MZ-M200 or IPod Classic 160?

[themoos]

Hello all! First post, I know.

I have to make a hard decision and I thought I'd get some other people's opinions before I go and buy. I want a portable audio player and I have narrowed down what I want to either an MZ-M200 (RH1) or an IPod Classic 160 (6th Gen). My problem's being I use linux, I don't care for the proprietary codecs that are tied to each, I'd like to be able to record (I'm going to a concert in september that I'd like to be able to make a recording of and I am going to uni so I'd like to record my lectures) and I'd like to have some semblance of quality in the audio. Maybe I need to get real?

Here's how I see it.

MZ-M200: Audio quality +1, Recording ability +1, Proprietary codec -1, Software -1

I've used openmg and then sonicstage (as well as the latest version) with my N505 and I hate it. It's beyond that even! It drives me into a rage just thinking about how terrible it really is. SimpleBurner was tolerable but still I'd rather just be able to drag and drop to the player. All the linux projects that were getting anywhere have seemingly, all but died.

I could abide Atrac, despite it's being proprietary as I imagine it is an excellent codec (quality wise - lossy or lossless).

I saw a glimmer of hope recently, suggesting that sony, having ditched the codec and opened up the DRM on new files would also be releasing a SDK for developers. But that only opens up atrac. Still I can't see the encryption being broken between the PC and MD so even an open codec means nothing as far as getting the files on and off the device goes and I don't want to have to run a virtual machine just to run sonicstage.

Does anyone know of anything I could possibly have missed? I have been dreaming of a driver that lets me mount the player and copy files to it (for playback, not for storage) but this will probably never become a reality. Minidisc, it seems, just never had the backing it needed.

How does the optical input go? I have seen apps that tag tracks and sync the upload's via a small circuit and the optical jack (realtime transfers could be painful transferring my entire library). I also read that the built in compression isn't as good as what sonicstage puts out? Anyone know about that?

IPod Classic: Audio quality 0, Recording ability -1, Proprietary codec -1, Software 0

IPod's have never been my thing. But what else is there? I feel like I am selling my soul!! but there is software in linux that uploads to the 6th gen. Rockbox doesn't work on the classic but it works on the 5th gen. Rockbox working on a 6th gen would sell me. Drag and drop support in linux. FLAC and ogg support. Still the rockbox guys don't seem to have much hope for breaking the encryption that locks down the firmware it seems.

I saw somewhere that you can get the DAC upgraded, aftermarket of course, and that would solve any quality issues. All that's left is recording ability and I'm sure IPods can probably do that too.

But when it all comes down to it, I don't really want an IPod. I want a MZ-M200, but I want it to suit my needs. I'm dreaming I know. What do you guys think?

[Strungup]

for lectures , and class stuff , I use my MZ-B10 , no muss no fuss . Audio from the internal mic isnt bad ( Not Great , but not bad ) , It has Line in , Optical in , Headphone out

For hi fidelity recording , I grab my AT822 mic , and my RH1 ( M200 ) .................

I am on a Mac so I use MD Transfer 2.0 which is a simple flawless interface , unlike Sonic Rage , oops I mean Stage .

I am on a Mac , and I dont have iTunes or an iPod ............... think about it .

[1kyle]

for lectures , and class stuff , I use my MZ-B10 , no muss no fuss . Audio from the internal mic isnt bad ( Not Great , but not bad ) , It has Line in , Optical in , Headphone out

For hi fidelity recording , I grab my AT822 mic , and my RH1 ( M200 ) .................

I am on a Mac so I use MD Transfer 2.0 which is a simple flawless interface , unlike Sonic Rage , oops I mean Stage .

I am on a Mac , and I dont have iTunes or an iPod ............... think about it .

MD -- Own recording no probs, Quality A1, latest can play MP3 if you need to. The M200 is equivalent to the RH1 with a microphone.

There are ways to get round using SS -- I've discussed one in the forum Software topics on this board.

I think you'll find the fexibility etc of the MD is well worth the slight incnvenience of getting music into and out of the device. Other software is not always simple either -- typical MP3 Lame encoders also have their own quirky pieces of software.

I'd also find in an Ipod with these huge storage capacities just managing that much music is a hassle. I pop in an Hi-MD disc when I'm on the move --that's equivalent to around 7 CD's / 7 hrs and just play it.

Most people I see with Ipods are forever fiddling around with them to select tracks to play etc etc instead of just listening. Also what do you do if the device breaks etc etc --how do you get your music into the new one.

Put on a pair of really expensive phones like Bose noise cancelling and compare Hi-SP with MP3 from an IPOD.

No contest.

Cheers

-K

Edited July 13, 2008 by 1kyle

[BIGHMW]

Although I now use an NW-HD5 for my listening purposes (same great ATRAC/SonicStage support and SQ as MD and Hi-MD have given me for years), I would highly (and definitely at that) recommend an M200 over the iPod. What is it that would make all these people become mere "iSheep" and go for a piece of crap like Apple puts out. Yeah, granted it has 160 GB, but I have a few questions for you:

1) What happens if you unit breaks or if the embedded battery can no longer hold a full charge? How do you get your music back to transfer to another unit? At least my HD5 (I own 3 of them and have all my backup files and music on either MD or CD, smart move.) has a replaceable battery system in it that allows quick user-replacement of the battery in it, a must and also a rarity in the HDD world. And at least with MD and Hi-MD, if you unit breaks, you still have your music on the master disc itself, and can easily transfer it to another unit without restrictions of any kind.

2) Are you sure you want to become another one of the many brainwashed sheep out there that go around with those crappy iBuds they include and be ridiculed by all of us on both this board and the Audio T-Board? At least have an open mind about MD and Hi-MD, and while you're a it remember this slogan that I like to use:

ATRAC OR DEATH!!!

P.S.: I still own all of my MD/Hi-MD units, includng two RH1's myself and would never trade them in for one of those pieces of crap that Apple puts out, would you?

Edited July 14, 2008 by BIGHMW

[srizvi1]

I love iTunes for it's music management capabilities and I love iPod for it's ability to sync to my iTunes. I love my MZ-RH1 for my recording needs, but prefer my iPod for my listening needs.

However, I personally wouldn't buy an iPod right now. A refresh should be happening in the next couple of months with the latest and greatest features. That's when I plan on getting something better than my 4GB Nano which I got late last year. Definitely planning on getting a Touch so that I can do more than just music w/ my iPod. And I'm praying for some new functionality w/ the Touch - (*crosses fingers) maybe WiMAX?

[BIGHMW]

How about bringing back ATRAC/ATRAC3plus!!!???

The best damn codec ever produced, period.

(Geez, I would have to paraphrase an FSN show that nobody watches)

[Richard]

* Moved to Find Your Minidisc section