MP3 Player: 8GB+, Drag'n'Drop Files (like an ext. HDD), Superb Sound Quality... ?

N9ne

N9ne

N9ne

Associate
Joined
28 Sep 2003
Posts
632
Dear all,

Firstly, happy new year! May 2008 be an excellent year for sound :D.

The basics:

I'm an almost-audiophile. I'm not willing to spend thousands on sound equipment (i.e. not upwards of £2-3k) and since portable players don't come with 1TB HDDs, I store my music as MP3 V0 (VBR) rather than FLAC. I do appreciate the quality though. I rip my CDs with great accuracy and care using EAC and can't stand standard quality MP3s or the god awful 128kbps of the 1990s.

I am thinking of buying some Sennheiser PXC450s (Noise Cancelling) for headphones. I travel frequently so the noise cancelling feature is compelling.

My requirements (largely outlined in the subject):

::: At least 8GB storage (I don't intend to carry my entire collection. 16GB+ is preferred but not necessary).

::: No iTunes hassle. No required software. No limits on what files I can transfer and what I can't. Ideally I can drag and drop files through explorer or similar. I hate having to use iTunes, Sonic Stage etc. I have a Nano right now and am using Rockbox, but if I can avoid having to hack my MP3 player, I would be happier.

::: SOUND QUALITY! This must be 'above-par'. This is important to me - which player(s) have a reputation for great sound quality?


---> Price isn't really an issue as long as the requirements are met.

Thank you very much in advance!
 
Cowon iAudio D2 - 8GB internal memory + 8GB SD HC Card - also has DAB radio
Cowon iAudio A3 - 30 or 60gb

Done.
 
Last edited:
That A3 is very tempting except for I think the battery life when playing music is a little too low (9hrs is with volume at 20, LCD off, MP3 128kbps - could be better, no?).
 
I'd go for (in fact I have) one of the new Sony's, 618 or 818. They're both currently flavour of the month over at headfi, everybody is raving about them.

No sonicstage, both are drag and drop including Linux/Mac, great simple interface, long batterylife, quite cheap when you compare to other topend flash players and best of all fantastic warm Sony sound quality.

I did consider the D2 but its size, lack of tactile buttons, cold sound (not necessarily bad but not to my taste) and astronomical price made me favour the Sony.

The only other players I would consider is the iRiver Clix2 which arguably has the best sound of all, but again the lack of real buttons and size put me off or Iaudio7 (comes in 16gb) but has the worst SQ out of the bunch and again is a bit too expensive for what you get.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom