The best QUALITY portable music player . . .

khushy · 2 Oct 2007 at 09:24

as the title suggests - with all the anti-ipod'ery here on OC I thought it might be interesting to see if people can be positive about their fav product . . .

Player Name
Why they think its best
Pro's & Con's etc

I am talking best quality music rather than label-slave etc etc

khushy

<F0rb> · 2 Oct 2007 at 09:45

paul8811 · 2 Oct 2007 at 18:12

The cowan d2 I think is regarded as having the best sound quality...check out some reviews

Flibster · 2 Oct 2007 at 20:36

Cowon iAudio M3, X5, A2, D2
All superb - codec support is fantastic.

Bigsy · 2 Oct 2007 at 20:52

Rofl at the suggestions

The best SQ IS Kenwood HD60GB9EC, or for a more reasonable cost HD30GB9/HD60GB9

badbob · 2 Oct 2007 at 20:57

Best would be a DAP with digital output, that way just use off-board conversion. My iriver H140 is plugged into a Tag Mclaren DAC20.

I'd like to see a DAP better it :-)

Bigsy · 2 Oct 2007 at 21:25

Indeed but H120/H140's are as rare as hens teeth, and there isn't any alternative unless you want to splurge on an iMod.

Sinny · 2 Oct 2007 at 23:56

i can vouch for Cowon D2 very high quality product but the new Creative Zen 8gb model also has really good sound quality.

titaniumx3 · 3 Oct 2007 at 00:46

iPod Video/Classic, iAudio X5, Zune have good sound quality.

james.miller · 4 Oct 2007 at 16:37

paul8811 said:
The cowan d2 I think is regarded as having the best sound quality...check out some reviews

its right up there. its not the best though, you cant beat those old skool irivers and iaudios.

Flibster · 4 Oct 2007 at 20:19

badbob said:
Best would be a DAP with digital output, that way just use off-board conversion. My iriver H140 is plugged into a Tag Mclaren DAC20.

I'd like to see a DAP better it

Nice and portable then.

Haven't used my H140 for a while - battery currently lasts around 20 mins. Really should get it replaced.

Simon/~Flibster

manic111 · 6 Oct 2007 at 02:03

you cant beat those old skool irivers

In my opinion my D2 knocks the socks off of my H120 sound wise, although the H120 does have a slightly dodgy headphone jack which may not help.

khushy · 6 Oct 2007 at 11:52

ok - I have an iPod 8Gb and a 500Mb iRiver iFP-195TC and I have to say that the quality of sound (with EXACTLY the same tracks) on the iRiver is far superior with the same (Shure se530) headphones - so I am thinking that I might not bother with another iPod and have my eye on a Cowan iAudio 7 (16Gb) or an iRiver player.

I only want the very best sound quality!!!

Suggestions please?

khushy

paul8811 · 6 Oct 2007 at 22:00

Got my D2 yesterday & the sound is awesome, really should be heard to believe. 8gig Version is now out aswell.

Vegetarian · 7 Oct 2007 at 00:54

Sony NWZ 818 - Best sound from a portible Ive heard - I own them all - iRiver, Creative, Apple etc

The sony is light years better.

khushy · 12 Oct 2007 at 14:35

Well after a lot of listening and research . . .

I have just ordered an iAudio 7 - 16Gb player from the USA - saving about £100 on UK prices - hope I made the right decision!!!

The more I listen to my iPod vs my iRiver the more I think that the iPod is just not up to the job.

Did think about the Clix 2 and the D2 - but decided on the iAudio instead - its only MP3's that interest me - not video!

Thanks for all the input - will update this thread once the iAudio is up and running!!!!

khushy