CNet article on battery life of DAPs, including X5L

MrMEC · 03-16-2006, 10:03

This article goes in depth about the battery life of various MP3 players, and compares the battery life of several DAPs including the iPod, X5L and Zen Vision M (and also says that the X5L is best). To sum up, the piece says that actual battery life is never what the manufacturer advertises. An interesting point I didn't really know much about was that DRM literally sucks the life out of your battery - another reason why DRM is evil.

Link:

http://www.mp3.com/features/stories/3646.html

Arachnophilia · 04-05-2006, 01:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by the article

The Cowon iAudio X5L, on the other hand, tested at 27 hours when it was rated for 35.

what?

that's a pretty significant difference... is the non-L as overrated? is cnet just crazy?

Zeus's Uncle · 04-05-2006, 12:58

That guy does a lot of stuff on mp3 players and batteries. Here's his list of mp3 players with top battery life: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-6471091-1.html

It sucks that the NW-HD5 is no longer available. Sony is definitely the dominant player when it comes to batteries in mp3 players. Not only do they last longer than other batteries out there, they charge faster, and on the NW-HD5, they are replaceable, meaning you can carry a spare. So nice!

GMan4911 · 04-05-2006, 14:36

The question that comes to my mind is why DRM would have such a large drain on the battery? I can see it happening if the files are decrypted to the hard drive prior to playback. But if the files are decrypted on the fly to the playback buffer, the battery drain should be negligible.

afruff23 · 04-05-2006, 14:59

Sony's battery tests for the NW-HD5 are different. They use atrac3 format. You also must use SonicStage software for music transfer.

The 6-band EQ doesn't even work for Mp3 files.

While Sony has rated battery life up to 40 hours using 48Kbps ATRAC3plus tracks, CNET Labs was able to get a consistent 28 hours per charge playing a 128Kbps MP3.

Still, proprietary software=crap in any case.

SaHO_G_ · 04-05-2006, 23:01

dont forget a garbage interface on the part of sony with sub par functionality and features

Arachnophilia · 04-06-2006, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus's Uncle

...they are replaceable, meaning you can carry a spare.

more DAP manufacturers should do this. it just makes sense, for all sides. they'd not only sell more players, but they'd sell extra batteries, and probably chargers too.

in the photography world, it's completely unthinkable to build a camera without an interchangeable battery. can you even imagine one? it's standard practice for pro's to carry at least one extra fully charged battery on them, just in case.

anyways, if he only got 27 out of a battery billed as 35, what's the battery billed as 14, really? 11? and minus battery deterioration over time, and real-world usage? i can't decide if this is an argument for or against the L version. probably for, if the regular fares the same way.

SaHO_G_ · 04-06-2006, 07:07

they make money off the rma'ing especially apple whose battery died out in 16 months, 4months after the warranty expires its happening to my friends ipod plus built in batteries hold a stronger charge then do removable batteries

GMan4911 · 04-06-2006, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaHO_G_

built in batteries hold a stronger charge then do removable batteries

Nonsense.

PJH · 04-06-2006, 12:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by GMan4911

Nonsense.

I agree. There's no support for that argument.

Zeus's Uncle · 04-06-2006, 14:28

if there is support for saying that built-in batteries last longer i'd love to know it, but i don't know of any reason why they would.

afruff23 · 04-06-2006, 14:37

Don't most built-in batteries have higher mAh ratings than removable ratings? Notice I said "most".

Does removing the removable battery in mp3 players(i.e. some creative players) affect the player in anyway(i.e. internal clock, config settings, settings, etc.)

Removable batteries of identical mAh to a built-in battery will last longer because heat degrades battery performance. There is generally more room for a removable battery to "breathe". Also, if there are no effects from removing the battery, you can always remove the battery to let it cool down faster.

GMan4911 · 04-10-2006, 15:47

The definitive answer to DRM vs Non-DRM Battery Life

Just as I suspected. The difference is negligible.

Zeus's Uncle · 04-10-2006, 16:08

Nice report, but I wouldn't call it definitive. It's just one test on one device. It is definitely possible, likely even, that some players have inefficient implementations of certain codecs or DRM that do result in greater consumption of power than non-DRM. If I saw a report of several tests run on each of several devices then I'd be more inclined to call it definitive.

GMan4911 · 04-10-2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus's Uncle

Nice report, but I wouldn't call it definitive. It's just one test on one device. It is definitely possible, likely even, that some players have inefficient implementations of certain codecs or DRM that do result in greater consumption of power than non-DRM. If I saw a report of several tests run on each of several devices then I'd be more inclined to call it definitive.

If a player had an inefficient implementation, than it's an implementation issue and not a DRM issue. This test is good enough for me.

03-16-2006, 10:03	#1
MrMEC Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 297	CNet article on battery life of DAPs, including X5L This article goes in depth about the battery life of various MP3 players, and compares the battery life of several DAPs including the iPod, X5L and Zen Vision M (and also says that the X5L is best). To sum up, the piece says that actual battery life is never what the manufacturer advertises. An interesting point I didn't really know much about was that DRM literally sucks the life out of your battery - another reason why DRM is evil. Link: http://www.mp3.com/features/stories/3646.html

04-05-2006, 12:58	#3
Zeus's Uncle multimedia aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,157	That guy does a lot of stuff on mp3 players and batteries. Here's his list of mp3 players with top battery life: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-8900_7-6471091-1.html It sucks that the NW-HD5 is no longer available. Sony is definitely the dominant player when it comes to batteries in mp3 players. Not only do they last longer than other batteries out there, they charge faster, and on the NW-HD5, they are replaceable, meaning you can carry a spare. So nice! Last edited by Zeus's Uncle; 04-05-2006 at 15:48..

04-05-2006, 23:01	#6
SaHO_G_ Certified iPod Hater Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 296	dont forget a garbage interface on the part of sony with sub par functionality and features __________________ Cowon A2 30GB iAudio 30GB X5L + Remote Control w/ Cowon Case iRiver iMP SlimX-550 iRiver iFP-195 Creative Zen Touch (will never go creative ever again after this crap, its an insult to audiophiles everywhere)

04-06-2006, 07:07	#8
SaHO_G_ Certified iPod Hater Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 296	they make money off the rma'ing especially apple whose battery died out in 16 months, 4months after the warranty expires its happening to my friends ipod plus built in batteries hold a stronger charge then do removable batteries __________________ Cowon A2 30GB iAudio 30GB X5L + Remote Control w/ Cowon Case iRiver iMP SlimX-550 iRiver iFP-195 Creative Zen Touch (will never go creative ever again after this crap, its an insult to audiophiles everywhere)

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04-05-2006, 14:36	#4
GMan4911 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 216	The question that comes to my mind is why DRM would have such a large drain on the battery? I can see it happening if the files are decrypted to the hard drive prior to playback. But if the files are decrypted on the fly to the playback buffer, the battery drain should be negligible.

04-05-2006, 14:59	#5
afruff23 Hater of Epithets Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,062	Sony's battery tests for the NW-HD5 are different. They use atrac3 format. You also must use SonicStage software for music transfer. The 6-band EQ doesn't even work for Mp3 files. While Sony has rated battery life up to 40 hours using 48Kbps ATRAC3plus tracks, CNET Labs was able to get a consistent 28 hours per charge playing a 128Kbps MP3. Still, proprietary software=crap in any case.

04-06-2006, 14:28	#11
Zeus's Uncle multimedia aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,157	if there is support for saying that built-in batteries last longer i'd love to know it, but i don't know of any reason why they would.

04-06-2006, 14:37	#12
afruff23 Hater of Epithets Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,062	Don't most built-in batteries have higher mAh ratings than removable ratings? Notice I said "most". Does removing the removable battery in mp3 players(i.e. some creative players) affect the player in anyway(i.e. internal clock, config settings, settings, etc.) Removable batteries of identical mAh to a built-in battery will last longer because heat degrades battery performance. There is generally more room for a removable battery to "breathe". Also, if there are no effects from removing the battery, you can always remove the battery to let it cool down faster.

04-10-2006, 15:47	#13
GMan4911 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 216	The definitive answer to DRM vs Non-DRM Battery Life Just as I suspected. The difference is negligible.

04-10-2006, 16:08	#14
Zeus's Uncle multimedia aficionado Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,157	Nice report, but I wouldn't call it definitive. It's just one test on one device. It is definitely possible, likely even, that some players have inefficient implementations of certain codecs or DRM that do result in greater consumption of power than non-DRM. If I saw a report of several tests run on each of several devices then I'd be more inclined to call it definitive.