Forum Home
PC World Chat
 
Thread ID: 93834 2008-10-02 19:44:00 MP3 players CI Sue (14168) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
709334 2008-10-02 19:44:00 Would all MP3 players playing the same music and using the same headphones sound the same or would the cheaper players have poorer quality sound than the more expensive ones? CI Sue (14168)
709335 2008-10-02 20:54:00 I don't really know about the MP3 players but headphones make a heck of a difference. I have 4 sets of 'phones and they all sound different on my MP3 player. I have sorted out which I like best for the player. Sony in ear buds, mid price range.

Everyone hears things differently depending on age hearing deterioration etc. What may sound brilliant to me may sound like crap to you.

A very personal touch.

Ken
kenj (9738)
709336 2008-10-02 21:07:00 A lot of it depends on the quality of the source (i.e. bitrate etc), but even with that and the headphones being the same, I can easily tell the difference between my $20 iPod knockoff, and my $300 Creative Zen.

As Ken says, there's absolutely no sense in encoding music with a high bite rate onto a quality MP3 player, and then using the rubbish headphones that come with most players. Invest in some good Sennheiser/Shure/Sony earplugs and you'll never look back!! :thumbs:
nofam (9009)
709337 2008-10-02 22:47:00 Would all MP3 players playing the same music and using the same headphones sound the same

No.

My audiophile friend would only touch 2 - one of the Creative Zens and Ipods.
There is a massive difference in the audio range they reproduce and these were the only 2 he would have anything to do with.

That is, if he can stand MP3s, which he can't because he says that ruins it too.
pctek (84)
709338 2008-10-02 23:05:00 Agree.If you buy known brands the sound quality is alot better than those brand that are like $50 such as dicksmith

Even if you buy from a well known company like sony,apple,creative their mp3 players product sound differently.

Creative has X-fi where it reproduces sound that are lost thru mp3 enconding

Sony has noise cancelling effect on their mp3 players

Ipod is good in looks only and are crap in terms of sound quality

Cowon is alright but sound quality average to be honest
Ninjabear (2948)
709339 2008-10-02 23:55:00 Creative has X-fi where it reproduces sound that are lost thru mp3 enconding

Ipod is good in looks only and are crap in terms of sound quality

Cowon is alright but sound quality average to be honest

Sound lost through lossy encoding is lost forever.

What are you basing your opinions on? If Ipod is crap and Cowan is only average, you must have a fantastic player.
PaulD (232)
709340 2008-10-03 00:20:00 Sound lost through lossy encoding is lost forever.

What are you basing your opinions on? If Ipod is crap and Cowan is only average, you must have a fantastic player.

I've used ipod,Cowon,iaudio,Creative and sony players

I have a creative zen x-fi and i must its still not a perfect player.The OS is buggy
Ninjabear (2948)
709341 2008-10-03 00:35:00 I've used ipod,Cowon,iaudio,Creative and sony players

I have a creative zen x-fi and i must its still not a perfect player.The OS is buggy

I bought my Zen as soon as they came out, and the launch firmware was pretty crap - two updates made it faster, more stable, and added about 20% to the battery life as well.

And X-Fi isn't worth a knob of goat-poo IMO - like Paul says, once those frequencies are gone, they're gone.
nofam (9009)
709342 2008-10-03 01:02:00 yeah . X fi isnt a big deal.

Only reason i bought it was my zen vision w was too heavy and big.

I like creative products especially their mp3 range and the x fi was pretty cheap so i bought it
Ninjabear (2948)
709343 2008-10-03 01:11:00 Audio

* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz

Most don't go so low
pctek (84)
1 2 3