Would you buy an MP3 player from Amazon?

[Skydog]

To the average consumer any one of the devices capable of playing music is adequate for general listening. However, for a discriminating ear or an audiophile, a smartphone, iPod or tablet just doesn't cut it. That's why a company like Cowon is so successful with only one goal in mind -- to produce the best high-end audio possible in a small, portable dedicated device.

[mikeayers]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I'm very happy with the Sansa Clips. They have excellent sound quality, tons of features (including a card slot), and budget pricing.

See this thread:

• Sansa Clip Zip 8GB on Sale for $40 at Costco

Earlier this year I "tried" to buy one from Amazon. They said it would be here on a particular date.... 2 weeks later still not here.... I was going on travel so I told them to cancel. I went to costco and bought the clip zip even cheaper than amazon was selling it for. When I returned about 3 weeks later it had finally been delivered. I returned it unopened.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Skydog

TThat's why a company like Cowon is so successful with only one goal in mind -- to produce the best high-end audio possible in a small, portable dedicated device.

I use jetAudio for Android on my Galaxy Player.

[jbcohen]

I agree with Harry towards the begining of this disucssion. My MP3 player (I refuse to buy an ipod they are just too expensive for the tech you are getting) has merged with my employer provided blackberry, however there is another consideration here, IMHO the battery, if the battery goes dead on your MP3 player thats not real bad, so what if I can't listen to my favorite track. However if the cell battery goes dead that's a bit different not being able to call my mrs to tell her about a holdup comeing home from work or being able to call her because I stayed late at the office, that's a different matter. So I can see a use for a seperate mp3 player, I am waiting for cell phone makers to introduce better battery technology, however I am not holding my breath.

[ucfgrad93]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I always have my iPhone with me, so I see no point in carrying around another device.

Me either. I want less things to carry, that is why I moved from carrying a Palm PDA, phone, and iPod to just my iPhone.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I use jetAudio for Android on my Galaxy Player.

The quality of FLACs + high-end earphones with a Cowon J3 is absolutely mind-blowing. The software on another device, while good, will never match the output from their hardware.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Skydog

The quality of FLACs + high-end earphones with a Cowon J3 is absolutely mind-blowing. The software on another device, while good, will never match the output from their hardware.

My ears can't tell the difference, so I generally use 128 MP3s. I prefer speakers and never spend more than $20 for headphones.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

My ears can't tell the difference, so I generally use 128 MP3s. I prefer speakers and never spend more than $20 for headphones.

Well, your ears are saving you lots of $$$!

[soulfuldog]

I am happy to use separate products that are designed to do one thing, I don't want one item that does a whole lot of things because it doesn't always do them all as well as the individual products. Crucially for me, that includes the battery life. We all obviously love the terrific battery life of our Kindles, I like that in my phone, mp3 player etc too. It's more convenient not to have to charge a smartphone daily than it is to have to carry 2 or 3 different things.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by l_macd

I am happy to use separate products that are designed to do one thing, I don't want one item that does a whole lot of things because it doesn't always do them all as well as the individual products. Crucially for me, that includes the battery life. We all obviously love the terrific battery life of our Kindles, I like that in my phone, mp3 player etc too. It's more convenient not to have to charge a smartphone daily than it is to have to carry 2 or 3 different things.

Have to agree with the above posters who enjoy high quality audiophile products like Cowon. I am on my second Cowon player and much prefer the 7 days of battery life i get from it and the excellent sound quality and plethora of formats it can play...just as I like my Pocketbook reader for the ability to read many formats and have a good battery life.....

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by l_macd

I am happy to use separate products that are designed to do one thing, I don't want one item that does a whole lot of things because it doesn't always do them all as well as the individual products.

I agree 100%.

[piper28]

I'd guess that 90%+ of people would have difficulty telling the difference between a decently encoded mp3 and a flac file in an a/b test (although I'm not including the 128k mp3 in that , you're getting a little iffy there). That 90%+ probably includes a fair number of those that insist they can hear the difference . I'm not saying everyone, because I know there are indeed people that can notice.

Personally, I'd rather just use the smartphone for me, because I'm going to be carrying it anyways, and likely am going to be charging it every night regardless, so it's not really costing me anything to do that. It's just not worth the extra equipment to carry around for a separate mp3 player. I've frequently got enough other electronics I'm carrying around as it is.

[HarryT]

I rip my CDs at 320kbps. At that rate, my ears can't hear the difference between the MP3 and the CD, even on my decent HiFi system.

[soulfuldog]

Although I prefer to use my MP3 player, sound quality is secondary to the battery life. My MP3 player doesn't even play flac files, it's still far better than my phone, and I'm definitely one of those who probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a well encoded mp3 and a flac file!
_

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by l_macd

Although I prefer to use my MP3 player, sound quality is secondary to the battery life. My MP3 player doesn't even play flac files, it's still far better than my phone, and I'm definitely one of those who probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a well encoded mp3 and a flac file!
_

I doubt that anyone who's 40+ (and I have no idea whether you are or not ) can do. Your ears rapidly lose the ability to hear high-frequencies (and they're what disappear in poorly-encoded MP3s) when you reach middle age. I've found that one of the "benefits" of reaching my 40s was that I could get away with files encoded at lower bit-rates than I used previously.