What to replace iRiver H320

[timskemp]

My H320 is getting a bit problematic - battery life a bit slow, won't boot into original firmware and disk too small for my collection. Most of my collection is held in Mp3/320k or Flac and ripped from CD, I use Westone UM2 for portable listening, and AKG K271 studio at home.

So I need more capacity, lossless storage and good SQ, iPod Classic springs to mind but the SQ debate seems to be a big thing, and not being able to just plug it in and drag files to it would annoy me (I also do some live sound and recording work) and I'd miss the ability to use it as a recorder. iAudio don't seem to be doing anything with a hard disk that will fit in a pocket. iRiver the same.

Suggestions??? (I'm in the UK if that makes any difference)

 

[esbenm]

I think you will find this to be about the same form factor and weight:

Pet Brick - The Hottest Toy Since the Pet Rock!

(sorry couln't resists. I can't give you a recommandation, maybe get another H320 off ebay if you really like it, can't be more than 100$ max?)

 

[dazzer1975]

try the iriver h320 or ihp120

there are rumours of iriver unloading their brown box stock of h320's and they are already unloading their ihp120's

check ebay or where they have the best price at the moment on new brown box stock of ihp120's misticriver.net - portable.digital.lifestyle

 

[dazzer1975]

infact, if your that way inclined, get a cf to 1.8" ide hdd adaptor and a 2200mh battery, bang rockbox onto the player then change out the hdd for a cf card and put in the new battery.

The battery and adaptor can be had off ebay for 20-30 dollars all in then its just the price of the cf card, and with an expected 64gig card out soon the 32's will drop in price.

Again, for details of the surgery visit misticriver.net - portable.digital.lifestyle

 

[esbenm]

If you did that you would have more space on a brand new CF card (probably faster than the HDD as well) plus a new battery. Rockbox is supposed to improve the player as well... basically an upgrade of all the important bits to brand new! Not a bad suggestion at all.

 

[dazzer1975]

from whyat ive read its practically instantaneous regarding speed between cf and hdd, which makes sense being solid state. Added to that is the reduced propensity to damage from knocks and bumps and you have potentially an upgraded player with arguably superb sound quality for many many years to come.

from what I understand these improvements can also be done to ipod's and possibly/probably many other players too, certaily the battery change, and with ipods, at least the later generations employing zif connectors there shouldnt be an issue finding a replacement drive.

 

[royewest]

I'm having trouble tracking down the info on replacing the iRiver iHP-120's hdd with a flash card. Can someone post some links? Going to mysticriver and entering the expected strings in their search field was not successful....

 

[esbenm]

H120 mod with pictures:
iRiver H120 CF Mod Attempt - Success!

I couldn't find anyhting for the H320 but I suspect it would be a similar proces. Misticriver or rockbox forums must have some old threads on how to do it.

 

[nsx_23]

I ordered the CF adapter to try out on my H320. I'll post when I get the damn thing.

 

[royewest]

Thanks for the link! Still seems a bit marginal, but I'm looking forward to it settling down.

 

[Zephyron]

The H1x0 and H3x0 family of players use the same Toshiba HDDs (similar connectors), hence the upgrade process of installing a CF Card to the H3x0 should be no different as compared to the H1x0 family of players.

At present, I'm waiting for the price of CF cards to drop. Have already replaced the battery of my H120 to a 2200mAh one (battery life increased from 16 hours to 27 hours, despite still using HDD, better battery life expected from using CF Card).

 

[Ricardo Dawkins]

Replaced mine for a Zune 30.

the i320 developed that nasty burn out issue on its power circuit.

 

[timskemp]

Thanks for the replies - to address the points raised

I'm already rockboxed, but the original firmware will not load and rockbox doesn't always. I need more space, so going CF isn't really going to help much.

 

[dazzer1975]

The original firmware wont load at all with a CF card, thats why it is imperative you install the rockbox bootloader before you replace the hdd with cf card.

 

[Claude]

I love my H320 (I got it as an replacement for a H120, which broke down a month before the end of the waranty period), but I will probably replace it soon with a Sony 8GB player (either the 818 or the 828).

I don't really need 20GB, as I regurlarly delete albums I listened to (my whole collection wouldn't fit anyway), and I badly want a small and lighter player for this summer.

Sound quality, battery life, usability and sturdiness are my top priorities. I don't care for video, FLAC or OGG support