Media bias towards IPODS

[Andrew Everard]

Except with that you know what's on it.

It can't conjure something unexpected from the ether that has you sitting in the car on the drive when you get home just because you're fascinated to hear the end...

 

[John Duncan]

Andrew Everard:
Except with that you know what's on it.

It can't conjure something unexpected from the ether that has you sitting in the car on the drive when you get home just because you're fascinated to hear the end...

Not when you use Autofill, and you haven't a clue about half of what's on your iTunes.

 

[Andrew Everard]

JohnDuncan:Andrew Everard:
Except with that you know what's on it.

It can't conjure something unexpected from the ether that has you sitting in the car on the drive when you get home just because you're fascinated to hear the end...

Not when you use Autofill, and you haven't a clue about half of what's on your iTunes.

Think we're going to have to beg to differ on this one, JD.

 

[John Duncan]

Andrew Everard:JohnDuncan:Andrew Everard:
Except with that you know what's on it.

It can't conjure something unexpected from the ether that has you sitting in the car on the drive when you get home just because you're fascinated to hear the end...

Not when you use Autofill, and you haven't a clue about half of what's on your iTunes.

Think we're going to have to beg to differ on this one, JD.

Do I win then?

 

[Andrew Everard]

If it pleases you to think so. Wasn't aware it was a competition...

 

[Anonymous]

I love competitions. What's the prize?

 

[fatboyslimfast]

JohnDuncan:
Do I win then?

Yep, you win a day at What Hifi Towers - conditions...can only be taken today, and you have to go and round up all the what hifi staffers and bring them into work....

 

[John Duncan]

Well I was in on Friday, but it was short notice so I didn't have time to buy biscuits.

And to Andrew, yes - everything is a competition, ever since I found out when I was young that everybody's dad was indeed bigger than my dad.

 

[rob_981]

Got to say, this is something I've wondered about for a long time too. I've had a Cowon iAudio D2 for just over a year now, and it's amazing. I find it a bit disappointing that it's only got 3 stars, particularly as it's got so many things going for it - truly portable media player, great sound, excellent battery life and it's expandable (I've currently got a 32gb SDHC card in mine). The unintuituve UI doesn't exactly help though, but once you get used to it, it's pretty easy to use.

I never thought I'd find myself using an Ipod, but I got a free one last week, and I actually find that I quite like it. It's very small and easy to use, the sound is pretty good (but IMO doesn't come close to the Cowon), Itunes isn't as difficult to use as I thought, and the range of accessories certainly helps its cause. But the screen is a bit small for watching videos on.

It's handy as a second player, or to listen to when (thinking about) going to the gym, but I don't think it's quite good enough to replace my Cowon.

But you pay your money....

 

[Anonymous]

All quiet here. Took son and 2 friends to the Broom Rd Ski slope. Very competitive.

 

[Alec]

Clare Newsome:

Sound quality DOES always come first for us - and we disagree re the Sonys being superior.

And of course we always test all players with a range of upgrade headphones to see exactly what they're capable of (as well as - as mentioned earlier in this thread - testing with a range of bit-rates).

However, if you don't like iPods, there are lots of other great options to go for, and of course you should always choose the player YOU prefer the sound of. Trying before you buy should apply to MP3 players the same as any other piece of kit.

we may have had our wee differences, but i love it when you post like this. im almost swooning

 

[peter312]

As Clare said, the best player (for you) is the one that sounds best (to you). It would be plain daft to choose something you dislike the sound of just because it got 5 stars in a review, just like it would be daft to NOT choose something you like the sound of just because it got 3 stars! I happen to prefer one of the new Sony MP3 players to the sound of a similarly spec'd iPod Nano, but it doesn't mean I am right or wrong, anymore than anyone else is right or wrong for preferring the Nano.

I find reviews in magazines can sometimes give me a steer, but regardless of that they entertain in their own right - I enjoy reading them.

 

[Anonymous]

My point is that the reviews are not cohesive enough. It is never stated in the reviews that out of the box with the headphones the mp3 player comes with which is the best. Its like it seems ok for reviewers to get into the habit of discarding the horrible apple earphones and then whack on a pair of quality headphones then judging it. Also Trevor Nelson on Gadget Show also reckoned the Sony sounded better then Apple. Do you not think Apple's sound cold, hard and lack warmth. It's like you can tell it is playing off a storage unit. I have noticed the bass on Apple sounds flat and lacks texture. The Sony sounds like a cd player. Any how my point is that an Apple would always come last in terms of sound quality compared to other MP3 players if you are judging how the product comes out of the box with the supplied headphones thats got to be enough for Apple products to lose points thus send a message to Apple to say it is not good enough to supply rubbish headphones on a premium product..

 

[John Duncan]

Trevor Nelson on the Gadget Show? Oooo.

Anyway - slightly OT, but has anybody tried the more expensive Apple InEar phones?

 

[Anonymous]

But would you expect a review of a Blu Ray player to be based on the leads it comes with? Imagine a Blu Ray group test. If most of them come with standard RCA leads but one of them includes a free HDMI cable, would you say the one with the free cable was going to be the best because it will look better with the supplied accessories? Or would you want to know what will happen with some reasonable upgrades?

I prefer Sony MP3 players by the way. It was much better value than a Nano for me, and it sounds better to my ear.

 

[fatboyslimfast]

Horses for courses really - to try and keep tabs of the 55+ Gb on my classic would be too much hassle without iTunes which just works... but if someone else prefers the Sony and drag/drop, I have no issues at all...

 

[Alec]

alwatson:

But would you expect a review of a Blu Ray player to be based on the leads it comes with? Imagine a Blu Ray group test. If most of them come with standard RCA leads but one of them includes a free HDMI cable, would you say the one with the free cable was going to be the best because it will look better with the supplied accessories? Or would you want to know what will happen with some reasonable upgrades?

I prefer Sony MP3 players by the way. It was much better value than a Nano for me, and it sounds better to my ear.

interesting point that, actually. you must always, to some extent, be revierwing the cables in a system, if you think they make a difference, and they are necassary for your kit to work. does that render reviews of mp3 players useless unless you can say that the best ios the best because its better with every pair of headphones ever? Or that a bdp is only the best if it looks better than all others regardless of which hdmi you use...?

 

[idc]

As a total novice to using a computer, my education has been mainly due to successfully figuring out how to work an ipod and itunes. I bought 'The ipod book' by Scott Kelby and away I went. The first attempt to get going was an utter failure as the computer has the Windows Millennium software, which of course does not work with itunes. A new, cheap Dell laptop later and I'm having a whale of a time. Have you seen the stuff on the internet? 'I was on it yesterday and I found this..!' - J. Clarkson.

At Christmas there my son was given a Creative Zen and speaker dock. He is too young to do the computing stuff, so thinking that I'm now a bit of an expert of course I'll do it. Er..no. It is on and it plays music, but I have still not got the hand of working it. For a novice itunes is simpler and more intuitive. Both the ipod nano and classic sound better than the Zen. If I had started off with the Creative Zen instead of itunes I am sure it would now be in the cupboard, and I would have dug out my Sony Walkman (dad, why doesn't anyone else have one like this!) and be trawling charity shops for cassettes.

So why the media bias? It was about the first to appear, it was brilliantly marketed, lovely design and it generally works well. It has worked its way onto the list of products synonymous with their type, like the Hoover and sellotape. For me its simplicity won.

 

[Anonymous]

I don't get how people moan about the quality of sound on ipods or bit rates on mp3 etc. I have read many reviews on bit rate and how people find it hard to tell the difference with 192 bit rate versus CD quality. I agree it can sound terrible if you are DL illegal tracks at low bit rates etc but if you do it the right way and import at a decent bit rate it's very hard to tell the difference.

I think people using this reasoning to not by an ipod are just plain SILLY!

Now go buy an Ipod!

 

[bemahler1]

This ipod item has really opened up members feelings towards the likes or dislikes of the ipod. As one who has been enjoying listening to music for over 50years on all types of playing equipment(including a windup gramophone that played the old 78s)I have never ever found a better piece of equipment whereby, I can download my music, either from my cd collection or direct from itunes , plug in a pair of excellent headphones and enjoy my own concert hall without leaving the comfort of my house or whilst at work. So, my message to all who doubt the excellence of the ipod, stop being so judgemental and let those who enjoy, enjoy the listening fruits of their hard earned cash.

 

[Anonymous]

Cool. The sound of different headphones is alot more obvious then the difference in HDMI cables. Also you have got to consider the headphones as the speakers mp3 player in terms of hifi Cd player, amp and speakers. Ok Trevor Nelson not exactly great example but by his reaction he could tell instantly the Sony was better. In my opinion the Sony mp3 player itself sounds better then ipod and the headphones highlight the difference further. I do like the Ipod but I think people don't realise there is better sounding players. The masses don't have a clue on what sound quality is. I would buy an Apple straight away if they made one that sounded the best. Well Claire if you want the alternatives experience and reasons to count let me work for What Hi Fi as a reviewer. I have some good experience in Dvd production - Testing Picture & Audio Quality using high end kit from PMC, Leema Acoustics, Senheiser etc. Let me know.

 

[bemahler1]

Bobbyx.

I think that before anyone would consider employing you as a reviewer for any magazine , let alone this one , there first priority would be to consider your usage of the English language , ref your grammar and spelling ( Senheiser), let me help you Sennheiser.

 

[Anonymous]

It's not a big deal mate we are just on a forum. We are hardly writing a book. I didn't realise the headmaster was here checking my english. Let me help you when you have the amount of knowledge I have about Hi Fi then come and talk to me (see I can just as easily assume you are dim). Not been funny mate but you do not know me. So do not judge me. I am highly qualified and very knowledgeble. This forum is about media bias towards Ipods not about my english. I was just stating that there is alot of people that would agree with my opinion that other MP3 players sound better and as an opposition view, I could make a strong case for the alternatives. We are not here to insult we are hear to voice our opinions and explaining them. This is a proper forum for enthusiasts and not for trouble causers. By the way you made some mistakes with your writing to. Look at your spacing where you have written Sennheiser in the brackets. Also where you have written 'there first priority' this should be 'their first priority' Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones son.

 

[bemahler1]

Goodness me, your little cage has been rattled. 'there first priority' is the correct usage of the word THERE as THEIR relates to the word priority, being personal to them, it is not, it is being used as a generalisation of that particular part of speech, not as a personal item in the phrase. Regarding your expertise in hi-fi, I would not trust your review of a AA battery never mind hi-fi equipment. Also I have no knowable of you being my father, but if you are, well done in rising from the grave.

 

[Anonymous]

Well don't come on here throwing insults around. You started it mate. I do not come to a good forum like this to get in any childish cussing matches. So call it quits.