Best sounding player...?

[big_lou]

Looking for the best "sounding" player regardless of brand, flash or HDD. Need 4GB minimum, don't need any video capability.

Just compared my T30 against Sandisk E280. The Sandisk is louder but I like the SRS in my T30. Love the SD slot in the E280, hate its non-standard USB port. The EQ settings are similar in both.

Do all iRiver players have SRS?

What is the iRiver flash player with the most capacity?

I have heard the Cowon D2 blows both away in sound quality but hate the touch screen, love the 30mW per channel output.

Also heard the iAudio is as good as the Cowon.

Any other ideas for best "sound" anyone?

TIA

Lou

[BBD]

iAudio is Cowon, though I have no idea why the company uses both names.

As to sound Q, it is entirely subjective: what sounds good to one person may sound like rubbish to another. However, almost all iRiver players (the X20 being a possible exception) are renowned for the sound Q, as are iAudio/Cowon DAPs, Creative, etc. Even the latest 'pod is supposed to sound great.

Gee...I was no help at all! /me acts all shocked....

BBD

[andrewmel]

i think that audio chips and amps have improved to the point that for most brands they are good and the weakest link is again the speakers/headphones...


a

[Dunno]

Originally Posted by andrewmel

i think that audio chips and amps have improved to the point that for most brands they are good and the weakest link is again the speakers/headphones...
a

err, not entirely true, some DAP's perform better with LOW impedance 'phones than others, the pods "apparently" don't handle low impedance phones well.

Different impedances will "colour" the sound in different ways, the most obvious "coloring" or inaccurate reproduction of sound with mismatched impedances is in the Low frequencies, which occurs predominantly with high quality 'phones which have low impedances.

[sere83]

if i was you I would buy a meizu m3, one of the best sounding players on the market check www.meizume.com for info

[DapFinder]

I find that each brand differs and each player differs.
So a Clix2 may have sound quality X while a S10 has sound quality z

Typically I think iRiver has very consistantly great sound. Rich and sweet.

I have a couple Creative players and have been somewhat disappointed in the ZVM sound quality.

What sounds good to YOU though is anyother story...

[Step666]

Originally Posted by DapFinder

What sounds good to YOU though is anyother story...

And there we are, nail on the head, and all that.

Your best bet is to try as many different players as you can, with the headphones you intend to use and then make a decision.

[Coop]

Originally Posted by Step666

And there we are, nail on the head, and all that.

Your best bet is to try as many different players as you can, with the headphones you intend to use and then make a decision.

Don't disagree at all, but I still wouldn't mind hearing other people's opinions, even if it's just a reference point from which to start listening.

[Step666]

Well, what's already been written is pretty good IMO.

iRiver and iAudio both have reputations for excellent sound quality and I can say from personal experience that the most recent iPods are very good too.
Don't know about the Sansas and whilst the Creative players are meant to be very good, I've always been a bit wary, don't know why.

But, like I say, between personal preferences and the differing affects that headphones can have, it's very difficult for people to make recommendations.

[AirTimid]

Does anyone know how the sound quality of the Zen Sleek Photo compares to the H320 or similar iRiver product? I have the Sleek and a 3rd Gen Ipod. I *think* the Sleek sounds better, but I just got new headphones which I haven't tried with the Ipod yet.

[RAS]

I have the iRiver T60 and Clix (2gen) as well as the ifp-795. I've always thought the sound was good.

I tried the iPod Shuffle (2nd Gen) and was surprised at the mediocre sound quality, especially in side by side comparisons. The only thing the shuffle is good for is podcasts. The spoken voice comes through quite well (maybe this is what they were designed for?)

The sansa player also has bad to mediocre sound.

[Haans74]

I originally owned an Archos Gmini 220 - a superb player, albeit somewhat out-of-date. Loud, crisp sound and a simple, yet intuitive interface.

While waiting for the Archos to be repaired/replaced, I got a Sony Ericsson W610i phone, hoping it would be as good as all the reviews promised. I can't for the life of me understand how anyone can recommend the SE walkman phones for their mp3 abilities. It is mediocre at best; to be able to listen to it on the bus, I have to set the volume to 2 steps below max - and the volume is still too low. Any higher and the sound is compressed to the point where it makes your ears bleed with anger. The playlists work in a somewhat random fashion, and no means to edit them.

My Archos was later refunded, which led me to buy an iRiver H320 off eBay. While waiting for it to arrive, I use my wifes iPod Mini 4GB. A refreshing player after listening to the W610i for a month or so. The Mini is actually a great mp3-player, loud and well defined.