Which CD Mp3? Options

[westgroveg]

I’m twisting and turning about which cd mp3 player to purchase.

Cnet claims Iriver to have better sound than Rvolt:

http://electronics.cnet.com/electronics/0-...tml?tag=dir-rev

http://electronics.cnet.com/electronics/0-...tml?tag=dir-rev

What do you guys think?, what would be a wise buy?

[westgroveg]

Iriver also got a good review here too:

http://www.tbreak.com/hard/mp3/iriver_slimx/index.html

[KikeG]

Rio Volt and IRiver players are exactly the same. Rio sends IRiver players putting their brand.

For a complete list of IRiver models, go to http://www.iriver.com/. I've read that support is better from IRiver, also IRiver models include more extras.

More info at: http://msg.mp3.com/hardware/listnews/?cp=hw_main

[JonPike]

I haven't personally used one.. but I hear that the Iriver has one of the better sounding amps, along with a lot of power, then most other recent players. Also has a good sounding line out, to plug into your headphone amp, if you're getting serious about your sound quality..

[Negative Zero]

If you've got the cash ($179 USD), go with the iRiver SlimX. It simply is the best when it comes to high-end MP3 / CD player hardware. Check out this page for links to most of the reviews of this device.

If you want something more affordable ($99 USD), the iRiver ChromeX is a good buy. I own both the SlimX and ChromeX and I can recommend either of them without any hesitation.

[ChS]

Yeah, either the SlimX or ChromeX. I've been very happy with my SlimX and iRiver in general. I'm really hoping that since iRiver's new iDP-100 (dataplay) player supports AAC, they'll update the IMP line with AAC support.

[fewtch]

One thing annoying (to me) about the Slimx is the LCD being on the remote. I like an LCD display on the main unit, and don't particularly enjoy carting around remotes. I even removed the small remote from my AVC Soul DMP-01 and just use it with a regular headphones plugged directly into the jack.

Edit -- oh yeah, the nonstandard batteries... argh.

Want to save money and have something "almost as good" as the Slimx and other more recent players... get a RioVolt SP90 and use the $20 mail in rebate, total cost to you is ~ U.S. $69.95. You can use hacked SP100 firmware with it too. Build quality is sh*t from what I understand, but for that price who cares?

[dynamis]

what do you guys think about the Sony D-CJ500 and D-CJ506CK?

http://www.sonystyle.com/electronics/prd.j...id=36611&type=p

[svzurich]

I am absolutely sold on my SlimX with my Ety ER-4Ps! I bought both at the end of December, and am almost content. I will be completely content when the Iriver firmware supports Ogg Vorbis (AAC and MPC would be nice to have also). The preamp in my SlimX (IMP-350) does not distort my audio, whereas I read that the preamp in the IMP-250 (RioVolt SP250) did introduce line noise.

[Negative Zero]

Actually, even the SlimX has a little bit of background hiss. It's very minor, though, and you won't notice it unless you're in a very quiet environment.

[JonPike]

Originally posted by Negative Zero
If you want something more affordable ( USD), the iRiver ChromeX is a good buy. I own both the SlimX and ChromeX and I can recommend either of them without any hesitation.

(this to negative zero)

How does the sound quality compare between the both of them? Do you use the Line out? I just now am learning about the ChromeX..

[Continuum]

Originally posted by JonPike


How does the sound quality compare between the both of them?  Do you use the Line out?  I just now am learning about the ChromeX..

According to their page there is quite a difference between the two players:
http://down.iriver.com/iriveramerica/produ...duct_imp150.htm
http://down.iriver.com/iriveramerica/produ...oduct_slimx.htm

If I read the data correctly, the slimX has a higher headphone output level (which might be important, if you don't want to use a separate headphone amp), and a better line-out frequency response.

I haven't heard any of them, though.

[Phobos]

Originally posted by ChS
I'm really hoping that since iRiver's new iDP-100 (dataplay) player supports AAC, they'll update the IMP line with AAC support.

Hey CHs or anybody...

You must already have seen my thread, but anyway are there any official plans or news of this AAC implementation?? will it support high VBRs (-extreme)???

If this is certain, i'll buy it right away...

[Keeno]

I have the Rio Volt SP250 and think it is excellent.

[Hanky]

I own an IRiver IMP-250 (IRiver 2). Overall it is a nice MP3CD player with decent sound quality. Only one annoying thing is that it produces occasional annoying 'blips' when playing mp3 files. It seems that all IRiver players have this problem. First I thought it was mp3 decoder related, but recent posts by another user on the IRiver forum suggested that it could be CD read errors. It seemed that IRiver players do not use ECC error correction at all and perform some kind of raw read. If this turns out to be true, this would mean that IRiver players do not comply to the standard, which requires ECC error correction.

[kadajawi]

owning a ChromeX I must admit I never heard those "blips" others have been complaining about... maybe use different CDs? Really a lot depends on the CD-R/RW you use, eventhough other players are worse, the iRiver's DOES takes almost everything (with the ChromeX and SlimX being better than the iMP-250), but what is important is HOW it takes it. Does the CD spin all the time because it has troubles reading this CD-RW (I experienced with my Best-Media RWs), works rather fine on my Platinum CD-R (both not fine enough to walk around fast with the player) and almost perfect with my Verbatim DataLifePlus RWs (no problem walking fast). Of course battery life is dependant on the CDs too.

The ChromeX is to me a nearly perfect player Has display on the player itself but still with a remote (which I love). The sound output... well, I think it should be enough... I never used maximum yet... the sound is not usable in normal eq setting (seems to lack of everything). Neither with my Sony MDR CD480 nor with the supplied earphones. Although some other earphones may work better. But making good use of the eq you'll get pretty decent sound... maybe not perfect, but probably better than with most other players. The MP3 decoder seems to be pretty good, the gap between mp3s is rather low (but you still hear it), but I have the feeling that artefacts are harder to hear (which might be good in some way...).

All in all I would say at least buy a iRiver player... which one is just a matter of which design you prefer, which features you need and of course how big your budget is.