Protable Music Player for SQ

skrol
skrol Posts: 3,378
edited April 2010 in 2 Channel Audio
The thread about the lossless downloadable music got me thinking.
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99026

Who makes a decent sounding (mp3, i-pod like) portable music player? I have listened to a few mp3 players and they seem to be a compromise in SQ and can even sound worse with quality headphones.

Name your preferred device:
Stan

Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
Post edited by skrol on
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Comments

  • 98Badger
    98Badger Posts: 317
    edited March 2010
    I have a Sony Walkman (it's a couple years old) and find the SQ to be significantly better than the ipods (not like that is difficult). The drawback is that it doesn't play flac and is fairly limited on usable formats. If you plan on using mp3, it's worth looking into. I'm waiting to upgrade until I can find a reasonably priced player with a ton of memory that plays flac or wav. The Archos 5 looked promising, but I have read a mountain of negative reviews about functionality and they cost quite a bit. I'd love the 500 gig model if it worked right.
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  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited March 2010
    I haven't checked recently but the creative labs sounded better than the ipods and the s/n ratio was much higher I believe as well.
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
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  • TouchOfEvil
    TouchOfEvil Posts: 967
    edited March 2010
    Good sound....http://www.redwineaudio.com/products/imod
    ipod that has been imodded.
    Has to be the correct ipod though to have the Wolfson DAC.
    Living Room Rig:D
    Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
    Xbox360/PS3/WII
    M.Br. setup:)
    Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
    Computer Rig:
    Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
    Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,378
    edited March 2010
    Now that is interesting.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • bikerboy
    bikerboy Posts: 1,211
    edited March 2010
    You didnt say what file type you want to use. I use flac files and think I will be getting a Sansa clip+ soon. It plays flac, mp3 ect. I think I will get a 2gb and a couple of 8gb cards to go with it. That way if the player dies I will out less $. I can also use the different cards for road trips ect. One card for my music and one card for my wife.
    Main system: Lyngdorf TDAI 2170 w/ Pioneer 42" plazma-> Polk LSiM 703 w/Tivo, Marantz tuner, BRPTT: Nothingham Spacedeck-> Pioneer PL L1000 linear arm-> Soundsmith DL 103R-> SUT->Bottlehead ErosDigital: I3 PC w/ Jriver playing flac -> Sonore Ultrarendu -> Twisted Pair Audio ESS 9028 w/ Mercury IVY Vinyl rips: ESI Juli@24/192-> i3 PC server
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,378
    edited March 2010
    I didn't realize that the Clip+ did flac and had a micro-SD slot. My wife has the original Clip and it is decent.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,378
    edited April 2010
    I just picked up a Sansa Fuze 8g. The SQ is very impressive for such a small device even playing 192kbps MP3s. With my Denon AH-C751 in ears, the music is warm, balanced, and detailed.

    Thanks for the Sansa recommendation.
    Stan
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • hagmanm2
    hagmanm2 Posts: 205
    edited April 2010
    phipiper10 wrote: »
    I haven't checked recently but the creative labs sounded better than the ipods and the s/n ratio was much higher I believe as well.

    +1 Creative players have always had excellent build quality to them. I had a creative zen touch for the longest time (big and bulky comparatively, but excellent quality). Have since upgraded to an Ipod Classic for the convenience. *sigh* they are so damn convenient though. And at least I can convert my FLAC to Apple's Lossless...

    http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/

    And if you want one more on the cheap, their older Creative Zen Vision (or Zen Vision M) are great deals too!
    Eeeeebaaay
    Living Room: Receiver: Pioneer Elite SC-25 | Turntable: Technics SL-B200 | CD Player: Rotel RCD-955AX | Fronts: Polk RTiA3 | Center: Polk CSi A4 | Rears: Polk FXi3 | Sub: Velodyne DPS-10 | Cables: AudioQuest Type4 & TypeA

    Office: Carver HR-742 | Speakers: RTi6 | Turntable: Numark 1600
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  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,496
    edited April 2010
    Yes, I own a Creative Nomad Jukebox 3 player. The 40 GB one and use it for .wav files to listen to when I go backpacking. It has the best S/N ration ever produced in a portable digital player. It sounds very good for something that is portable and convenient. I recommend a Creative player as others have suggested.

    Greg
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....

    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
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