MP3 Player and Headphone Suggestions

[Mansize_tissue]

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?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

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.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

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.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

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.

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?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

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.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Ive got a pair of PX100s, get some you won't regret it, they're awesome!

They do like nice, but I think I'm going to go for some in-ear (canal) or ear-bud style earphones.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

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

'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?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

^ you can get Ety ER6i's or Shure E3C's for >£60. I use the X3's though.

Wow, those Ety ER6i earphones look.. weird. Anybody know if they're comfortable, because they don't look it? I still can't seem to find the E3Cs for under £60, though. Are they, or the Ety ER6is any better than the XBs?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Completely forget any kind of Etymotic IEM or E3C's for a basshead. They're the most bass anemic IEM's on the planet!!

If you can go to £70 then you owe it to yourself to get the super.fi EB.....some here in the uk if your quick: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Super-fi-5-EB...yZ112529QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thank you for the warning, I'll have to think again then about getting those earphones. If I can't get hold of the Super.fi EBs, what do you suggest (preferably cheaper)?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Bundle: Audio Technica ATH-CK5 + CrossRoads MylarOne X3 Earphone
[US$67.00] - Free International Shipping

Sell the Audio Technica for about £20 on the 'bay and you've got yourself some great headphones for £15 or...

CrossRoads MylarOne XB Earphone (With Free Timbuk2 iPod Flip Case)
[US$65.00] - Free International Shipping

If you want the better set.

Unless the ATs are worth keeping, I think I'd rather just get one descent pair of headphones if the XBs are worth the extra cost over the X3s.

Do you get any accessories or anything when you buy the XBs? I know if I get the Super.Fi EBs I'll get a few different tips with it, right.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

The Classics have phase issues, although if you're going to have a lot of bass you won't notice .

Thank you for telling me. Although, what are these issues exactly?

Otherwise I'd get the Sony (but it depends on how much storage you want) Might be worth having a look at the Meizu M6, but it doesn't do aac.

Are you referring to the Sony NWA808? I guess it's either going to be this, the Creative Zen or one of the iPods.

if it's that same as the X3's you get a case, some tips (S/M/L) and a cable organiser. Some people say the UE biflange tips are better, and you can get a fit kit from UE for £7.

Ah, thank you. Since I only have about £180 to spare at the moment, I better wait until I an iPod or Zen before I get some earphones, if not I might not have enough to buy a media player to use them with!

So am I right in thinking MylarOne XBs and Super.Fi EBs are my best options? I don't know whether I should still be considering the CX300s or some of the Shure earphones.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Ok, so it seems I can get the Creative Zen 8GB for £130 on an auction site, the same price as a new iPod Nano. Do you guys think I'd be better off with the former? Or I could just get one of the larger iPods or the Sony A808. Argh.. I can't decide!

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Right, so it's definitely either the Creative Zen or iPod Nano. I have one more question, though. Will I need to install any software if I get the Zen?

EDIT: One more thing. Since I've sorted out the album, track and artist names from within iTunes, is it likely to cause problems if the tracks are put on the Zen? I just don't know if all the names will appear correctly, that's all, because I have quite a few compilation albums which, in iTunes, I've changed the artist name from each individual track to the record producer for that particular album. For example, I might have a few albums with 20+ tracks on each, with each track having a different artist name. In iTunes, I've renamed the artist name for each track in an album to the record label for that album. I can assume, if I get an iPod, the tracks will appear the same as they do in iTunes and have the record label listed as the artist for compilation CDs instead of each individual artist which will make it far easier when finding a song. But can I assume the same for the Creative Zen?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Wow, that's a good price Sinny. I thought they were still going to sell for £140, but £110 is almost too good to pass up. Man, way to make the decision even difficult as I was leaning towards an iPod beforehand.

To reiterate my questions above, will I need to install any software if I get the Zen and will all of the song, artist and album name appear correctly (as I've said about in my previous post)?

As for the Shuffle, it doesn't really interest me, although I constantly hear that the 1st gen ones are the best.

You guys still think the MylarOne XBs are the way to go, whether I get an iPod or Zen?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

Being able to drag and drop music does make it quite convenient, but Mediasource isn't required is it? I'm just concerned about how song, artist and album names will appear since I've sorted them all out from within iTunes.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

It will sort the music according to track number, but you can choose what you want to view alpha betically, artist title, album title, song title etc, then it will have sub folders ie, Artist>Album>Track Name etc.

However if you are worried, then get your ipod, but i do recommend the Creative player more highly.

Ok, cheers. But, since I've renamed the artist of all my compilation albums I have to their corresponding record label name, will this appear as the artist in the Zen or will the original artist name show up?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

More questions: How much of an improvement will I hear if I get the MylarOne XBs over the standard earphones that come with the iPod or Zen? It the improvement is very little, do you think it's worth stepping up to some Super.Fi 5 EBs or something similar?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

In ear ear plugs are a lot better than standard earplugs that come with your mp3 player, because most of them cancel out any outside noise.

Depending on what you would like to spend on ear phones, i think these are the best, recommended by my dad ^_^ (i tend to use ear covering headphones)

Sennheiser CX 300

Wow, quick reply. These are definitely still on the cards, but I just thought that the MylarOnes are superior to the Senns; is this correct?

Thank you. 'Guess it is worth getting some new 'phones then, even if I don't spend a lot on some high-end ones.

 

[Mansize_tissue]

The general consensus is that the XB's are better than the Senns in most areas. But of course it comes down to personal preference. In terms of sound quality i prefre my XBs to my CX300.


And the improvement in sound quality over earphones that come with mp3 players is quite immence.

Ok, XBs it is then. Now, I still don't know whether to get the Zen or iPod. With my M4A files, since they've been imported using iTunes they don't have any tags (at least I don't think they do). I mean, if I right click on one and select Properties then Summary, there's no information. Does this mean there'll be no information about M4A files when using the Zen?

 

[Mansize_tissue]

My dad has the D2, its a good mp3 player but for the price and the touch screen its a bit over the top considering the zen has everything but recordable radio and a touch screen.

Yeah, I can't really justify getting the D2 over the Zen since I simply won't take advantage over the extra features.

Heh, I emailed Creative about the Zen and how it'll handle AAC files which have no tag information in their properties and I had a reply saying that it doesn't even support AAC files.

Anyway, I've replied quoting their website where it says about AAC support for this player, and hopefully I won't get a complete moron email me back this time.