What will replace ipod for quality portable music. ?

[teamsaint]

M

Is it compatible with Apple Music or does one have to go up the Amazon?

Well, happy to take questions, though not necessarily able to answer them, AG. .

Can't see anything about an app for Apple music after a quick look around, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
My main requirement was to play CDs that I have copied to micro SD.

There seems to be a spotify app, though I dont think i will bother with it.

Sorry I can't help more. Ask Beefy ! , he's bound to know.

[antongould]

Well, happy to take questions, though not necessarily able to answer them, AG. .

Can't see anything about an app for Apple music after a quick look around, but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
My main requirement was to play CDs that I have copied to micro SD.

There seems to be a spotify app, though I dont think i will bother with it.

Sorry I can't help more. Ask Beefy ! , he's bound to know.

Can it "do" the BBC radioplayer, or whatever it is called this week, so that you can download Breakfast and listen to it later "by the Fire"?

[teamsaint]

[QUOTE=antongould;522577]Can it "do" the BBC radioplayer, or whatever it is called this week, so that you can download Breakfast and listen to it later "by the Fire"?[/QUOTE]


I'm glad you asked me that,AG, as politicians say.

as it goes, the answer is that, once you have downloaded a multitude of so called" Apps" ( BBC Media Player, iplayer Radio and possibly BBC iplayer too,) you can.

at least I got as far as the " Download " icon, so pretty sure you can.
In fact a handy guide popped up saying as much.

and there is nothing better than a handy guide popping up.

why are there so many BBC iplayer apps? very confusing for the early adopter.

Edit : this new toy is a real boon when " working from home". no distraction at all, really.

honest.

[richardfinegold]

Has anyone any experience with the Pono?

[Dave2002]

I didn't appreciate the title of this thread until just now. I assumed that it was the end of lining/demise of the Classic which prompted the thread, but today I discovered that there don't seem to be any iPods of any kind on the Apple Store, though John Lewis does have some models, but with limited memory capacity. Clearly the assumption is that most end users will have iPhones, but that's not necessarily the case. There are now quite a lot of Android users, but the phones may not have enough space to function as portable music devices.

i must read the earlier posts to see if I can find some recommended devices which will at least have some compatiblity with Apple kit - though not necessarily with iTunes, and also with a large amount of storage available. I am not looking for any reliance on clouds of any sort - the device must be capable of functioning most of the time without any network interaction.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Has anyone any experience with the Pono?

Richard - I think the interval since your post indicates that no-one has the Pono. The commentary about it is somewhat lacklustre or perhaps verging on scathing - an answer to a problem that does not exist? (For most people, anyway). The portable players from Fiio and iBasso etc - at reasonable cost and allowing use of micro sd cards for storage are getting good reviews. Even the monthly Hi Fi mags are desisting from damning them with faint praise - unusual for products that are not priced to include a very full margin for promotion (=advertising) budgets.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I didn't appreciate the title of this thread until just now. I assumed that it was the end of lining/demise of the Classic which prompted the thread, but today I discovered that there don't seem to be any iPods of any kind on the Apple Store, though John Lewis does have some models, but with limited memory capacity. Clearly the assumption is that most end users will have iPhones, but that's not necessarily the case. There are now quite a lot of Android users, but the phones may not have enough space to function as portable music devices.

i must read the earlier posts to see if I can find some recommended devices which will at least have some compatiblity with Apple kit - though not necessarily with iTunes, and also with a large amount of storage available. I am not looking for any reliance on clouds of any sort - the device must be capable of functioning most of the time without any network interaction.

The iPod Touch 6G seems to the the top model now with a memory capacity of up to 128Gb - rather more than my iPod Classic 80Gb.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-iPod-Touch-128GB/dp/B018KTR5C8/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1449532921&sr=8-15&keywords=ipod+touch+6g+128gb

[Dave2002]

The iPod Touch 6G seems to the the top model now with a memory capacity of up to 128Gb - rather more than my iPod Classic 80Gb.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Apple-iPod-T...touch+6g+128gb

Thanks for this. Apple's own UK website seems navigationally challenged, which led me to think such devices had been discontinued, though JL still sell them - plus with a 2 year guarantee. Try to find that or similar items from Apple's top menu! However, a search for "iPod Touch" reveals this - http://www.apple.com/uk/ipod-touch/

Looks nice enough I guess, but possibly the Sony PCM-M10 recorder, mentioned earlier in this thread, would be more use for some people - and cheaper - though perhaps not so easy to use for playback, but with good recording capabilities as well, and perhaps not so stylish - or pink! http://www.kenrockwell.com/audio/sony/pcm-m10.htm - currently around £209 at Amazon.

Other options seem to be to use a cheap tablet, such as a Kindle Fire - also mentioned here, or a Tesco Hudl - which could be obtained cheaply with their points doubling scheme. However, using a tablet - even a smallish 7 or 8 inch one - seems OTT when all that is needed is an easy to use music player.

[richardfinegold]

Richard - I think the interval since your post indicates that no-one has the Pono. The commentary about it is somewhat lacklustre or perhaps verging on scathing - an answer to a problem that does not exist? (For most people, anyway). The portable players from Fiio and iBasso etc - at reasonable cost and allowing use of micro sd cards for storage are getting good reviews. Even the monthly Hi Fi mags are desisting from damning them with faint praise - unusual for products that are not priced to include a very full margin for promotion (=advertising) budgets.

Agreed. I have been using my Android Phone with MP3 files and Spotify for portable use and been happy. Now however after an update of the phone OS whenever I insert a headphone cord it activates the Android "assistant" that keeps asking how it can help me (decorum prohibits me from quoting my answer). The Bluetooth isn't affected so that is what I am using. I wasted an hour in the phone place where they couldn't fix it and claimed that wasn't covered by the Warranty.
My local hi Fi dealer only carries the Pono which besides being more than I want to pay has generated such controversy that it scares me. Any of the other players you mention are Internet only, and I hate the thought of ordering something that doesn't work and then hassling with the retailer.
I could get a new phone, perhaps an I phone, but I fear that eventually something similar to my current experience will recur, where the music playback function will run afoul of some other computer function.

[Dave2002]

I could get a new phone, perhaps an I phone, but I fear that eventually something similar to my current experience will recur, where the music playback function will run afoul of some other computer function.

I really don't want myself, or anyone else in my family to buy into one of the subscription phone packages. They are good for some people, but terrible for others.

Re multiple functionality, it isn't always a good thing. I took one of our cars for a quote for damage done while it was sitting idly in a car park very recently (nobody cares, reporting to the police a complete waste of time, more trouble than it's worth) and a local body work specialist came up with a quite reasonable repair quote under £400, so will go with that. As he took the boot lid apart to decide how much to charge he commented that some cars have ridiculous problems. Allegedly there's a VW model which requires a £1000 upgrade if there are problems with the interior light - because the manufacturers have wired it through a complex electronic sub system. He quoted a few other mad car related problems.

[Cockney Sparrow]

Agreed. I have been using my Android Phone with MP3 files and Spotify for portable use and been happy. Now however after an update of the phone OS whenever I insert a headphone cord it activates the Android "assistant" that keeps asking how it can help me (decorum prohibits me from quoting my answer). The Bluetooth isn't affected so that is what I am using. I wasted an hour in the phone place where they couldn't fix it and claimed that wasn't covered by the Warranty.
My local hi Fi dealer only carries the Pono which besides being more than I want to pay has generated such controversy that it scares me. Any of the other players you mention are Internet only, and I hate the thought of ordering something that doesn't work and then hassling with the retailer.
I could get a new phone, perhaps an I phone, but I fear that eventually something similar to my current experience will recur, where the music playback function will run afoul of some other computer function.

Richard I have an Android, and I subscribe to Google Play Music all access (equivalent to Spotify) and I could upload my own tracks to it(the minor areas it does not already have) if i decide to stick with it long term. i haven't yet been importuned by an Android Assistant but would persist in trying to find the way I could avoid it (actually with paying £10 pm for the Google Play they do offer support - they will ring back and help, so that might be a way of getting help as headphone connection is a music playing issue...).

My one big reservation is that any software system gives control to the provider - Apple impose an iTunes upgrade to a new version, and that can take away facilities I value because they consider it of no relevance, or its not possible with new software, or something else seems better or makes them money. And they are all at it - Microsoft, Google (as in Android) as well.

The fiio/ibasso players, I think (I'd have to check this) use non proprietary (or anyway, not from these three) means of loading, indexing, retrieving and playing music on the go - and as the quality is there (even I read, the beloved for some, Hi Res formats) and they compete on price, that is the way I will go when I'm alienated from Android and Google Play. And also - replaceable batteries and longer life - hopefully more than a few years. Smartphones, sealed with no replaceable battery means its only a few years before the unit has to go away for a battery replacement (or the logic steers towards a newer smartphone given the cost....).

I'd be (am) willing to take a risk on buying via Amazon after a good amount of research on the product (and yes I would also consider a recorder like the Sony). I appreciate what you are saying - its can be good to deal face to face, where you can go back to get support. However, walking into a dealer also carries the risk of having the product they sell foisted on me, rather than the most appropriate for my needs (which has happened to me in the past, despite my self image that I am immune to the tactics of salesmen!).

Best of luck with getting rid of "The Assistant".

[richardfinegold]

Richard I have an Android, and I subscribe to Google Play Music all access (equivalent to Spotify) and I could upload my own tracks to it(the minor areas it does not already have) if i decide to stick with it long term. i haven't yet been importuned by an Android Assistant but would persist in trying to find the way I could avoid it (actually with paying £10 pm for the Google Play they do offer support - they will ring back and help, so that might be a way of getting help as headphone connection is a music playing issue...).

My one big reservation is that any software system gives control to the provider - Apple impose an iTunes upgrade to a new version, and that can take away facilities I value because they consider it of no relevance, or its not possible with new software, or something else seems better or makes them money. And they are all at it - Microsoft, Google (as in Android) as well.

The fiio/ibasso players, I think (I'd have to check this) use non proprietary (or anyway, not from these three) means of loading, indexing, retrieving and playing music on the go - and as the quality is there (even I read, the beloved for some, Hi Res formats) and they compete on price, that is the way I will go when I'm alienated from Android and Google Play. And also - replaceable batteries and longer life - hopefully more than a few years. Smartphones, sealed with no replaceable battery means its only a few years before the unit has to go away for a battery replacement (or the logic steers towards a newer smartphone given the cost....).

I'd be (am) willing to take a risk on buying via Amazon after a good amount of research on the product (and yes I would also consider a recorder like the Sony). I appreciate what you are saying - its can be good to deal face to face, where you can go back to get support. However, walking into a dealer also carries the risk of having the product they sell foisted on me, rather than the most appropriate for my needs (which has happened to me in the past, despite my self image that I am immune to the tactics of salesmen!).

Best of luck with getting rid of "The Assistant".

The Sony scared me because I've seen reviews--including a scathing one by Brit on You Tube--that state it has file incompatibility with Macs, and that is what I use.
Ken Kessler, Audio Guru, also blasted the Pono for similar issues in Hi Fi News. Sony Customer Support also gets excoriated on Internet Forums, so if it doesn't work out of the box, I guess you are SOL.

[Dave2002]

My one big reservation is that any software system gives control to the provider - Apple impose an iTunes upgrade to a new version, and that can take away facilities I value because they consider it of no relevance, or its not possible with new software, or something else seems better or makes them money. And they are all at it - Microsoft, Google (as in Android) as well.

That is no little concern. With a quick flick of a software switch, which the end user might not notice, a provider can do terrible things, or things which are not wanted. My major concern is that I really don't want any of my files diverted to cloud storage, but Apple and Google, and probably Microsoft too, seem determined to enable and then force that. I am now vigilant about where things go to, as I'm sure I've detected a few attempts by companies to divert my data without my suspecting, and they weren't even hackers, but supposedly reputable companies.

[richardfinegold]

That is no little concern. With a quick flick of a software switch, which the end user might not notice, a provider can do terrible things, or things which are not wanted. My major concern is that I really don't want any of my files diverted to cloud storage, but Apple and Google, and probably Microsoft too, seem determined to enable and then force that. I am now vigilant about where things go to, as I'm sure I've detected a few attempts by companies to divert my data without my suspecting, and they weren't even hackers, but supposedly reputable companies.

I was just about to ditch my i tunes music server (a Mac Air running itunes into a firewire dac) because I have the Bluesound Music Server, rendering the Mac redundant.
I noticed that i tunes was now storing my collection "in the cloud". I don't remember ever authorizing this. Actually, it turns out to be a good thing, as I now can pull all the cds that I've burned and discarded from my ipad and my wife's i phone, but it still creeps me out.

[Beef Oven!]

Two and a bit years on and I’m moving on from the FiiO X3 2nd Generation that I bought in 2015. I’ll be keeping it, coupled with am Oppo HA-2 portable amp/DAC that I use with my AKG 702 headphones when I’m listening at home. Excellent sound quality, especially with good quality downloads and ripped Japanese CDs.

I’ve ordered an Astell & Kern AK70 (a modest model, not one of their £3k jobbies!). Will be using it for on the go with my RHA T-20 in-ear monitors. Apparently the player can stream via wi-fi the TIDAL music streaming service, but not Qobuz. I really hope Astell & Kern do a deal with Qobuz in the future. I’d never heard of TIDAL and a quick look through their catalogue suggests that their classical catalogue is nowhere near as good as Qobuz.

It’s all in keeping with my move away from CDs to downloads. Some of those Hi-REs downloads are superb. Whether it’s because of the bit-rate, I don’t know - I can rarely tell the difference between Hi-Res and 320 kbps! I guess it’s got more to do with the quality of the recording in the first place rather than the processing.

Anyone else got an A&K device?