Should i buy the X5 or go for Ipod 60Gb with rockbox

fernandose · 07-13-2006, 11:42

Hey,
after hours and hours of research into different MP3 players i find myself going round in circles (which is common when researching a product you want to buy)

Ok basically these are my needs for an ideal mp3 player

+ 60GB harddrive
+ photo feature
+ OGG (is a must)

Ive been doing some extensive reading on the iAudio X5 and found that while it offers more features than other mp3 players it does lack in some areas, (inability to browse by ID3)

Then i found out about rockbox and its partner the ipod. Which looks like a great combination as the ipod has everything but advance features (like codec compatibility, equalizier etc..)

so im asking what do you think i should go for

iAudio X5 60GB (£204)
OR
Ipod 60GB with Rockbox (slightly leaning towards to the ipod) (£234)

i am aware that you can use the rockbox with the iAudio but i don't know which is better.

drizek · 07-13-2006, 11:48

that depends. The ipod has a better lcd, but the X5 is 30 pounds cheaper, has an FM radio, USB OTG, better default firmware and better sound quality.

fernandose · 07-13-2006, 12:13

thats true. This truely is a tough choice.

rockbox + x5
- won't work with remote
- won't work with videos
- drain on battery (?)

rockbox + iPod
- won't work with videos

But im correct in saying that you can switch to original firmware easily?

Has anyone done a sound comparison between the ipod and x5, just want to know by how much is it better than the ipod

bk0 · 07-13-2006, 18:14

The X5 remote is very close to being supported with Rockbox, and the battery drain issue has been mostly fixed. It mainly comes down to the screen resolution and maybe FM radio.

HiMDforMe · 07-13-2006, 18:27

how's the battery life with rockbox on the ipod?
regarding sound quality it depends how sensitive you are. if you use fairly cheap headphones, or use lower quality bitrates for your music files it won't really make much difference what player you get in my opinion. and with rockbox, the ipod gets a lot more eq options. since you listed the photo feature as a top need that would suggest the ipod is better just because it has a better screen resolution, although the x5 does have more colors. so the differences are controls, fm radio, screen, battery life, usb otg. i think the 60gb ipod has a longer battery life than the others. anyway, decide what features are more important and go with it. i believe with rockbox the ipod becomes UMS so thats a big improvement over itunes and all that. i like the x5, but millions of others like the ipod - and thats without rockbox.

afruff23 · 07-13-2006, 18:28

Yes, you can switch to the original firmware easily. The battery drain issue is gone and it(X5L) has better battery life than the iPod 60 GB. The X5 60 GB is probably the same as the iPod 60 GB now in battery life in rockbox because the iPod's second core isn't utilized so it has shortened battery life.

The X5's default firmware supports OGG and photos(a little slow though). The iPod OF doesn't support OGG and requires iTunes to transfer photos. Doesn't iTunes automatically downsize the photos when transferring?

The iPod doesn't support USB-OTG and probably never will, although it has a very overpriced 3rd-party accessory which reads memory cards. The X5 OF supports USB-OTG, so you can transfer photos from your camera and view them(if they're a certain size; my 5 MP images show up just fine).

doniago · 07-13-2006, 20:22

Moved to comparisons.

afruff23 · 07-13-2006, 22:07

@doniago, You don't have to say "moved to comparisons", unless the evil exity has imposed certain rules on you.

In other forums, threads get moved without the moderator posting. Since we use the vBulletin system, it automatically creates a link in the forum where the thread was moved from to where the thread was moved. vBulletin is one of the best forum systems I've used especially its advanced search and bolding of topics with unread posts.

doniago · 07-13-2006, 23:21

(sniffle) I was just trying to be helpful... (runs off sobbing)

21 Turbo · 07-17-2006, 02:57

Hey Fernandose

Where can you buy a 60GB player for that money in the UK? Surely you’ve made a mistake.

Regards

Chris

afruff23 · 07-17-2006, 15:25

Well, that's more expenisve than here in the US. Sucks to live in europe and be a DAP lover.

fernandose · 07-18-2006, 01:19

Just to let you know that i decided to buy the X5 60GB and managed to get it for £198 without accessories, then had it shipped directly to UK over the weekend (arrived yesterday) for $45.

Not bad eh?

this is where i purchased my X5 player: http://shurl.net/Ue

astrangelove · 07-19-2006, 19:57

'. . .'

fernandose · 07-20-2006, 05:02

yup im glad i stuck with the iAudio.

My next step is having a go with rockbox

ade333 · 07-25-2006, 18:13

I just got my X5 60gb today and was hard pressed between this and an iriver H140 / H340. I haven't even touched rockbox yet and I am so happy i picked the X5. I was really concerned about using the thumb trigger because a lot of people said it was annoying but I actually like it - so easy to use and quick.

07-13-2006, 11:42	#1
fernandose Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 19	Should i buy the X5 or go for Ipod 60Gb with rockbox Hey, after hours and hours of research into different MP3 players i find myself going round in circles (which is common when researching a product you want to buy) Ok basically these are my needs for an ideal mp3 player + 60GB harddrive + photo feature + OGG (is a must) Ive been doing some extensive reading on the iAudio X5 and found that while it offers more features than other mp3 players it does lack in some areas, (inability to browse by ID3) Then i found out about rockbox and its partner the ipod. Which looks like a great combination as the ipod has everything but advance features (like codec compatibility, equalizier etc..) so im asking what do you think i should go for iAudio X5 60GB (£204) OR Ipod 60GB with Rockbox (slightly leaning towards to the ipod) (£234) i am aware that you can use the rockbox with the iAudio but i don't know which is better.

07-13-2006, 20:22	#7
doniago I, Like, Do Stuff Here. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 4,651	Moved to comparisons. __________________ DonIago Iron Mod "When you do things right, people won't be sure you did anything at all."

07-13-2006, 23:21	#9
doniago I, Like, Do Stuff Here. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burlington, VT Posts: 4,651	(sniffle) I was just trying to be helpful... (runs off sobbing) __________________ DonIago Iron Mod "When you do things right, people won't be sure you did anything at all."

07-17-2006, 02:57	#10
21 Turbo Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 7	Too Cheap(Fernandose) Hey Fernandose Where can you buy a 60GB player for that money in the UK? Surely you’ve made a mistake. Regards Chris

07-18-2006, 01:19	#12
fernandose Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 19	Just to let you know that i decided to buy the X5 60GB and managed to get it for £198 without accessories, then had it shipped directly to UK over the weekend (arrived yesterday) for $45. Not bad eh? this is where i purchased my X5 player: http://shurl.net/Ue Last edited by doniago; 07-19-2006 at 13:15..

07-13-2006, 11:48	#2
drizek Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 24	that depends. The ipod has a better lcd, but the X5 is 30 pounds cheaper, has an FM radio, USB OTG, better default firmware and better sound quality.

07-13-2006, 12:13	#3
fernandose Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 19	thats true. This truely is a tough choice. rockbox + x5 - won't work with remote - won't work with videos - drain on battery (?) rockbox + iPod - won't work with videos But im correct in saying that you can switch to original firmware easily? Has anyone done a sound comparison between the ipod and x5, just want to know by how much is it better than the ipod

07-13-2006, 18:14	#4
bk0 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 183	The X5 remote is very close to being supported with Rockbox, and the battery drain issue has been mostly fixed. It mainly comes down to the screen resolution and maybe FM radio.

07-13-2006, 18:27	#5
HiMDforMe Rockbox5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 995	how's the battery life with rockbox on the ipod? regarding sound quality it depends how sensitive you are. if you use fairly cheap headphones, or use lower quality bitrates for your music files it won't really make much difference what player you get in my opinion. and with rockbox, the ipod gets a lot more eq options. since you listed the photo feature as a top need that would suggest the ipod is better just because it has a better screen resolution, although the x5 does have more colors. so the differences are controls, fm radio, screen, battery life, usb otg. i think the 60gb ipod has a longer battery life than the others. anyway, decide what features are more important and go with it. i believe with rockbox the ipod becomes UMS so thats a big improvement over itunes and all that. i like the x5, but millions of others like the ipod - and thats without rockbox.

07-13-2006, 18:28	#6
afruff23 Hater of Epithets Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,062	Yes, you can switch to the original firmware easily. The battery drain issue is gone and it(X5L) has better battery life than the iPod 60 GB. The X5 60 GB is probably the same as the iPod 60 GB now in battery life in rockbox because the iPod's second core isn't utilized so it has shortened battery life. The X5's default firmware supports OGG and photos(a little slow though). The iPod OF doesn't support OGG and requires iTunes to transfer photos. Doesn't iTunes automatically downsize the photos when transferring? The iPod doesn't support USB-OTG and probably never will, although it has a very overpriced 3rd-party accessory which reads memory cards. The X5 OF supports USB-OTG, so you can transfer photos from your camera and view them(if they're a certain size; my 5 MP images show up just fine).

07-13-2006, 22:07	#8
afruff23 Hater of Epithets Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,062	@doniago, You don't have to say "moved to comparisons", unless the evil exity has imposed certain rules on you. In other forums, threads get moved without the moderator posting. Since we use the vBulletin system, it automatically creates a link in the forum where the thread was moved from to where the thread was moved. vBulletin is one of the best forum systems I've used especially its advanced search and bolding of topics with unread posts.

07-17-2006, 15:25	#11
afruff23 Hater of Epithets Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,062	Well, that's more expenisve than here in the US. Sucks to live in europe and be a DAP lover.

07-19-2006, 19:57	#13
astrangelove Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 12	'. . .' Last edited by astrangelove; 05-10-2008 at 13:10..

07-20-2006, 05:02	#14
fernandose Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 19	yup im glad i stuck with the iAudio. My next step is having a go with rockbox

07-25-2006, 18:13	#15
ade333 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7	me too I just got my X5 60gb today and was hard pressed between this and an iriver H140 / H340. I haven't even touched rockbox yet and I am so happy i picked the X5. I was really concerned about using the thumb trigger because a lot of people said it was annoying but I actually like it - so easy to use and quick.

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