(no subject)

[dakegra]

I've been looking at mp3 players again. I do quite like the iPod nano, but the Sony E-series has also caught my eye (slightly cheaper, better audio quality apparently) as well as my beloved iRiver doing a couple of tempting models.

choices, choices.

In other news, our programme manager at work is now Change Director, seems to like me, and was talking today about projects next year. Looking promising to get my contract extended then. Hence the shopping for shiny gadgetry.

Did actual shopping tonight at Meadowhell for new shoes and trousers. Saw some nice boots in Next, but the staff there were completely useless and absent, so I gave up, bought a pair of trousers and left. Made my way to M&S where I got some more trousers and a pair of ultracomfy shoes, so took the Next trous back.

these are the shoes, for those into shoes

Wandered into the Apple Store on the way past. OOoh, teh shiny.

ok. Hands up. Who amongst you owns an iPod? Is the audio quality any good? I mean, really? Reviews are mixed to say the least.

Comments

[shadowdaddy.livejournal.com]

I'm no high-end audiophile, but I know my way around a graphic equalizer and know when things sound crap.

Quality issues I've experienced with iPods have been completely down to a)the headphones and b)the bitrate of the recording. Stock iPod headphones are tin cans on a string, and the best favor you can do yourself (and everyone else on whatever public transit you take) is to replace them with something which actually fits your ear and blocks out most other sound when no music is on.

Higher bitrate means less lossy, but of course also bigger filesize.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

I have a variety of decent headphones (couple of pairs of Sennheisers, pair of Shure earbuds) and most of my tunes are ripped at a high bitrate.

Of course, what I should do is load up kate's ipod nano with some of my tunes, plug in my headphones and try it out. Stupid that I didn't think to do that! D'oh

[pteppic.livejournal.com]

Sorry. Not *quite* true. Earlier iPods had much higher quality components in them, Apple have gone rather cheap from the 4th gen onwards.

[pteppic.livejournal.com]

Have a look at the Sansa Clip. Doesn't look like much, it's an MP3 player. That's it (doesn't do anything fancy).

But the audio quality is amazing. Staff at anythingbutipod.com pair them with the Shure E-500s.

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

It sounds perfect to me, but I'm no expert.

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

I thought of you when I saw the orange nano in the apple store. :-)

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

cheap mp3 player, expensive earbuds. Cunning.

[pteppic.livejournal.com]

It's not just the quality of the earbuds - the hardware in it is pretty much amazing.
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2007/10/sandisk-sansa-clip-review.php

[dakegra.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Looks good. I'm still trying work out how much I want video playback though. Clip looks good as a backup/gym player though