Alternative to iPod classic

[deltaforce]

Hello folks,

I am looking for portable music player, like iPod classic but NOT iPod, mainly because of its inability to play flac files.

The specifications I am looking for -
Size > 150GB
Plays flac files
Enough battery life
All other stuff are bells and whistles that I can compromise on.

Primarily, this device will not be carried around. It will be sitting at one place and will be connected to portable speaker.

I wonder if there is any enclosure that you can put 2.5" HDD and use it as music jukebox or a low cost alternative to Olive products, without bells and whistles.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rio Rebel]

There are reliable Rockbox ports for the ipod classic, all the way to the 160gb 3G...which of course means FLAC support.

As an "outside the box" solution, can you connect this to a display? How about a Raspberry Pi running XBMC? That could be a nice music setup for under $100 if you add a portable HD.

 

[deltaforce]

I looked into Raspberry Pi but let me be honest, I am not smart enough to work with Raspberry Pi so I am looking for ready made box where I can just stick the HDD in and use it as music jukebox or just get the ready made stuff.

And with space, I need more than 160GB. I have ripped all my and Dad's collection to flac.

Edit - I took one more look and now it seems there are easier options available, like the one here. I do not have a flat screen that I can hook this up to. So I wonder if there is any chance that I can control it from my android phone.

 

[Rio Rebel]

You can control it from Android with an XBMC app. You would, unfortunately, need some sort of display to set it up and any time you wanted to add folders or tweak it.

On the plus side, Raspberry Pi with XBMC can act as an Airplay device...so if someone did want to play something from an Apple device, they can play it through your speaker as easily as pressing an icon on the bottom of the music screen.

There's probably a solution more in line with what you want, just exploring options.

 

[deltaforce]

I am just curious if embedded computers like these or these ones (the ones with Atom processors) can be used with HDD hooked up via USB., if XBMC can be installed on these machines so that controllable from android phones.

The power consumption is pretty low as well. In fact, this is something similar I was thinking of.

 

[Gintaras]

Look here - reviews...etc.

http://www.head-fi.org/

I'm very happy with my HifiMAN HM-601 Slim Music Players (4G) - an entry level audiophile player. Also, I got HiFiMan RE-262 earphones and flac files sound incredible. I don't need anymore a CD player, HiFiMan plays very good plugged into my stereo which isn't audiophile, but does sound pretty good.

I can't stop enjoying my player since I bought about 7 months ago...
Before that, I've almost lost interest in music....my player brought it back to me....

Player has 4G but takes up to 32G SD cards. On 32G you can fill about 60-80 albums in flac format.

Another player I like, Astell & Kern AK100, but it's ~$700 and much smaller, takes 2 x 32G Micro SD besides 32G internal memory.

 

[deltaforce]

Look here - reviews...etc.

http://www.head-fi.org/

I'm very happy with my HifiMAN HM-601 Slim Music Players (4G) - an entry level audiophile player. Also, I got HiFiMan RE-262 earphones and flac files sound incredible. I don't need anymore a CD player, HiFiMan plays very good plugged into my stereo which isn't audiophile, but does sound pretty good.

I can't stop enjoying my player since I bought about 7 months ago...
Before that, I've almost lost interest in music....my player brought it back to me....

Player has 4G but takes up to 32G SD cards. On 32G you can fill about 60-80 albums in flac format.

Another player I like, Astell & Kern AK100, but it's ~$700 and much smaller, takes 2 x 32G Micro SD besides 32G internal memory.

Thank you,
I looked at it but the size was an issue. 32Gb is not going to cut it. My partially ripped music is already about 150GB and there is a box that needs to be ripped. I would prefer it to keep it at once place and forget about it. That also makes my life easier when it comes to regular back ups.

 

[Imp]

Dedicated music player market is iPod or dead... I've been looking for a good one that isn't an iPod and haven't found anything satisfactory. The Zune HD is supposedly the best, but it's been discontinued for years. Otherwise, I've mostly heard the Sandisk ______ recommended -- one might have a removable flash drive slot.

 

[Gintaras]

Thank you,
I looked at it but the size was an issue. 32Gb is not going to cut it. My partially ripped music is already about 150GB and there is a box that needs to be ripped. I would prefer it to keep it at once place and forget about it. That also makes my life easier when it comes to regular back ups.

You won't get any QUALITY player that has 150G or more of internal memory.
New Astell & Kern AK120($1300) has 64G plus 2 Micro SD slots to up to 64G each

My HifiMan has 4G internal, which is no issue to me - I don't even use internal, I listen music off 32G SD cards. I can use SD cards up to 32G.

And I do have way more music than you do, prolly little less less than 1TB - I'm organizing my Flac and mp3 collection right know - making backups on 2 ext. HDD's and creating list in excel format.

Also, depends, how you want to listen to music - HiFi or standart CD quality.

Dedicated music player market is iPod or dead... I've been looking for a good one that isn't an iPod and haven't found anything satisfactory. The Zune HD is supposedly the best, but it's been discontinued for years. Otherwise, I've mostly heard the Sandisk ______ recommended -- one might have a removable flash drive slot.

Not true.
There plenty of different players. Read site I posted above: Head-Fi.Org

No way I would trade my HiFiMan even to 5 or 10 iPods...

 

[Rio Rebel]

Thanks for the info, Gintaras. I'm pretty satisfied with the quality of a Sansa with Rockbox, but good to know there are options out there for high quality audio and alternatives to the ipod.

 

[RandomFool]

I love my Zune HD. I've been looking but haven't found anything currently in production that comes even close to matching it in terms of usability and storage. The best option I've come up with so far is an Android phone with a microSD card which wouldn't only get you about 96GB.

 

[Kristijonas]

I would look into SANSA players. They support SD cards, FLAC and in all the reviews I've read their objective and subjective sound quality is better than that of all/mostall ipods. They are cheap, too.

I have a Sansa Clip+ myself. The only problem I have with it, is relatively short battery. However I'm mostly listening with headphones, so that could be the partial reason I guess. Rockbox didn't really help with this issue. Recommended for urban use.