Best MP3 player for sound quality?

[admin_exported]

Hi there,

I have a HTC hero mobile phone, which I currently use for music, but it's not really that fantastic with audio. Since I'm looking for an MP3 player purely for audio (my Hero can handle browsing etc), what would you recommend? I quite like the Sony X series, and am looking to spend around £170.

Thanks in advance

 

[John Duncan]

iPod every time...

 

[bemahler1]

Agree with John its the ipod, either the classic or the itouch, which when all is said and done nothing on the market comes close to the itouch for shear all round enjoyment and yes I have a sony also.

 

[Anonymous]

http://img380.imageshack.us/i/ayepod.png/

 

[Anonymous]

ooh, cheers for the advice. I understood that the Sony was supposed to be better than the iPod for sound quality? Maybe not in that case, cheers

 

[John Duncan]

It might be argued that the Sony earbuds are a bit beter than the Apple ones (they couldn't be worse), but add a pair of these and you have a fantastc-sounding portable. As stated above, you either go for storage (Classic) or coolness (Touch). Personally, I'd go with the Touch and swap music more frequently...

 

[Anonymous]

Ooh, your link doesnt appear to be working

I was thinking of using the player with Monster Beats headphones anyway, since I should be ordering a pair tommorow

I'm a bit gutted, I had an iPhone for a year, then got rid of it 3 months ago for the hero.. Seems a bit daft going back to a touch.,

 

[Anonymous]

Sony and Cowon players in general have better SQ than Ipod. Try playing FLAC files too. The biggest improvement can be had with the headphones though. The headphones that come with players are almost always rubbish. All the above mentioned players will sound much better with third party headphones but the differences between the players are also enlarged.

Grado has excellent headphones for the money. If you want earbuds Ultimate Ears, Etymotics, Westone and Shure are obvious choices. However 30 quid or so will also buy some excellent relatively unknown in-ears. I have Crossroads Mylarone in-ears which are amazing. There's a very good website with info on this subject, but I doubt I'm allowed to post the link. Just use google.

 

[professorhat]

Willing to bet JD meant these.

 

[Anonymous]

professorhat:
Willing to bet JD meant these.

I actually have those already, but will be getting a pair of Monster Beats for my travels where space isn't such an issue.

Im really looking for the sound quality, and I've really fallen in love with the sony/coupled with the good review here, might have to get the 16gb

 

[Anonymous]

teknokid:professorhat:
Willing to bet JD meant these.

I actually have those already, but will be getting a pair of Monster Beats for my travels where space isn't such an issue.

Im really looking for the sound quality, and I've really fallen in love with the sony/coupled with the good review here, might have to get the 16gb

Please consider avoiding "Dr. Dre's" headphone's. Yes they look cool, but you said you care about SQ. That kind of money will get you much better headphones from just about any other reputable headphone brand. Including an excellent Grado. But Sennheiser and AKG at this price level will also be better. There's a shortage of reviews on the Monster Beats (bar CNET, avoid) but their marketing blurp on their website tells me enough. There's a thread on them in the website I was hinting at earlier. Something with "head" and "hi-fi"...

Edit: If you are indeed planning to lug around headphones of this class it completely changes the game. Most headphones in this pricebracket have high impedance. They require more amplification than any MP3 player can accomodate. Look for a portable amp. Headroom makes good ones, even including a DAC (you'll need a player with digital out).

But I doubt this is what you're really after, since most people don't like to lug around lots of boxes. Get the Grado SR60 or SR80, they won't need an amp, and I trust they're much better than Dr. Dre's kit....

 

[Anonymous]

KevinOK:

Please consider avoiding "Dr. Dre's" headphone's. Yes they look cool, but you said you care about SQ. That kind of money will get you much better headphones from just about any other reputable headphone brand. Including an excellent Grado. But Sennheiser and AKG at this price level will also be better. There's a shortage of reviews on the Monster Beats (bar CNET, avoid) but their marketing blurp on their website tells me enough. There's a thread on them in the website I was hinting at earlier. Something with "head" and "hi-fi"...

Edit: If you are indeed planning to lug around headphones of this class it completely changes the game. Most headphones in this pricebracket have high impedance. They require more amplification than any MP3 player can accomodate. Look for a portable amp. Headroom makes good ones, even including a DAC (you'll need a player with digital out).

Ahh, I read the review on this site and thought they seemed quite good.

Where would you recommend I look for well priced headphones? I quite like the look of these, and Scan seem to have quite a good price on them: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Sennheiser-Home-HiFi-Range-HD650-Headphones

 

[Anonymous]

I would second the recommendation that you have a look at Cowon players such as the D2+. They may not have the usability of i-pods but since you are looking for sound quality, you could give it a try. I have hardly heard bad reviews about them.

 

[Anonymous]

I'll have a look at them- I'm 100% set on not getting an iPod, it would make my wallet ache having just sold my iPhone...

What do you guys think of these?

http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/headphones/23734/Denon+AH-D2000.htm

http://www.iheadphones.co.uk/headphones/23734/Denon+AH-D2000.htmThey only got 4 stars from whathifi though, whereas the beats got 5 :S

 

[Anonymous]

teknokid:KevinOK:

Please consider avoiding "Dr. Dre's" headphone's. Yes they look cool, but you said you care about SQ. That kind of money will get you much better headphones from just about any other reputable headphone brand. Including an excellent Grado. But Sennheiser and AKG at this price level will also be better. There's a shortage of reviews on the Monster Beats (bar CNET, avoid) but their marketing blurp on their website tells me enough. There's a thread on them in the website I was hinting at earlier. Something with "head" and "hi-fi"...

Edit: If you are indeed planning to lug around headphones of this class it completely changes the game. Most headphones in this pricebracket have high impedance. They require more amplification than any MP3 player can accomodate. Look for a portable amp. Headroom makes good ones, even including a DAC (you'll need a player with digital out).

Ahh, I read the review on this site and thought they seemed quite good.

Where would you recommend I look for well priced headphones? I quite like the look of these, and Scan seem to have quite a good price on them: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Sennheiser-Home-HiFi-Range-HD650-Headphones

Those are high impedance. You will have a very hard time driving those without an amp (it's impossible). You'll have to decide wheter you want to carry a portable amp around first. If not, go with low impedance models. I strongly suggest you take a look at the website I hinted at earlier which is the best source of info for portable gear I know.

Oh and the quick and easy answer, for your budget, is the Grado SR80. Edit: actually those are considerably cheaper than your budget, but I don't think it's worth getting anything better if you're not going to get an amp. Headroom lists a nice assortment of good headphones. I'd start there for ideas.

 

[Anonymous]

The SR80's are about £100? I can go upto £230ish, and would really like to get the most I can for my money.

What do you think of the Denon's I linked to? I was thinking of getting a little headphone amp anyway, would something like this work?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMP-3-5mm-Earphone-Headphone-Amplifier-MP3-MP4-Mobile_W0QQitemZ260449019441QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones?hash=item3ca3f8a631

Sorry for the amount of questions and my noobness

Thanks

Tom

 

[Anonymous]

teknokid:
The SR80's are about £100? I can go upto £230ish, and would really like to get the most I can for my money.

What do you think of the Denon's I linked to? I was thinking of getting a little headphone amp anyway, would something like this work?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AMP-3-5mm-Earphone-Headphone-Amplifier-MP3-MP4-Mobile_W0QQitemZ260449019441QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_AudioVisualElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_Headphones?hash=item3ca3f8a631

Sorry for the amount of questions and my noobness

Thanks

Tom

Please re-read my previous post. Google the website I hinted at, there's tons of info on portable amps there. And check headroom for quite good suggestions for headphones, their portable amp is also good.

Edit. I'll give a suggestion. But I urge you to read more and make up your own mind based on reviews/more user experiences than mine/ preferably a listen: Denon AH-D1001K and Meier Audio Corda XXS. This combination is cheaper than the "headphone with attitude".

Another edit. Personally I wouldn't bother with the portable amp. If you spend around 100-150 quid on a Sennheiser, Grado, AKG, Audio-Technica, or the aforementioned Denon's and make sure your player can drive them without an amp, it will sound great. It'll be better with the amp, but it's a hassle.

 

[idc]

Hi, teknokid a few further thoughts.

The Dr Dre cans are closed backed, whereas the HD650s and all of the Grados are open backed, so they will leak sound and so annoy other travellers.

Whilst the Dr Dre's may have a five star review, just like KevinOK I disagree and do not think that they are very good. The bass overwhelms the lower to mid range and it is not that musical. It would be like being in a night club, thud thud thud all of the time.

For similar reasosn I disliked the Denon AH D1001 headphones.

The FiiO E5 amp you liked to is excellent and drives anything I have got.

The Goldring HS1000s, which are still available from Play.com at £50, that is £110 off RRP are excellent and mine are still very new.

 

[Anonymous]

by far best I've heard is the Sony X1060 - it really does sound very good indeed, I also own an IPOD Touch (2G) and although the GUI, web-browser, video compatabilty etc on the Touch is better than the Sony, the SQ is not.

previously I've owned a Fuze, IPOD Classic, and IPOD 5.5G, plus I've used an external amp with the IPODs, and none could give me the SQ of the Sony

good deal on at the moment at Argos with the X too if you don't mind 16GB - 149 from Argos + you get a £10 Argos voucher at the moment I think if you spend > £35

then current prromotion with Sony means you can send off for £35 cashback

making the X1050 very cheap

 

[drenco]

Personally i have the original 160gb ipod classic from the USA without the volume limit, and that is easily the best ive heard when comparing it to Sony and other apple players even compared to the same uk model it sounded more dynamic and richer both playing exactly the same tune on wav.

 

[Anonymous]

Just bought a Sansa fuze and its much better sound quality than my sony mp3 player and a lot easier to navigate round and switches on much faster too.

 

[lazar1980]

I would be looking into this if I was in the market for mp3 player...

http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/ZenXFi2/

 

[Alantiggger]

Two of my three children have good ipods and I myself have a Monolith...if you can find a Monolith Player buy one ... waaay better sound quality than an ipod (ipods do have good sound , just not as good).