New MP3 player...

I'm considering buying a new mp3 player to replace/augment my aging Zen Vision: M (nothing wrong with it but just got a new job and have some money to burn lol). I want a flash based player that is not an Apple (I prefer sound quality and not being constricted, over style and popularity) preferably 32gb since I already have 18gb worth of music but if its a great player would consider 16gb and just trimming back my library. I haven't researched players since 2004 and I know things have changed so any recommendations appreciated.

 

there are no 32 gb flash drives only 16gb. and you can look at the zune 16,120

 

Actually, some flash mp3 players are available in a 32gb capacity. Creative Zen and iPod Touch for example.

Check out Cowon D2 + SD card. I think you can probably put in a 32gb SDHC card if you want.

Also Sony has some 16gb players worth checking out. Oh yeah and Zune 16gb. Unfortunately though, they have no memory expansion slot.

And there's the 8gb Sansa Fuze + 8gb MicroSDHC card (= 16 gb total)... and when the 16gb MicroSDHC cards come out, you can upgrade it to 24gb.

 

I use a Creative Zen and, yes, it can go up to 32gb.

Try the Zen X-Fi.

 

I'd advise the Cowon D2 for sure. IMO its the best player on the market right now. I own one along with many other players(the zen included) and its the best one I think. I was very skeptical of the touch screen at first, but once I finally got my hands on it I wondered why I didn't get it when it first came out. Cowon is actually about to release a new player, The S9 with a 3.3 AMOLED screen, It doesn't have the SDHC expansion like the D2 does though.

 

i'm thinking about replacing my ZVM too, but with an ipod touch. i am not all that picky on sound quality and i will probably be using it to replace my psp too, since i hardly play game on it anymore and there aren't many good ones.but then i could probably sell the psp, games, accessories on ebay and make at least half my money back or more.

i was looking at the iriver spinn and cowon s9, but i don't think those are out in the US yet, but they seem like good players.

 

Sir, I refute!

Apple's iPod range reputably has the best sound quality playback. (I haven't heard better) an iPod is just not just a fashion statement. Why do you reckon the first people bought iPods? Because of their ease of use and sound quality.

Also, 5 generations after (6?) you would think that they had time to perfect their designs.

Go buy an iPod.

 

i've heard that the ipod touch sound quality isn't as good as other players tho.

 

I would go the Creative Zen, the new one. Why?

Small
It was rated the best flasher based mp3 player on the market by pcworld
It can run itunes media!
It can run videos
It has a radio built in
It's a beast and can handle drops.
Screen is awesome.

Need i go on>

 

I have both Creative Zen 8GB and IPod Nano 8GB. I love the widescreen from the Creative Zen. I love converting movies and video for the Creative Zen. Both have great sound quality, nice designs and both are unique to toggle. IPOD control is a bit easier to use to navigate. The earbud that comes with Creative Zen is tons better than IPOD's "pos" earbud. Battery life is about the same with both devices.

IPOD control is built-in for a few of the Alpine car radio units (specifically why I bought an IPOD Nano).

I really do not like messing with iTunes, I dislike it so much that it is the single reason why I would prefer Creative Zen (or maybe any other MP3 players) over IPOD. I have all my songs on my IPOD via iTunes and have not reconfigured the songs for months. It's just not worth the hassle with such a buggy software manager that doesn't do well with files stored over the network.

My first IPOD Nano froze up and when the Apple Genius folks couldn't fix it, they replaced it under warranty. My replacement Nano has not had any hardware malfunction since. IPOD Nano will crash once in a while, but a few push of the button gets it right back up. Interestingly enough, the Zen does not crash as often as the IPOD Nano, but it has frozen up once or twice before.

Physically the IPOD Nano is smaller than the Creative Zen so that's a more ergonomic design, but I have not bothered with watching video off the IPOD Nano since the Zen has a wider screen view.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions, I guess I'm going to stick with my first instinct and get the Zen X-Fi. It is 32gb, pretty cheap, has alot of features (some superfluous), and doesn't restrict me to any sound format or software. My hesitation centered around some reviews that said it has middle of the road sound quality while others say the X-Fi sounds great but only with certain types of music and I thought maybe there was a sleeper I was missing.

And to micka thanks but no thanks I'm staying away from the ipod line, I could argue but neither of us would win, so I'll just agree to disagree

The Cowon D2 might be a problem since I use my mp3 in the car and would prefer a tactile button to skip song so I don't have to look at it while driving. The iaudio 7 looks great just wish it was available in 32gb, before I pull the trigger on the Zen this weekend I'm going to look for some reviews and might get it instead.

 

You can set the D2 so it has a tactile button to skip songs, and I think that the D2 is the easiest player I've used in the car for skipping songs(the touch screen). If the X-fi is anything like the zen then it will surely be harder to use in the car than the D2 is. Like I said, I own the Zen and the D2, so I have experience using both of them.

 

Go for sony walkman