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NOOB Question about IPOD and Creative Zen Xtra

S

Skiguy411

Platinum Member
Im looking to get either an IPOD or NOMAD Jukebox Zen Xtra. However can all they store is just audio files? Is there anyway to put other files such as ISOs or word documents? I would hate to buy such an expensive product and just be able to put audio files on it.
 
i've heard that the zen has more features than the ipod, so i'm sure that it can be used as a portable HD.


=|
 
Both can be used as a harddrive.


Ipod's advantages can be summed:

- more stylish (although I find my zen xtra looks to be as nice if not nicer)
- more intuitive interface (although the the third generation does suffer from being too sensitive. The second general has a better interface, but then lacks on-the-fly playlists!)
- Somewhat smaller - of any advantage, this is the only one that even remotely could be considered worth the extra $150 or so.

Zen's advantages:
- more bang for the buck. I bought my 30g Xtra for $260 (!) from amazon. You can throw a coupon and drop that farhter. Just go and compare that price to the Ipod.
- better sound. Zen is 98db, while Ipod is 75db, i believe. These are factual differences in signal-to-noise ratio, not opinion.
- can use WMA! WMA is a superior encoding algorithm producing smaller files of equivalent quality than MP3.
- EQ is WAY better. Excellent EQ and soundstage effects. Not surprising considering the Creative has been an audio engineering company for many years.

So it comes down to this: if size REALLY matters, then maybe its worth huge premium on the Ipod. I held both and the xtra is small enough for my uses that I was very willing to save that money on something that sounded better. I don't wear my jeans baggy, but I don't wear them 80's tight either, and I'm able to toss it in my pocket. or in my jacket.

With the money i saved I bought Grado SR60's (legendary, under $100 headphones) and am not missing the volkswagen yuppie chic at all! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Both can be used as a harddrive.


Ipod's advantages can be summed:

- more stylish (although I find my zen xtra looks to be as nice if not nicer)
- more intuitive interface (although the the third generation does suffer from being too sensitive. The second general has a better interface, but then lacks on-the-fly playlists!)
- Somewhat smaller - of any advantage, this is the only one that even remotely could be considered worth the extra $150 or so.

Zen's advantages:
- more bang for the buck. I bought my 30g Xtra for $260 (!) from amazon. You can throw a coupon and drop that farhter. Just go and compare that price to the Ipod.
- better sound. Zen is 98db, while Ipod is 75db, i believe. These are factual differences in signal-to-noise ratio, not opinion.
- can use WMA! WMA is a superior encoding algorithm producing smaller files of equivalent quality than MP3.
- EQ is WAY better. Excellent EQ and soundstage effects. Not surprising considering the Creative has been an audio engineering company for many years.

So it comes down to this: if size REALLY matters, then maybe its worth huge premium on the Ipod. I held both and the xtra is small enough for my uses that I was very willing to save that money on something that sounded better. I don't wear my jeans baggy, but I don't wear them 80's tight either, and I'm able to toss it in my pocket. or in my jacket.

With the money i saved I bought Grado SR60's (legendary, under $100 headphones) and am not missing the volkswagen yuppie chic at all! 🙂
Click to expand...

I also have the 30 GB Zen Xtra with the Grado SR60s.

I also bought the Zen because the battery was user replaceable without voiding the warranty. The hard drive is also easily changed because it's a standard laptop drive although it will void your warranty. It is bigger than the Ipod but it is so much cheaper. The software that comes with it will easily allow you to drag files over to it although the Notmad software that costs $25 will make it appear as a hard drive in windows and give you a ton of other cool features. Supposedly, you can even connect your Zen to a computer and everyone else on the network will be able to stream music to their computer and control the Zen. If you want to mp3 player/portable hard drive, I see no reason not to get the Zen. If size and the trendy factor are most important, then you'll probably be more happy with an Ipod.
 
Well after much deliberation of comparing the two (read : looking at the price). I decided to go with the Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra (40 GB).

Also, I am thinking about getting the Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones. Does anyone know anything about these headphones?
 
Originally posted by: BlipBlop
Both can be used as a harddrive.


Ipod's advantages can be summed:

- more stylish (although I find my zen xtra looks to be as nice if not nicer)
- more intuitive interface (although the the third generation does suffer from being too sensitive. The second general has a better interface, but then lacks on-the-fly playlists!)
- Somewhat smaller - of any advantage, this is the only one that even remotely could be considered worth the extra $150 or so.

Zen's advantages:
- more bang for the buck. I bought my 30g Xtra for $260 (!) from amazon. You can throw a coupon and drop that farhter. Just go and compare that price to the Ipod.
- better sound. Zen is 98db, while Ipod is 75db, i believe. These are factual differences in signal-to-noise ratio, not opinion.
- can use WMA! WMA is a superior encoding algorithm producing smaller files of equivalent quality than MP3.
- EQ is WAY better. Excellent EQ and soundstage effects. Not surprising considering the Creative has been an audio engineering company for many years.

So it comes down to this: if size REALLY matters, then maybe its worth huge premium on the Ipod. I held both and the xtra is small enough for my uses that I was very willing to save that money on something that sounded better. I don't wear my jeans baggy, but I don't wear them 80's tight either, and I'm able to toss it in my pocket. or in my jacket.

With the money i saved I bought Grado SR60's (legendary, under $100 headphones) and am not missing the volkswagen yuppie chic at all! 🙂
Click to expand...


The iPod is over 100db
(except for in France). 😉


Lethal
 
nomad is 98db SNR (signal to noise ratio)

that article is just about the ipod being able to go to 100+db volume level.
 
- better sound. Zen is 98db, while Ipod is 75db, i believe. These are factual differences in signal-to-noise ratio, not opinion.
Click to expand...

you sure?
http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=2&subTopicID=28 audiophile headphone site
The iPod is great, no doubt, and it sounds good, too; every bit as good as the best sounding portable CD players around these days, maybe better. The iPod has a cheerful sound. In part, this is due to MP3 encoding, which seem to take some of the sharpnass out of the sometimes-harsh? ?digital? sound of portable CD player DA converters, but beyond that, the iPod is well spoken for a portable player; articulating the musical intent with a simple clarity remarkable in a mass market product.

We think Creative Labs Zen and Zen NX sound almost as good; falling slightly short with a bit of a withdrawn midrange while the iPod is a bit more lively sounding.

- can use WMA! WMA is a superior encoding algorithm producing smaller files of equivalent quality than MP3.
Click to expand...


ugh, i'd rather not use microsofts proprietary wma format when the ipod can use the acc mpeg 4 standard which is quite advanced and obviously superior to mp3. there are also open source encoders coming out.

the zen isn't just a little bigger, its quite a bit bigger. the ipod barely passes the threshhold for comfort in a pocket, the zen is simply bulky.

pod: 4.1 inches
zen: 4.4 inches

width:
ipod: 2.4 inches
zen: 3 inches

depth:
ipod: .62 inches
zen: .86 inches


the ipods not simply trendy, its engineering/interface is simply superior right now. its not as if the competing players are near free, they still cost hundreds. i'd rather pay a little more for convenience and usability. annoyances over a long time just detract from enjoyment.
 
Originally posted by: Skiguy411
Well after much deliberation of comparing the two (read : looking at the price). I decided to go with the Creative Nomad Jukebox Zen Xtra (40 GB).

Also, I am thinking about getting the Sennheiser HD280 Pro headphones. Does anyone know anything about these headphones?
Click to expand...

i tried a pair when i was headphone shopping. they sound good, but i bought the 580's, which sound a bajillion times better. (but they leak sound, so they aren't good if you have a roommate).
 
yea, open headphones of the same price range tend to sound better, but can't really be used around others in public if you don't want an ass beating😉 i wouldn't say they are bad if you have a roomate, they don't leak so loud that you can hear em outside of a room. if your roommate is connected at your hip then maybe😉

course, the 580's supposed to be nice, but they cost several times more then 280's or 497's(open senheisers of same price range as 280). 497's are 47-5 dollar rebate at amazon.com btw.

the 580's also require an amp.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yea, open headphones of the same price range tend to sound better, but can't really be used around others in public if you don't want an ass beating😉 i wouldn't say they are bad if you have a roomate, they don't leak so loud that you can hear em outside of a room. if your roommate is connected at your hip then maybe😉

course, the 580's supposed to be nice, but they cost several times more then 280's or 497's(open senheisers of same price range as 280). 497's are 47-5 dollar rebate at amazon.com btw.

the 580's also require an amp.
Click to expand...


I can get the 280s for 75 bucks and the 580s for 160.....is the sound quality really worth the double price? I listen to mostly rock, rap, and sometimes pop. I also want to use them for gaming on my A7N8X.
 
I've been trying to decide between these 2 players for purchase as a gift. The biggest worry I have so far is the fixed battery in the iPod.
 
ask these people😉 http://head-fi.org/

and here for general info on headphones http://www.headphone.com

its not even a question that the 580's are superior really. and the 497's are superior ot the 280s if you don't need sound isolation, plus they cost less. the 590s are also good, i think they are more comfortable since they totally envelope your ears and don't push on them at all.

u should see the prices on even higher models like the 600😉
 
that whole changing the battery w/o voiding the warranty... what difference does it make if the warranty is only 90 days 😉 I sure hope the batter lasts longer than 3 months.

 
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