What's the "BEST SOUNDING" MP3 Player?

[saquib]

I'm getting a Mp3 player within a week, just that memory is not an important factor for me, cuz no matter how much they have, they wont ever be enough to hold all my MP3s. What I'm looking for is a MP3 player that gives simply the best Sound Quality. Even if the Mp player has 512MB or 1GB of space it's good enough, cuz i dont plan to waste money on storage space. Looking for superb SNR and extremely natural sounding quality (for accoustic and jazz) player. Would use it in car, and with my Yamaha receiver mostly actually. Video, pictures - these features aint important... only for music!!

I have heard that iPod NANO has a 98dB SNR which is the highest.. is that info correct? I was thinking, would apple support M$'s WMA format? I also dont wanna depend on mere specs, if anyone really could instantly noice the "awe" factor in sound quality, that could help me.

Thanks in advance...

[mongycore]

The ipod's have never impressed me. What's worse is that the there's no way to adjust the sound quality with an equalizer of any kind.

It's fairly sad that a company like Rio went out of business. Their players - Carbon, Cali, and the Karma - just had outstanding sound that assaults your ears. Add to that a customizable 5-band equalizer...paired with some good headphones (like the Shure series) made morning bus commutes alright. You could probably find them online through resellers, but I wouldn't know about warranty support.

[saquib]

how about creative's zen ? (93dB SNR)

[mongycore]

sorry man, can't help you there. Only have had the two players mentioned.

[saquib]

i cnat find specs of those Rio MP3 players... besides... umm da earphones u mentioned costs around 350US$ alone... (ahem). may be lil cheaper stuffs mate..

[dsio]

The Creative Zen does have much better audio quality than the iPod. Quite simply, the iPod is rubbish.

#1 tip: Do not buy a pair of cheap headphones (less than $90) and never ever use earbuds. Buy a pair of canalphones. They produce better audio quality than most high cost headphones, are silent to anyone around you, and can be used in high noise areas. On top of that, they are cheap, at $30-60 for a reasonable, non customised set.

[Favu]

From what I hear iRiver are quite good quality and have good equalizer features.

[aghastpumpkin]

The Sony Walkman has incredible sound quality. Go for the cheaper 6GB model, it's only £130 which is only £30 odd quid more than a mere 1GB Nano.....
Coupled with the best headphones in the world, Bose Stereo, you have a perfect combination.
Please note, Bose headphones are so exclusive you have to actually express yourself with intent of buying before you'll even see an official price tag....

[aghastpumpkin]

Originally Posted by aghastpumpkin

Please note, Bose headphones are so exclusive you have to actually express yourself with intent of buying before you'll even see an official price tag....

A lie. They do, but usually only in small type and never on their advertising. If they printed the £890 cost of their Wave Radio, it would only put people off.

[Favu]

Originally Posted by aghastpumpkin

The Sony Walkman has incredible sound quality. Go for the cheaper 6GB model, it's only £130 which is only £30 odd quid more than a mere 1GB Nano.....

/Fanboy

It is worth noting that the nano is solid state and therefore costs more. The nano is also more technically advanced, it needs to be, in order to be so small.

I have used both the Sony Walkman and a G4 iPod and, tbh, I can't say I heared any noticeable difference between them. It is also worth noting that my friends' Sony Walkman died on him, meaning he lost 1000+ songs. He wasn't happy.

Personally if I was going to buy a new mp3 player, I woud get an old model Creative Zen, as they are cheap and by all accounts have good sound quality.

^ all that is IMO, mind

[madcatmk3]

I've found that the trick is to buy an Ipod with a x-fi and up the quality and then put it on you pod and play it through good speakers, but thats out of your budget also look at sony, there core models are nice.
@agasht who that person in your avatar?

[Pitch]

Originally Posted by madcatmk3

I've found that the trick is to buy an Ipod with a x-fi

You confuse me dude...

[dsio]

Dude, you can't just "up the quality" of something and play it through a rubbish piece of hardware to make it sound better.

The output on the iPod is quite simply junk. There is no way around this.

[madcatmk3]

but you can sotre it on an Ipod at high quality and then play it through high quiality spekers like what I do.

[dsio]

You can store it on a USB thumb drive as well, and its $400 cheaper.

[madcatmk3]

I have a shuffle I got from my cousins. Plus a thumb drive still can't play it on the go.

[dsio]

You can get a $40 thumb drive with built in MP3, and chances are it will sound better than an iPod.

[madcatmk3]

I have a $40 doler non Mp3 thumb drive, hopefully it gets my data there only half corrupt, also an I pod has a resale value.
Anyway I hate my shuffle. I'm still pissed at the 360 for not letting you rip songs from it.

[Pitch]

The older Creative Zen's are nice machines. 5-band equalizer, heaps of space and probably get them on the cheap now.