Hi everyone! I'm Jasmine France, senior associate editor for MP3 and digital audio. Today, I'll be answering your questions about headphones and other MP3 player accessories. Please enter your queries in the form on the right and I'll try to answer them within the hour. Hit me with your best shot!
Thanks all for stopping in and asking some really good questions. Sorry I couldn't get to everyone. Please come by next time!
sorry for asking you so many times and thanks for the links, so u think the westone and the shure's are the best the um3's are to expensive so the shure 110 or westone um1 they are the same price so which earphoens for 110
thanks for all your help
It kind of boils down to earbud size versus style for me. I like the clear color and twisted cable of the Westones style-wise, but I like the smaller earbuds of the Shures.
which mp3 player do you perfer?!
Sony NWZ-A818
Meizu M6
creative zen
cowon d2
sandisk sansa view
these are generally around the same price range and all have similar storage
Between the Sony NWZ-A818 and the Creative Zen. My inclination goes slightly towards the Zen because it has an FM tuner and an SD card expansion slot, which I think makes it a better value. BUT the Sony excels in battery life.
when do u think the ipod with a 3.5/ 4 inch screen with a 30 or 60 gb hard drive will come out
Well...as in the Touch, but with a hard drive? I'm not sure that's in the cards. If it is, my guess would be next fall.
Hi Jasmine, I'm a huge fan and love all of your columns. You're both informative and beautiful. I'm looking for a new phone, but I want one that also doubles as an MP3 player.
Which do you recommend? The Nokia 95 or the iPhone?
Such flattery. Well, I don't review smartphones, so I don't have any experience with the Nokia 95. I've used the iPhone, and it's "fun", but I tend to lean towards non-touchscreens, so I might go for the N95.
That said, if you're a fan of iTunes, you may want to go the iPhone route.
ok thanks i thought the shures out all those you ussually rate them the highest so the se110 or 210 or even a different pair are u saying or a specific westone one and do u review westone earphones
They are both good, but the UM1s are cheaper and a little "less good." 
We're waiting on the UM3s to review as well.
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-headsets/westone-um1-single-driver/4505-6468_7-31694877.html?tag=prod.txt.3
http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-headsets/westone-um2-dual-driver/4505-6468_7-31694876.html?tag=prod.txt.1
Hi Jasmine,
Sorry, But being a regular follower of Cnet,
I am lost on Questions. Just browsing your Answers.
tc
Always fun to answer this: a Creative Zen V Plus, Shure E4cs (http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-headsets/shure-e4c/4505-6468_7-31429517.html?tag=prod.txt.1), and the Logitech mm32 (http://www.cnet.com/mp3-player-accessories/logitech-mm32-portable-speakers/4505-6519_7-31877526.html?tag=prod.txt.1).
On non-portable audio: a G4 iBook, and I don't even own a stereo or a TV worth noting. And I use a generic cassette adapter in the car. I also have a Rhapsody subscription.
ok so then out of those headphones which are the like 2 best or best earphones under 150 theres got to be 2 or 3 that stand out for that price range or for a good deal
Sorry...hit enter too soon.
All of those are good headphones, but you might go with the oldest ones. The reason I say that is because the older it gets, the cheaper it gets. So an older headphone might offer superior audio quality at the same price, or even a lower price. Personally, I find the Shures the most comfortable due to the foam eartips. Also, try Westones: http://reviews.cnet.com/4244-5_7-0.html?query=Westone&tag=srch&target=
Hey I was wondering what the best earphones are for under 100 or 150 dollars im looking for comfort sound quality and noise cancelling i am looking at the shure se 110, the etymotic er6I, and the ultimate ears super fi 3 studio, or the best v moda's, or the sony mdr nc 11, or the creative zen aurvana, or the senheiser cx 300, or the shure se210
I am looking for comfort, sound quality, and noise isolating, the best earphones out of those or under 150, what would be the best value also , if one pair is only slightly better but costs more then i would not want those
p.S i learned about all these headphones from your site
Do you think that Microsoft has WiFi internet capabilities planned for the Zune2 much like Apple has with Safari on the Touch? Seems like that's a software issue rather than hardware and could be upgraded much like the wireless sync is going to be for the original Zunes. Especially given that Bill Gates has said they expect software to be the Zune's advantage.
...I would think "maybe." I know they are planning a lot of software upgrades going forward even after the launch, so it's certainly not out of the question. However, with the lack of a touchscreen or keypad, the ability to browse full-on internet might be hindered, and in that case, I think they would avoid it.
Freq response is really a two-dimensional thing. If the mfr lists 8Hz-22kHz, they basically say that the headphone can produce sounds from a low (bass) freq of 8Hz to a high (treble) freq of 22kHz. BUT -- this tells you frequency "range," not "response." They would need to provide a plot of frequency vs amplitude to detail the response, and you usually don't get that information. A response that has small amplitude on the low (8Hz) end means bass is minimal, for example. You can use the freq response across the entire range to get a feel for whether you will have good bass/mid/high capabilities from the headphones.
Headroom Corporation (headphone.com) lists frequency responses for some of the headphones they sell.
I have been using URGE and now someone bought them up.
I do not care what service I use - just want to buy a few songs per month and have them reside on my hard drive as MP3. Seems I have to download then burn to CD and then rip to hard drive.
Their must be a simple way - is there?????
ps: I am senior citizen and new songs to burn to dvd slide shows (for my personal use).
Thanks
Bill
That's pretty much the easiest way. Another option is to stream them on your computer and use a recording software to grab them and save as MP3, but I tend to think that's a little more complicated, if less time consuming. Also, the legality of that method is suspect.
Hey Jasmine! Just finished listening to MP3 Insider. I am a Mac user and currently have as iPod 5.5 gen 30GB. I am sort of pleased, but there's always room for improvement such as bigger screen and more features. I would like the new Zunes, but again not Mac compatible. Any ideas? Need at least 30GB, more preferably, and as many features as possible. Oh yes, I would have to sell my iPod which I guess the best price for it is about $200, maybe, so nothing super expensive. One more thing, try to stay away from iPods, but if it's the only thing.. well. :)Thanks
You made that easy by saying "at least 30GB"...there are so few hard drive players left. The only ones I know of that work with Mac are the iPod and the Archos players, which are more specifically video players: http://reviews.cnet.com/4244-5_7-0.html?query=archos
I listen Music mainly on my dell laptop and recently brought a Mp3 player (not ipod family)
my question is "are HK and logitech speakers deliver much better quality than the Sony's 3cd Music system for 100 $ ?
A Sony MHCEC55-Mini Hi-Fi Component System 3 CD Changer
(Just Speakers system)
Logitech Z-2300 ,
Harman Kardon SoundSticks II
The price range is closely equal on all these three. ~100- 130$
PS:I do watch DVD-Movies too on the Laptop
imagine student in dorm
I actually don't review PC or home speakers, but I find that Sony and Logitech speakers in general offer pretty good sound quality. Also, check out Creative's desktop speakers (they make sound cards, so they must have something right).
How do the Sony noise cancelling ear buds rate.... they are no Shur's, but your thoughts? Any other recommendations in $50 to $100 price points? I was actually looking and the Sennheiser CX 300's
I'm not sure which Sony's you're referring to...can you be more specific?
This is a good place to start: http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-7877_7-229-102.html
Definitely check out older models of Shures and Etymotics for good deals. Ultimate Ears are also a good bet.
How do the Sony noise cancelling ear buds rate.... they are no Shur's, but your thoughts? Any other recommendations in $50 to $100 price points? I was actually looking and the Sennheiser CX 300's
I'm not sure which Sony's you're referring to...can you be more specific?
This is a good place to start: http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-7877_7-229-102.html
Definitely check out older models of Shures and Etymotics for good deals. Ultimate Ears are also a good bet.
There are a number of iPhone headphone/mic combinations that fix the restricted plug problem of the iPhone, and also enable regular headphones to handle calls, but they vary in price and function. What are the ones that you would recommend? I'm wary that the cheap ones won't have great mic pickup or won't be durable or will affect the sound.
These are pretty good, but durability of the cable might be an issue: http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones-headsets/v-moda-vibe-duo/4505-6468_7-32508531.html?tag=prod.txt.1.
There's also a pair that Shure makes, but I can't find it at the moment.
I have a few portable gadgets: PSP, couple of iPods, and laptop. And I'm looking for a decent pair of bluetooth headphones that are universal and not ipod specific. Can you recommend one that is not too bulky and has a decent battery life.
Thanks Jasmine!
http://reviews.cnet.com/Logitech_FreePulse_Wireless_Headphones/4505-6468_7-32110400.html?tag=txt
I'm looking for a high capacity music player with some video capabilities. I like the wireless sync option with the new Zunes. Is it worth it? Are there any other high capacity players out there I should consider?
Thanks.
Andy
In the world of wireless syncing, the Zune is it. The closes competitor would be the Sansa Connect (http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/sandisk-sansa-connect/4505-6490_7-32313153.html?tag=prod.txt.1), but as far as I know, that player doesn't yet offer WiFi syncing between the computer and the player; only wireless downloading from Yahoo.
I have to say, I just had a chance to play with the new Zune a bit, and I really like it so far. If you can get into a brick-and-mortar store when it comes out next week to try it out, I highly recommend it. Very easy-to-use player with an elegant interface and software. And--apparently--the WiFi syncing set-up is a no-brainer.
Hi Jasmine,
I recently took a friend headphone (earbud) shopping. He always bought some midrange priced stuff but I convinced him he should look at the dynamic range on the boxes.
He got something with a 8hz-22khz range and was shocked at how GOOD they sounded.
But when he asked me about Frequency Response (measured in decibels) I had no clue what to tell him.
What is Frequency Response and how does affect sound quality?
Thanks!
Jon-Mikel
To get really technical, I go to Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_response.
Honestly, a lot of headphone makers flub the frequency response numbers a bit, so it can be hard to tell what effect it's going to have based on the specs on the box.
Update: Answer from member subspacetom:
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-12548_102-0.html?forumID=136&threadID=270159&tag=forum.fd#answer_2625223
Hi Jasmine,
Why did Creative stop making the Zen 30GB or 60 GB HDD player?
I'm quite sad about it myself. I talked to Creative about this when the flash-based Zen came out to replace the Zen Vision:M, and they didn't really offer any particular reason other than that they wanted to focus on flash. It may have something to do with flash being such a larger market in terms of MP3 player sales.
what do u think is the best mp3 player out there so far?
It really depends on the user. There are a lot of quality MP3 players available.
I've been using a Creative Zen V Plus for a long time now, so that's my choice for me. I'm also a fan of the Sony NWZ-A810, the iRiver Clix, the Creative Zen, and the Cowon D2.
I was relating that to another question. The Sony won't be directly compatible with iPod docks at all, but it should work with most iPod speaker systems, since they offer auxiliary line-input in most cases. It just won't be as elegant of a solution. Keep an eye on Sony's site, too, for upcoming accessories.
Hi Jasmine,
I have recently purchased a Creative Zen 16GB PMP and love it, especially after I added some nice Bose TriPort headphones - purchases all based on CNET reviews. Also just signed up for Napster-to-go and loving that too.
I'm looking for some nice aftermarket docking station-type units, high-end audio stuff like Bose or whomever. It doesn't have to be an actual docking station where the Zen docks and charges, just something with a 1/4 inch jack that plays and can fill a relatively large room with decent stereo sound.
Any ideas?
Scott
All of the options here have auxiliary line-input: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11289_7-6548207-1.html?tag=feat.1. Those are mostly portable, but--honestly--most made-for-iPod systems offer line-in, and since there are so many of those, it's a good place to start. Check out this list as well: http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6519_7-170-113.html. And Creative's site: us.creative.com
Since the iPod Touch has WiFi, are there any problems with using it to watch movies while on a plane? I know the iPhone has Wifi as well but thats a cell phone that cant be turned on when on a plane anyway. So I now wonder about the iTouch. I have one and love it, just wondering what will happen when I get on a plane.
Donald Bell reviewed the Touch and would know better, but I'm 98% sure it has an airplane mode as well. In fact, I'm nearly certain you can turn WiFi mode off easily. Using it on a plane should be no problem. More info here: http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/apple-ipod-touch-16gb/4505-6499_7-32595956.html
Hi Jasmine
I'm thinking buying a Zen V plus as a present for my wife, but this device is more than a year old and there are a lot of new devices in the market right now. So, its a good idea to go for the Zen V Plus?
Thanks!!
There are certainly newer players to be had--not the least of which is the new Creative Zen (http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/creative-zen-16gb/4505-6490_7-32589080.html), BUT I think the Zen V Plus is a great player (it's my player of choice, actually...I still use it daily), and you can get a great deal on it. It's a good choice for the gym, too, and has optional armbands available.
The Touch offers a larger screen and better resolution than the 5G iPod video. Also, the screen is glass (which is more scratch resistant)...I don't believe the 5G's was.
As for docks: it depends. If it's a dock that does video-out, you may have problems there, because all of the latest iPods handle video-out differently than their predecessors. I recommend checking Apple's site under iPod accessories to see what works with the Touch.
Unless you already have a library of protected iTunes content, I'd go with the Sony. The Sony NWZ-A810 series MP3 player is simply fantastic--I didn't give it an Editors' Choice for nothing! Personally, I think it sounds better than the Nano and offers the same array of features (it even supports AAC). Plus, it offers a stellar battery life.
Hi Jasmine
I am contemplating buying a touch. I own a IPOD video 80 gb which I love but since I started ripping my DVD's I would like to watch them on my Ipod on a larger screen when flying. Does the screen on the touch make a difference compared to teh Ipod Video?.
I carry 8 gb worth of Music so with 16gb I could carry 5-6 full length movies at the same time
So essential how good is the screen for movie watching on the move
regards
Bjoern
Plain and simple: the iPod Touch's wide screen is great for watching video. I definitely recommend it for that...especially if you're already accustomed to an iPod.
Fire away! I'll try to get to as many questions as possible before the end of the hour.
