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Mobile audio MP3/iPod/RioRiot, etc.

OK, maybe this is retreading ground (I couldn't find any relevant threads), maybe its not apropos for a high end forum, etc. etc. BUT, the convenience factor of some of the new hard disk based MP3 players is pretty hard to beat. 500 CDs in a small box that has 10-12 hrs of battery life that I can carry on an airplane? That gets my attention.

Here's the questions. All the stuff I see about these never discusses the audio quality of these puppies. Anyone care to comment on who has better audio quality? Anyone use these things? Any way of getting better audio quality out of them?
edesilva
eastein
97 posts
 
CD's contain roughly 650MB of data so a 20GB disk will hold about 30 CD's uncompressed. MP3 compression at 128 kbs will allow you to put more than 4000 of your favorite songs on the ipod which is really nice. I have a 5GB version with 1250 songs on it. My Etymotics sound just fine without additional amplification and the battery life has actually been around 12 hours as advertised by Apple. If you go to CompUSA or the Apple store in NY with your headphones you can check it out for yourself. This is a life altering device if you want to listen to music outside of your house and can work a computer.
purecopper
3 posts
 
CD's contain roughly 650MB of data so a 20GB disk will hold about 30 CD's uncompressed. MP3 compression at 128 kbs will allow you to put more than 4000 of your favorite songs on the ipod which is really nice. I have a 5GB version with 1250 songs on it. My Etymotics sound just fine without additional amplification and the battery life has actually been around 12 hours as advertised by Apple. If you go to CompUSA or the Apple store in NY with your headphones you can check it out for yourself. This is a life altering device if you want to listen to music outside of your house and can work a computer.
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
Thank you. Further to the wonders of the iPod, are there any other benefits to the 20GB model?

For me, 15 CDs at one time on a handheld device would be plenty.

Maybe I should save the extra hundred bucks and go with the 10G model?
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,215 posts
 
I remember when a 20Mb hard disk was considered enormous. If I've only learned one thing about computer hardware, it's never skimp on storage capacity. In other words, go with the 20Gb.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I've been pretty happy with my Sony MD recorder/player. Can get nearly 5 hours on one minidisc with compression and even then sounds pretty good. With the ambient noise levels on airplanes its more than adequate. Battery life is extraordinary- I would guess 10-20 hrs on a single AA, and you don't even need to use a computer. I record direct from the analog outs on my DAC, or you can get a digital cable and record straight from your CDPs digital out. I use Grado SR-60s when I travel. The MD player is smaller than a deck of cards, and the discs are about 1/4 the size of a CD.
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