Personal digital audio players

[lnr]

Looking for hints and inspiration and advice. This is what I posted to cam.misc:

OK, I've decided to finally have a proper look at personal digital audio players, with a view to maybe actually even buying one. So far if I want a 40GB model I'd probably go for the iRiver H140 or iAudio M3, both from L239.99

http://www.dukebox.com/player/iriver-ihp140
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002OXOZW/ref=cm_mp_wli_/202-2869449-8746255?coliid=IM7D49K2DNVG2&colid=2HDVBITUZV3ZC

And if I'd rather have something a bit cheaper there're 20GB versions, from 179.99:

http://closo.com/index/show/724/referrer/froogle_co_uk
http://www.dabs.com/uk/productview.htm?quicklinx=36L4&refererid=WQ

or even cheaper but less nice the Rio Karma, from 129.99:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AQIFZ/pricerunner-21/202-2869449-8746255

If I want more battery life the iAudio M3L seems identical to the M3 but with 35 hours life instead of 14. Only while I can find somewhere selling it for only a tenner more than the M3 20GB it's not one of the cheaper sellers (219.99):

http://www.templegames.co.uk/MP3-Players/iAudio/iAudio-M3L-20GB-HDD-MP3WMA-Player.asp?AffId=1085

Can't see an M3L in 40GB anywhere.

Anyone have any advice? (I'm specifically looking at players that will do Ogg Vorbis, since my current music collection is largely as oggs and it would save a lot of time in converting them all! Current collection is around 30GB, which makes the 40GB players more realistic I guess, but I'm a cheaparse)


ETA: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~eleanorb/temp/ogg-players lists results so far with prices. Also discovered the MPIO HD300 20 and 40GB players, but they're a bit more expensive, though they have nice styling and claim good build and sound quality.

Comments

[satanicsocks.livejournal.com]

I have an iRiver H140 and it's great. You can have a go with it if you like, the UI is particularly clumsy but the remote control is useful and the ogg functionality a must for me as well.

[daneel-olivaw.livejournal.com]

I also have an HP140. The UI is non-intuitive in places, but the functionality is great and the remote is fab. The MP3/WAV recording feature is handy too. Over all I'm very happy with it.

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

sevenstring says his iRiver won't play Oggs properly.. he thinks it might be the particular model or the firmware or somesuch though (it's an H340).

[lnr]

Less likely to go for that, since it's more expensive, and the extra features seem to be mostly a larger screen and ability to do nifty talking to other USB devices, neither of which I really need. But I'd be interested to know in what way they're not playing properly!

[ex-lark-asc.livejournal.com]

I'll give him a prod..

[sesquipedality.livejournal.com]

The iRiver H series software is a bit flaky (no playlists, for example). However, the world's greatest MP3 player software, (Rockbox (http://www.rockbxo.org/), is currently being ported. Personally I use the H140 all the time, and am pretty satisfied with it. Don't use the extension cable they provide for plugging other headphones into the remote though. It's appaling quality.

iAudio M3

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry, replying to an ancient post, but I've had a 40GB iAudio M3 since before Christmas and am very happy with it. Plays all my Oggs just fine and has reasonable battery life. I know numerous other people with them too and they all seem to like it. -- Noodles

Re: iAudio M3

[lnr]

I'm less disturbed by you replying to it than I am by you finding it in the first place!

It's definitely one of the most plausible options. Waiting til my birthday before treating myself though, as right now I am a teensy bit broke.