iPod or Zen or ...?

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It is nice to see Keith using expressions like, 'similarly effective compression algorithim'.

PJ Miller (PJ Miller), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 09:48 (twenty years ago) link

Peter, I spent about 5 minutes on that phrase... Glad you enjoyed it.

Keith Watson (kmw), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 17:39 (twenty years ago) link

http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/B00013ZCKO.02.LZZZZZZZ

Do I want one of these? I think I do. What do you keep your iPod in?

Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 19:12 (twenty years ago) link

I keep it in the little faux-leather thing it came with. (I've got the G3 40gig doodah.) It seems sufficient.

Casuistry (Chris P), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 00:03 (twenty years ago) link

I've inserted mine into an unspecified body cavity and won't give it up till the fourth of july.

Forksclovetofu (Forksclovetofu), Wednesday, 26 May 2004 04:03 (twenty years ago) link


Right, so I bought this http://images.nomadworld.com/products/jukebox_zen_nx/images/Jukebox_ZenNXpix2.jpg, and it's lovely, but VERY quiet. Apart from increasing the Advanced EQ settings like they tell you to do, which helps a bit, are there any other ways to TURN IT UP?!?

Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 29 May 2004 06:29 (nineteen years ago) link

You don't have the limiter on do you? Mine is very loud (although it's not the exact model pictured).

There is a setting that attempts to limit the volume to "safe" levels...

Keith Watson (kmw), Saturday, 29 May 2004 10:07 (nineteen years ago) link


Do you know where I can find this setting? I've looked high and low in vain.

Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 29 May 2004 16:02 (nineteen years ago) link

On mine it's under EAX Audio from the main menu, then Smart Volume for the setting.

Keith Watson (kmw), Saturday, 29 May 2004 16:12 (nineteen years ago) link

I keep it in the little faux-leather thing it came with. (I've got the G3 40gig doodah.) It seems sufficient.

Yes, but it seems like you have to buy the 40 Gig model to get it, CP. Otherwise Apple wants you to pay another $30 to get one....like the 10, 15, or 20 Gig is waterproof?

Is it me, or is it that the only reason IPod sells so well is the advertising? Surely, it's not the best MP3 player out, is it? I still want one, but can't afford the massive price tag.

My question: Is it actually worth getting the IPod Mini? Tempted to get one of those instead, but wanna be sure it's worth getting.

Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Saturday, 29 May 2004 17:39 (nineteen years ago) link


Sorry, but two or three more tings. One, the thing turned itself when it was (very slowly) transferring the files. When I was out. The Bastard. Also, although I had spent many many hours exhaustively changing the names of all my mp3s so they were the same format, it ignored all the names and just gave them wacky higgeldy-piggeldy titles. The Bastard. Also, I can't figure out how to make playlists, although I suspect that it may be very easy indeed.

Nearly there though. And what I can do with it, I absolutely love.

Gatinha (rwillmsen), Sunday, 30 May 2004 13:16 (nineteen years ago) link

Make sure it's plugged in when transferring the files; it eats the batteries like nobody's business. It goes faster with it plugged in too. Make sure you're connected to a USB 2.0 slot on the computer if you've got one. If you're connected to a USB 1.0 slot, it'll go quite slowly.

I think it picks the titles up out of the properties rather than just the name of the files.

Did you get the volume thing sorted?

Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 30 May 2004 14:14 (nineteen years ago) link


I haven't found that particular setting yet, but I turned down the EQ, which the Creative Labs website had advised me to turn up to 11. Being mp3s, all my music varies widely in volume, so I guess I can't do much about that. As for the playlist thing, I'm still working on it.

Can anyone tell me how I get at the properties of my mp3s?

Gatinha (rwillmsen), Monday, 31 May 2004 21:39 (nineteen years ago) link

one year passes...
Revive for 2005.

So, how does the current versions of iPod and Zen Micro stack up?

I've been hearing about something screwy about the headphone jack in the Zen Micro (like it falls out or somesuch), has Creative fixed this problem yet?

Lord Custos Omicron (Lord Custos Omicron), Sunday, 18 December 2005 01:51 (eighteen years ago) link

I have a Zen 30gb. Sure, it's ugly and unsexy, but it was cheap, the quality was good (I've had it for a couple of years and it's in great shape) and I can transfer music to and from it easily, which is something I am SHOCKED the iPod can't do on its own. I suppose there are ways to get around it and move your music from your ipod to your computer, but at least with the Zen all you have to do is select the songs/albums/playlists you want and it's really really fast.

Also, with the Zen you don't have to worry about coordinating with your music library or specific version of itunes/generic mp3 player software or whatever. I can hook up my Zen to any computer with mediasource (the Zen's software) and add music from that computer or transfer my music to their computer. The Zen also has a jog wheel, which I like very much. I really don't think the physical layout of an mp3 player should be a concern to anyone...once you have it for a while even the strangest layouts will become second nature.

The main problems I have with the Zen is that it's unsexy, and sometimes I'd like to have a pretty mp3 player. Also, the thing about the ipod is that it's so ubiquitious that you feel a bit left out. And there are all these neat gadgets and gizmos made for the ipod every day. But I don't think it's anything you can't live with. Ipod prices are going down, so maybe I'll get one in the future.

musically (musically), Sunday, 18 December 2005 02:26 (eighteen years ago) link

ive had my archos for nearly 3 years now. and i have zero complaints about it

calderdale in the 70s (gareth), Sunday, 18 December 2005 02:34 (eighteen years ago) link

the new ipods are awesome!

i'd write more about it, but right now i need to piss.

Christopher Costello (CGC), Sunday, 18 December 2005 03:46 (eighteen years ago) link

i have had my 20gb archos for half a year now and i have no complaints neither. it is not only much cheaper (about half the price) than a comparable ipod, it is also smaller and lighter.

alex in mainhattan (alex63), Sunday, 18 December 2005 14:19 (eighteen years ago) link

i've had a 40 GB Zen for a year now. I love the lil' thing.

latebloomer: Deutsch Bag (latebloomer), Sunday, 18 December 2005 15:01 (eighteen years ago) link

An advantage that non-iPod players have is the ability to record at CD-level quality, which the iPod intentionally crippled, making it suitable for voice notes but not, say, bootlegging concerts. Audiobloggers go for the iRiver for this. There are workarounds for the iPod (like installing linux), and I think they have uncrippled this functionality for some of the recent Pod models, or at least raised the limit. I'm sure some among you have more details.

I use Podworks (very cheap shareware for OSX) to transfer music off an iPod, very easy to use.

Brakhage (brakhage), Sunday, 18 December 2005 20:20 (eighteen years ago) link

eight years pass...

Alright, so the classic, which I would prefer to buy another one of, is now $150 more expensive than it used to be. Any alternatives with at least 60 GB that aren't a Touch?

sink floyd (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 29 September 2014 03:50 (nine years ago) link

Thanks, Apple, for discontinuing that shit right when I need a new one.

sink floyd (GOTT PUNCH II HAWKWINDZ), Monday, 29 September 2014 03:50 (nine years ago) link

Has anybody splashed on a Fiio X5 or X3?
Any good? Are they loud enough without having to hook up with an amp? After years of listening at stupid volumes, my ears have given up the ghost
I've searched for clues out there but remain none the wiser

I have used a Fiio E17 to drive my I pod classic for a number of years and was wondering whether either of these would be an improvement
on its own

Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Monday, 29 September 2014 08:22 (nine years ago) link

I keep reading about hacks to the iPod (classic) 5.5 gen, which evidently is the most hackable iPod, replacing the controller chip to add newer features, and mor importantly, replacing the 30gb hard drive on the thinner model with a 256 or 512GB CompactFlash card. Has anyone tried or used these?

and in his absence, she (Lee626), Monday, 29 September 2014 10:47 (nine years ago) link

I just got an IBasso DX50, which only has six gb of on-board storage but takes micro SD cards, which are cheap and getting cheaper. In a few years, if 2TB cards are affordable, it'll be able to hold my entire music collection. Also reads from micro USB so about £40 of extra money gets 120gb of storage. Plays MP3, FLAC, etc. Has a replaceable battery.

The sound is great. The user interface is not great. Think it can be Rockboxed, but idk.

Worth looking at.

Wristy Hurlington (ShariVari), Monday, 29 September 2014 11:24 (nine years ago) link

Hey Wristy, I was looking at the Basso too. I'm stuck. It's a great quandary to have mind.
I'm wondering if the Basso is loud enough to drive my Shure 530s, without separate amp? Given my fooked ears

Which is the same question I'm asking re the Fiio X5

Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Monday, 29 September 2014 14:13 (nine years ago) link

I'm afraid I don't know. There are three gain settings, the highest one for use with more demanding headphones, but I'm just using standard in-ears.

Wristy Hurlington (ShariVari), Monday, 29 September 2014 14:19 (nine years ago) link

Cheers for that
Not showing off re my 530s btw.
It has something to do with my music obsession - most other possessions fade into insignificance and take a back seat

Jessie Fer Ark (Mobbed Up Ping Pong Psychos), Monday, 29 September 2014 14:26 (nine years ago) link

Players with micro SD slots are key. My rockboxed ipod classic will die someday (or I'll try to get it fitted with a ridiculous SSDD) but I spend just as much time listening to my (rockboxed) Sansa Clip Zip with one of several different 64 gb micro SD in it depending on my mood. I also have a 128 gb micro SD which currently makes a half-hearted attempt to encompass the cream of my classical library. 256 gb would do nicely.

One of these newer audiophile players has DUAL micro SD slots which is a nice idea. I can't remember the name but I almost bought it at B&H the last time I had disposable income.

Gonna look at this Basso...

OU281 (Jon Lewis), Monday, 29 September 2014 14:26 (nine years ago) link

I keep reading about hacks to the iPod (classic) 5.5 gen, which evidently is the most hackable iPod, replacing the controller chip to add newer features, and mor importantly, replacing the 30gb hard drive on the thinner model with a 256 or 512GB CompactFlash card. Has anyone tried or used these?

― and in his absence, she (Lee626), Monday, September 29, 2014 3:47 AM (5 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'm actually bidding on a 240 gb ipod classic on ebay right now. Actually, there is quite a few external/internal customization that goes along with the 5.5 gen Ipods. It's like the Ipod version of the Hackintosh.

lilsoulbrother, Monday, 29 September 2014 21:02 (nine years ago) link

The 240gb Toshiba hard drive works in a 6th-gen classic too

and in his absence, she (Lee626), Monday, 29 September 2014 21:20 (nine years ago) link

I think the thin 5.5 gen white is my fave full-size iPod though. It's THE classic iPod for me.

and in his absence, she (Lee626), Monday, 29 September 2014 21:23 (nine years ago) link

nine months pass...

The headphone jack of my beloved iBasso DX50 has developed a fault. Amazon are refunding it as they have no replacements in stock. Has anything amazing been released in the last nine months or should i just get another DX50 / upgrade to a DX90?

I wear my Redditor loathing with pride (ShariVari), Thursday, 9 July 2015 19:38 (eight years ago) link


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