Question on Music & Play:

Which is a better player in terms of audio quality? The Apple iPod touch or the Sony Walkman NW-A808?

Submitted by CNET Asia reader, via email

Answer:

Both Apple and Sony are companies that have consistently produced MP3 players with excellent sound quality. It's really hard to conclusively say which one is better. You can't really go wrong with either.

Do you already have a pair of decent headphones? If not, and you will be using the headphones that come with your new MP3 player, that I've got to say that the NW-A808 will be a better choice. It comes with an excellent pair of earphones--much better than the stock earbuds that come with the iPods. A good pair of headphones drastically improves the quality of music produced, so don't overlook this.

penghulu

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penghulu says...
Yes I truely agreed... it's similar in a situation when i had to choose to buy ipod nano or sony NWZ-S618F/B. At last i'd choose sony NWZ-S618F/B for it's great earphone. But for the one who likes fancy, choose ipod.

Mar 22, 2008 03:33

Hudhee

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Hudhee says...
In term of sound quality, it may be true at last...but how about video playback, "touch" experience? There are several Ipod touch features you should consider indeed.
I may self will vote for Ipod touch, since I always trust third party headphone brands such as Sennheiser, Mylar, etc. So, I will not use the headphone that come with the player either.
I am now tied with Samsung MP3 player and Sennheiser Headphone, a top value combination.

Mar 25, 2008 20:09

snah

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snah says...
If you are going to go with third party earphones, I advise you to go with ipod touch, I have heard somewhere that the ipod touch is the best DAP, plus it has some "touch" experience like Hudhee said in the earlier post, and ipod has many accessories available. But if you do not want to change your earphone, go with Sony. their earphones is so much better that apple's hahhaha.

Mar 30, 2008 13:30

dran1xx

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dran1xx says...
Here i'd like to actually ask then - i'm sure the hardware itself within the player itself has differentiations in terms of sound reproduction - irregardless of the headphones/earphones used?

Assuming one were to compare side by side -barebones- the iPod Touch with the Sony player - same high quality headphones (eg the benchmark Shure E2C earbuds), same high definition sound source etc. which player would then edge the other out?
Contrast that with the multitude of options available such as the selection of EQs available from the iPod, or Sony's well-publicized MegaBass addition, this muddies the competition further - so i think CNET has a thankless job of having to suss all this out.
I ask this because i have always stuck with 3rd party earphones, so the actual sound reproduction capability of the product in question is of paramount importance to me, coupled with little extras such as the ability to customize my own EQ bands, as well as other tidbits like SRS WOW effects may turn out to be deal-breakers in my consideration of products.

Mar 31, 2008 23:39