iAudio XL5 or Creative Zen Vision:M

Andybtsn · 20 Jun 2006 at 20:24

I'd like opinions from owners of the above please.

Currently looking for an MP3 player for my holidays, I have about 18GB of music so the storage of both players are more than capable at 30Gb.

So far I have learnt:

XL5, is more for the "bass" boys, I listen to metal music, so bass is quite important to me. Apparently the Creative doesn not have EQ settings?
Comes with remote control (also important to me)

The Creative I have learnt doesn't come with either a AC adaptor nor a remote which I would both need, I know both can be bought separetly.
Has superb video playback and more supportived formats than the above.

Both are similar price, the XL5 being a bit more, however, having the remote and AC adaptor alone attracts me to it.

So can anyone shed some light on the above? What is your verdict on the players?

I am definately more bothered with the sound quality than looks.

Thanks

Big Kev · 20 Jun 2006 at 20:51

I've just got the Vision:M and am blown away with it, especially the video capabilities, which are much better than I could have hoped, superb!!!

It does come with an AC adapter as well mate and you can get the remote from eBay for under a tenner, which I did the other day.

Andybtsn · 20 Jun 2006 at 20:55

Yeah I checked the other post when you got yours mate.

What's the sound capabilities? Can you adjust bass, treble etc? There's no EQ settings where you can choose Rock, Dance, etc etc?

Big Kev · 20 Jun 2006 at 20:57

andybtsn said:
Yeah I checked the other post when you got yours mate.

What's the sound capabilities? Can you adjust bass, treble etc? There's no EQ settings where you can choose Rock, Dance, etc etc?

There are various EQ settings, for Dance, Rock, Jazz, Disco etc and a Custom EQ for you to use, easy to do in the System folder.

Andybtsn · 21 Jun 2006 at 08:27

Also, what about software for both products, what do they both use?

Sparky191 · 22 Jun 2006 at 08:28

Soundwise they are both pretty similar. The big difference is that the X5 is a UMS (doesn't need drivers - appears as a USB drive) and can use filetreee. The Zen needs software installed to get music across to it. Also the Zen uses a touch control slider (which I don't like) the X5 uses a joystick. The X5L is a version of the X5 with longer battery life. The X5's are very poor at video playback. Do a search on the portable section over on Head-Fi.org for more info.

Andybtsn · 22 Jun 2006 at 17:22

Thanks for that, shame about the level of response I got, I thought both items would have been popular on the users on here.

Anyway, after searching through the internet for reviews, the safe bet is the Creative.

So I think I will order it, is the Remote control that is in the Misc section ok for the Creative Zen Vision I take it?

http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=217&product=11211

james.miller · 22 Jun 2006 at 17:51

i was looking at the same two players - the x5l 20/30gb and the vison:m.

in the end, i choose the istation i2. ive not got it yet (wil have tomorrow) but form the specs alone it runs circles round those two. hold of for a few days and i should have some sort of review up

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17591117

Andybtsn · 22 Jun 2006 at 17:56

Ooooh, thats looks nice!

I will wait for your opinion, could you add em to your MSN? (msn in trust) I need to order one pretty quickly.

james.miller said:
Products
1 x i-STATION i2 30GB Media Player I2-30GB £239.00
1 x PMP1000/i2 5400mAh Super Battery ACCI2BATT5400 - Colour: BLACK £24.99

What the battery for?

james.miller · 22 Jun 2006 at 18:00

added

What the battery for?

the standard batter is a 2700mAh part. I ordered the 5700mAh battery to go with it, increasing battery life substancially

Big Kev · 22 Jun 2006 at 19:06

james.miller said:
i was looking at the same two players - the x5l 20/30gb and the vison:m.

in the end, i choose the istation i2. ive not got it yet (wil have tomorrow) but form the specs alone it runs circles round those two. hold of for a few days and i should have some sort of review up

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17591117

Jeez, I wish I'd seen that before I got the Zen, although I love it and it's faultless video playback, that does look awesome.

I'll look around for some reviews, including yours obviously and I might be tempted to sell the Zen and go for that, although it's a fair bit bigger and heavier than the Zen.

Vegetarian · 22 Jun 2006 at 22:53

Zen Vision M Does not need its own software! All you need is Windows Media Player 10 or 11 and then the Zen is drag and drop!

The Zen does have bass but not as much as the x5l with mach3bass.

To give an idea how the Zen sounds.... It sounds the same as if I plug my headphones into a hifi like a NAD setup - very big full sound!

Sparky191 · 22 Jun 2006 at 23:50

Which headphones though?

Windows Media Player is Awful IMO.

The X5 has a 2yr warranty I think...

Andybtsn · 23 Jun 2006 at 00:01

Has anyone seen the Toshiba Gigabeat S MES30VW for sale in the UK?

It's actually the highest rated MP3 player on cnet.com, uses the Windows Media platform, looks very good.

But can't find it anywhere in the UK

Alex_L · 23 Jun 2006 at 02:00

andybtsn said:
Has anyone seen the Toshiba Gigabeat S MES30VW for sale in the UK?

It's actually the highest rated MP3 player on cnet.com, uses the Windows Media platform, looks very good.

But can't find it anywhere in the UK

pretty sure the gigabeat s series won't be coming to europe, usa and asia only from what i've read.

Vegetarian · 23 Jun 2006 at 17:52

The gigabeat is not ast good as the Zen Vision M or X5L... Ignore Cnet for mp3 reviews!