Zen NX Review (iPod "doesn't sound nearly as good")

[Asher]

I was reading this review of the Zen NX on IGN: http://gear.ign.com/articles/437/437957p1.html

Basically, it's a glowing review, with a score of 9.3/10.

But I remember debating some people on here a while ago about the Zen & Zen NX versus the iPod, and I was basically told I was a moron and clearly no audiophile because the signal-to-noise ratios mean nothing.

But this review addresses that point specifically, in two places:

The best thing about the Zen NX is the sound quality. This has been a trademark of the Nomad line, as Creative's expertise is audio. The NX is no exception. It is loud as hell and clear as a bell from end to end. Like its predecessor, it boasts a 98dB SNR. There is no portable on the market that can hold a candle to the Zen NX, or any Nomad jukebox for that matter, in terms of audio fidelity. All you iPod owners are tricking yourself if you think it can compete with the Zen NX in this department. (I love my iPod, but I have no misgivings about its limitations.) If you appreciate high bit rate MP3s and have a decent set of headphones that NX will keep a smile on your face as long as the batteries are running.

I think the Zen NX is the best jukebox on the market - at least among the models I've used. The iPod is cooler looking and smaller, but it is overpriced and doesn't sound nearly as good. The iRiver has more features, is smaller, and sounds great, but has a small drive and is hella expensive. The RCA has a bigger drive and is nicely priced, but doesn't sound as good and has only a fraction of the features. While the NX has weak spots they are acceptable considering the high points. It sounds outstanding, has a large drive, is loaded with features, and is affordable.

Highly recommended.

So there you have it. The iPod is typical Apple: mediocre components, but attractive styling with a ridiculous pricetag.

The usual crowd are welcome to respond that they still think the iPod is worth it due to its look, which is a fine and dandy opinion, up there with thinking large chains and other bling bling will get you laid.

[ixnay]

http://www.somethingawful.com/articles.php?a=1675

Man, I'd take one of these over an iPod any day.

[Asher]

Gotta love SA.

[- Groucho -]

98 db is a damn good SNR, but it's hard to tell if it means much for most people. Apple won't release the SNR for iPod but it is probably in the 90-95 range. Most people can't hear noise under a signal at a SNR of 96db or so, so the Zen does cross the magic threshold and the iPod probably doesn't. Which definitely gives it bragging rights.

The problem though is that in all portable players the amp/headphone combination is so sorely lacking that it creates enough distortion to overwhelm any benefit that tweaking the SNR from 90 - 98 gets you. We're talking edge of hearing stuff on noise, but typical headphones/amp combos absolutely trash the sound when it hits peaks because the voltage just isn't there to drive the headphones. So really, who cares if you've got a 98db SNR if your headphones need 3 times the voltage at peak response than your system can produce. Your sound will be mud. Noiseless mud, but still mud.

Now if you kick out the bucks for a set of Etymotic ER4Ss and a portable amp (great gear available from Headroom Corporation) then you've got yourself in a position where that 98db SNR is something you'll care about. Unfortunately for me, I've done both and I have an iPod so I am a little bummed that a better piece of gear has hit the market.

I'll have to console myself with iTunes, which is a very sweet piece of music management software (and the iTunes music store makes making playlists so cool - essentially that perfect song to round out the set that you can't find in your own collection is available for a buck - I wanted Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" the other day and there it was for a buck - very happy inducing).

But iTunes won't make my iPod hit 98db SNR.

[Asher]

The thing that sold me most on a Zen vs the iPod was how much cheaper the Zen was, how the Zen supports WMA and the iPod doesn't (90% of my music is in WMA format). The real kicker was the Zen's 14hr sticker (11hr real world) battery life versus the iPod's 8hr sticker battery life.

[- Groucho -]

Almost all my stuff is mp3 so I'm platform agnostic. I bought the iPod because at the time it was the only serious choice (I've had it for two years). I've had all sorts of issues with digital cameras behaving oddly with both Macs and Wintels so I wanted to avoid compatibility issues. My home computer is currently a Mac and mac stuff works pretty much seemlessly with mac stuff.

What kind of headphones are you using? If you're just using stock cans I would highly recommend www.headphone.com. Great selection and great info to help choose just the right gear. And no, I don't work for them.

[Asher]

I use Sennheiser PX200's, because they're