Another 'Spec me an MP3 Player' Thread (sorry)

[Squarehed]

Sorry if this sounds familiar, it may just be that i need to write down what i need to get my head straight on this one, but i'd like other people's opinions as i've not got experience of some players I'm looking at

So, basically, i've been trying to decide which media player that i should get, and really can't take the plunge with one or the other of a couple. Basically what i want is:

• Large Capacity - Over 30GB preferably, as i have nearing 20GB of music, and a good amount of CDs left to rip to the computer. If the player plays videos, then clearly they take up a lot of space, and I would love to have all my music on a player with me.
• Good Quality Audio Playback - Starting to get an ear for this, and with new earphones (Sennheiser CX300s) that i plan to get with this player, then i think this will be important. Also if the player's capacity is large, i might want to up the codec qualities.
• Video Playback - Would be a pretty big plus as i'd like to watch stuff from youtube at school w/ friends or movies on car journeys etc.
• Good Navigation and Playback settings - such as easy to setup shuffle. My music is setup in Artist/Album/Track and all named according to a convention so they are pretty well setup for players that use file/foler browsing as opposed to tags. but I'd rather use tags if at all possible.
• Good Codec Support - Currently 90% of my files are encoded in mp3. A smaller number are encoded in .ogg and .aac, yet these are ones that i can rip again easily if the player i get is unable to play these. Would like to listen to some lossless stuff as well if possible, but depends on player.
• Portability - I want to be able to put it in my pocket and use it in school etc.

Would also like to see Album Artwork in there as all my files are now nicely tagged after days spent re-organising .

So, from what i've been reading on here and around other places i've got it down to a few players:

iPod 80Gb
Pros:
I'm used to the navigation
Easy to use tag browsing
Easy use of click wheel
Easy way to shuffle songs
No Longer need to use iTunes (winamp supports the iPod now, among other software)
Video Playback - There's software to easily convert to the right codec.
Portable
Cheap and onsale in UK, so can be serviced
New screen is good
Cons:
I hear that the quality is not brilliant compared to others
I disagree with Apple's attempted itunes/ipod lockin, now changing their tune a bit though
Codec support = meh
No Rockbox on 80gig model

Cowon iAudio X5 60Gb
Pros:
Good audio quality by all accounts
Great codec support
Can use Rockbox to add extra features
Decent Size capacity
Portable
Cons:
Not so great way to navigate
Getting old
Video support rubbish and fiddly [15 fps only]
No default tag navigation support

Cowon A2 30Gb
Pros:
Video Playback on great screen
Great codec support
Good sound quality - apparently
Cons:
Small capacity, may defeat point of the video playback
Large - so not as pocketable
No tag navigation

Creative Zen Vision: M
Pros:
Good video support and nice quality
Good Sound quality i've heard.
Navigation fine
Cons:
Controls are a bit naff
Getting old

So getting it all down here hasn't helped me, i'm still trying to weigh up what i want. Can you guys throw in your opinions or suggestions please?

 

[Flibster]

iAudio's without a doubt.

The A2 is a superb media player.

The X5 is a superb audio player.

Never used the X5 for video, the A2 gets used quite a bit at the gym though. Especially when I'm doing 20k on the bike, sits nicely and I just watch a Monty Python episode or something like that.

Not used one of the new Creative's. Never been overly impressed with the older ones though.

And you want sound quality... so you have an ipod on the list?

I have toi say that tag navigation isn't a problem if you've named the files correctly.

On my A2 and X5 it's pretty easy.

/01 - Music/artist/album/tracknumber - track title.mp3/.ogg/.flac
or
/02 - Radioshows/title/series/dateofbroadcast - title.mp3/.ogg/.flac
or
/03 - Video/title/series/show number - title.mp3/.ogg/.flac
or
/02 - Audiobook/author/title/CD no/title.mp3/.ogg/.flac

Real easy to navigate.

Simon/~Flibster

 

[jaxx]

And you want sound quality... so you have an ipod on the list?

hehe, im glad someone else agrees (overated flashy gizmo garbage)

id agree with iAudio, although i see no Sony option... but perhaps i understand why!

Ive personally owned an HD5 for a while, 20gig in size and the battery life shallows at 40hours and its half the save of an iPod

The quality is awesome and its a kids toy to use

BUT....

Its Sony of course... excellent quality and features, but nothing else will work with it...

You have to use SonicStage which is a bit poo, ATRAC features, which is superb, but only works with other Sony products(!) ie... SoundsStage!

But if you can see past the slightly poor compatability issues... id probably say Sony overall

 

[Flibster]

Wants to play OGG files though, which means converting them to ATCRAP format.

Which is a very bad thing.

Had to use sonicstage on my sisters Minidisc player, what a waste of time that was. Would have been better off with a MP3 player.

The biggest problem with buying Sony gear, is Sony. They want to control everything. I wouldn't trust them with anything.

Only Sony products in the flat are my 3 Sony 24" CRT monitors, which to be fair, have been faultless.

Simon/~Flibster