new flash-based mp3-player, help appreciated Options

[Digga]

hi there,

I saved some money for a brandnew shiny mp3-player, so I want to spend it right.
I already got the headphones: sennheiser px200. a friend of mine could get it's hands on it for like nothing (30 €), so I took the chance. the only minor thing left to do now is to find a good flash-based mp3-player .
I can't get a hd-one, because I plan to do sports with it and the like.
another point against hd is the price... atm I've got appr. 250 € to spend...

it
1) have to support vbr
2) should have the possibillity to upgrade memory to a total of at least 384mb (*start dreaming* 512 or more would be awesome... *stop dreaming*).
(meaning 128mb built in is minimum, 256mb would be nice)
3) and of course, I've nothing against good sound quality

I've done some searching, and two players catched my eye so far:
- Pio DMG (plus) : vbr-support, good reputation, but 'only' 128mb built in, which AFAIK you cannot upgrade with more than 128mb! a shame...
other good Pio-players with 256mb internal memory don't supp. vbr... or am I wrong? I didn't find it in the specs at their homepage.
- Nex IIe : also vbr-support, specs sound also quite good, and you can upgrade to at least 1gb !! are their any disatvantages with that player that anybody knows of? otherwise this player seems to be the first choise, if you want a flash-based player with lots of memory...

any help, further links, experiences or comments a much appreciated, as I want to spend the money right.
thx guys!
regards, Digga

This post has been edited by Digga: Aug 14 2003, 00:17

[lh_sabre]

As someone who has a Nex IIe (with a 1GB flash card), I have to say that I've been fairly pleased with this product. It is, however, not perfect. For one, there is a limit to how many directory levels, and that limit seems to be set at two (as in root and one level down)--of course, you can still have a lot of different directories, but they can only go one deep from the root.

Also, the resume function doesn't start on power up (you have to go into the menu and hit it).

As for expandability, I'm not sure if CF cards above 1GB are different, but I think that they may be.

Another note, like all USB 1.1 devices, transfering files is slow.

Still, in my opinion, I think that the Nex line is the best when it comes to flash-based mp3 players, simply due to the fact that it lets you use any CF cards (even microdrives, but I prefer flash because it takes less power).

One more thing: even though the PX200 should be able to run fine off the Nex, I'd definitely suggest a portable headphone amp (I'm using a mini V4--somewhat outdated now--available at www.fixup.net. I'm actually going to get a new version of this amp before the holiday season.

[Digga]

thx for the reply.

there is a limit to how many directory levels, and that limit seems to be set at two

hmm, do you think that this directory-level problem could be 'fixed' with an upcomming firmware? or is it a permanent thing?

Also, the resume function doesn't start on power up

I guess that would not bother me that much.

As for expandability, I'm not sure if CF cards above 1GB are different

whhoa, 1gb is enough for me right now

USB 1.1

I'm just going to change the content every two or three week, so thats all right with me.

I won't have have money for an amp INTF, tried the px200 though, I guess they do the job without any more power... (besides, the link is broken... *edit: me corect myself: works again*)

can you say something about the soundquality?
I read something about distortion rate beeing <0,05%, isn't it normaly something like <0,01% or so (I could be very well wrong though)?

This post has been edited by Digga: Aug 14 2003, 02:21

[DonP]

You might want to check the Yahoo discussion group on NexII to see what a bunch of
owners like or gripe about it. Of course there are similar groups dedicated to other brands:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nexiimp3/

I'm not sure the NexII is still in production. The new model is NexIA which adds FM tuner.

Bear in mind while this brand has a CF slot, it comes with zero memory built in.

I don't know any stores that carry the Nex players, and if you order from their web site,
they have a policy of no returns except warrantee repair,. So you may have to really commit
to owning one without actually having seen or tried it.

Rio has just formally announced their new lineup, so some of last years models may go
on the surplus sales. The S10 is already available for US$80 (cheaper than the NexIIe),
comes with 64 meg, and can take an additional 512 meg SD card. The S10 and S30 (more memory + FM and record) go longer on a single AAA than the Nex does on 2 AA cells.
I don't know how sound output compares.

Happy hunting!

[Digga]

update: just saw the newer NEX IA, wonder why I didn't saw that before
that one would be prefered above the IIe.

gee, thanx for the yahoo-group tip, there are hundreds of mp3-player groups (about 830)... I guess I won't get much sleep the next night...

if anyone else has information on other good players, you are more than welcome to help me find my way through the the huge jungle of mp3-players.

This post has been edited by Digga: Aug 14 2003, 03:34

[lh_sabre]

Well, to answer your question about volume, if you really intend to listen loud and listen with good quality, I'd still recommend getting something like the mini amp that I spoke of earlier. I don't put my Nex past 2/3 volume because it does start to clip soon after (of course, depending on the track), and depending on the headphones, the power it puts out just isn't enough. One of the mini amps costs roughly the same as the Nex, but the improvement is huge (and sometimes I use my mini- with my computer, too--I find that it always helps to have a headphone amp around), and cranking the volume on the amp is so much better than on the player itself (crystal clear, no distortion, etc.)

As for the directory thing, yes it technically can be fixed, but no, I haven't heard anything from Frontier Labs about fixing it.

As for the IA, it should be pretty much the same deal as the IIe but with FM and recording capabilities.

The only reason that I don't go around recommending other flash players, however, is because, as far as I know, no other flash player goes up to 1GB (and for me, that was mandatory).

[Digga]

well, I never had an amp so far. I used to listen to my good old walkman back in the days, with quite crappy headphones, and the majority of my mp3s are still at 128kps cbr (though made with lame) from earlier days. so I'm used to mid-range quality-listening. furthermore, and much more important, I just don'got the money for an amp right now, although the xin super mini headphone amp looks quite promising. how long do theese things last if you treat them fairly? for a couple of years, or for a decade?

as for the player, I'm starting to think of buying some with 128 or 256mb built in, and get some more mb, cause they are cheaper than if you would buy an nex plus, let's say 512mb of storage (more is always welcome, but I can't afford it right now...).
So I guess I'm on the lookout for some built-in-version...
though the nex might be my saftyboat, if the sea of mp3-players will swallow me...
again, thx for advices

This post has been edited by Digga: Aug 14 2003, 06:24