Looking for a good MP3 player.

I have a 30GB iPod Video and I've gotta be honest...the sound quality out of the headphone jack ranges from "mediocre" to just plain "balls." I'd bought it largely to hook up to my car stereo, and it's pretty awful.

Can anyone recommend a fairly inexpensive MP3 player that has better sound quality than my iPod? Not really concerned too much with capacity or anything (though a MicroSD port would be great), I just want something that sounds great through the headphone jack.

 

Its so subjective person to person its hard to recommend. Go to like best buy with a pair of headphones or ear buds and try them out. see what you think

 

The iPods are supposed to be among the best for sound quality, so I'm a bit surprised. You may want to try out the new Creative Zen and see what you think of it.

 

Cowon iAudio 7 is the best Sound quality MP3 player reviews say

but its cost is $126.99 for the 4GB Flash Version over at Newegg.

 

iAudio 7 is REALLY good. Also look into the Meizu M3 Music Card and M6. Best bang for the buck flash players, great reviews and good SQ.

I have to disagree with the statement that the iPod Video has the best SQ. Not according to what I have researched. Average at best. Best iPod for SQ is the first generation Shuffle. That one is real good. Second generation sucks. iPod Nano sounds bad too, all generations.

The old Zune used to have better SQ through the headphone then the iPod but I don't know about the new one.

 

Check out the forums at www.head-fi.org... the portable audio section. They've got a zillion people comparing the sound quality of different mp3 players.

I'll also use this space to recommend Sony. I'm very happy with my Sony A810. (I do wish it supported on-the-fly playlists though.) The S610 series is supposed to have good sound too.

I also have a Meizu M6. Great sound, good price, but the firmware is a bit buggy. It's still good overall... but I like my Sony better.

In addition to Sony and Meizu, others known for great sound quality include Cowon, Zune, and Toshiba T400 (maybe other Toshibas too... not sure).

EDIT: Oh yeah... another option is a line-out cable connecting from your iPod's docking port to the car stereo. This is really the "right" way to hook an iPod to a stereo... and probably the best thing to try before buying a whole new audio player. Something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Ipod-Dock-Conn-3-5MM-Cable/dp/B000J022G6/ref=pd_sim_e_title_3
You can find out more about cable options at head-fi.org too.

 

Before you go out and buy another player Pulp, you should try the digital line-out on the iPod, which you get through the dock or an adapter like this:
http://www.sendstation.com/us/products/pocketdock/lineout-usb.html
When you go through the line out, you bypass the iPod's built-in amp - it is a raw signal directly from the iPod's DAC - no volume control, no amplification. Read more in detail here:
http://forums.ilounge.com/archive/index.php/t-189714.html

 

I have heard/found in more than one place that electronically the ipod is not a very good mp3 player at all. Those electronic gurus have taken them apart and component level its got some pretty low level stuff that you can find in like those 20$ players. Ipod has its hype/media and fanbase thats why it sells so much if anybody does the research and doesn't mind not being on the ipod bandwagon there are so many other better players.

I admit I like the ipod for ascetics but still there are others I like more. I personally like the iriver clix for its cool factor but wouldnt buy one of those eather untill they can make its capacity larger.

 

its been said that the microsoft zune has one of the best sound qualities out of most mp3 players, i own both the 30 gig and an 8 gig and i agree with this.

 

I'm getting a zune 80 soon.

 

Zune is highly recommended.

 

its probably your headphones man

 

Except that my headphones are a pair of $150 Bose. Trust me, the headphones aren't the problem.

Through the Bose headphones, sound quality is decent. Through the auxiliary jack on my car stereo, it sounds awful with no bass to speak of.

 

Yeah, that's 'cause you're (inadvertently) double-amping. You're running it through the built-in amplifier (vol. control/equalizer) and then again through your stereo's amplifier. In other words, too many things mucking with the signal. You need an adapter or cable that bypasses the built-in amp by using the docking port's line-out, like what Chaz and I linked to earlier in this thread.

 

Yup. Even if you only ask one of your friend if you could use their zune, i recommend you at least just try it. And even if it is "double amping" you should still try out the zune.

 

Wow, alot of things have been heard in thise thread(Such as ipod and zune having the best SQ). For sound quality I wouldn't suggest either one of those. I'd go with Cowon, iRiver, and Creative(if you want something thats more popular and looks good, but still sounds OK). I personally run with a Cowon through my AUXIN in my car, it sounds pretty good, but I've noticed that the settings for the car are different that for my headphones. Sony's sound really nice through the AUXIN though. In the end though, I'd suggest the Cowon iaudio7.

 

I picked up a Zune 80, we'll see what happens.

 

welcome to the social

 

Indeed, welcome to the social. My old 30Gb zune has been a fantastic player. Been more than a year and I've had no problems with it what so ever.

 

Stupid Motto, never say it again. But yes...welcome.

Zune marketing sucks. They actually though that stupid phrase would sound cool. Most of the people I know are missing out and sadly, don't know about the Zune.

You'll like the Zune. Only problem is that the software sucks. Believe it or not, the first generation of software was actually better. It should get better soon though.

 

Tell us about how much you loved it.

 

You must be one of my newer readers.

 

Should have looked at the Archos players. They are hot, but probably more than you were looking for.

 

Early test has revealed two things:

1. Testing a music player with anything other than The Prodigy's "Spitfire" is just a waste of time.

2. It's a shame the Zune is Microsoft's baby and suffering from bad marketing, because in my (brief) experience thus far, I've found it in every way preferable to an iPod. Better interface, better controls, and most importantly, if you're not using it as your regular media player, the Zune software is WORLDS better than iTunes. Faster loading, doesn't hog anywhere near as much memory or performance, and simpler to use. As someone who lives in perpetual hate of iTunes, being able to release that shackle is a joy immeasurable.

 

Didn't i tell you that you'd tell us about how much you loved it?

 

I want to pick up one of the new flash based zunes eventually. 8Gb pink has my name all over it. However as I currently have 5 mp3 players I can't justify it. I need to sell a couple of them.

 

$150 for the name...not saying its bad...just that you can get something better for $150

 

Quoted for truth, but still, even with 150$ Bose headphones it comes down to the player, it comes down to the player even with cheap phones. But for 150... I'd drop 20-30 more and get some Sennheiser HD595's.