[syadasti]

Ultimately, MP3 players are about the music--so which one sounds the best? Determining the best-sounding player is a tricky task since many of the top devices utilize the same sound chips. In fact, unless you have the golden ears of an audiophile, it's difficult to notice the difference between devices. Still, we, the editors and CNET Labs, put them to the test using a playlist ranging from Air to Bob Dylan, comprising a variety of genres encoded at 320Kbps VBR MP3, setting equal volume levels, and disabling any EQ or sound-effects settings. Using a pair of our trusty Grado headphones, we judged sound quality in a blind sound test and came up with some consistent (and interesting) results. Described as warm and true, the sound quality of Cowon's iAudio X5 fared very well, as did the iRiver H320 right behind it. Toshiba's Gigabeat F20 had mixed reviews ("tinny," "good for techno" and "slightly processed with a hint of hiss") as did Creative's "tight" and "hiss-free" Zen Touch. But it was the brand-new Sony NW-HD5 that consistently ranked number one, delivering MP3s "with a crispy warm seal." Which consistently ranked last? Apple's iPod Photo.

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I would really like to check out the X5. Hopefully Sony is improving their music management software :mumble:

 

[Toshi]

"crispy warm seal"? wtf? anyway, that page doesn't have any more than the paragraph blurb you quoted. i would like to see some data, not some second rate stringer's attempt at audiophile snootiness.

 

[syadasti]

Well there was a roundup at Head-fi.org with some hard data and the inclusion of the Rio Karma (no X5 or iPod photo) and it was rated the best...

http://www21.brinkster.com/roina/Rio_Karma_headphone_out.html

http://www21.brinkster.com/roina/iRiver_H340_line_out.html

http://www21.brinkster.com/roina/Toshiba_Gigabeat_F20.html

In any case, Apple's sound quality has never be anything great either in claimed numbers (apple doesn't provide any) or in tests..

 

[Mackie]

In any case, Apple's sound quality has never be anything great either in claimed numbers (apple doesn't provide any) or in tests..

Not hurtin' their sales much though, huh?

 

[syadasti]

Apple has always been about marketing...

Just take a look at their history of psuedo claims/benchmarks against PC and yet now Jobs says Intel CPUs are better...

 

[I Are Baboon]

 

[syadasti]

Hey, Jobs won the PC vs. Mac battle for PC users by switching to Intel, so it was worth the horse beating