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Simple good sounding portable player

175.45.6.61

I am looking for a simple, good-sounding MP3 (maybe flac, too) player with the following criteria but it seems difficult:

- Smallish and light (<100g preferred)
- High capacity of about 64GB (on board + SD)
- SD library hopefully integrated with on board library
- good sounding (using it with Sony XBA-4)
- not an iOS device (seriously hate iTunes)
- don't need Android either
- not expensive (hopefully US$250 and below)

I am using a Creative X-Fi with Wifi with 32GB on board + 32 GB SD. It sounds decent but is getting old and stalls more often then ever, particularly when playing the SD card contents, making the SD side almost unusable. Also, it's SD library is not integrated with the on board library and can only be browsed as folders and files.

Something like the X-Fi 3 and the Cowon J3 would make decent choices, but the X-Fi is only available up to 16GB now and I have no idea if it takes a 64GB card, and the Cowon seems to have been discontinued and the newer one is an android device whose functions I do not need (not to mention that Cowon's UIs are generally quite funky to use).

Any other choices out there?

Thanks.

Follow Ups:

Just got a Sansa Clip Zip! - jedrider 09:39:42 05/15/13 (0)
They get better every generation. Pretty great overall. I haven't even tried the FM yet, but my last Clip was a winner there as well.

Kind of a no-brainer at the price, although I have to look into add-on memory cards to get enough capacity. Plays WMA-Lossless.
Yep, Sansa... - bassbinotoko 20:07:22 05/04/13 (0)
Something better will come along eventually, but the Sansa Clip+ gets enough things right to make it a no-brainer. Specifically, support for Flac, uSD cards, and no need for special software.

It would be perfect if it held more than one card, including full-size SD cards, was waterproof, and used AAA or AA cells.

I tried Rockbox on an old 3G iPod, but it was buggy, and didn't support some useful accessories like remote controls.
RE: Simple good sounding portable player - caesar.rex12 16:27:43 04/25/13 (0)
A rockboxed sansa is definitely the best bang for the buck player you can have.

Fiio X3 is being released soon, seems tempting.
Also recommend Sansa - orpheus 14:47:47 04/25/13 (0)
I have the Sansa Fuze, and it is a great little player. If you put Rockbox on it, it will do all you ask. The first version is the one that I have, not the one that is currently available. I'm not sure if the one that is out now is as good as the first one, but it is inexpensive and definitely worth a shot.

The Clip+ is supposed to be identical in terms of amp and measurements to the original Fuze, so that might be worth checking out as well.

In any case, check out Rockbox. It will add a lot of functionality to many, many players (and it might even sound better too.)

-Aaron.
- Measurements and review of Sansa Fuse (Open in New Window)
RE: Simple good sounding portable player - Lord Soth 02:07:23 04/24/13 (0)
Try the Sandisk Sansa Clip+.

There is a 32GB version (in built) which can also accommodate an external 32GB MICROSD card.

It can play FLAC and MP3 files.

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