraded besides the recording quality? Does the sound quality degrade at all? Thanks.

 

[GooNiEGooGoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by angler31337 The G3 is nice, but I just can't stand not having USB2, even if I'm only filling 1 gig. -Angler

The G3 does have USB2. The G2 uses 1.1.

The creative players a good because it's cheap and small in physical size, but fork in 20-40 dollars more, and you can get a better player. When I upgraded to the G3 from Creative Nano Plus, every feature improved IMO (except for maybe the radio reception??? I didn't really use radio on the Nano) Some big improvements were the use of AA batteries and navigation. Also, the G3 comes with a thick, clear, plastic case which I love because it protects while maintaining the looks of the player itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with an armband so you'd have to buy it separately. They're more comfy than the creative bands IMO.

 

[Icehawk]

MobiBlu DAH-1500i. Massively featured AND the world's smallest 1gb player.

Standout features (IMO):

No software required - just plug in to any computer, drag n drop. Works on PC or Mac.

EQ with custom settings, SRS, WOW

FM radio w/record

Very good display

Very little hiss with my sensitive IEMs.

Reasonable price, $130 from Walmart when I got mine.


Dissapointments/drawbacks:

Only plays Mp3s and a few DRM formats, not an issue for me as I have 99% Mp3s.

Battery life is shorter than claimed, maybe 4-6hrs typically.

Occasionally it freaks out and will do a power loop requiring a reflash of the firmware.

It makes some very low volume noises while playing and when turning on, likely only audible on sensitive IEMs or equivalent. Only noticable at very low volumes, at normal listening volumes it is masked by the music.

No playlists, plays by trackname.

 

[LaBreaHead]

What do you think of:

Creative MuVo TX FM -- I'm surprised prices haven't come down more on these; I have both the MuVo TX and the Zen Nano, and like their ease of use; I find their sound to be pretty good (I use 192 kbps, although 128 kbps sounds OK, too, for the size).

Creative Zen Nano -- Get the "Plus" version if you want the radio; enough smaller and lighter than the MuVo TX to justify lack of USB plug, if you don't mind using a cable, which should be no big deal; good "everyday" player (I keep this in a shirt pocket and listen at work an hour or two a day; a friend has two and alternates them at the gym).

iAudio G3 -- Not as cool looking as the U2/U3 or i5 (IMO -- I have the 5), but combination of the big, excellent iAudio sound, the joystick and excellent battery life for disposable or rechargeable AA batteries have made me second-guess my choice to get the 5, which I like (I'm not thrilled with the two jog switches on the 5 -- the single one on the Creatives is simpler to learn; the joystick on the G3 should be easier to learn, but I don't know how it would be for the gym).

You won't go far wrong with any of these -- shop around online for a good price.