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Originally Posted by antonyfirst /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Hey Tstarn, how would you compare the Sony A816 and Zune80 sound quality wise?
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Well, I like them both, but they are different. I like being able to do a little EQing now and again with the Sony, which I use for exercise (walking mainly). Funny, but the Sony matches up well with my Atrios precisely because I can bump the mids/highs a little for best SQ. But it also responds well with the PK3s unamped (plenty of power to drive either phone). I hardly ever use an amp with the Sony because it's really for portability. I like the Sony sound quality just fine, but I only use it on a limited basis.
With the Zune80, the sound is full, clean with a really good sound stage. I use the Zune80 mainly for traveling (planes, trains, noisy stuff) or around the house, hooked up to my home stereo systems as a source. With headphones, I typically use an amp with the Zune80, and match it up with the 716s and/or PK1s, or even the SR-80s.
I can tell you, I use the Zune80 with its base (from the home a/v kit) plugged into a Sonic Impact T-Amp (the $27 audio miracle) and a pair of old KLH speakers, circa 1964. The sound is really amazing, close to CD quality (I've done some sound testing). So the Zune fills that role too, home jukebox.
Not sure that helps much, but they play different roles in my listening experience.
If I had to choose, I'd take the Zune80 for its versatility and capacity. Based on SQ, I'd call it a draw.