iPod alternatives?

[Whirl-Secret]

Az! you asked about sound quality too!

240 vbr, bass beat = "pup pup"
lossless, bass beat = "oom oom" or something!
320 is close to lossless, but not quite there. I promise

If you are looking to build a system around your mp3 player, here's a recent speakers review: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardw...d-speakers.ars


Edit : There are a few things that I really don't like about ipod

1) The screen is amazingly eazy to scratch... I dropped a breadcrumb on it, flicked it off with my fingertip, and there was a scratch!

2) Battery life not so good, to the point where it's not really wiseto use equalisers.

3)Hard to get video across to it for free. I only found one program and the sound slowly slides out of sync. I am jealous when my bro can play divx / xvid on his creative just by copying it across

[az]

I would neither want one those overpriced iPod speaker systems nor would I want to view video on a 5cm-screen, but thank you

Has anybody here any experience with network music players?

[Claymonkey]

Honestly no, I haven't had any experience with network music players. I either use a portable mp3 player, my desktop or an htpc hooked up to my TV and stereo system. Are you opposed to a dedicated box like that? I have to say you'll have MUCH more control over sound quality, space will be cheaper (though I think you've mention just using a mp3 server), and at that point remotes are much more broadly available.

Oh and on the subject of screen scratches. I just purchased screen protectors for a few of my electronic items from http://www.shieldzone.com/ and they work REALLY well. They use material that the military uses to protect helicopter blades and if you ever have to peel one off for some reason down the road.. you send it to them and they send you a replacement. So far very happy. Something with a touch screen would make this highly useful.

[az]

I want something with a display, I don't want the TV on when I'm listening to music. And what do you mean with control over sound quality? Either it has a digital or good line out, or it hasn't. If it has good sound quality, I won't have to fiddle with any equalizers etc.

The SoundBridge and Squeezebox both use servers running on a PC or NAS box, so normal harddrives can be used. Hmm. The Hermstedt Hifidelio might also be an option...

[Whirl-Secret]

Just as a recap, you want an mp3 player that has >=20gb space, that you can 'plug into' your home system to become a replacement for a cd player?

[az]

Yes. MUST have good sound quality, ease of use, remote.

One option would be an iPod, another would be something like the Squezebox (which has no storage built in and needs a server):



I am open for other suggestions

[Whirl-Secret]

I'm only looking for ipods here:

You can get cheaper options, and it doesn't specify which cables come out of it, but this is an add-on extra (quite expensive but...) for the 5G which includes a remote and, I suspect, some interconnects that you would plug into your home amplifier

the same pasted link: http://www.essentialipod.co.uk/produ...2a03762f08b4db

Overall it's making the ipod pretty expensive, but if the quality of the cables is really that good, then comparing it to a similar priced cd player + separates is possible. Nowadays for the price of an ipod + this dock, you can get a pretty nice cd player and interconnects though. It's your call, I don't know anyone who uses these!

[az]

I don't believe in cable sound

[KvHagedorn]

iPods are for having something to listen to when out walking/running so modern people will not be bored to tears. If you are looking for sound quality, look elsewhere. I've got a nano, but I don't expect it to sound that good.

btw, I got some Sennheiser PMX-60 sports headphones for the iPod.. the earbuds are a real joke, and nothing that goes over the top of your head is very good for walking or running.

[Jessterw]

Appears to be close to the same thing as the AV Connection Kit that Apple sells for the iPod:
http://store.apple.com/Apple/WebObje....8.25.7.11.0.3 (German)
or
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...More=MA242LL/A (US)

Comes in at 99,00 ($99/USD).

Haven't read any reviews on these, but it uses the dock connector instead of the headphone jack, thus enabling better sound capabilities.

[Whirl-Secret]

I don't believe in cable sound

You mean you want one of those low power fm emitters for your mp3 player that a radio can pick up? I hope you realise what bitrate is the equivalent to fm!

[Claymonkey]

no he's saying that he doesn't believe that cables over decent sturdy stuff is actually worth anythig. Monster Cables are renowned for being exceedingly high build quality. You have tend to have two groups of audiophiles. The ones that believe triple shielded cables with the cable itself made of strung money will give them superior quality over normal high quality cable. The other group of audiophiles realize that if you get good quality cable that's just that and not marketed to the nines that they just don't have to think about that part of the equipment again unless a pet chewed on it or someone tripped over it.

You can tell which camp I'm in

[az]

Claymonkey is 100% correct (120 if you believe in gold cables, 250 if you believe in optical digital cables)

I'd never dream of using an FM transmitter, exactly for the reason you mentioned, Whirl In fact, it seems that even Bluetooth transmitters wouldn't suffice, because the only mandatory codec for the A2DP profile is SBC, and I wouldn't want any recompression.

[Whirl-Secret]

Hmm I think I must give up then. Basically there are quite a few companies that would love to sell you a connection to your hifi amp for your mp3 player. I think the question really is which mp3 player do you want? I think the market is a bit like satellite navigation systems - there are some pretty good ones, but nothing that's perfect and never lets you down.