MP3 Player and Headphone Suggestions

Mansize_tissue

Mansize_tissue

Mansize_tissue

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After using my Sony Ericsson K750i with its 64MB memory card as an MP3 player for the past year, I think it's time for an upgrade. Since I'm already familiar with iTunes, which is what I use as a media player on my laptop, it would make sense to get an iPod, but being fairly new to this I don't know what things out there are better.

My ideal MP3 player would be around 8GB+ (since I have 11GB of music currently, and I don't need it all on there at once, 8GB should be fine), support MP3 and AAC files (since I often encode using the latter when importing a CD using iTunes) and be fairly small. I have no use for a portable video player, so video-playback is certainly not a requirement.

However, If absolutely necessary I can allow some leeway with the above requirements. I suppose it doesn't have to support AAC files; it would just mean I'd have to re-rip my existing CDs to MP3 files instead. Also, I might be able to cope with less storage space--say... 6GB--but this will not be ideal as I'll have to keep changing what tracks I have stored on it.

Basically, I'd like suggestions of what you guys think are descent 8GB+ music players which support AAC files first, and then those that fit my more-lenient requirements if necessary. I don't really want to spend more than £200 on this, if you want some idea of what budget I have.

On a related note, I'm going to want some descent headphones for this. Currently I'm using a pair of DT 770 Pros (I'm a bit of a bass-head, if this helps at all) with my home setup, but I'd rather have some ear-bud or in-ear style headphones, which I know absolutely nothing about in terms of what's good and what's not. So any suggestions here would also be very helpful- again, my budget for these is around £60. Of course, I'd like to spend a lot less if it means only sacrificing minimal audio quality. I'd like them to be very comfortable, and work nicely with a portable music player, whatever I decide to get, without an amplifier.

Thank you in advance.

EDIT: I just had a look around, and it seems only iPods and Sony's NWA808 fit my "ideal" requirements, or are there more?
 
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Nano 8GB sounds ideal for you, right amount of storage, can play AAC, small, used iTunes (obviously). If you want to store all of your music which is only going to increase then maybe something with a larger capacity? The new Zen is looking quite nice: http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=16999

Then there's HD based players like the iPod classic, MS Zune, Creative Zen Vision:M etc.

As for the headphones the Crossroads MylarOne X3 are supposed to be good, they're about £25-35.
 
I don't know if you're aware that Apple have just released a new line of iPods. You could check them out or do what I did and buy one of the older models with a significant discount. I just got a 4GB Nano with £50 off the rrp. The shop I went to had the 8GB version for just over £100. IIRC the 8GB version had about £60 off.

As for headphones, I've been suprised by how good the headphones that came with the iPod are. However, I also have a pair of Bang and Olufsen A8 headphones which really are the shizzle. They do cost £110 though.

I rekon for just over your £200 you could get an 8GB iPod nano and a pair of B&O headphones which is a really good combination!

Panzer
 
I I were you I would have a little bit of patience and wait for the Creative Zen, basically it is the iPod Nano with more options such as a radio and more importantly an SD card expansion slot, which will allow you to upgrade the size of the player after your music collection has grown. Also it is probably cheaper (that at least was Creative's policy up till now)! Do not be worried about build and sound quality: Creative is as reputable a brand as Apple when it comes to MP3 Players.

http://epizenter.net/news.php?extend.321

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029432,49292472,00.htm

Another very nice option (albeit possibly too expensive) is the Cowon Iaudio 7 16gb, which should be released in the next month as well. The 8gb option is available already:

http://www.dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.4028

For headphones I use Creative EP 630, which suit me fine, but are in-ear, which you may not like.
 
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I'm looking as well and the new Zen does seem very good like I said earlier, capacities up to 16GB as well.

Personally I'll probably pick up an 8GB Meizu if they're cheap enough.
 
I think I need to decide whether the player needs to support AAC files or not; if it doesn't, the it gives me loads more options. However, if it does need to support them, I think my only options are:
-Creative Zen 8GB for £140
-Sony NWA808 8GB for £150
-iPod Nano 8GB (2nd Generation) for £170, but I think I can get them for about £100 on an auction site
-iPod Nano 8GB (urgh.. the new one) for £140
-iPod Classic 80GB for £160

I'm pretty amazed at the price of the new iPods. I was think that the new iPod Nano would be really expensive and I'd be better off getting an older version, but it seems the new one is really well priced.

Out of those above, which would I be better off getting do you think?

Alternatively, I could just rip songs to MP3 and get a cheap player, like one by Meizu, but I hear iTunes' MP3 encoder isn't very good.
 
For headphones I'd look at the Koss Porta Pro, or alternatively the Sennheiser PX100s.
 
I'd personally go for the Zen, SD support is a big plus imo. As your music collections grows so will SD card size (and get cheaper).

As for basshead IEM's for £60 well that's an easy one, if you shop around you can get super.fi EB on budget, you don't get better big bass IEM's.

If you can push the budget then the Atrio M5 offers a bit more refinement but still with great bass. If you want to penny pinch then the mylarOne XB is a good choice for less.
 
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Thank you for the suggestions. Although, I'm looking for some in-ear or earbud style headphones, since I don't have a lot of room to carry around anything larger. Those Super.fi 5 EBs are certainly enticing, but I'm afraid I can't afford to shell out £100 on some earphones. What would you recommend for half the price?

That's interesting what you're saying about the Creative Zen, though; I had no idea about the SD support. I'll definitely take this into account.

Thanks again.
 
I've seen the EB's as low as £55 from a german bay seller.....checking now it seems the cheapest is ~£70 from the states, shame, as I have seen some cracking deals on them and they're the ultimate basshead iem.

On budget the mylarone XB is $65 and free shipping.
 
Bigsy said:
I've seen the EB's as low as £55 from a german bay seller.....checking now it seems the cheapest is ~£70 from the states, shame, as I have seen some cracking deals on them and they're the ultimate basshead iem.

On budget the mylarone XB is $65 and free shipping.
Click to expand...

Thank you. It's a pity about the price of those Super.fi EBs. Are the Mylarone XBs the next best thing then, do you think? Also, are they much better than the X3s?
 
Thank you for your suggestions, everyone. I think I'm just going to get an iPod, it'll make everything easier since I already use iTunes. Now, I just have to decide which iPod to get. I have 11GB of music, so it'd be nice if I get an iPod which could store a little bit more. However, this would mean getting one of the larger iPods, whether it's an iPod Video or Classic. Or I could get one of the 8GB iPod Nanos, but I won't be able to store my whole collection on there at once, especially if it grows. If I were to get the Nano, would I be better off getting a 2G or 3G one? Alternatively, if I decide to spend a bit more on a larger iPod, should I get the 80GB Classic or 30GB Video (both are plenty big enough), and which generation.

And then I need to decide on some headphones. Currently I'm considering the CX300s, since these are easier to get hold of than the MylarOnes, but I don't really know what else is out there that I should be considering. I have about £60 to spend here, but I'm prepared to spend a little extra if it means a lot of improvement.
 
I've got a pair of XBs. They kick ass. The service from Uncle Wilson in Singapore is second to none. The headfi forum has loads of info on the X3 and the XB.

I'd reccomend the XB over the X3 just because you said you are a basshead.

edit: XB = eXtra Bass if you diddn't know
 
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Mr_Orange said:
I've got a pair of XBs. They kick ass. The service from Uncle Wilson in Singapore is second to none. The headfi forum has loads of info on the X3 and the XB.

I'd reccomend the XB over the X3 just because you said you are a basshead.

edit: XB = eXtra Bass if you diddn't know
Click to expand...

'Looks like I'll probably be ordering the MylarOne XBs, then. Thank you for your input. But, before I do, is there anything better I can get under £60, or £70 but if really necessary?
 
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