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Is that player comparison site still around, or do you have a recommendation for someone who has long had the thought of getting a dedicated music playing devic

Is that player comparison site still around, or do you have a recommendation for someone who has long had the thought of getting a dedicated music playing device? The article listed those as $800, which is ridiculous and there's no way I'm paying that much, but if I can find something at a much more reasonable price (preferably a physical headphone jack) I'd be happy as a clam.

omnicognate 4y ago
I used to have one that cost me around £200 and was alright but sounded pretty anaemic. I replaced it with one that cost around £600 and is way better. I love it. Comments of the form "price X is unreasonable because I'd never pay it" are mildly annoying. You're an individual, not a market, and as such don't get to choose what a "reasonable" price is. DAPs (digital audio players) are available at a wide range of prices. The top result for "MP3 player" on Amazon UK right now is £23.99. Choose a price point you're happy with and you'll find something. I love mine at the price point I went for. (I've also had one for around £50, bought a couple of ~£20 ones for my small children and owned a couple of different DAC dongles for my phone. Unsurprisingly, the sound quality is very highly correlated with the price, up to the level I've tried. I expect it levels out not far above, though, and if you decide to pay thousands for a DAP they'll make it out of gold-plated copper because there's nothing else left to use the money on. [1]) [1] https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z
- tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
  > Comments of the form "price X is unreasonable because I'd never pay it" are mildly annoying. You're an individual, not a market, and as such don't get to choose what a "reasonable" price is. When my gf wanted an adjustable standing desk the going rate was roughly $600 for anything that had everything she wanted so I built it myself for maybe $200 and the thing is still being used regularly something like 8 years later. When I want a physical copy of an older PS2 game and they're all $100+, I pirate it. If _YOU_ want to outsource personal responsibility for your money, that's on you, don't lecture me because I choose not to. I can conclude that millions for a painting is unreasonable despite many people doing it because they're involved in money laundering just as well as anyone else.
  - omnicognate 4y ago
    I seem to have got under your skin. It wasn't my intention and I apologise if I caused offense, but I don't retract what I said. You've described ways you've obtained things for less than market price in exchange for extra effort or legal risk, not reasons the market price should be anything other than what it is, which is determined by what people will pay, collectively.
    - tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
      two comments made by others in this conversation: > Ok, at that price point (or even a quarter of that) it ceases to be a music player to become a luxury good to be shown by paid influencers on social media. Nothing to see here, move along... > If you think that is bad, check out the Walkman NW-WM1ZM2 (who at Sony thinks that these names are a good idea?) for a cool $3500 Your response is what everyone will sound like once our robot overlords finally take over. It certainly didn't come from an understanding of the human condition.
      - omnicognate 4y ago
        Further examples of the same attitude. Such comments are common, which is why I find them "mildly annoying". I suggest you find a healthier pastime than getting upset about what other people are buying. In the meantime, I'll spend my money however I please. Maybe I'll buy a gold plated Walkman. They look shiny.
        tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
        It's common for people to point out that something is overpriced?!? Why that can't be, after all, "the market" sez... And if I tell you that your obvious poking has angered me, will you feel sufficiently positive to walk away from this conversation? I guess we'll see.
        omnicognate 4y ago
        It's plain I angered you with my first reply, but it wasn't intended and I apologised. You replied rudely, so yes I had a bit of a poke, which I'm not particularly proud of. I don't try to wind people up and it doesn't give me pleasure to do so. It just seems especially easy in your case. It's possible to disagree with people on the internet without getting emotional about it. It's just a conversation about Walkmans. (Walkmen?)
fragmede 4y ago
Did I not read far enough into the article or something? It says $360 in Japan and $430 in the EU to me.
- fourthark 4y ago
  They discuss a higher end model at the end which costs more than $800.
  - tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
    I was skimming specifically looking for price and must have missed the earlier, cheaper, listings. And when they said that $818 price tag was "relatively cheap" I took that to mean that's the entry-level fee and decided to nope on out. I wouldn't even spend that much on my phone (spent less than half of that) so there's no way I'm spending that on another device, lol.
    - dagw 4y ago
      If you think that is bad, check out the Walkman NW-WM1ZM2 (who at Sony thinks that these names are a good idea?) for a cool $3500
- k1t 4y ago
  "There's another new Sony Walkman, the NW-ZX700. It's 104,500 yen ($818) in Japan, and while that sounds like a lot for a portable music player, it's actually a relative bargain compare..."
  - squarefoot 4y ago
    Ok, at that price point (or even a quarter of that) it ceases to be a music player to become a luxury good to be shown by paid influencers on social media. Nothing to see here, move along...
bondarchuk 4y ago
What you can do is look at the players supported on https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/ (open-source alternative firmware for mp3 players) and check which ones are currently available for purchase somewhere. From the top of my head I know at least Surfans F20 and Xduoo X3II shouldn't be hard to come by.
- tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
  interesting, thank you, I'll have to check that out.
- BHSPitMonkey 4y ago
  It warms my heart to see Rockbox still alive and kicking. Most of my experience with it took place around 2005-2007 (wow, we're getting old I guess!). Great project.
- squarefoot 4y ago
  I couldn't second that more. Rockbox is a wonderful 100% FOSS operating system for music players, and they're working hard to port it to new devices, almost always with zero help from manufacturers. HNers, please consider donating to the project, and/or if you have a old player collecting dust somewhere, also consider donating it to them so they'll have more hardware available for testing; when working with undocumented platforms the risk of bricking them is high, so it would help a lot.
csdvrx 4y ago
> The article listed those as $800, Oh it's middle of the line then? Because there are far more expensive Walkman models: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B354TW13/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B354TW13/ and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B45DJ5RQ/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B45DJ5RQ/ > which is ridiculous and there's no way I'm paying that much You forgot "for me" after "ridiculous." I turned myself into an audiophile without even realizing it, but once you hear the difference, you can't unhear it. I have rediscovered some of my favorite tracks. So if your hearing is good (use an app to check if you can still hear the buzz sound, if not check your response curve) and you enjoy music, why not? My regular audio setup (walkman, headphones, cable) cost more than the (very good, top of the line) OLED laptop I'm using. Add all the little extras I use time-to-time, like shoulder headphones for use in the morning, or the sunglasses with integrated bluetooth I use when taking a walk, and it's an obscene amount of money. But music is what moves my soul. You may spend top dollar for your car and consider it a "reasonable" expense because it brings you such happiness everyday? I consider a top-of-the-line NZW Walkman "reasonable" for the same reasons.
- tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
  [flagged]

omnicognate 4y ago

I used to have one that cost me around £200 and was alright but sounded pretty anaemic. I replaced it with one that cost around £600 and is way better. I love it. Comments of the form "price X is unreasonable because I'd never pay it" are mildly annoying. You're an individual, not a market, and as such don't get to choose what a "reasonable" price is. DAPs (digital audio players) are available at a wide range of prices. The top result for "MP3 player" on Amazon UK right now is £23.99. Choose a price point you're happy with and you'll find something. I love mine at the price point I went for. (I've also had one for around £50, bought a couple of ~£20 ones for my small children and owned a couple of different DAC dongles for my phone. Unsurprisingly, the sound quality is very highly correlated with the price, up to the level I've tried. I expect it levels out not far above, though, and if you decide to pay thousands for a DAP they'll make it out of gold-plated copper because there's nothing else left to use the money on. [1]) [1] https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/walkman/nw-wm1z

tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
> Comments of the form "price X is unreasonable because I'd never pay it" are mildly annoying. You're an individual, not a market, and as such don't get to choose what a "reasonable" price is. When my gf wanted an adjustable standing desk the going rate was roughly $600 for anything that had everything she wanted so I built it myself for maybe $200 and the thing is still being used regularly something like 8 years later. When I want a physical copy of an older PS2 game and they're all $100+, I pirate it. If _YOU_ want to outsource personal responsibility for your money, that's on you, don't lecture me because I choose not to. I can conclude that millions for a painting is unreasonable despite many people doing it because they're involved in money laundering just as well as anyone else.
- omnicognate 4y ago
  I seem to have got under your skin. It wasn't my intention and I apologise if I caused offense, but I don't retract what I said. You've described ways you've obtained things for less than market price in exchange for extra effort or legal risk, not reasons the market price should be anything other than what it is, which is determined by what people will pay, collectively.
  - tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
    two comments made by others in this conversation: > Ok, at that price point (or even a quarter of that) it ceases to be a music player to become a luxury good to be shown by paid influencers on social media. Nothing to see here, move along... > If you think that is bad, check out the Walkman NW-WM1ZM2 (who at Sony thinks that these names are a good idea?) for a cool $3500 Your response is what everyone will sound like once our robot overlords finally take over. It certainly didn't come from an understanding of the human condition.
    - omnicognate 4y ago
      Further examples of the same attitude. Such comments are common, which is why I find them "mildly annoying". I suggest you find a healthier pastime than getting upset about what other people are buying. In the meantime, I'll spend my money however I please. Maybe I'll buy a gold plated Walkman. They look shiny.
      - tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
        It's common for people to point out that something is overpriced?!? Why that can't be, after all, "the market" sez... And if I tell you that your obvious poking has angered me, will you feel sufficiently positive to walk away from this conversation? I guess we'll see.
        omnicognate 4y ago
        It's plain I angered you with my first reply, but it wasn't intended and I apologised. You replied rudely, so yes I had a bit of a poke, which I'm not particularly proud of. I don't try to wind people up and it doesn't give me pleasure to do so. It just seems especially easy in your case. It's possible to disagree with people on the internet without getting emotional about it. It's just a conversation about Walkmans. (Walkmen?)

fragmede 4y ago

Did I not read far enough into the article or something? It says $360 in Japan and $430 in the EU to me.

fourthark 4y ago
They discuss a higher end model at the end which costs more than $800.
- tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
  I was skimming specifically looking for price and must have missed the earlier, cheaper, listings. And when they said that $818 price tag was "relatively cheap" I took that to mean that's the entry-level fee and decided to nope on out. I wouldn't even spend that much on my phone (spent less than half of that) so there's no way I'm spending that on another device, lol.
  - dagw 4y ago
    If you think that is bad, check out the Walkman NW-WM1ZM2 (who at Sony thinks that these names are a good idea?) for a cool $3500
k1t 4y ago
"There's another new Sony Walkman, the NW-ZX700. It's 104,500 yen ($818) in Japan, and while that sounds like a lot for a portable music player, it's actually a relative bargain compare..."
- squarefoot 4y ago
  Ok, at that price point (or even a quarter of that) it ceases to be a music player to become a luxury good to be shown by paid influencers on social media. Nothing to see here, move along...

bondarchuk 4y ago

What you can do is look at the players supported on https://www.rockbox.org/ https://www.rockbox.org/ (open-source alternative firmware for mp3 players) and check which ones are currently available for purchase somewhere. From the top of my head I know at least Surfans F20 and Xduoo X3II shouldn't be hard to come by.

tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
interesting, thank you, I'll have to check that out.
BHSPitMonkey 4y ago
It warms my heart to see Rockbox still alive and kicking. Most of my experience with it took place around 2005-2007 (wow, we're getting old I guess!). Great project.
squarefoot 4y ago
I couldn't second that more. Rockbox is a wonderful 100% FOSS operating system for music players, and they're working hard to port it to new devices, almost always with zero help from manufacturers. HNers, please consider donating to the project, and/or if you have a old player collecting dust somewhere, also consider donating it to them so they'll have more hardware available for testing; when working with undocumented platforms the risk of bricking them is high, so it would help a lot.

csdvrx 4y ago

> The article listed those as $800, Oh it's middle of the line then? Because there are far more expensive Walkman models: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B354TW13/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B354TW13/ and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B45DJ5RQ/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B45DJ5RQ/ > which is ridiculous and there's no way I'm paying that much You forgot "for me" after "ridiculous." I turned myself into an audiophile without even realizing it, but once you hear the difference, you can't unhear it. I have rediscovered some of my favorite tracks. So if your hearing is good (use an app to check if you can still hear the buzz sound, if not check your response curve) and you enjoy music, why not? My regular audio setup (walkman, headphones, cable) cost more than the (very good, top of the line) OLED laptop I'm using. Add all the little extras I use time-to-time, like shoulder headphones for use in the morning, or the sunglasses with integrated bluetooth I use when taking a walk, and it's an obscene amount of money. But music is what moves my soul. You may spend top dollar for your car and consider it a "reasonable" expense because it brings you such happiness everyday? I consider a top-of-the-line NZW Walkman "reasonable" for the same reasons.

tjrDL6MjB2Zwwa 4y ago
[flagged]