Portable mp3 player: Do you own one?

[Hubster]

For the iPod owners on here, if you dont know this site/forum, you better get off your ass and register. It's a great little hub for iPod owners and news.

All things iPod, iTunes and beyond | iLounge

 

[murderedbysound]

Ya Apple's firmware upgrades for some reason fuck up there own products a lot. I usually dont do even the software updates. I have itunes like 5 or something. As long as I can sync when i need to I am good. But I did do an update awile ago. Erased my music and cleared out my ipod, the 2nd time i did an update it made copies of all my music. I had to go through all my music folders and erase the copies. From then I never do the updates.

 

[Frosties]

I've got an iRiver H320 (20 gig) and it's probably the best thing I've bought in the last couple of years. For my purposes of going to the base for a week or more at a time, it's peferc, since when I used to carry my cd's, I'd need a whole new bag just for them, and they'd get pretty messed up.
Also, at the time I bought it (almost exactly 2 years ago), it bested out iPod in every possible manner, from the controls (I hate that iPod scroll wheel thingy), to features (pics, radio, mic, video) - plus, it's a portable hard drive, and there's nothing easier than drag + click to transfer files. And it was cheaper!

The only problem is that 20 gig is hardly enough, so I now think that I should have bought the 40 gig they had availible at the time. But that's a minor complaint.

iRiver all the way!

 

[dcat]

Actually, I said 15 hours/week....a day would leave little time for actual work and sleep!

@dcat: totally respect your opinion. Have since I started reading your posts. You have me way beat in terms of experience. I would just like to point out that Tom Dowd elaborated on the physics of LP playback, and it has always stuck with me. I'm going to do my best to paraphrase what he said. An LP is like a carousel. Depending on where you are on the radius of the circle, you travel at faster speeds. The outer horses travel faster than the inner ones, because speed is a matter of distance over time: they travel farther in the same period of time. The same is true of an LP. And, just like recording at higher i.p.s. on analog tape means higher fidelity, so it does on an LP. Thus, over the course of playing a record side, the fidelity diminishes! This is why some of the best tracks on albums were frequently the first on sides A and B. That's just one of the problems he spoke about, but it's the one that has really stuck with me over the years.

Ah yes, the rollercoaster theory lol.

@dcat: you got me interested and I found some cool info out about CD vs. vinyl here. Also, I'm aware that beta was better. That was the parallel I was making... that the world moves on and not always to an audiophile's delight. But average Joe's such as myself suck it up and jump into the stream, so to speak, unable to afford to fight the current.

Cheers!

Mmmm interesting take, but no info as to the vinyl set up.

Things progressed through the 80's on vinyl reproduction, The "Linn Sondek" evolution, the "Mana stand" wars etc + the hype as with all things these days.

I have been into audio gear since my second job after leaving school in 1970 and now I'm a certifiable Hi-Fi enthusiast. eeek

It doesn't need to cost anything like the scary high end prices you read about in the media, all you need is a bit of knowledge and a willingness to tinker, it brings BIG rewards, ie audio nirvana.

Check this out...

iPod and iTunes Reviews: Fatman iTube iPod Valve Amplifier



Nice replies Dave, Thanks

 

[Ermz]

Most peole don't really know how to listen to music. Most people hear it, but don't really engage in active listening.

Man that is so true. If it actually meant anything, I would rep you, but instead you'll just have to settle with my wholehearted agreement.

Music is fast food to most, and as such there will always be a huge market for these devices. People want to be entertained while going from one place to the other, or doing a variety of mundane tasks.

They have their merits, and I own one, but I hate listening to music on it. I almost feel like I'm insulting the artist and recording engineer for listening via such a shitty medium which undermines a good majority of their work in the studio. Despite how much I hate listening to music on it, I hate listening to the chatter of commuters on public transport more, so I go with the lesser of two evils.

 

[soundave]

Thanks, Moonie.

Here's something I've been thinking about a lot that happens in many arenas (I'll give examples after): new technology becomes available to more people and, for the majority of people, it represents an upgrade from their previous technology. But for the real enthusiasts, it actually is WORSE than what they had. Albeit, you had to have top end stuff to get that quality, and with the new tech, you can get very good quality from even some of the cheapest shit. It's kind of strange. So, then the average person is wondering why they'd ever spend money on new technology that's supposed to sound better, when what they have is already an enormous improvement upon what they used to have. Why go to a recording studio when I can record the band on my home computer with fairly inexpensive software? Why pay a professional to design my website when there are programs I can buy at CompUSA that make it so easy for me to do?

I hope we all know the answers to those questions here.:Smug:

Also, now that my iPod has shit the bed, I'm growing increasingly concerned about how many things I use that I simply do not understand. More importantly, things I could never fix, even if I wanted to. There's something to be said for mechanical devices over electronic devices. I have an old Victrola that still works perfectly. It's like the most simple device in the universe: a spring, a belt, a needle, a platter, a box.... You can watch it work and understand what's happening. Not so with MP3 boxes that are powered by Voodoo, I think.

Anyhoo.... feeling bitter now. Where are all the "I-told-you-so's", btw?

 

[soundave]

Mmmm interesting take, but no info as to the vinyl set up.

Yeah, I thought about that as well. I wonder about how the average setup varies from the audiophile setup?

Check this out...

iPod and iTunes Reviews: Fatman iTube iPod Valve Amplifier



Nice replies Dave, Thanks

A bit like polishing a turd, don't you think? "Let's warm up the squashed sound..."

 

[biggsy]

Haha... I told you so!!!

Just kidding but I agree with your points above. If virtually anything broke down that I own, I'd have no idea. I yearn for the simpler days!

 

[soundave]

Ah yes, the rollercoaster theory lol.



Mmmm interesting take, but no info as to the vinyl set up.

Things progressed through the 80's on vinyl reproduction, The "Linn Sondek" evolution, the "Mana stand" wars etc + the hype as with all things these days.

I have been into audio gear since my second job after leaving school in 1970 and now I'm a certifiable Hi-Fi enthusiast. eeek

It doesn't need to cost anything like the scary high end prices you read about in the media, all you need is a bit of knowledge and a willingness to tinker, it brings BIG rewards, ie audio nirvana.

Check this out...

iPod and iTunes Reviews: Fatman iTube iPod Valve Amplifier



Nice replies Dave, Thanks

Thanks, man.

For the iPod owners on here, if you dont know this site/forum, you better get off your ass and register. It's a great little hub for iPod owners and news.

All things iPod, iTunes and beyond | iLounge

 

[dcat]

Yeah, I thought about that as well. I wonder about how the average setup varies from the audiophile setup?

The difference is day and night, the reproduction from an average turntable/arm/cart is well below that of an average CD player, when you fine tune "Essential" a precision turntable set up to isolate from external vibrations, that is when vinyl excels in all area's.

Get it right and your loudspeakers will in effect disappear.

A bit like polishing a turd, don't you think? "Let's warm up the squashed sound..."

Nicely put.

 

[soundave]

A website has been created that deals with the problem I'm having. I am not alone...

I tried to restore again, and now this:"There was a problem downloading the iPod software for the iPod "iPod". The requested resource was not found." Hmmm... has Apple pulled the bad firmware update?

 

[dcat]

@soundave, what turntable do you have?

Feel free to PM me if you prefer to be confidential.

 

[Pear Goro]

fuck music, i got like 30 episodes of MST3K on my video ipod. that by itself = period

 

[soundave]

@soundave, what turntable do you have?

Feel free to PM me if you prefer to be confidential.

All I have is a suitcase style phonograph player that I got for my birthday a few years ago. Along the lines of this, but not exactly:

It has no identifying marks, so I don't think it's an actual Victrola, but it's that sort of thing. It has a crank. The needle is steel. It has a speed adjustment that allows you to go from "F" to "S". You pretty much have to guess at what speed each record was recorded! Fiddle till it sounds right.

I haven't had a turntable since I was a kid, and the one I had then sort of sucked. I'd love to get a decent turntable at some point. Just for fun. Add that to all the toys I want... the list gets longer by the day.

 

[dcat]

All I have is a suitcase style phonograph player that I got for my birthday a few years ago. Along the lines of this, but not exactly:

It has no identifying marks, so I don't think it's an actual Victrola, but it's that sort of thing. It has a crank. The needle is steel. It has a speed adjustment that allows you to go from "F" to "S". You pretty much have to guess at what speed each record was recorded! Fiddle till it sounds right.

I haven't had a turntable since I was a kid, and the one I had then sort of sucked. I'd love to get a decent turntable at some point. Just for fun. Add that to all the toys I want... the list gets longer by the day.

SNAP...

I have an similar one, It's a Decca.

The only way to confirm is to have a look at the motor.

RE your poll, I haven't looked yet but I have more than one turntable, I collect / trade in them.

 

[affinityband]

Man that is so true. If it actually meant anything, I would rep you, but instead you'll just have to settle with my wholehearted agreement.

Music is fast food to most, and as such there will always be a huge market for these devices. People want to be entertained while going from one place to the other, or doing a variety of mundane tasks.

They have their merits, and I own one, but I hate listening to music on it. I almost feel like I'm insulting the artist and recording engineer for listening via such a shitty medium which undermines a good majority of their work in the studio. Despite how much I hate listening to music on it, I hate listening to the chatter of commuters on public transport more, so I go with the lesser of two evils.

I like you moonlapse, i do but for someone who loves sound so much...If i remember, arent you a massive fan of andy sneap? I mean his records all sound extremely similar and as far as people think it sounds perfect...I think its pretty far from it. pretty damn stale overall. Still, It really is noticeable listening to an artist on a fantastic sounding set of speakers. But i think being an Engineer would ruin music for me. Im a picky person and i feel if i knew what they did...I wouldnt be able to listen to most of the things i do. Therefore, im happy with being ignorant and being happy with an mp3 player. Its far more accessible than spending thousands on a fantastic bit of kit, plus, its easy to distinguish whats shit and what isnt.

 

[soundave]

Ah... the "ignorance is bliss" theory. I don't think that appreciation of quality necessarily ruins things of lesser quality. I do think you tend to have less patience for shit. For example, I consider myself to have a pretty good palate, and appreciate fine food. But I still like a Quarter Pounder every now and then. Is it ruined because I've tasted filet mignon or kobe beef? No. But I'm not deluded into thinking the QP is the height of culinary achievement.

Besides, listening like an engineer is different than listening to enjoy or appreciate music. Listening like an engineer means listening with a microscope, taking things out of their musical context and listening to them as sonic events: things like attack, decay, frequency masking... at times, at least for me, it's not even like I'm listening to music anymore. I don't hear melody, rhythm....it's just sound. Thankfully, I can turn that off.

What I have heard that can be a curse is "perfect pitch". I know that's off topic, and actually there's a thread about it if you search. From what I understand, you can't turn that off.

 

[affinityband]

i actually do think it does ruin it for someone like myself who is constantly critical. Its almost like too much information.

 

[biggsy]

I'm certainly not deluded into thinking MP3 format is the height of sonic quality, but convenience far outweighs my yearning for better quality sound.

 

[soundave]

I'm not at a point in my life where I can justify getting the kind of quality I'd like. I already blew my wad on a good home theater system (Paradigm Titans, cc-170 center, dipole/bi-pole surrounds), so I make do now. Besides, I don't often have the time to sit and really listen to music with a 2 year old running around all day and another on the way. Maybe when they've graduated college or something. And the height of audio technology is a technology we've yet to dream of, and it makes all of our current formats sound like music heard through an apartment wall.... when will it end? When will we stumble upon the only audio format we'll ever need? How good can it possibly get?