Hi-MD vs. iPod Shuffle

[geed]

well i just traded my minidisc in for an in expensive, tiny goes-around-my-neck ipod shuffle, and so far i love it! itunes is pretty simple, it converts and transfers very fast and i only have usb 1.1, and 12 hr battery life wow it amazed me, i haven't abandoned md, ill probably buy another md in the future since i have alotta md's lying around, maybe when your able to fully upload, that would be something..

what are your thoughts?

[mmp64]

well i just traded my minidisc in for an in expensive, tiny goes-around-my-neck ipod shuffle, and so far i love it! itunes is pretty simple, it converts and transfers very fast and i only have usb 1.1, and 12 hr battery life wow it amazed me, i haven't abandoned md, ill probably buy another md in the future since i have alotta md's lying around, maybe when your able to fully upload, that would be something..

what are your thoughts?

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I have all sorts of portable music devices that serve different purposes - flash, HDD, MD - so I would say that I don't think a shuffle is a "replacement" for an MD - at least for me. I use a flash when I cut the grass, for example. A plus for the shuffle is iTunes vs. SonicStage. Another is the size. Another is loading speed. However, MD would have it beat in terms of battery life, expandability, LCD, and for most models, the ability to play off AC (if you are using it at work or something). Also - I would suspect that MD is capable of better sound than the shuffle, but I could be wrong.

[Meryl Arbing]

I expect that you are free to listen to anything that you want. Personally, I didn't like the thin sound on the iPod...i heard better on my old cassette tape walkman and certainly, I got just as good sound by playing mp3s on my iPaq PDA.

Really what we have here is more of a fashion statement than anything else. Apple likes to portray itself as some kind of Robin Hood fighting for the 'little guy' when they are one of the more predatory companies out there.

Speaking of PDAs, remember the pBop...which was an iPod emulator on the PocketPC. Apple went ballistic...threatening the developer with lawsuits and effectively crushing the 'little guy'...the thing couldn't play AAC format songs anyway...it was just an iPod-like front-end for an mp3 player...but they crushed it anyway. Yes,it had 10x better sound than the iPod.

For me the deal-killer was the pathetic live recording capability of the iPod...in this MD had it beat by a million miles...and even though Apple claims to have 1.5 million tracks on their iTunes site...I didn't find anything that I would waste a dollar on...but then I wouldn't pay a dollar a track to Connect either...nothing there for me.

Edited July 22, 2005 by Meryl Arbing

[Chiron]

I wouldn't compare the IPOD Shuffle and an MD. I'd compare it to the new Sony Network Walkmans (http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/C...tionPath=n32120)

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I would compare MD to a real IPOD. I have both and I am still more of a fan of Hi-MD, especially the new second generation ones. I still like the sound of an MD better and like the fact that I am loading only 10-30 albums on an MD, it feels more manageable than 15-20 gig. My IPOD is now collecting dust.

Edited August 2, 2005 by Chiron

[Weaves]

I have been an MD user since the 90's. I wouldn't compare the Ipod to the MD. I would compare the shuffle to the NW507, which is what I just bought. It is an awesome device. Consider the following:

1) I now can listen to Atrac+256 (no longer called Hi-SP?). Or, up to nine different sizes from 320kbps down to 48kbps.

2) I can have shuffle or regular play. This includes gapless, when I want to listen as the artists intended.

3) It also has an FM receiver built in.

4) Oh yes, the OLED display is awesome.

5) This device is perfect for mowing the lawn (as previously stated) and working out.

6) Sound with my Shure E3's (not the white ones) is awesome.

7) Sonicstage 3.2 is closer to what 1.0 should have been all along.

I think the proper comparison would be the Hi-MD to the IPod mini. In which case the Hi-MD also wins. I would rather have 5 or more 1GB disks to exchange than one mini. Plus the whole recording aspect blows Apple away.

Just my two cents. Enjoy your shuffle.

Weaves

p.s. I just noticed the date of your post. SS 3.2 release last week now allows full DRM free uploads. Looks like you missed out by a week.

Edited August 3, 2005 by Weaves

[genghisbunny]

I have been an MD user since the 90's.  I wouldn't compare the Ipod to the MD.  I would compare the shuffle to the NW507, which is what I just bought.  It is an awesome device.

I think the proper comparison would be the Hi-MD to the IPod mini.  In which case the Hi-MD also wins.  I would rather have 5 or more 1GB disks to exchange than one mini. 

Weaves

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Yeah, I have a really old non-net MD, which I've been using for over 5 years, and I feel like it's only now that the rest of the world is catching up to me with MP3 players, Ipods, etc.

But I'm still ahead in terms of recording. A friend of mine did a whole album on this a few years ago, and I've made countless recordings of concerts for friends, recorded audio of a mate's wedding, etc. The 6 year-old MD I have is like a reel-to-reel machine, but digital, tiny and archival. MP3 players are like playback-only cassette walkmans.

I carry my MD with me on the train, listen in the car (my car stereo has a line-in) and occasionally plug it in to my stereo at home to listen to live recordings, etc. I've been doing all this for years, and now the MP3 crowd is getting on trains with their cheap white headphones and joining the club (only with lesser sound quality).

I'm getting an MZ-RH10 in about 2 weeks, and now I'll be ahead of the pack again for another few years.

"Apple - A large marketing corporation with a small electronics and IT department."

Apple used to say "think different" (sic)

Now to be different, you have to NOT use an iPOD. They're part of the uniform now, much like mobile phones five years ago.

[AMPlitude]

i was considering a shuffle before i got my new network walkman. the ultimate fault in the shuffle's design isnt the size, but i feel that its too light, meaning it has virtually no substance. i would worry about where it is if i cant feel it in say a pocket. second, it has no screen. sometimes, we think that we dont need the displays but in the end, the display still has its place in portable audio

[Sparky191]

Most people who have used seem to think that the iPod Shuffle has far superior sound quality than all the iPods and probably most other MP3 players. Most audiophiles seem to agree on this. Most would also say it sounds better than NW507's aswell. The HD iPods have poor SQ from the earphone socket. However th output via the line in (via a portable dock and amp) is meant to be excellent. Of course it depends on the quality of the music you are using.

I've never read many comparisons between a MD units and the iPod Shuffle. I only really trust the opinions from users who have both units. There doesn't seem to be many. My order or SQ pecking order for that I have heard myself would be as follows, starting with the highest SQ.

Old high end Sony Midi CD>>MD SHarp SR57>>Sony MDG750>>Panasonc PCDP MP3/CD CT700>>iPod U2 20GB.

The iPod is noticebly worse. I find the sound thin and unmusical.

These days I find the hassle of getting my music on a Pre Net MD a real pain. I like the ease of MP3 so I'm also looking for some better portable Audio. I love MD for recording, so I'll probably get a HiMD of some sort just for that. I am considering a iPod Shuffle for walking, and in the gym, and for working around the house because its just so small, simple and the fact it doesn't need a USB cable is a big plus. However I wish it had a FM radio on it, since I like that. The Sony 507 is a lot more expensive though, and I'd be concerned I wouldn't like the sound.

It took me a long time to warm to the sound of my Sony G750, its a bit clinical and I still think the Sharp I have sounds much better. It seems clearer, more detailed and theres more warmth to the sound.

[genghisbunny]

The iPod is noticebly worse. I find the sound thin and unmusical.

These days I find the hassle of getting my music on a Pre Net MD a real pain. I like the ease of MP3 so I'm also looking for some better portable Audio. I love MD for recording, so I'll probably get a HiMD of some sort just for that.

It took me a long time to warm to the sound of my Sony G750, its a bit clinical and I still think the Sharp I have sounds much better.  It seems clearer, more detailed and  theres more warmth to the sound.

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I can recommend the RH10 with a good set of headphones. I find the MP3 quality is fine when you tweak with the EQ, which anyone who has trained ears does with their equipment anyway.

The sound quality using simpleburner from CD to Hi-SP is very strong, meaty, musical, with nicely defined midrange, high-end punch on cymbal crashes and thumping bass on Timpani and bass guitar, with breathtaking voicing on cello and double-bass.

I'm doing some testing in a couple of weeks with live recording solo piano, bass guitar and acoustic guitar, and solo guitar. So I'll post my findings then.

The ability to transfer direct to PC with my recordings is seductive as all hell.

I've done squillions of SP recordings on my trusty old MZ-R37 over 6 years, so I'm very picky about sound quality recording live. I found the recordings from this unit had more warmth and a bigger soundstage than what I recorded on my old reel-to-reel machine (of course there was less noise, it's digital). So I actually dumped analog recording altogether a few years ago. I'm yet to transfer all my reels to MD, but will start doing it now that I have a Hi-MD that can shunt it onto the PC over digital.

I've got a good mic, the same one I've used for ages, so the only thing I'm changing is the MD unit. I'll start a new thread once I've done the new test recordings.

[ynos]

Is the iPod shuffle has line in? If none I would not bother to compare

[Syrius]

And the dreaded topic rises from the dead. Just posting to leave my mark before it gets locked.

MD is better than Ipod if you want to record. If not, get an I-pod or one of it's multiple competitors.

[Sparky191]

Is the iPod shuffle has line in? If none I would not bother to compare

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And the dreaded topic rises from the dead. Just posting to leave my mark before it gets locked.

MD is better than Ipod if you want to record. If not, get an I-pod or one of it's multiple competitors.

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The iPod Shuffle is a different product than a MD or even a regular iPod or HD player. To compare the two, or to make a value judgement is pointless, your simply not understanding what its intended use. Its like comparing a portable a 3 seater sofa with a fold up camping chair. Like others have posted I would consider a iPod Shuffle as a complementary device to a MD or iPod etc.