Suggestions for MP3 Players?

[Kelley]

[russwiththebus]

[russwiththebus]

[wny72westy]

A major point to consider is sound quality. Ipods sound ok with headphones, but the aac format used by apple is absolute garbage. Very lossy compression. After alot of research, the one I chose was the microsoft zune. I got the (older) 30g version.

It supports a large variety of formats, including one of my personal favorites, wmalossless. The wmalossless format is compressed, but mathmatically the same as the cd's .wav format. It is a rather large format (approx 300mb's per album, but allows for no quality loss when loading all my cd's to it.

Wireless sync is also a huge selling point, as I don't have to connect it to the pc. The zune software is far simpler (and less obnoxious than itunes.

I will admit I hate the ipod, and itunes for a combination of rational and irrational reasons.

When it came down to it, the mixture between sound quality and cost led me to the zune, and I couldn't be happier.
_________________
1972 westfalia: 1700cc, l-jet, bfg all-terrains; a constant work in progress
1987 BMW 325: 2.7, DD/autocross/ice-race; "gods chariot"
1997 miata: autocross, cruiser; I keep meaning to sell it, but its too much fun.

[Rick73Super]

I have my wife's car today with Iron Butterfly's "In-a-gadda-da-vita" cued up on the iPod/direct radio pug-in interface. Perhaps if I did not see them live 40 years ago, I could hear what was missing from the sound quality. Nope, my hearing is just not good enough to determine a difference. If you're a Boomer that attended concerts in the 60s the sound is adequate.

[russwiththebus]

[nott5989]

Its a pain in the ass to go through your iPod if you have gloves on. Not a problem with the Zune. That aspect alone had me sold.

[Bay74]

[vujade]

[mailman]

Love my iPod classic in the car, but I hate using the FM transmitter (I use a Monster cable). It's great around town....I already know what FM station to use. On a road trip...it's practically worthless.

My next car stereo will have a direct iPod interface.
_________________
'64 Bahama Blue Beetle / steel sunroof
'64 Bahama Blue Beetle Sedan (future ragtop)

[Kelley]

[6volt]

I have a 30gig Zune and i like it a lot better then the i pod reasons why
1. its a zune
2. bigger screen
3. FM radio
4. you can change your background with the pics you have on it
5. you can send and recive music from other zunes (wireless)
6. they dont have a scroll its a down up left right touch pad
7. I-pods are over rated



Zunes and I pods are just as easy when comes to donloading, you DO NOT have to get music off microsoft you can put CDs on it or... where ever you get your music. The only apple product I would trade for is the I-pod touch because it has internet, touch screen and other neat feartures

[Nitty]

I have an ipod "Touch." It's not just an ipod, it's a "mainstream WiFi mobile platform." Top that.

[wny72westy]

[Gabriella]

hi,
i've had sony, creative, iriver etc but now I am with Ipod and it great. The new generation ones rarely break (the old ones did which is why i stayed away from them for so long), because the nano's have a flash memory system instead of the mechanical older system which is what caused the breakage. And with the new Nano's you can use them on multiple computers. Itunes can be painful, but it is just what you get used to.

Ipod has probably the largest range of accessories aswell. I have a Pioneer head deck for my Kombi and its got an IP - Bus cable at the back of it so you can control your Ipod through the screen, which is amazingly helpful when ur driving, it also charges it at the same time, and when your car doesn't have a cigarette light that is quite important. Also, Kenwood has the I pod interface, and Alpine is the original brand with it. (I am not sure if you have the same brands where you come from)

But i think you should buy an ipod, you won't regret it.
If you decide not to get Ipod then go Samsung, under no circumstances get an unknown brand, or Sony.

hope that helps a bit,
gabriella

[aveyinc]

I have been beating the crap out of a 4 gig ipod mini for over 3 years now. It just won't die. I have knocked it across the room (at the gym) and have even dropped it into a bucket of green paint. It has frozen up only twice during my ownership, and that is remedied just by hooking it back up to a computer. This is with a general usage of about 20-30 hours a month.

I use an itrip FM transmitter, and well... it sounds about as good as listening to a radio station. But I don't think I could do without it now. I don't need or really care about video, and I like to change out music often, so the antiquated technology is a good fit. Besides, if I really want a multimedia experience I'll pull out my powerbook.

So I guess the best player for you money just really depends on what you need the player to do. I would buy a mini again, just for the record... but I don't have to.
_________________

GHOSTWAGENS!
WOMAN with short dirty nails!

[german69]

I must say that the zune 30 gig is realy a nice setup most all of the features have been talked about but i think that that radio otion is sorta over looked. When playing radio it tells station and what song is playing and gets good reception. I got mine new for 50 bucks so i cant complain.
I wish there was a way to just have speakersin my bug so i could hook up the zune and not have to get a radio also.
_________________
GoodVanGarage

[Naked]

I have a Sansa e260 its a 4gb mp3/wma player, with video and FM receiver. Its small and pretty solid lil unit. What I like best about it is it has a slot for a micro SD card. you can add another 2gb to it. They are priced anywhere from about $60-130

_________________

68' Vert

[Mongo63]

Iriver H10.

[german69]

Ounce again Zune! I hope this shows why.

_________________
GoodVanGarage