Need help choosing between two mp3 players/pmp's

I'm in the market for buying a new mp3 player. I've got by with my trusty Sony NWZ-A818 for around 5-6 years, but I think the battery is not holding as much charge as it has done, so it might be time for a change.

 

I don't currently own a smartphone, but the idea of purchasing a device with some additional features is appealing and so some devices have come on my radar that I hadn't previously considered. Music quality is of paramount importance to me, but the ability to use other functions would also be incredibly handy.

 

Another Sony player would be great, but some of the latest models are outside of my price bracket. A magazine test that just appeared in UK mag. Hi-Fi Choice pitted a variety of models together, which included the Apple i-pod touch (latest generation), the Samsung Galaxy S wi-fi 5.0 (known under a different name in the US) and the Sony NWZ-Z1060.

 

I usually stick with Sony's as the sound quality has been superb in the past. Two factors count against it: in this particular test the Samsung came out top for sound quality and, as mentioned, the Sony is outside of my price range.

 

So, that leaves me with the latest i-pod or the Samsung, and what I'm wondering is if I can get the opinions of users of either device on here? I know there are going to be waaaaay more Apple users than Samsung users, but I'm really unsure what to buy. As mentioned, the Samsung seems to have better sound, but I'm wondering if it's really that much better? In terms of additional features, the Apple has the weight of the app store behind it, but the Samsung seems pretty well tooled up also.

 

I can't decide, so I'm looking for input where I can get it. They're both roughly the price (for 8GB) and the Samsung does have the additional option of an SD card to expand storage, but I'm wanting to buy the right one and be confident that I got it right.

 

Suggestions?

Edited June 27, 2012 by Higgins VanHiggins

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1067&bih=555&tbm=isch&tbnid=AFkR1qXYrs4bmM:&imgrefurl=http://blog.gadgethelpline.com/sony-launches-walkman-mp3-players/&docid=FLHkvB79_MgTOM&imgurl=http://blog.gadgethelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/sony-walkman-b-series_1-420x285.jpg&w=420&h=285&ei=VCvrT4-yEKTE0QXxmKGyBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=757&vpy=207&dur=1986&hovh=185&hovw=273&tx=94&ty=103&sig=105252963213851824057&page=2&tbnh=146&tbnw=215&start=10&ndsp=14&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:10,i:122

 

i rock this badboy, cheap as chips, amazing sound quality, if i lose it i can just buy a new one no bother. only one thing that irritates me is a slow fast forward function, not so good for long mixes sometimes

Get a Sansa Clip+ and rockbox it. It has an SD-Slot, is cheap as f**k and has a superb SQ. For the Rest get some good Cans like a Audio Technica ATH M50 and you´re good...

sound really doesn't matter that much if you got shitty ass headphones. lol. but ive never used nor knew/know anyone that uses a Samsung. but i have owned an ipod touch now for about 2 years now. sound quality is great especially with the headphones i bought for it. and having something to play games on while waiting for my next class to start is great. but i will say this, it now sucks power like CRAZY. i used to get about a week of life (about average listening. 30mins a day. and about 2-3 hours total of gamplay) without turning it off. now, about 1.5-2 years later, playing a game for about an hour sucks half its life. or i can listen to about 3, 50 min albums before i have to recharge it.

 

if recharging isn't a problem then id suggest the ipod. but like i said, never used a Samsung so i can only give a one sided review.

 

hope this helps in some way :)

Been using Cowon's iAudio players. For the last couple of years been using the i9 16gb player which is excellent. It might be discontinued by now, but their players usually get good reviews and are known for their great sound quality. But if not an iAudio I would look at a player that can be rockboxed. Used to have a rockboxed xl5 and it was great.

  On 6/28/2012 at 6:54 AM, Frankie5fingers said:

sound really doesn't matter that much if you got shitty ass headphones. lol. but ive never used nor knew/know anyone that uses a Samsung. but i have owned an ipod touch now for about 2 years now. sound quality is great especially with the headphones i bought for it. and having something to play games on while waiting for my next class to start is great. but i will say this, it now sucks power like CRAZY. i used to get about a week of life (about average listening. 30mins a day. and about 2-3 hours total of gamplay) without turning it off. now, about 1.5-2 years later, playing a game for about an hour sucks half its life. or i can listen to about 3, 50 min albums before i have to recharge it.

 

if recharging isn't a problem then id suggest the ipod. but like i said, never used a Samsung so i can only give a one sided review.

 

hope this helps in some way :)

 

if you think ipods have good sound quality then sound quality definetely doesnt matter to you anyway.

  On 6/28/2012 at 12:06 PM, messiaen said:

  On 6/28/2012 at 6:54 AM, Frankie5fingers said:

sound really doesn't matter that much if you got shitty ass headphones. lol. but ive never used nor knew/know anyone that uses a Samsung. but i have owned an ipod touch now for about 2 years now. sound quality is great especially with the headphones i bought for it. and having something to play games on while waiting for my next class to start is great. but i will say this, it now sucks power like CRAZY. i used to get about a week of life (about average listening. 30mins a day. and about 2-3 hours total of gamplay) without turning it off. now, about 1.5-2 years later, playing a game for about an hour sucks half its life. or i can listen to about 3, 50 min albums before i have to recharge it.

 

if recharging isn't a problem then id suggest the ipod. but like i said, never used a Samsung so i can only give a one sided review.

 

hope this helps in some way :)

 

if you think ipods have good sound quality then sound quality definetely doesnt matter to you anyway.

what are you talking about? it combined with the 60 dollar headphones that i bought for it give me great sound. granted i haven't used many MP3 players in my time, so i don't know whats out there, hence the "can only give one sided review" comment. but thats simply because all MP3 players suck compared to a real stereo system. which is what i spend my money on.

 

Also Higgins asked for a side by side comparison of an ipod vs a Samsung. while i bet he appreciates the other suggestions, thats not what he asked for. if anything im the only one that came closest to what he wanted to know.

 

Maybe you should read the posts before making a comment.

Edited June 28, 2012 by Frankie5fingers

lol

ipods, compared to samsung or sony, have reasonably shitty, distorted sound quality that goes worse the higher the volume goes. thats what im talking about.

  On 6/28/2012 at 8:20 PM, messiaen said:

ipods, compared to samsung or sony, have reasonably shitty, distorted sound quality that goes worse the higher the volume goes. thats what im talking about.

that may be true. in fact i believe it a lot. mainly cause Apple sucks major Ass with computers. so why not MP3's? but the ipod also has those other uses Higgins want. if Higgins can find an MP3 that can do all that without sacrificing great sound quality, and have a battery that wont quite after a year of use, all at a relative price then id say to get it over the ipod. but in all reality there aren't that many options. though, once again ill say this. i don't know much about MP3's and never claimed to know. i was just giving an honest review of what i do know. So lets all just be friends, K?

im in the sansa with rockbox boat. So easy to drag and drop stuff to micro sd cards. Ive got 6 x 8gb cards sorted by genre that i leave in the pouch. Charges from usb, never had any problems in 3 years. Win.

get the Sansa Clip+!

iPod lets you text your friends how shitty the sound quality is as you listen.

  On 6/27/2012 at 6:16 PM, CJM said:

Get a Sansa Clip+ and rockbox it. It has an SD-Slot, is cheap as f**k and has a superb SQ. For the Rest get some good Cans like a Audio Technica ATH M50 and you´re good...

Just looked at these Sandisk clips and they look pretty cool. Just curious to know what this Rockbox thing is? I understand it's a firmware change? Why change the existing firmware already on the device?

i have a clip+ and its fantastic for the price.

never heard of rockbox, but i think ill give it a go.

Rockbox changes/let´s you change diffrent things on the device i.e. let´s you play nearly all codecs, you can gain the volume on the device, you get a different eq, crossfade and so on.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockbox#Features

 

it´s very easy to install, if you follow the instructions on the rockbox website.

 

http://download.rock...kbox-build.html

Edited June 30, 2012 by CJM

Rockbox can in some cases also improve the battery life of the players. It's all around a good firmware and usually pisses all over the default firmware on the player.

If you can't live with iTunes, the choice is easy. If you can, enjoy your walled garden. I doubt most people can even hear a difference (other than volume) between various players (using the same headphones!!!). Perhaps they can hear it with their eyes?

most people are just used to listen to mp3´s too much. they barely listen to vinyl or even cd´s any more.

 

shit, people listen to their music on youtube or stream it.

 

i surely hear a difference between my s9 and the sansa with the same headphones, easily.