iRiver H320 v Ipod Video 30GB

Big Nelly

Hi Everyone

Was just wondering of these two which would be the best, going to buy my first MP3 player so looking at the 2 of these, I know about creative but have loads of tunes downloaded on iTunes so dont want to lose them, just looking for which would be the best player for music and vid, dont care about pics, have digital camera for that

cormie

iRiver H320 is no longer in production so you may have difficulty finding it. The H320 is a brilliant player and with RockBox (www.rockbox.org) has a brilliant firmware too. iRiver have always been far superior to iPod in terms of "music" players but iPods latest range, the new generation have an 80GB and 30GB model which are very competitively priced (€399 from the Irish store or if you have anyone in America who could buy it and post it to you, it will cost just under €300. That's for the 80GB, which in my opinion is extremely good value).

Apple have seemed to have made some improvements such as battery time and firmware and the selling point for me would be the fact that rockbox is now also supported for the iPod. The iRiver has been given independant tests and compared with older generations of iPod, has come out superior with sound quality. I've heard the iPod sound quality has improved though. The only real advantage the H320 now has over iPod is recording and radio. If you were to compare the H140/H120 with iPod, I could give you more reasons to go for the H140 over the iPod such as optical in and out, an included LCD remote control and even though it's 2 years old, it's still the best digital audio player out there.

I own the latter myself and it's brilliant, it's served me so well for the 2 years I've had it and even though it's quite chunky compared to the recent models of iPod and other brands, I can still be assured I can't get anything better for my music. However, I personally don't have anything I can use the optical ports with, I never use radio and very very rarely record. I also never use the LCD remote and once I get the money together, I'm going to probably buy the new 80GB iPod.

I have always been advising against iPod, overpriced, feature empty, etc etc but this new range has certainly changed my oppinion of them. Great price and as I said, with the addition of RockBox, has now got a brilliant firmware. If the product changes for the better, so will my oppinion and it certainly has. One of the main reasons I'd be upgrading from the H140 to the 80GB iPod, is because it's double the capacity. I just hate having to delete songs off my drive to allow room for new music, this wouldn't really be a problem if I had double the space.

With regards the H320 vs the iPod 30GB, well it depends what 30GB model you are talking about, an old one or a new one? How much will it cost? If it was a 20GB iPod vs a 20GB H320, same price, I'd definitely go with the iRiver. If you put two an iPod and iRiver with the exact same specs and price beside eachoher, I'd always choose the iRiver based on their renowned superior sound quality. Any model other than the latest iPod, I'm definitely going with the iRiver too. Is the extra 10GB a big factor for you? How about the H340? Or even the H140 (you can buy mine:D)? If you let me know exactly what you want from it I can give a more clear cut decision but as I said, same specs, same price, iRiver will definitely get my custom.

Big Nelly

Both are second hand, so prob be better for the iRiver, the H320 is 20GB isnt it?

Sorry just seen about your requirements, there is not many really, just need a good MP3 player that maybe I could stick on a few episode of Family Guy etc for a plane trip. Also that I can use it with the radio in the car for long trips. Going to Oz next year and going to drive everywhere so that would be handy, alot better than crap Oz radio anyway!! thats about it and the Oz thing is the major factor at the moment for it. Use a laptop so have all 20GB of music on it(alot of crap thou) so would prob just fill up around 5GB of music on it!

cormie

You wont be able to pick up international radio while in OZ, the radio in the iRiver will be no different to any other radio in OZ. The iPod, the new generation one anyway, will definitely be better for video. If you could let me know what generation iPod and what price they both are.

Big Nelly

cormie wrote:

You wont be able to pick up international radio while in OZ, the radio in the iRiver will be no different to any other radio in OZ. The iPod, the new generation one anyway, will definitely be better for video. If you could let me know what generation iPod and what price they both are.

Both are second hand so prob about a year old, I havent a clue about gen etc

Nah was tlaking about the thing you get for the car to tune the car stereo into the Ipod. I would guess that works with the iRiver and would work in Oz

cormie

Yeah, if they are both about a year old, it sounds like the iRiver is the one to go for alright.

For info on connection an MP3 player to your car, read this.

Big Nelly

cormie wrote:

Yeah, if they are both about a year old, it sounds like the iRiver is the one to go for alright.

For info on connection an MP3 player to your car, read this.

yeah going for the iRiver and will get the transmitter, have a Passat with built in stereo so no line in and no cassette!! thanks for the help man!! very helpful and interesting!! let hope I get the iRiver now

cormie

Your stereo may have an aux in connection at the back of it. Just pull it out and have a look, fm trasmittor is terrible compared to a direct line in. Good luck with it:)

Big Nelly

cormie wrote:

Your stereo may have an aux in connection at the back of it. Just pull it out and have a look, fm trasmittor is terrible compared to a direct line in. Good luck with it:)

yeah there prob is, must have a look, old Passat was easy to pull out stereo(hence why I ended up changing it every 2 months) so will look if new one is as easy!!

http://www.adverts.ie/showproduct.php?product=7841&cat=32

Thats the one I am looking at:D

Big Nelly

How much for your one by the way? is it 10GB?

cormie

Seems like you got a good deal:) Mine is 40GB, I'd be selling mine for hopefully double what you got that for, it's a very sought after DAP (digital audio player) as they aren't in production anymore and as I said, they are still the best for music. Just a matter of putting it up on eBay.

Big Nelly

I guess these run on the litium battery and they dont have the problem the early Ipods did?

cormie

yup, iRiver are fine for battery life:)