well, as some of you know, i just changed jobs/companies. i've moved from the land of contract engineering to a direct hire position with a major refining/chemical company. i'm still in the same line of engineering, but married to the company vs just whoring for a pimp...

now to the point, their IT is about 100x's more strict, so no more playing MP3's off the company PC.

i'm looking for two things: an MP3 player and some sort of desktop stereo.

for the MP3 player:
-it's got to be able to hold my collection and have some room to grow, so 20 GB is a minimum.
-i want a good easy to use interface that let's me build playlists and easily navigate, and i'm willing to learn a 'different' design, as long as it's quick and easy after i've learned it.
-i want to be able to transfer files ala windows explorer, and not through a proprietary software package.
-color screens, video, etc. are irrelevant, but i do want a navigation screen.
-it has to be able to use an AC adapter that isn't tied to a PC connection (ie, can't recharge via USB only)
-i'm not planning to spend a mint on it, so around $250 is my limit.
-i want it to be reasonably portable, so if i want to bring it on trips, i can.
-not overly flashy

for the desktop stereo:
-needs to be subtle and inconspicuous
-should sound nice with a natural open sound, preferably tinged warm, and sound good at low volume levels
-must have an input for the MP3 player
-no real need for a CD player
-a tuner would be nice, but not required
-clock would be nice, but not required
-easy to reach and quick to adjust controls
-moderately sized and not overly flashy
-about $200 max, preferably less

my current thoughts are the Creative Zen Touch 20 GB player and the Cambridge Soundworks 730. these look pretty good, and even though Crutchfield is a bit pricey, i've found a $50 off $250 purchase coupon for Crutchfield (which should work), so that makes these a bit more reasonable...


suggestions? feedback?
anyone have an MP3 player or desktop stereo they just adore?

*edit*
what about the Dell DJ20 or DJ30? anyone have experience with these?

 

Hey Phil...How are things going down there?

Just thought I would chime in here, seeing as I have been looking into a similar need. I like the iRiver (HP...I think). It is basically an iPod, but without the wheel. It has a slide bar instead (I didnt like haveing to go around and around on the iPod!) I also like that it can transfer files via Windows Media Player instead of iTunes.

I have heard that Bose makes a GREAT system for the desktop. Its kinda pricey, but its also Bose. YOu pay for the brand, but the sound quality is great. My cousin has one, and its great....sounds much better than the size.

I would not get Dell, because their customer service has hit the fan in the past two years. My warranty got voided on my Desktop because I hooked up a non-Dell external HD (via USB)! They are also getting much heavier competition this year from HP and gateway, so they are cutting costs wherever possible.

John

 

we're surviving i guess... *

ack! you said the B O S E word....
ya know the old saying... "No highs? No lows? It must be BOSE."

if you're talking about the wave radio thing? eh... too much and they don't sound that good... well, not 150% more good at least.

the Zen Touch i'm looking at also has that slide interface. it was tricky to get it right (tinkered w/ it at BB), but i felt i could master it pretty quickly. i'm guessing the iRiver has something similar? which model are you using? what did it run you? how's the sound quality?

i've read a lot of reviews on the Dell DJ series. they rate well, but i'm a bit concerned about build and sound quality, not to mention support...


*things are pretty stressful down here. Baton Rouge is still acting as one of the first major bastions of civilization for many communities, and we're buckling over our population doubling over a weeks time. my 30 minute commute has become 1:30. add to all that, starting a new job these last couple weeks? yeah, pretty stressful.

still, phones are getting better (i can actually make a call now), more and more people are getting power and utilities back.

thankfully my sister and her husband have been able to return home with the kids, find most things intact, and still both have jobs.

our big thing is just the family (and friends) who are living with us. our house isn't huge, and it's pretty crowded now. still, we won't send them away. my Dad's commuting to outer N.O. pretty often (when he can't sneak through and crash at his house or crash at the chem plant), as they are trying hard here to get their plant up and rolling. (most of the refineries and chem plants down here are busting butt to get back online and get these gas prices down...)

and most weekends we're travelling to our house in Waveland, trying to clean up wet and ruined furniture and dig out 4" of mud to determine if it's salvagable or not... we're throwing away a lot of (what was) good stuff and treasured memories.

 

The iRiver looks better than the iPod (IMO), but with a slide instead of the click wheel. I think the Bose thing is a generation of their wave technology. THe problem is that all desktop units only have like 3-4" speakers, so there will be minimal bottom end with whatever you chose.

I have not bought one yet, but will be getting one next month. Another thing about the iRiver is that it also features a digital voice recorder as well as an FM tuner. More functionality. The one i am looking at is the H10:

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/hd/h10_20gb_gray.aspx

John

 

I always try to buy things outside the mainstream, so I never looked the the iPod. I was given a 20Gb click wheel iPod as a gift, and I hate to say it, but I love this thing. Also, you can avoid using iTunes by using ephpod from www.ephpod.com. Let's you get stuff on and also off of iPods. Now that the iPod is supporting mp3, it is more "friendly".

Also, rip your tunes to the uberStandard at www.ubernet.org. I have redone most of my music. They sound better than the ones I did with MusicMatch, and all the software is GPL.

As for a desktop set, The Tivoli units sound really good even thought they are mono, and they take up very little space. When things are that small, stereo sound doesn't really make that much of a difference. For 'phones, look at the Etymotic ER-6i. I love mine. I also have their ER4-S that I play through a Headroom amp. That is ideal, but really exposes the limits of the MP3 format. The ER-6i's are much more forgiving.

Hope you like your new job!

 

John --
thanks for the info. the I-rivers were all very well reviewed. i'll check them out again.

Celeritas --
thanks for the info on the IPod and ephpod. i had been blowing off the IPod as an option b/c i frankly didn't want to have to deal with I-tunes. however, while expensive, their options and accessories are quite enticing.

also, i had been looking at the Tivoli options as well (models 1,2 and 3), but for the price of the model 3, i can get that Cambridge unit i linked above... still, they have a nice look and should blend in relatively well to an office setting. while i know you're right about the mono thing, i've been trying to stick w/ stereo just out of principle... actually, i hadn't completely decided yet (thus this post).

here's another question -- i have a set of Sennheiser full ear phones i'm apt to use on occassion with this unit. most portable units struggle to drive them properly, how's the power output on an ipod?

thanks for all the input.

the new job is going ok... right now, i'm still in entry phases with training and all, but i'm getting the feeling as if i'm about to jump into a cold pool on a hot day. that initial shock will be tough, but after it's over and i get to speed, i should really like this job.

 

i use the following at the office:
external usb2 enclosure, you will have to add any hd, windows odd, handles external drives very well, below is a 2.5" version but a 3.5" is more inexpensive:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...2924&CatId=1204

usb ear phones (operates as its own sound card):
http://www.plantronics.com/europe_union/fr...0109/prod440044

might also consider a usb sd card reader and a 1 or 2 gig sd card

all this needs to connect to the office computer and you will have to install software for the usb earphones.

 

can't do that. they are locked down UBER tight and log anything that connects to the USB. and nothing can be installed without going through some kind of six sigma testing standard for stability...

i need a standalone system, or i'd just bring my external HD to work...

 

The iPod seems to be about average in terms of being able to drive phones. I have only tried it with low impedance sets. From everything I have read, the newer generations have increased the output to a more competitive level. Becuase all my decent headsets are transducers and not dynamic diaphrams, I am not sure if I can give you an accurate assesment. I did plug in a set of Koss that I used to like, and the iPod drove them better than my Creative Muvo does.

Also, the battery lasts longer than they used to, but that is still only 12 hours new (which will become 6 hours quickly; I hate rechargable batteries). Perhaps a charger dock would be a good idea for all day use...

 

i've been seriously thinking about a charger dock or at least constant use of an AC adapter for whatever i buy for that very reason. thanks. maybe i'll bring my Senns down to BB and give a few players a whirl.