IPOD Video vs any NW?

[lecram1971]

Hello, I am a HI-MD user and I love this machine, but the 1gb disk it´s not enough for me for playback, so I am considerng in buy a HDD.

I love Atrac because it is gapless, but after I saw Ipod Video 30 (or 60) I am really thinking in fall to the MP3 equipment.

Does anyone knows if Sony is considering to take something that really can compete with the Ipod Video??

Thanks

[Guest Stuge]

First of all see these reviews

A1000 and A3000 Initial Impressions

NW-A3000 + Connect (now with pics) (part 2 at end)

If you want a video player i will still not suggest you to buy I-pod Video

Also tell us what type of player you like to buy??

[Stefan1]

In my opinion, now is not a wise time to get into a video player, since it's all booming. There are rumours about an upcoming "true" video ipod.. there are some mockups here:

http://guides.macrumors.com/Gallery_of_Video_iPod_Mockups

Perhaps just hang around until that rumour is confirmed or denied? Otherwise the ipod video is probably a good choice right now for video playback. However, I can't listen to Ipods.. I just don't like their sound. For you coming from MD, you might want to try it out first.

[pata2001]

Why don't you just buy more HiMD disks? That's the beauty of MD/HiMD, removable "unlmited" storage medium.

For a music player, the 5G iPod is more than competent. Its SQ is better than previous gens, all the MP3 skipping and hissing from the previous gens are fixed, larger screen, thinner profile, and better battery life. The video playback is just a bonus, and actually pretty decent.

The only redeeming thing about Sony players is gapless. IMO the A series is a step down from the HD5. Plus it is not available everywhere yet.

Another competing unit is the Creative Zen Vision:m. It's been getting good reviews.

If you really looking into video, then wait, since newer and better units from various manufactures are coming out (eg, the new Toshiba DAPs). For a music player, all the untis above are good. Don't ditch your HiMD yet (gapless). Also, watch for the rockbox for iPod.

[Richard_p]

Very well said Pata

I considered an ipod 5th gen briefly before getting my HD5h after my vaio messed up.

I hate to say it but the4 5th gen pod really is godd contender. It looks nice, has good features and is very competitvely priced, plus it's now available in BLACK!

I stuck with sony after looking at many other players for the following reasons.

ATRAC/Gapless - After owning a HI-MD and Vaoi pocket i had lots of atrac file i could put straight onto the HD5h already in my Sonic stage library, if i'd bought MP3 i'd be stuck with gaps between songs and have start from scratch ripping my CD's

Size - A HD5 is no taller or wider than a credit card and not too thick either, after owning a Vaio iwas after something smaller (as pretty as they are, they are a bit bulky)

Battery life - Seemed like the sony devices were pretty hard to beat

no need for Video - This was the g=hardest part in choosing sony over others. No Walkman even has a colour screen yet, but then since i own a PSP i deemed it needless as without getting a full blown PMP video DAP player screens are pretty small, therefore i wouldn't choose to watch anything on one over my PSP. I decide it was a sacrifice i could amke for the other more important factors (to me) listed.

It's not an iPod - this is a little petty i know, but too many people have iPods. I do not like to carry the same gadgetry as others.

Good luck finding a DAP that is right for you!!

Edited February 16, 2006 by Richard_p

[lecram1971]

Thank you for your answers, as I can see you think the same as I do. The Atrac format is better than MP3 that´s for sure, but here are my reasons why I am begin to look to Ipod:

1) I live in Chile and we have in Sony´s store the NW-HD5, and it cost US$433 aprox. and the IPOD Video 30gb US$395 aprox., cheaper with video and 10gb more.

2) My CD collection in Atrac 132 is bigger than 20gb, so the NW-HD5 can´t store it all, and the only unit that is bigger is the NW-HD5H, that as I read is only available in U.K.

3) I watch the Video of the Ipod, and even the screen is small it looks incredible and sound amazing (with good headphones not the small ones that came with the unit)

4) I love my HI-MD and even I get an Hard Drive unit I will keep it, because it´s the best for recording, but I´m tired having to change a disk if I want to hear a Marillion song and I´m hearing a Rush song (both have a big discography so they don´t fit in one disk at Atrac 132), specialy if I am driving.

5) Ipod has some Car Radio that can control the unit, I know Sony has a gadget that can emulate it but it´s not as easy as the Ipod one.

6) One thing that I am looking is some Sony´s equipments don´t use Atrac, maybe is a bad example, but the Sony Ericcson mobile phone use MP3 and don´t give the chance to use Atrac, I don´t know if for a limitation in the equipment or that means something.

This are the reasons why I am looking for Ipod, I love to stay with the Atrac, I love it, I have more than 20gb in Atrac songs, but it seems that the future is MP3, I hope I am wrong.

Once again thank´s for your answers.

[lindijones]

Hei i can understand you!!

I also have the Sony HD5 with 20 gb and now i bought an ipod video 60gb.

I am not sure to keep the ipod. Maybe i´ll sell it again.

I cannot really say why. I love the sony. And to use more than one player is stupid. And i don´t want to sell the sony. The sound of the ipod is in some cases a little better than the hd5 sound and sometimes not.

I would say that the ipod sounds "stronger". But sometimes this can also be too "hard".

Difficult to explain. The wheel on the ipod is great i think.

But hey! Forgett the videofunction!! You have to convert all the stuff and i tried all the freeware converters and also some to buy. but if you want to have a dvd on your ipod then you have to rip the dvd at first to get the vob files. And thats forbidden....

And then you will have a problem with the scale size. Nearly all movies on dvd are not 4:3. So after converting you will have cone heads!!!

well the ipod is nice but i would not buy it again because of this video function! What i like is the video podcasts. you can get some videoclips and news from itunes for free and then sync it with the ipod. Some thats nice, but no must have. And the video out to a tv is also very bad. And if you make videos with a higher bitrate then the ipod will often make resets and the battery is empty in about 30 min!!!! I think this is because the small cache. The harddisc is running then all the time without any pause. For the smaller videos for watching on the ipods screen it is ok so far. But no relation to the sony.

If you have questions to the ipod then ask me!!

I think i will use it now for the next time and i really want to see and hear this ipod hifi speaker set.

Let me say some things to the hd size. Now i have this ipod 60gb and i had to rip again all my cds, because everything i have is in atrac3plus. so i ripped everything to 320 kbit/s mp3 with itunes. The thing is now: If you are one time on such a high level you never want to downgrade again!! What i want to say is: Maybe it is not the worst way to buy an hd5 and have the cool battery life and the gapless thing and just copy some albums not to the hd5. Do you really want to hear them always? I know i had the same problem. But what will happen if you buy a 60gb ipod and rip all to 320 kbit/s (which is double size than 160kbit/s and more than double relating to 132 kbit/S atrac !!!) like me and then with some videos the 60gb ipod will also get full.

So what to do then?

Do you understand what i mean??

For me my sony is more sympathic. I cannot say why. maybe it´s also a price thing. If i would sell the ipod again i have a lot of money and peace in my mind :-)

But if i never had any Player then the ipod would be a good choice....

So wish you good luck!!

Tom

Edited March 22, 2006 by lindijones

[lamewing]

Why don't you just buy more HiMD disks? That's the beauty of MD/HiMD, removable "unlmited" storage medium.

For a music player, the 5G iPod is more than competent. Its SQ is better than previous gens, all the MP3 skipping and hissing from the previous gens are fixed, larger screen, thinner profile, and better battery life. The video playback is just a bonus, and actually pretty decent.

The only redeeming thing about Sony players is gapless. IMO the A series is a step down from the HD5. Plus it is not available everywhere yet.

Another competing unit is the Creative Zen Vision:m. It's been getting good reviews.

If you really looking into video, then wait, since newer and better units from various manufactures are coming out (eg, the new Toshiba DAPs). For a music player, all the untis above are good. Don't ditch your HiMD yet (gapless). Also, watch for the rockbox for iPod.

Because he doesn't like to carry around several discs, most probably.

A NICE pmp unit for audio and video is the Cowon A2. A bit big, but the video support is quite broad.

Edited March 23, 2006 by lamewing

[sxc_]

I bought a 5G 30GB ipod, and after 2 mths of listening I started comparisons with my HD5 again. It was like listening to a room full of music, compared to a radio. The Sony just seemed to have that much more separation, spaciousness and detail in the parts of the music that mattered. And I could place each instrument and voice in my mind. This was comparing the same mp3 file, not atrac vs mp3.

I must really say the sound quality of the ipod is bad IMHO. But the usability of it p...es all over Sony, which is why I still use my ipod.

One thing that become much more noticeable on the Sony though was the background hiss. But even with this, listening to the Sony was much more enjoyable.

I wish Apple and Sony would make up and get some Sony sound processor chips into the ipod. Then you'd really have a ipod killer.

[lecram1971]

Because he doesn't like to carry around several discs, most probably.

A NICE pmp unit for audio and video is the Cowon A2. A bit big, but the video support is quite broad.

Yes that´s the main reason. I know there is a profecy "You never will have enough space in your Hard Disk!!!", but it´s boring to want to listen some group that is not in your disk and have to change it, or worst you don´t bring it with you.

The other thing is the Video, it looks a very good feature to have specialy when you are in a trip.

I hope Sony will give soon a new unit that can compete with IPOD Video, main reason gapless, second, I have a big library of Atrac files (over 20gb) in my SS 3.4, so i really hate to think i have to transform all again to MP3, I have the originals in CD, but you can think how long it will be to do it.

[MiG]

must really say the sound quality of the ipod is bad IMHO

yer the sound quality of the ipod i think is utter crap.

no bass, or bass distortion, too much treble, all a big bunch of muffled crap.