37 posts
I don't want anything proprietary, I have gigs and gigs of MP3's, Old Hendrix, Stones, Cream, Beatles. you know all the hippy shit I listened to back in the day, I got it all. I need an MP3 player that does not need to go on the web, anything will do as long as it does not need proprietary software. Something that works with my laptop with XP SP3 on it. One that comes with it's own USB wire. Or one that works with the USB wire I have for my camera. And one more thing I have a store credit for Best Buy so something I can get there.
Lemme know please.
Can't get it at Best Buy, but this is a damn good player. Good quality sound!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowon-iAUDIO-Portable-MP3-Player/dp/B000TB0RY4
No problem. They sound way better than the ipod. I had it also and brought it back. Got the one mentioned above. Far better sound!!!!!
I use a Creative Zen Vision M. I got a 30 gig model on ebay, like new, for under $100. Sound is very good, no proprietary BS.
I'm a big fan of creative players too. I have two of them. They are absolutely bulletproof, and often you can find them new cheap. Also, they appear like disk drives so you can easily add and remove stuff. I use media monkey to manage my audio files though... it's not proprietary, and it's free in the low-end version.
Hookbender — Sep 23, 2009 They sound way better than the ipod.
I will never believe that statement when the iPod is being compared to another mp3 player. If there's ANY sonic improvement using the exact same file, then it has to be very minor.
It's not really minor. Having the two side by side and comparing them will prove the point.
I have a Macbook pro and it doesn't sound as good either.
Use a good pair of headphones and you'll definitely hear the difference. AKG's or Shure, etc.
Won't be much difference using the shit headphones that come with the players.
Headphones? I send it through powered speakers or a high-end amp system. Maybe the iPod headphone jack sucks? ;D
Same results. Maybe your hearing sucks. ;)
;D ;D
:D
Craig,
I sent DTR Jr some MP3s that I ripped. Variable bit, high res. songs. Using the same headphones (Senn. PX100) I could hear the difference between her Ipod and my Zen. Then I listened to a CD we have that I ripped on mine and she used the Ipod stuff to rip hers. The difference was even bigger there. Advantage = Zen
Not to mention it was half the price, has more features etc.
Thank you Mr. DTR. :)
;D
And Mr brilliant one, Craig....if you have this great sound system and you want to justify the purchase and hear the best....why not listen to the real cd? ;D ;D ;D Why listen to less than best quality? ;D ;D
I've got 12,500+ songs on my 160GB iPod. I simply plug it in and can play any combination of over 20 genre groupings I've made either album by album or using the random shuffle play (the usual setting).
I HAD four Sony CD jukebox players (a 200, two 300's and a 400), but I no longer use any setup like that. The great sound system has already been sold since everyone who has heard the iPods through powered speakers here agrees with me and not either of you two putzes. ;) I now have four iPods (from my oldest 40GB all the way up to my newest, the 160GB, that I got for free using American Express points) and they all rock.
YOU can do what you want, but with iTunes I'm able to set everything up the way I want and have a lot of portable music that sounds great here (maybe they give the "B Stock" iPods to you guys down south?). I'll post in another thread how I set my music up so you can have at THAT part there.
I don't want "that part". ;D ;D
Your the one bragging about your great setup and sound equipment only to put sub par audio through it. Forget the ipod now, lets go buy 5000 thousand dollars worth of sound equipment to play shitty MP3's through. Kinda defeats the purpose a bit. ;D ;D ;D
Funny as hell. ;D ;D ;D
I love the ipod for it's looks and function. But if you look on the net, many people agree the sound suffers big time compared to a variety of other MP3 players. It's no secrete. And, it's over priced, as is most Apple stuff. I just bought a Macbook and I love it, but it cost to much for what you get imo.
Hookbender — Sep 26, 2009 Your the one bragging about your great setup and sound equipment only to put sub par audio through it. Forget the ipod now, lets go buy 5000 thousand dollars worth of sound equipment to play shitty MP3's through. Kinda defeats the purpose a bit. ;D ;D ;D
Completely not sure what the hell you're babbling about. I'm the one who realized that the iPods sounded good enough that I bought four powered speaker systems (total cost maybe $300-400?) and SOLD the multi-thousand dollar sound system because it was no longer necessary.
As for being overpriced, I got two of my iPods for free (both by using points from American Express) and I own PC's. I wouldn't waste my money on a Macbook (but only because I don't do "cutesy" with my computers, there's nothing wrong with them beyond that).
So, basically, this is only funny to you because your reading and comprehension is backwards. ;)
Why settle for good enough when you could have much better? Seems you've settled for a cute little ipod instead of getting a good sounding mp3 player. You can use itunes with just about any mp3 player, by the way. At least you can with the one I suggested. And if you would download your songs through Amazon you'd get better mp3 files than you would with itunes.. Amazon uses a vbr of 256 vs itunes 128 br.
Everything your saying isn't researched and wrong. Sorry.
Thats why it's so funny as well. ;D ;D
Not researched? I took a couple of songs and converted them to .mp3's at many different levels including lossless. Then I played them through my "nice" stereo with friends listening. The 128's and 160-whatevers sounded like ass, but the 192KB's and better didn't really sound any different so that's the level I went with. Why use up disk space you don't have to?
When I have a bunch of people coming over and being very surprised at just how good the music sounds, it really doesn't matter if you try to say the sound sucks because I already have all the proof I need that it doesn't. Capiche?
One last thing (which is funny because it's right before your "isn't researched" statement), you compare Amazon (a website where you buy things) with iTunes (music software like Windows Media Player on steroids). iTunes can play anything including .wav files and all of Apple's lossless types. Since you obviously meant to say the Apple Store, I wouldn't know anything about it since I never buy songs from either Amazon or Apple. I only have CD's or download live mixes straight from the board. No wonder you think an iPod sounds like crap if all you have on them are 128KB songs!
Do what, Mr. comprehension? :D
I don't have anything saved in 128.
128 is poor quality. ::)
When you say powered speakers, are you really talking about powered speakers? As in a small PA type or studio monitors?
Damn, you don't know very much about sound do you?
Research isn't a bunch of friends that "think" your shit sounds good.
Sorry, apparently I've been having a battle of wits with an unarmed person. ::)
I'm from Alabama. We Alabama folk are all armed. What;s that got to do with anything? ;D ;D
CraigBert — Sep 23, 2009[quote author=Hookbender link=1253649875/0#3 date=1253672891] They sound way better than the ipod.
I will never believe that statement when the iPod is being compared to another mp3 player. If there's ANY sonic improvement using the exact same file, then it has to be very minor.
ahh no IPOD's sounds like shit!!! my old creative zen xtra blows the shit out of my wifes ipod touch..
Ipods are toys
Fine. Send yours to me then. Apparently I'm the only person here who knows how to use them correctly? :-?
CraigBert — Sep 28, 2009Fine. Send yours to me then. Apparently I'm the only person here who knows how to use them correctly? :-?
How to use the ipod isn't in question. Sound quality is.
Hookbender — Sep 26, 2009Why settle for good enough when you could have much better? Seems you've settled for a cute little ipod instead of getting a good sounding mp3 player.
...
Thats why it's so funny as well. ;D ;D
What's funny is this whole thread, coming from a guy who settled on a cute, overpriced Mac laptop...
Hookbender — Sep 27, 2009Do what, Mr. comprehension? :D
I don't have anything saved in 128.
128 is poor quality. ::)
When you say powered speakers, are you really talking about powered speakers? As in a small PA type or studio monitors?
Damn, you don't know very much about sound do you?
Research isn't a bunch of friends that "think" your shit sounds good.
iTunes was all 128 bps, and heavily DRM'ed, last year. They've now got their shit together, they provide non-DRM MP3s at 256k, just like Amazon, and they compete on price with Amazon. Amazon tends to have better deals on full albums, iTunes provides a better interface to purchase, they both sell most songs for $.99 and an artist's popular songs for $1.29. I still buy mainly from Amazon because I don't like using iTunes all that much, unless I have to sync my iPhone or iPod.
charger — Sep 28, 2009[quote author=Hookbender link=1253649875/0#15 date=1253975198]Why settle for good enough when you could have much better? Seems you've settled for a cute little ipod instead of getting a good sounding mp3 player.
...
Thats why it's so funny as well. ;D ;D
What's funny is this whole thread, coming from a guy who settled on a cute, overpriced Mac laptop...
How's that funny? I didn't buy the Mac for it's looks. I bought it to try something other than Windows. I've already stated my opinion on Apple stuff.....that it's overpriced. I know you have problems with Apple computers but at least read the entire thread before you make a comment. I even mentioned my mp3 player sounding better than my Mac computer, which I still like very much by the way!! ;D
charger — Sep 28, 2009[quote author=Hookbender link=1253649875/0#17 date=1254011451]Do what, Mr. comprehension? :D
I don't have anything saved in 128.
128 is poor quality. ::)
When you say powered speakers, are you really talking about powered speakers? As in a small PA type or studio monitors?
Damn, you don't know very much about sound do you?
Research isn't a bunch of friends that "think" your shit sounds good.
iTunes was all 128 bps, and heavily DRM'ed, last year. They've now got their shit together, they provide non-DRM MP3s at 256k, just like Amazon, and they compete on price with Amazon. Amazon tends to have better deals on full albums, iTunes provides a better interface to purchase, they both sell most songs for $.99 and an artist's popular songs for $1.29. I still buy mainly from Amazon because I don't like using iTunes all that much, unless I have to sync my iPhone or iPod.
I downloaded a few songs from itunes to give it a try. Seemed harsh sounding to me and not smooth and clear like a mp3 file. To me, AAC is harsh sounding compared to mp3's. That could just be me though, pretty subjective subject.
charger — Sep 28, 2009[quote author=Hookbender link=1253649875/0#17 date=1254011451]Do what, Mr. comprehension? :D
I don't have anything saved in 128.
128 is poor quality. ::)
When you say powered speakers, are you really talking about powered speakers? As in a small PA type or studio monitors?
Damn, you don't know very much about sound do you?
Research isn't a bunch of friends that "think" your shit sounds good.
iTunes was all 128 bps, and heavily DRM'ed, last year. They've now got their shit together, they provide non-DRM MP3s at 256k, just like Amazon, and they compete on price with Amazon. Amazon tends to have better deals on full albums, iTunes provides a better interface to purchase, they both sell most songs for $.99 and an artist's popular songs for $1.29. I still buy mainly from Amazon because I don't like using iTunes all that much, unless I have to sync my iPhone or iPod.
According to this itunes is more expensive and offer only 256 AAC, which is why I think it's harsh sounding) not 256 mp3.
Um, iTunes is STILL the program that you can organize your tunes with. The Apple Store (accessible through iTunes) is the place that had the 128bps tunes. I've never been there (even the link is turned off in my iTunes).
the OGG format blows them all out of the water
CraigBert — Sep 28, 2009Fine. Send yours to me then. Apparently I'm the only person here who knows how to use them correctly? :-?
its my wifes and they are fucking toys!!! get a good pair of headphones and compare.
I never play my iPods with headphones. They are always attached by their main connection (which also powers the iPod) to each set of powered speakers that I have. Maybe that's why I'm not hearing the deficiencies? Could be their headphone amp and jack suck ass?
I'm just in the process of adding another 230 or so CD's that belong to my Mom so I can put all of them on an iPod for her (through yet another small stereo!). Hidden among her rather heavy pile of easy listening disks (typical for an 80-year old I would think) were a few jems. I found a Les Paul disk as well as one with Albert King & Stevie Ray Vaughan. She also has an impressive collection of old jazz and blues so, of course, I now have access to those from my PC as well! ;)
thumbs up for cool moms!!
CraigBert — Sep 30, 2009I never play my iPods with headphones. They are always attached by their main connection (which also powers the iPod) to each set of powered speakers that I have. Maybe that's why I'm not hearing the deficiencies? Could be their headphone amp and jack suck ass?
Bingo !!!
That has to be it.
Yeah. ;D ;D
That's got to be why my studio monitors shows the same flaws as headphones. No difference at all, the pod still is inferior in what matters the most.....what you hear.