MP3 Newbie Questions

[nightsky]

I have great respect for the opinion of PCMech Members so I am asking for buying recommendations for someone new to MP3 Players. First time I heard an MP3 Player was a few years ago I asked to listen on my niece's and I was blown away. I would love to put all my favorite music on one and just listen to it all the time. lol

My Question is what is a good starter's MP3 Player and a good buy?

[HAL9000]

I guess it depends exactly what you want in an MP3 player. Personally, I love my iPod very intuitive making it a snap to use. I swapped out my factory stereo for a Pioneer with iPod cable so I can have my 4000+ song library in my car. The iPod stays out of sight at all times and I can control it via the Pioneer deck.

I know some people will reply anti-iPod and that's OK, it just works great for me.

[Tin]

For something easy to use with lots of features, definitely get an iPod. If you want to play more formats, such as FLAC, OGG, APE, etc...youll need to look elsewhere.

[Hi Ho]

I love my iPod Touch. I hate iTunes. However, since I put music on my iPod I almost never have to use iTunes so it evens out.

Ipods are simple to use and there are countless accessories available for them.

[Force Flow]

Right now I have a Zune, and like the iPod, it's locked into using proprietary software. I don't much like either player's software solution.

As an alternative, I've been eying Cowon players for when this old zune eventually dies. So if you're looking for an alternative to the iPod/Zune, it might be a possibility to investigate.

[nightsky]

What do you mean by "player's software solution"? What do I need to look for in software solution?

Have done some research and these things come with video screens, voice recorders, fm radio?

I just want to record music on it and listen to it. Sound Quality being the most important to me what features should I be looking for?

I noticed that some mp3 players need to be compatible with your pc OS, is this correct? My OS is linux? Nano Ipod comes with a built-in camera?

Do I need to watch music video's? I am more of a listen to music, set my own mood kind of person. Might be fun to watch music videos?

Main features is sound quality, battery life, rechargability, durability (be able to put in jeans pocket kind of thing), ease of use (good documentation and suport). Guys I have never even used my computer to listen to music. lol


Looked at Cowen S9 8gb its a bit more money than i am looking to spend right now? Ipod Nano 8gb, Sony, Sansa, Samsung, san disk clip online.

[glc]

Plan on running VMware unless you can find a MP3 player that doesn't require proprietary software to load it from the computer.

[nightsky]

Looking at Cowon MP3s - Specs include linux support for data transfer only. What does this refer to exactly?

[Force Flow]

That means if you're using a linux operating system, you can transfer data to it and use it as a USB flash drive

[XenaWP]

I have a Cowon D2 and love it. Got the 16 GB one and added a 16 GB SD card. Plenty of storage space. Great sound quality. A bit large.

I also have a Sandisk Clip + ... these are amazing little units. Small, flat sound output, high signal to noise: I got the 4 GB one and added an 8 GB microSD. You can get up to 8 GB in the main device and add as large a microSD as you like.

The great thing about Cowon and the Clip + is that they support free formats: FLAC, OGG, etc. You aren't stuck with Apple/Microsoft's proprietary crap. And the quality can't be beat.

However, these units lack large pretty icons that you get in Ipods.

[nightsky]

Hi XenaWP, lol was comparing Cowon Models and had narrow choices to sansa clip 8gb and cowon D2 that SDHC slot, D2+ touch screen too in addition to having actual contol buttons, independence of proprietary software sure are enticing features, . Have you compared the different AudioI Models? What color did u get and what was your final cost?

[trulad]

I use a Samsung MP3 player and I rip cd music to mp3 format and I also take i-Pod music from my daughter's computer and convert it to MP3 with Windows Media Player

[XenaWP]

Hi Night -- hope you're doing well.

If you go with the Sandisk, make sure it's the Clip +. The basic Clip doesn't have OGG/FLAC support and doesn't take the micro SD cards. I got the 4 GB one at Best Buy for $40, right around Xmas time. Blue. It's nice looking, a kind of metallic looking pretty medium blue. I picked up the MicroSD card at Newegg for about $18 for the 8 GB.

I'm not sure what Cowon did to the D2 to make it a D2+. The price on the 16 GB is better than I paid, but I got mine over a year ago. Amazon's got that one for about $150 now. Mine is the silver finish. I put a silicone case on it, just because I use it during workouts and want to keep sweat off it.

Cowon is surely a more advanced unit than the Clip+. It has ability to show cover art, a few little utilities, photo viewer. I just use if for the music though. It has some nice sound enhancements that let you customize the sound output to suit. The Iaudio looks nice too ... slimmer ... doesn't appear to have the expansion slot.

[nightsky]

XenaWP thanks. Given your statement re: "flat sound output, high signal to noise: I got the 4 GB one and added an 8 GB microSD." Is the Sandisk Clip + worth buying to listen to music or would i be better off putting that money towards the D2? For sound quality?

Cowon D2+ has no hardware upgrade over D2. You can upgrade the the firmware according to reviews and a 'D2/D2+ Forum' "anythingbutipod.com" What is confusing is that D2 16gbcosts $30 more than D2+ 16gb and I prefer the chrome trim around the D2, thing is so tiny a little chrome bling is easy on the eyes.
Considering D2 8GB Refurb. for $107. what you think? Looking on ebay D2 16GB but there is so much misrepresentation of items. Sellers actually trying to pass the D2+ off as D2?? LOL I don't get it. How do u put yourself on a back order list for newegg?

[XenaWP]

I'd say the Clip+ is probably the best player for the dollar you can get. The only problem with it is that if you need or want to tailor the sound to your own liking, it isn't as "tweakable" as either of the Cowon units. It has basic equalizer modes (Rock, Classical, Jazz, etc., and one Custom mode) ... you can boost the bass or treble here if you need to to compensate for age, earphones, personal preference, etc. The FM tuner is good in the Clip+. This is what it's for, listening to your tunes, radio, audio books, making a quick voice memo. No good for video, "apps", or other stuff.

Cowon has more features. Many more ways to customize the sound if you want to or need to. The battery life is incredible on the D2, rated at 52 hours. I charge it like once a month, lol.

Out of the box, with no adjustments, I'd put them equal in sound quality. However, once you want to make adjustments to the sound, the D2/D2+ will pull ahead.

Clip+ can be updated too ... you can download an updater utility from Sandisk that will check for updates every time you connect to the computer (if you want). Not much really to update, per se.

Really, if you want just a music player, a Clip+ and buying some better earphones than the ones in the box will do way better than the more expensive Cowon with the supplied earphones. I like Shure and Etymotic earphones ... the Ety ER6i is a great product.

I think the D2 may cost more because it's discontinued and supply is drying up? I'm guessing there. Lots of cases and skins available on Ebay for these players ... you can bling it up no matter which device you get Getting a "refurb" on a small item like this would scare me ... they're so droppable and that can mess things up so much.

Like I say, I have both of them, use them both regularly, and love them both. D2/D2+ is more tweakable, Clip+ is more basic but both are great on sound quality. Upgraded earphones are going to help both reach their optimum sound.

[nightsky]

Thank you - all questions answered, now i decide. Will post back by this week's end. The market place is such a jungle! lol
Preference was influenced by the idea that the aluminum ban around D2's plastic seam made it more solid than the D2+ , that it also enhanced its physical appeal to me, lead to calling it 'Bling' a new word for me which I've heard but never experienced first hand before. lol Slang is catchy!