Iamcanadian From Canada, joined May 2001, 734 posts, RR: 1 Posted (6 years 3 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1031 times:
Okay, so I've lost my MP3 player, which means it's time to hunt for a new one. I previously owned the Creative Zen Micro (5 GB), which I had owned for about a year or so. During that time, the player had developed a headphone jack problem (poor sodering, known manufacturing defect), and had been sent in for repairs. I used it constantly throughout the day (probably about 4-5 hours a day), and had it filled almost completely (I had about 600 MB of room left).
Things I am looking for (in order of priority):
1.) Battery life:
I want a player that can (obviously) last an entire day without running down the battery, and possible a day or two AFTER that (so around 15 hours of batter life). I DO use the player on minimal battery power settings, such as no backlight, and a "reasonable" volume. Also, I pretty much only use WMA files, which as far as I know, use lower battery power than most formats.
2.) Size/Practicality:
I don't need a player that plays videos, or a photo viewer, but apparently most of the newer generation players come with those anyway. Also, I want it to be reasonably small (both weight and size).
3.) Compatability:
I have my music library stored on my computer as WMA/MP3 file formats. I want to avoid having to go through format conversions just to listen to them on the player.
4.) Storage Capacity:
I really *don't* need 30-60 GB of space; something around the 8-20 GB range will be plenty.
5.) Aesthetics:
I'm not really worried about "appearance", but it's always nice to have a player that looks good.
I've researched extensively already, and have read the user-reviews. I've got my eye on the following:
Toshiba Gigabeat MES30VW (30 GB)
Creative Zen MicroPhoto (8 GB)
Cowon iAudio X5L (20 GB)
iPod Mini (6 GB)
My main issue is that whenever I read the reviews, I see some 10/10's that say "ZOMG!!! BEST PLAYER EVAR!!!", as well as some 3/10's that say "This player is shite."
So I come to my fellow A.Netters with your recommendations. What do/have you used in the past? What do you recommend?
Bagpiper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 3 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1025 times:
personally, if I were to buy one, I'd go with the Creative Zen Vision:M. However, that is video capable, and 30 or 60gb drive, which you said you don't need.
If you want something only for music, I'd say to go with the iPod Nano... great all-around player. Next up, in my opinion, would be the Creative MicroPhoto.
I ignore all the user reviews - I used several for a few days at a time, and those are the three I like the best.
Iamcanadian From Canada, joined May 2001, 734 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (6 years 3 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1025 times:
Quoting Asturias (Reply 1): The iPod nano 6GB is possibly the best player money can buy.
Unfortunately, no such thing exists.
The highest memory of Nano is the 4 GB. I was referring to the iPod Mini. I find the Nano FAR too expensive, considering a 30 GB iPod Video is only ~$20 more. Although, I do agree on your other points. Good battery, and very small. But unfortunately, too overpriced for me.
I was originally looking at the Zen Vision:M, but I found it pretty bulky, and I didn't like the way the buttons were set up. I liked the touch-sensitive interface of the Micro, but the Vision:M got rid of the all-touch interface, and now just has the slider.
Secondly, I'm trying to stay away from the Creative products, BECAUSE of the headphone-jack problem. If you go on the Creative forums, there's a thread with over a thousand replies of people that ran into poor-manufacturing. I'm steering clear of that again, as I TOO ran into the headphone jack problems with the Micro I had.
It's not manufactured any more - the nano is significantly improved over the mini and is a lot smaller at the same time.
Quoting Iamcanadian (Reply 3): I find the Nano FAR too expensive, considering a 30 GB iPod Video is only ~$20 more.
The nano is much smaller, lighter and is almost completely insensitive to mechanical shocks. Harddisk-based players should be handled very carefully while playing. Harddisks and movement don't mix well, even though they're cheaper per gigabyte than flash memory is.
If you're using it mostly stationary, a harddisk-player may be better for you; If you're listening much while on the move, flash-based players will survive much better.
One of the biggest differences between the manufacturers is the user interface. I'd recommed you to check out the various types yourself.
Power consumption, by the way, depends on the encoded data rate more than on the format itself. Formats with a higher encoding efficiency such as AAC will therefore tend to save battery power over a higher data rate MP3 which would have a similar quality. Losslessly encoded titles preserve the original signal perfectly but you'll pay for it in battery consumption as well.
Daleaholic From UK - England, joined Oct 2005, 3188 posts, RR: 14 Reply 6, posted (6 years 3 months 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 992 times:
Sandisk Sansa... They have an 8gb version. I have the 4gb version and it's fantastic. FM Radio, Photo and video playback, MP3, WMA and a voice recorder! I'd say go for this one...
That was another one I had my eye on. I was looking at the 4 GB version, but the buttons and the overall player seemed really cheap; really plastic-y. As well, I didn't really like the scroll wheel, OR the fact the buttons on the sides were really stupidly placed. You could barely push them sometimes.
I was researching the Cowon iAudio M5L, and read that it can have *up to* 35 hours of battery life. Does anybody have any experience with it? Has anybody ever GOT more than 30 hours out of it?
LAXspotter From India, joined Jan 2007, 3650 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (6 years 3 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 931 times:
Quoting Daleaholic (Reply 6): Sandisk Sansa... They have an 8gb version. I have the 4gb version and it's fantastic. FM Radio, Photo and video playback, MP3, WMA and a voice recorder! I'd say go for this one...
Best out there
IPod is too damn popular for all the wrong reasons. Sansa is a much better product for a lesser price.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel" Samuel Johnson
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