20gig iaudio x5l or 30gig ipawd video

[rambow]

or even, should I splurge for the $290 30gb version of the x5l?

 

[rambow]

help please?

 

[alfa147x]

Just ge the ipod... every one i know has sold there iaudio and bought a ipod... hope that helps

 

[ShadowBlade]

always go with more space, especially if the device lets you use it as an external hard drive (i.e. ipod)

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
Just ge the ipod... every one i know has sold there iaudio and bought a ipod... hope that helps

You should get out more.

Im more than happy with my iaudio.

 

[torpid]

Insufficient info to answer. Each will suit people with different needs.

 

[rambow]

Originally posted by: torpid
Insufficient info to answer. Each will suit people with different needs.

basically, i was fishing for comparisons of the 30gb ipod to the 30gb iaudio, and throw in the creative zen vision m.

i dont have a TON of music though, and dont care too much for video, though i would use it a lot, so im not sure if i should just stick to teh basics and get a zen micro 4 or 8 gig.

for now though, im looking for comparisons from people that have seen the iaudio ipod and zen vision m.

 

[Mo0o]

Ipod. More storage, smaller form factor, better navigation, video support, larger LCD

 

[ultimatebob]

Yep, get the iPod. Trust us, there is a good reason that they're outselling all of the other MP3 players combined right now.

 

[Doggiedog]

Depends on your priorities.

If you want the best sounding MP3 player on the market, get the X5L.

I had a Nano and was not thrilled with the sound it put out. The equalizer settings were also inadequate and when adjusted up, the sound would have some harmonic distortion.

I got rid of the Nano and bought an X5L 20Gb. Its hands down the best MP3 player I've ever used. Turn on the BBE, MP3 enhance, Mach3 Bass to 7, Mach Treble to 10 and tailor the equalizer to the way you like it and it sounds stunning on my headphones.

For the record, I'm not an iPod hater or anything and there are a lot of things I dislike about the X5L such as the time it takes to skip songs, the interface and the occasional crashing. However, sound quality is most important to me and I'm more than thrilled and can live with its problems.

 

[Schwan]

I've been very happy with my Iaudio x5 30GB

 

[Goosemaster]

In the bitter end, it comes down to two thigns, which I repeat time and time again:

the player AND the software.

Make sure that you get a player that saisfies your needs that comes with or works with software that ALSO fufills your needs.


A sh!tty DAP with great software or Vice versa will have you kicking yourself in the end.


<--loves his nano + itunes, but recommends the COMBO that you fidn to suit you the best, not jus the player OR the software.


i.e. itunes + ipod shuffle = crap as I found out after some time.

 

[OREOSpeedwagon]

get the iPod if the thing dies on you within a year Apple pays for shipping and handling both ways (from them to you and from you to them, then back to you) and will send you a new unit in most cases. A few months ago I hydroplaned my car in a ditch full of about 6 feet of water and my iPod was underwater the whole night. I let it dry out, requested service from Apple for a dead unit and I had a new one in about 5 days.

 

[rambow]

I want the ipod. I really do, but I can't deal with:

-Less than optimum quality audio (if i dont like how it sounds, ill kick myself)
-itunes (there are other options right? and yeah, i've used it)
-Not being able to use it with other computers than my own (?)

but I also can't deal with (iaudio)
-Not having a shuffle feature (<big one)
-Less than optimum interface

Though the iaudio's: line out, line in recording, fm tuner, and (true) feature of doubling as a hdd, is right up my alley

 

[amicold]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Yep, get the iPod. Trust us, there is a good reason that they're outselling all of the other MP3 players combined right now.

Well features/functionality, but aside when all suburban parents go Christmas/holiday shopping they don't know what an mp3 player is, they just know what an ipod is. Same with the ill-educated teenagers.

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Yep, get the iPod. Trust us, there is a good reason that they're outselling all of the other MP3 players combined right now.

Yes, the reason is that it has become a fashion accessory.
Now if you want to buy trendy fashion gear, get the ipod.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

x5...better sound, way more features, better build quality, drag drop interface, NO itunes. My roommate has one and its great.

 

[Schwan]

Originally posted by: rambow

but I also can't deal with (iaudio)
-Not having a shuffle feature (<big one)

The x5 does have shuffle. I use it all the time. It maybe isn't as good as the ipods, but it's there.

This list has the pros and cons of the x5 vs ipod. It's a little outdated as ipods have video now. http://iaudiophile.net/content.php?content.36

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: rambow
I want the ipod. I really do, but I can't deal with:

-Less than optimum quality audio (if i dont like how it sounds, ill kick myself)
-itunes (there are other options right? and yeah, i've used it)
-Not being able to use it with other computers than my own (?)

but I also can't deal with (iaudio)
-Not having a shuffle feature (<big one)
-Less than optimum interface

Though the iaudio's: line out, line in recording, fm tuner, and (true) feature of doubling as a hdd, is right up my alley

If you really want to shell out the $ you can get a 60gb ipod photo and have it modded to produce spectacular sound quality. Redwine iMod, specifically. It costs $200 but turns your ipod into audophile level equipment

You don't have to use iTunes with the ipod although it certainly is the easiest. You could also use ephpod or anapod to synch manually.

You can use the ipod on other machines using the software above. You just have to be careful that iTunes doesn't zap it before you get a chance. You could even have the softwtare on the ipod and once you plug it in, install it on the target machine.

Of all your points, SQ is the most pressing one. The iPod video (5g) will have noticeably better sound quality than the photo or earlier versions. the redwine imod is really only for 4g (photo) units. Also, if you get the ipod video, you can get the Radio Remote. This will add a good FM tuner to your ipod, along with a wired remote, AND the line out from the radio remote improves SQ noticeably. Triple bonuts from a $50 device. The radio remote doesn't work with photos, or at least the radio part.

 

[V00DOO]

I like my 30 gig Ipod video because of podcast. I just plug my ipod to my computer and I get podcast NBA Today, World News, VH1, ect.

 

[torpid]

I didn't know the iAudio doesn't have random. Are you sure? That sounds like a glaring ommission.

Couple other things.. the ipod can function as a HDD, you just can't manage your music files easily. Although you could in theory install rockbox and the interface kind of sucks but the SQ is improved a bit and you can manage it like any other UMD device.

Lastly, I haven't tried the iAudio but that would be my #2 pick. I'm hoping it matures a lot in the next year or so at which point it should surpass the ipod for what I personally want. I previously used a karma which was pretty good until it broke.

 

[anxi80]

Originally posted by: torpid
I didn't know the iAudio doesn't have random. Are you sure? That sounds like a glaring ommission.

the iaudio does have a random function. you can either select it to do the entire library, a particular folder, or a particular folder + sub directories.

 

[anonymouschris]

i have the iaudio m3 and i prefer that over my ipod video in terms of sound quality by far.

 

[waylman]

iAudio for me any day. You can browse by folder and it supports FLAC. iPods are for soccer moms.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: waylman
iAudio for me any day. You can browse by folder and it supports FLAC. iPods are for soccer moms.

You can do the above with an ipod if you use rockbox