Donald Bell,
Senior Editor
June 19, 2008
Before I dive into what is sure to be a controversial product roundup, let me qualify what I mean by "audiophile MP3 players" (my apologies in advance to Steve Guttenberg). The following MP3 players are not necessarily the best sounding MP3 players when judged by subjective listening tests. Instead, this list contains players that have performed remarkably during CNET Labs bench tests, where they are evaluated on the accuracy of their sound reproduction.
So, in recognition of those few golden-eared purists who are willing sink low enough to use an MP3 player but refuse to accept anything but the truest sounding device available, here are the six MP3 players with the highest marks from CNET Labs' Eric Franklin. Using an Audio Precision ATS-2 Audio Analyzer, Eric has measured each of these MP3 players for frequency response deviation, total harmonic distortion and noise (THD+N), signal to noise ratio (SNR), maximum power output, and crosstalk.
The player with the best overall score is the Creative Zen, which scored a frequency response deviation average under 1.47 dB, a -82.2 dB THD+N average, and a -83.6 dBr SNR average. The rest of the players are listed here in descending order of their overall score. Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list is the Insignia Pilot, which took the best score for signal to noise, yet faired only average in total harmonic distortion.
For a more in-depth look at the test scores of each of these MP3 players, head over to the MP3 Insider blog.
| Product name | ||||||
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| Price | $149.98 to $161.98 | Check Prices | $234.99 to $299.99 | Check Prices | $38.49 to $64.99 | $179.77 to $199.95 |
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| Review date | September 14, 2007 | July 26, 2007 | September 10, 2007 | December 19, 2007 | October 08, 2007 | April 11, 2008 |
| The Bottom Line | We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features. | For those who want a supersmall and cute MP3 player that offers more than just simple music playback, the Creative Zen Stone Plus fits the bill nicely. | The iPod Classic is a refinement of the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and advanced user interface. | The Insignia Pilot won't please audio purists, but it's a great option for feature hounds who appreciate a good value--and the ability to listen to music sans wires. | The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an incredible value that's set to edge out the competition with a user-friendly interface, gym-worthy design, and great sound quality. | The sum of the NWZ-S710F's audio enhancement and noise-canceling features adds up to one of the most pleasant and private music experiences you can have for less than $200. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 3.3 in x 0.4 in x 2.2 in | 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in | 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in | 3.3 in x 0.4 in x 1.6 in | 2.17 in x .65 in x 2.17 in | Info unavailable |
| Software type | Drivers & Utilities Creative Media Explorer Creative ZENcast Organizer | Drivers & Utilities | Drivers & Utilities | Info unavailable | Drivers & Utilities | Drivers & Utilities |
| Resolution | 320 x 240 | 64 x 64 | 64 x 64 | 320 x 240 | Info unavailable | 240 x 320 |
| Mfr estimated battery life | Info unavailable | 9.5 hour(s) | 9.5 hour(s) | 25 hour(s) | 15 hour(s) | 36 hour(s) |
| PC interface(s) supported | Hi-Speed USB | USB | USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| Flash memory form factor | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated |
| Flash memory installed | 16 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 8 GB | 2 GB | 8 GB |
| Weight | 2.3 oz | 0.7 oz | 0.7 oz | 2.1 oz | 0.92 oz | Info unavailable |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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