Best non-apple MP3 player?

NirK · 25 Jul 2015 at 02:04

rids57 said:
For the same kind of signature, maybe not quite as rolled off in the highs but still extremely smooth, the RHA MA750s really take some beating. Built like tanks out of stainless steel, they sound better than the SE215s (according to the critics), very high quality thick cable with integral (ultra comfortable) ear guides, 10 pairs of ear tips (8 dual density and 2 comply) and to cap it all off, a 3 year warranty, all for exactly the same price.

The problem with audio cutting out on the SE215s is common to all IEMs that use the MMCX removable cable system and as far as I know no solution has been found except for buying a new cable.

That you've got 7 years of use out of your Clip+ is good to hear but there are a lot of people who get no more than a couple of months and that can be seen just by reading the Amazon reviews. With around 2000 giving 4 and 5 stars and 560 giving 1 and 2 stars that means 25% of people are extremely unhappy with them, which doesn't say much for build quality and quality control.

From my experience the se215 and sansa clip is the best relatively cheap combo.. of course more people are going to complain than write positive reviews online... probably 90% of the people without problems did not write a review, and most with problems did... that is the nature of online reviews... most people who are happy with product will not write anything... people with problems will complain... as they are cheap and probably sell millions worldwide... obviously some will break... I tried some RHA and personally did not like them.

rids57 · 25 Jul 2015 at 02:56

I actually recommended the Sansa Clip in my first post and have no argument against it being excellent value. What I don't agree with is your opinion that they are as good as the more expensive players. But that's ok, you have one opinion and I have another.

NirK · 25 Jul 2015 at 05:27

rids57 said:
I actually recommended the Sansa Clip in my first post and have no argument against it being excellent value. What I don't agree with is your opinion that they are as good as the more expensive players. But that's ok, you have one opinion and I have another.

Nope because I never said that. I said they are good enough for most IEM's .... and the more expensive players at 2-10x the price are not 2-10x better sounding.

rids57 · 25 Jul 2015 at 17:11

just get a clip+ it sounds basically as good with IEM's as the more expensive players

is what you said, no mention of "most". Quality IEMs are just as demanding as quality headphones, so pairing a revealing multi-driver IEM with a £34 Clip is just going to show up the player's shortcomings.

As for the whole 2-10x argument, that would never fly anyway due to the rule of diminishing returns. Is the Clip twice as good as a Musicoo or 1.5 times as good as a Kubik? Most probably not, because once a device can perform the basic operations then gains tend to come in small steps which get smaller and smaller as you move up the scale.

NirK · 25 Jul 2015 at 23:48

rids57 said:
is what you said, no mention of "most". Quality IEMs are just as demanding as quality headphones, so pairing a revealing multi-driver IEM with a £34 Clip is just going to show up the player's shortcomings.

As for the whole 2-10x argument, that would never fly anyway due to the rule of diminishing returns. Is the Clip twice as good as a Musicoo or 1.5 times as good as a Kubik? Most probably not, because once a device can perform the basic operations then gains tend to come in small steps which get smaller and smaller as you move up the scale.

zzzzz.... Is he using extremely high end multi driver IEM? no he isn't....

I own expensive home audio headphones / amp / dac etc. and have used loads of different headphones / dacs / amps... The sansa clip+ is the best value for money and is fine for IEM's... I am bored of this now... I gave my recommendation... clip+ has already been measured / tested by audiophiles and has very good audio performance and is so cheap it does not matter if it breaks after a few years.. Just buy another one... Perfect for something you have in your pocket that is easily lost, broken etc.

Akagi · 25 Jul 2015 at 23:53

If it were me I would personally get the new FiiO music player. Cowon also make quality music players, though I had the i9 and the i10 and the build quality was rubbish, they both broke even though I was very careful with them.

Fow lower budgets, people seem to rave about Sansa's

NirK · 26 Jul 2015 at 00:07

Hmm I thought I read in the original question "cheap" but he did not actually say that.... so yes if you want to spend more there are better options, but do they actually sound THAT much better than a sansa clip+? Not really no... They are usually bigger / heavier (bad), look nicer and have nicer screens etc. mainly, also more options, more powerful amps (makes no difference with most IEM) and some have better EQ and options etc... I tested some and decided they were not worth the money... Sansa clip+ has been measured many times etc. online and has very good audio quality for IEM's. low impedance, powerful enough for most IEM's etc.

rids57 · 26 Jul 2015 at 00:39

BTW I have owned most headphones so I am not talking out of ignorance

I can't argue with someone who has owned many hundreds of pairs of headphones so I'm outta here

NirK · 26 Jul 2015 at 02:56

rids57 said:
I can't argue with someone who has owned many hundreds of pairs of headphones so I'm outta here

Well not hundreds but I have owned at least 30 pairs over the last few years and tested most in shops and demo's etc. Anyway for a cheap, good player, sansa clip + microSD card.

rids57 · 26 Jul 2015 at 03:28

I agree, clip+ and a micro SD card is a good, cheap option.