Hello,

apologies if this has been asked a million times before but I am looking for my first portable audio player and all those unqualified reviews of different players on the net made me think about it... maybe you can help me with my decision.

It should be / have:

- flash-based (actually any storage solution without moving parts would be acceptable)
- at least 2 GB in capacity
- able to run on normal batteries or at least have an user-exchangable accumulator!!
- able to play Ogg/Vorbis and FLAC
- able to cope with large files (250MB+ / six hours+ in one file) THIS IS ESSENTIAL!
- fast-forward / reverse with gradually increasing speed, previewing the audio material during the process
- recognised as mass storage device via USB 2.0 (for Linux compatibility)
- display with optional backlight

- It would be nice if it could drive my 250 Ohms Beyerdynamic DT-880s decently without a headphone amp

(yes, being able to run Rockbox on that player would be invaluable ;-) )

Thank you for your time & efforts, answers are much appreciated.

Simon

Welcome to the forum!

I don't think you'll find such a player. FLAC playback and exchangable power sources are features included only in hard disk players, if at all. There are a few flash players supporting Vorbis, though.
Furthermore, I doubt you can use your DT-880, and Rockbox is also hard-disk-only.

6 hours in one file, and you can't split it?

Unless you install it on a flashed based player like the Ipod Nano or Sansa.

Oh, I didn't know about that. Have to admit I haven't checked for Rockbox for a while. Thanks for clarification.

I currently own a Cowon iAudio G3 and love it. 2GB; gets about 40 hrs of playback on a single AA battery; recognized as a USB mass storage device (no software necessary); supports Vorbis, WMA, MP3. No problems playing large files (I have several mixes in the 1-2 hour range). Strangely, while they play perfectly fine, it often displays inaccurate elapsed time on large VBR MP3s.

Lossless on a portable DAP is nothing but a waste of space, Lossy perceptual codecs exist for this very purpose. Just transcode your FLACs to a lossy when you want to load them onto the portable. Most people have difficulty ABXing 128kbps lossy vs. lossless on good equipment, never mind cheap-ish portable headphones in open environments.

besides the normal batteries, you are asking for an ipod nano + rockbox.

I don't know whether you can buy it anywhere, but the iAudio D2 has most of what you're looking for.

* flash-based
* essentially unlimited capacity (it has an SD(HC) slot)
* doesn't have a removable battery, but it lasts 52 hours on a charge
* plays Vorbis and FLAC
* no idea whether it supports large files
* no idea how RW/FF work
* USB 2.0/mass storage device
* gorgeous display (don't know about the backlight)
* claimed to have best-in-class output power (74 mW?)

No Rockbox, though, and it probably costs a fortune.

The Sansa E200 series is rockboxable but the coding is still in early stages, so the audio output is not ideal (that will change).

The Sansa battery is more easily replaceable than the Nano (4 screws on the back), though the battery is still of a proprietary type.

With a flash based player your storage capacity will be limited extremely. I think the iPod Nano with 8GB has the largest storage capacity currently.

Also, I'm not familiar with any portable player with a onboard amp capable of driving your headphone needs. If you want info on good headphones for portable use I would suggest reading this website. They also have carrying cases designed for your portable player, amp and headphones.
HeadRoom
JXL

The Sansa E280 has a capacity of 8GB AND has a microSD slot to add an additional 2 gigs, making it the largest flash player available currently.