Good MP3 player?

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Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#96756 3-Feb-2012 16:24

Any recommendations for a good MP3 type player for home audio listening?

At least 16GB.
Not Apple.
I am not an audiophile, more like philistine probably, but have all my CDs ripped at 192kbs.
Must be easy to use for the non-techie amongst the family, so with easy navigation etc.
Preferably not too expensive (subjective I know).

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1078 posts

Uber Geek

#576905 3-Feb-2012 16:47

If you manage to get your hands on a Zune HD, these are pretty good.

Sound is good and the navigation / interface is great!

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#576917 3-Feb-2012 17:09

I am intrigued...why not Apple?

An Ipod touch is a great hub for home audio, simple to use, and a large number of stereos are designed to integrate with it.

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mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#576929 3-Feb-2012 17:33

Chainsaw: Any recommendations for a good MP3 type player for home audio listening?

At least 16GB.
Not Apple.
I am not an audiophile, more like philistine probably, but have all my CDs ripped at 192kbs.
Must be easy to use for the non-techie amongst the family, so with easy navigation etc.
Preferably not too expensive (subjective I know).

For quality of sound, apple ipod touches are recommended by consumer. ALso you can't get easier for ease of use than apple. The other option is an apple tv, and stream your music from a pc.
192 kbs isn't that high a quality, I think apples audio files they now sell are 256kbs

vinnieg

2260 posts

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#576970 3-Feb-2012 19:03

Probably best to check reviews, but:

6th Gen iPods stopped using the Wolfson dac and started using Cirrus dac, which apparently don't sound as good. I haven't tested two side by side, so I don't know.

Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 is cheaper than the touch for 16GB. Supports more formats, and has a wolfson dac. So according to reviews sounds better. Downsides, it's large...very very large.

The Galaxy S Wifi 4.0, is $199USD from Amazon, 16GB, same Wolfson dac. If you had a ship it to address, you could easily land it here for $287NZD. Supports micro SD etc. So memory is upgradeable. Design is pretty average though. Looks just like a Galaxy S

Cowan has good sounding MP3 players, but models differ in quality

As for the Consumer review.
Not really enough testing of any other devices, 4x Apples, 4x Philips and 2x Sony.
Pretty shabby review. Think the last Philips mp3 player I had was in 2002.
In fact in the Consumer review, two of the Philips got higher audio results, than both the iPods.

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mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#576974 3-Feb-2012 19:11

vinnieg: Probably best to check reviews, but:

6th Gen iPods stopped using the Wolfson dac and started using Cirrus dac, which apparently don't sound as good. I haven't tested two side by side, so I don't know.

Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 is cheaper than the touch for 16GB. Supports more formats, and has a wolfson dac. So according to reviews sounds better. Downsides, it's large...very very large.

The Galaxy S Wifi 4.0, is $199USD from Amazon, 16GB, same Wolfson dac. If you had a ship it to address, you could easily land it here for $287NZD. Supports micro SD etc. So memory is upgradeable. Design is pretty average though. Looks just like a Galaxy S

Cowan has good sounding MP3 players, but models differ in quality

As for the Consumer review.
Not really enough testing of any other devices, 4x Apples, 4x Philips and 2x Sony.
Pretty shabby review. Think the last Philips mp3 player I had was in 2002.
In fact in the Consumer review, two of the Philips got higher audio results, than both the iPods.?

Although to be fair to consumer, there aren't really a huge number of mp3 players these days. People tend instead to use their phones.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#576991 3-Feb-2012 19:59

I wouldn't trust Consumer magazine to pinpoint the finer point re: audio quality...
iPod Touch's (they come in 8, 32 or 64GB) are one of the most popular consumer electronic devices in the world for a reason. Heck, the dock port on the bottom of the unit is reason enough to buy one. You can buy a stereo to play the music WHILE charging it - piece of cake.
Now try that with any other unit.
Re: DAC's, I wouldn't worry too much, your file quality will mean there's next to no perceivable difference... and if it does become an issue in the future, you could always find a digital dock to connect to a 'proper' 2-channel amplifier, so you bypass the dock all together. But as you describe yourself as a 'philistine'... I wouldn't worry.

The thing you will notice the most are the earphones. iPod's don't come with anything worth keeping.
Sony MP3 players, on the other hand, do.

mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#576992 3-Feb-2012 20:03

Dunnersfella: I wouldn't trust Consumer magazine to pinpoint the finer point re: audio quality...
iPod Touch's (they come in 8, 32 or 64GB) are one of the most popular consumer electronic devices in the world for a reason. Heck, the dock port on the bottom of the unit is reason enough to buy one. You can buy a stereo to play the music WHILE charging it - piece of cake.
Now try that with any other unit.
Re: DAC's, I wouldn't worry too much, your file quality will mean there's next to no perceivable difference... and if it does become an issue in the future, you could always find a digital dock to connect to a 'proper' 2-channel amplifier, so you bypass the dock all together. But as you describe yourself as a 'philistine'... I wouldn't worry.

The thing you will notice the most are the earphones. iPod's don't come with anything worth keeping.
Sony MP3 players, on the other hand, do.

I actually find the ipod earbuds good and comfortable, with good sound. But they don't last long, as they fall apart.

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Dunnersfella

4086 posts

Uber Geek

#577007 3-Feb-2012 20:32

Apparently the sound of the ear buds has been a major consideration for Apple, so they've spent quite a bit of time trying to get the flattest response out of them.
Compared to the more 'bass rich' offerings out there at the moment, I'd probably prefer them, but the hard shell design simply hurts my ears. I did try their higher end soft ear buds, but I didn't like their vocal performance whatsoever.

marmel

1924 posts

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#577128 4-Feb-2012 09:30

Forget about anything to do with Consumer magazine, especially when it comes to electronics.

Their last "great" review on blu-ray players didn't even mention the biggest selling blu-ray player in NZ, the PS3.

Quite a lot of critical comments were left in relation to this review.

Also the last DSLR review they did didn't include some of the top reviewed hottest cameras at the time.

I think they just wander into Harvey Norman and ask what is in stock, look at a few and get some brochures and do their "review" from that.

As far as portable audio goes I'm an ipod man sorry. Easy to use, integrates with a lot of other electronics (house/car/portable speakers) and easy to use with online purchases from itunes.

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578225 7-Feb-2012 14:43

gcorgnet: If you manage to get your hands on a Zune HD, these are pretty good.

Sound is good and the navigation / interface is great!

Thanks, I'll look into that one.

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578228 7-Feb-2012 14:45

scuwp: I am intrigued...why not Apple?

An Ipod touch is a great hub for home audio, simple to use, and a large number of stereos are designed to integrate with it.

I just don't like Apple's modus operandi, trying to force customers to do things Apple's way. I've loaded and then quickly uninstalled itunes a few times, didn't like it. Therefore I will not support them. Plus I believe they charge extra for the logo.

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578232 7-Feb-2012 14:47

mattwnz:
For quality of sound, apple ipod touches are recommended by consumer. ALso you can't get easier for ease of use than apple. The other option is an apple tv, and stream your music from a pc.
192 kbs isn't that high a quality, I think apples audio files they now sell are 256kbs

192 is fine for me! I also wouldn't trust Consumer with high-tech reviews, things like washing machines, yes.

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#578235 7-Feb-2012 14:49

vinnieg: Probably best to check reviews, but:

6th Gen iPods stopped using the Wolfson dac and started using Cirrus dac, which apparently don't sound as good. I haven't tested two side by side, so I don't know.

Galaxy S Wifi 5.0 is cheaper than the touch for 16GB. Supports more formats, and has a wolfson dac. So according to reviews sounds better. Downsides, it's large...very very large.

The Galaxy S Wifi 4.0, is $199USD from Amazon, 16GB, same Wolfson dac. If you had a ship it to address, you could easily land it here for $287NZD. Supports micro SD etc. So memory is upgradeable. Design is pretty average though. Looks just like a Galaxy S

Cowan has good sounding MP3 players, but models differ in quality

As for the Consumer review.
Not really enough testing of any other devices, 4x Apples, 4x Philips and 2x Sony.
Pretty shabby review. Think the last Philips mp3 player I had was in 2002.
In fact in the Consumer review, two of the Philips got higher audio results, than both the iPods.

Okay, you're losing me there! But I'll look up those models you've mentioned, thanks. Like I said, I'm no audiophile

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#578236 7-Feb-2012 14:50

The thing you will notice the most are the earphones. iPod's don't come with anything worth keeping.
Sony MP3 players, on the other hand, do.

+1
My Inexpensive Sony MP3 was stolen from my gym bag. The reason I chose that over an iThing is that I have audio in different formats and sometimes on different machines and the ability to simply use it as a USB mass storage device was great.

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mattwnz

20141 posts

Uber Geek

#578247 7-Feb-2012 15:10

The zune is good, but I think MS have now killed it off.

I personally am not an apple fan. But the ipod touch is a great device, and there are lots of ways around using it and not participating in the apple eco system.

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