iPod vs Zen NX

[sciguy007]

Uhhh... using the same headphones?  I don't have an iPod, but my ex-roommate does (the newest 20GB) and not only is it beautiful and easy to use, the sound quality impressed the hell out of me.  I've worked on many high-quality audio projects compressed and uncompressed, and when I plugged in my studio headphones into that iPod, it sounded amazingly good.  I haven't used this Zen machine, but somehow I doubt it is possible for it to "blow the iPod out of the water" in the audio quality department, it sounded pretty perfect, and I know what perfect audio sounds like, I don't need to listen to another device to get the comparison.  By the way, EAX is a joke.  If you think an advanced software EQ is actually making the SOUND QUALITY of the audio that is playing literally BETTER, you're in dreamland.  Boosting levels dynamically isn't really going to change the audio quality of a professionally mastered song... you may like the way it sounds, but to say it improves the audio quality is a bit of a stretch.

well said, i just got an ipod myself, and i think the sound quality is great. i used to have a creative nomad jukebox a long time ago, and had loads of problems with it. that obviously doesnt say much about the zen nx, which i have heard nothing but good about, but all i can say is that i love my ipod so far.

[eppisode3]

While I agree that the iPod does in fact have some really nice sound, it seems that everyone's interpretation of "perfect audio" is different. For someone like me who loves music but isn't a hardcore audiophile, I can say that I really truly don't notice a difference between the iPod and my Network Walkman. I know the iPod's volume is alot louder than the NetWalkman, but it still sounds the same to me when played at a normal level. I think that's where the problem lies in topics like these, there is just too many variables that exist, and as I said earlier, it's all personal preference.

I may be totally wrong in thinking that I'm the average music listener; maybe the average listener CAN determine the difference and I'm just all screwed up :laugh: which is certainly possible.

Best thing to do is just try both. Go to the store and tell the dude "Hey, I want to know why A is better than B, can I test them out?" Since they know they will be making a sell one way or another, they will gladly jump through a few hoops for you. That's what I always do, I never take other people's word for it cuz 9 out of 10 I'm never in the "average" category hahahaha...

Ok...chapter over.

[aaron901]

Uhhh... using the same headphones? I don't have an iPod, but my ex-roommate does (the newest 20GB) and not only is it beautiful and easy to use, the sound quality impressed the hell out of me. I've worked on many high-quality audio projects compressed and uncompressed, and when I plugged in my studio headphones into that iPod, it sounded amazingly good. I haven't used this Zen machine, but somehow I doubt it is possible for it to "blow the iPod out of the water" in the audio quality department, it sounded pretty perfect, and I know what perfect audio sounds like, I don't need to listen to another device to get the comparison. By the way, EAX is a joke. If you think an advanced software EQ is actually making the SOUND QUALITY of the audio that is playing literally BETTER, you're in dreamland. Boosting levels dynamically isn't really going to change the audio quality of a professionally mastered song... you may like the way it sounds, but to say it improves the audio quality is a bit of a stretch.

i said i heard that Zen sounds better than iPod. i haven't used a Zen before, i have a 15GB iPod myself, it sounds good to me, but the equalizer is undoubtedly sucks so i don't use it. and i said i wouldn't be surprised if Zen does sound better than the iPod because i have an iRiver iFP-390T that sounds better than my iPod. :)

[giga Veteran]

so do you use your iriver more than your ipod? which one do you like

[xpatx]

UPDATE:

i've returned my Zen XTRA because I was only getting 4 hours of battery and the front cover kept on coming off and i exchanged it for an iRiver iFP-395t that rocks.

[morganpugh84]

xpatx I too have decided not to go with a Zen Xtra because I have read that there are a few issues with it such as the ones you mentioned. Also with the new audio formats getting popular (AAC, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, APE, etc, etc) I am a little concerned that I will spend several hundred pounds on a player and it not being upgradable. So for now I have got a iMP-550 (only ?150) and it will support Ogg vorbis in December 2003 which is cool:))

I think the safest thing to do is wait until I know what format(s) are most popular in 12-18 months time. With Napster only supporting WMA and iTunes only supporting AAC (when I say support I mean to purchase) I think more companies will develop players with these formats in mind. MP3 is very limited and although it will not disappear for a good few years I dont want to get a 60GB player and then want to have all my audio in AAC!

That is just my opinion on things. I can see all these audio formats going the same way as VHS and BetaMax. I don't want to buy too early, especially as Creative do not support adding new formats via firmware they prefer to release new models:((

I was tempted by the iRiver iHP-120 however it is too much for the storage capacity it offers.