Searching a new MP3 player

[bambino]

I'm looking for a new mp3 player because my Sony Walkman NWZ-E453 broke down after a fall. I definitely need 8GB because I did not get all of my music on 4GB.
I am looking for a new one with a price between 70 and 170 euros.(95 to 230 USD)
Some players in this price range are Sony NWZ-E384, Philips GoGear Azure, Cowon iAudio 9 +, Sony NWZ-E585, Cowon iAudio 10 and the Apple iPod Nano.
Which player would be the best sound quality and would work well on my headphones ? (Sennheiser HD25-1 II, 70 Ohm)
 
Thanks in advance.
 
(Sorry for the bad english,I'm from Belgium)

 

[shch13]

Cowon and Sony should be your best choice.

 

[soberspine]

Hello, I am in the same situation and I don't want to start a new thread.
 
So my question:
between cowon 9+ cowon 10 SONY NWZ-E384 SONY NWZ-E584 whici provides best sq?

 

[ThickGlasses]

  Hello, I am in the same situation and I don't want to start a new thread.
 
So my question:
between cowon 9+ cowon 10 SONY NWZ-E384 SONY NWZ-E584 whici provides best sq?

I would go for a Sony E474 simply because it looks nice. The IEMs that come with it are good too, if a bit bassy.

 

[shch13]

Funny you mentioned the E584 and E384.
I have the Sony E574 (which is the previous generation of the 584 and identical to the 474, the middle number denotes generation in Sony naming conventions) and my brother bought the E384 (smaller player but newer compared to the 57X or 47X; released around the same time as the 584).
I played around with it and used UE600 BA's with both players, and TO MY EARS it sounds as if the 384 has a more thicker more warmer sound compared to the 574.
Hope this helps.
 
BUT Cowon should always be the best in terms of sound quality if a poor interface (that's the general community perception)

 

[Vain III]

Colorfly C3 + Amp of your choice. I hear the C&C BH/BH2 is pretty good.

Actually, I'd get an amp with all of the players you listed.

 

[kmhaynes]

IMO, the Cowon DAPs have much better SQ due to many on-board EQ enhancements that do not distort the sound.  Several Sony DAPs I've had/heard don't have good EQ enhancement without distorting the sound.  I love my J3.

 

[eskimo]

  IMO, the Cowon DAPs have much better SQ due to many on-board EQ enhancements that do not distort the sound.  Several Sony DAPs I've had/heard don't have good EQ enhancement without distorting the sound.  I love my J3.

 
 
I feel the same about my J3. 
 
I've had an AK100 a short time and prefer my J3 over it in ALL ways except sound quality and the AK100 outputs digital. 
 
J3, light, small, amazing battery, easy scrolling (big screen), killer EQ with 4 customisable and actual buttons. Now discontinued, i suspect they still have one that does just as well without doing video. IF the J3 could output digital it would be win on every occasion. I was able to tune my Westone UMX3s with EQ just lovely for some warmth. I haven't done so with my AK100 due to the sheer pain in the ass the EQ gives me. 

 

[dvo352]

I'm kind of in the same boat as the OP.  I have a Fiio E7 with my Ipod Touch 2nd gen and the ipod is starting to become really buggy.  I rotate between Sennheiser HD600s and Audiotechnica ATH-ESW9 depending on what I feel like wearing.  So given my setup, what mp3 player would you guys recommend?
 
I was thinking either the Cowon Iaudio10, IBasso DX50 or Fiio x3 but I am definitely open to suggestions.

 

[ShohailXTR]

The better Sonys available in the market should be the E580 series. They have pretty much all the features that were available in the old ones with added FLAC playback (if that's important to you, I personally don't see the need of it in something that holds 8/16GB max) and 77 hours rated battery (that's much more than my E474's rated 36 hours) life.

btw, if you're interested, you might wanna check out the Japanese S series, it's just the E580 but one has 32GB. Should point out though that it doesn't have english language support.

 

[dvo352]

Thanks ill check that out. Do the sonys have anyway to insert a sd card?

 

[Levanter]

None of the models suggested, e.g. Sony and Cowon are close to DX50 & X3 in terms of SQ.
For that price bracket of $200+, i'd recommend you go either for X3 or DX50.

 

[dvo352]

The only thing I have an issue with when talking about the dx50 or the x3 is that I feel my E7 is going to go to waste lol.