Zen or iPod?

[DigDug]

...and all those getting a "good" deal on the refurbs suffer ROYALLY, because they can't even make playlists on-the-fly, nor even make playlists with the ipod itself. That basic function was only introduced in the third generation. An mp3 without on-the-fly playlist is worth ZERO dollars.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: gopunk
neither

ihp-100/ihp-120

better sound quality
lcd remote
fm tuner
ogg vorbis support
battery life is *twice* as long

here's a cnet review of it:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-6490_7-30571493.html?tag=prmo2

you'll notice it has the same rating as the 20 gig ipod, about same price.

and as for the zen... i dunno, maybe it's just me, but i don't like to buy stuff from a company that makes you wait in line just to download sound card drivers.

basically the only reasons that you would get an ipod over this, that i can think of is...

1. ignorance
2. ipod is a hair (really a hair) thinner
3. you have an aesthetic preference for the ipod (which is fine, it's a personal thing)
4. you value little things like the calendar on the ipod
5. you value a relatively large third-party accessory market

intersting, i trust iriver as their players have had excellent audio quality output in the past. i just haven't seen this one in the stores myself. it might be a contender. its nice how all irivers units have fm tuners. the zen fell flat on its face on that mark.

its bigger than both the ipod and zen

really? the zens i've seen are rather big...... i'd assume the zen is larger.

still, the ipods hard to beat because of size. u say its only a little smaller, but smaller in each dimension makes for a lot. the difference in ur pocket everytime u use it will add up.

 

[Czar]

http://sweetooth.org/node/view/2511
not quite the same size

 

[Davegod75]

Originally posted by: gopunk
neither

ihp-100/ihp-120

better sound quality
lcd remote
fm tuner
ogg vorbis support
battery life is *twice* as long

here's a cnet review of it:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-6490_7-30571493.html?tag=prmo2

you'll notice it has the same rating as the 20 gig ipod, about same price.

and as for the zen... i dunno, maybe it's just me, but i don't like to buy stuff from a company that makes you wait in line just to download sound card drivers.

basically the only reasons that you would get an ipod over this, that i can think of is...

1. ignorance
2. ipod is a hair (really a hair) thinner
3. you have an aesthetic preference for the ipod (which is fine, it's a personal thing)
4. you value little things like the calendar on the ipod
5. you value a relatively large third-party accessory market

 

[0roo0roo]

ok i looked it up. had to make sure i wasn't losing my mind😉

ipod: 4.1 inches
ihp-120: 4.1 inches
zen: 4.4 inches

width:
ipod: 2.4 inches
ihp-120: 2.4 inches
zen: 3 inches

depth:
ipod: .62 inches
ihp120: .75 inches
zen: .86 inches

the zen isn't smaller then the iriver, its freakin huge compared to the iriver, let alone the ipod, its not even comparable. the zen is like a cassette walkman size if u want a quick image. makes the lack of fm inexcusable.

and you have to remember that even a few mm difference is a lot... its a 3d object after all.

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
ok i looked it up

ipod: 4.1 inches
ihp-120: 4.1 inches
zen: 4.4 inches

width:
ipod: 2.4 inches
ihp-120: 2.4 inches
zen: 3 inches

depth:
ipod: .62 inches
ihp120: .75 inches
zen: .86 inches

the zen isn't smaller then the iriver, its freakin huge compared to the iriver, let alone the ipod, its not even comparable. the zen is like a cassette walkman size if u want a quick image. makes the lack of fm inexcusable.

and you have to remember that even a few mm difference is a lot... its a 3d object after all.

Without looking at specs I would venture the Zen has a beafier amplifier section which would account for the "better sound quality". Although, discussing SQ in portable MP3 players is an interesting idea regardless I suppose.

 

[0roo0roo]

no, it just uses a bigger harddrive.

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.

http://www.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=2&subTopicID=28

get a pair of expensive cans, a portable headphone amp and sound quality? oh yea🙂

ipod still comes out as the best over all music player in the end if ur gonna spend a couple hundred . irivers effort comes close, but interface bugs etc keep it from the polish of ipod. maybe on their next attempt