Best HD MP3 Player?

JC 2K3

Hi,

I'm looking into buying a HD MP3 player,I want about 20Gb. Don't want an iPod.

I researched this a good few months ago and decided that I really wanted an iRiver h320, then more recently I researched more and decided the Rio Karma was the best player for me in terms of price, quality and ease of use..

Now I have a load of cash and want to buy one of these babies I find the Rio Karma has been discontinued and the iRiver h320 isn't available at amazon anymore. €300 would be about my limit. I can get the h320 for about €330 online, which I might just about be able to afford, but I don't know if it is a wise choice or not...

So opinions people please! I'd be looking for something cheaper than €300, along the lines of the Rio Karma more than the iRiver, something easy to use(if possible I'd like to avoid all itunes and similar bull****), at least 20Gb, good sound quality etc.

Thomas_S_Hunterson

I recently discovered the iriver H320 in argos for about €330 as well!
I myself ordered a H320 from www.teamdigital.net and it came to €321 including postage, but i'm still waiting for it and i dont know if i'm going to get stung by customs which would piss me off majorly!!

IMO the iriver is the best

Civilian_Target

Rio Karma's still my baby. You can still get it and its cheap. The build qualitys not that great, but the rest of it is, so if you can get it with a 3 year warranty, there's no reason not to. The new multi-plug charger's a really nice touch too.

http://www.pricerunner.co.uk/sound-and-vision/personal-audio/mp3-players/171738/prices

I got mine from Comet - £160 with a 3 year warranty.

copacetic

HD5, I have the 3 and it is great the 5 is even better although doesn't look
quite as nice and it is 299 or cheaper...

rubadub

h320 is under €300 new delivered on ebay. may be the lite version though

Furp

The new Sony HD-5 is supposed to be excellent thinking abut getting one myslef plus it is very small and has a long battery life.

Bard

I sell the buggers... and the nicest ones I've seen around recently are the I-Audio X5 (linky). We just got them into stock and they sold out over a weekend. That reminds me ... must order more today.

It looks like a definite iRiver beater. Check it out!

aaf

For buying iRivers, check out:
http://www.mx2.co.uk
http://www.expansys.ie
http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/shop/
I think somebody is selling their iRiver H120 20GB in the For Sale section here on boards. I've got the H140 40GB. Both of these models are hard to get as I think they are discontinued products. The latest models are the H320 and H340 as mentioned. Best of luck with your search.

aaf

Bard wrote:

I sell the buggers... and the nicest ones I've seen around recently are the I-Audio X5 (linky). We just got them into stock and they sold out over a weekend. That reminds me ... must order more today.

It looks like a definite iRiver beater. Check it out!

Seems to be on a par with the iRiver range but I wouldn't say it's better. Maybe someone who has one could enlighten us!

JC 2K3

Bard wrote:

I sell the buggers... and the nicest ones I've seen around recently are the I-Audio X5 (linky). We just got them into stock and they sold out over a weekend. That reminds me ... must order more today.

It looks like a definite iRiver beater. Check it out!

I actually was just searching and came across the X5, where do you sell them? It appears they're not out in Europe yet though... how much are they?

JC 2K3

Hmm... I've found a Rio Karma for £140(About €210?), I think I'll go with it, to get an iRiver or X5 would cost me an extra €100 which i'd rather not spend just for a color screen and subpar video playback...

JC 2K3

Just ordered an iAudio X5 €280 new of ebay inc. postage.

Bard

JC 2K3 wrote:

I actually was just searching and came across the X5, where do you sell them? It appears they're not out in Europe yet though... how much are they?

I sell them in Harvey Norman in Dundalk. The X-5 itself is out of stock right now but we have the other models (the U2[1Gb], the 5[1Gb] and the G3[512Mb]) and we'll have the X-5[20Gb] back VERY soon.

I wouldn't say it's "on par" with the iRiver H320 - I'd say it's better. Much easier interface, faster smarter menus, more file formats supported - plus support for MP4 Video files. Funky!

JC 2K3

Bard wrote:

I sell them in Harvey Norman in Dundalk. The X-5 itself is out of stock right now but we have the other models (the U2[1Gb], the 5[1Gb] and the G3[512Mb]) and we'll have the X-5[20Gb] back VERY soon.

I wouldn't say it's "on par" with the iRiver H320 - I'd say it's better. Much easier interface, faster smarter menus, more file formats supported - plus support for MP4 Video files. Funky!

Yeah, the only put off for me is the lack of id3 database sorting but they're sorting that out with a firmware upgrade soon.

hopeful

aaf wrote:

Seems to be on a par with the iRiver range but I wouldn't say it's better. Maybe someone who has one could enlighten us!

I have the X5L 20gb version.
It really is a very excellent bit of kit. Screen is very clear and bright if a little small..large enough to watch a half hour episode of Trailer Park Boys for sure but perhaps a whole movie would be pushing it. Viewing photos is well handy too.
Connects to many (but not all) digital cameras and card readers as a USB Host which was the killer feature for me.
Battery life is up to spec...I have the extended battery 'L' version and it really does do about 30+ hours...I was away for a week recently and didn't charge it at all while away...used it every day too
Sound quality is 10/10. Supports FLAC and OGG as well as the usual suspects. No DRM support yet (Oh dear..how sad ) but a rumoured firmware update should add it for those that insist on this kind of stuff.
Downsides are that the supplied earphones are a bit crap (but aren't they all) and it does not come with a case.
All in all a thumbs up from me. Hope this helps somebody make up their mind...for or against.

oneofakind32

The archos Gmini xs200 is another cheap alternative. Its small and well built with easy and quick file transfer via USB 2. Ill be ordering mien as soon my cheque form working at the Galway races clears (Damn Banks!)
link

quintron

Archos Gmini 400 or 402. Beats anything hands down in the same price range for the sheer number of features. Colour screen, Photos, Movies, TV output, Direct WAV recording (hook it up to a desk and you have a basic dat machine) excellent signal to noise ratio, plays games (mophun), and its the same size as an ipod! Oh and don't forget the built in Compact Flash reader for PCless photo transfer and storage. goto komplett.ie €299 inc shipping.

melekalikimaka

creative jukebox...the original and the best

Bard

melekalikimaka wrote:

creative jukebox...the original and the best

You ARE joking... aren't you?

melekalikimaka

hey i was the bees knees when i got it when it came out

Zapho

Bard wrote:

You ARE joking... aren't you?

No, I don't think she is. For €220 for a 20gig creative zen touch, I'd recomment it anyday.

Zapho

melekalikimaka wrote:

hey i was the bees knees when i got it when it came out

I totally agree. Original and to this day creative have kept their reputation going strong!

(sorry bout the double post, stupid browser!)

Bard

Eh... where will you get them for €220?

tylerdylan

The o2 shop in henry street dublin are selling the rio karma for 239.

JC 2K3

tylerdylan wrote:

The o2 shop in henry street dublin are selling the rio karma for 239.

what a rip off, they're going for about €60 on ebay...

grimloch

Bard wrote:

Eh... where will you get them for €220?

From Komplett. Although shipping would have to paid on top of that. And I'm sure ebay have cheaper ones than that knocking about.

Endurance Man

Ye, as zapho no's i got me a creative zen 20gb (older model) and i find it great. Easy interface and good battery life. For those kinda prices i think its a great choice .

Bard

Ah right, so not from an actual retail outlet store then. Fair enough.

PWEI

Anybody know anything about the TOSHIBA GigaBeat?
I've read some really great reviews of it.

melekalikimaka

no, but it does look great, dunno if its on sale here tho

eoinf

sorry to jump in on this thread but i have a 60gb zen xtra and the hard drive has finally kicked the bucket. Rang creative and they said to replace the harddrive it would cost €160 . coulsd i puick up a 60gb harddrive for it online and install it myself or should i just bin it and get a new one . the iaudio x5 looks nice. The only ptrob is that i had almost 50gb of music on the zen and most of the new HDD's only have 20/30gb.

any toughts

cheers

Eoin

RicardoSmith

melekalikimaka wrote:

creative jukebox...the original and the best

Still a good player and sounds better than an iPod. But its not as good as the more recent players from Cowon, Creative and iRiver.

flowerpotfrog

i bounce around these gadget/computer forums a bit and i've never heard ricardosmith say something stupid. why isn't he a SMOD or whatever those things are?