Portable FLAC players.

[stairpost]

Hi,


Is anybody using a portable FLAC player that they would be happy to recommend?

I'm looking for something under £100, that has min 32gb storage and doesn't have itunes level of annoyance software to chuck stuff on and take stuff off.

I did google it but it was impossible to sift through all the results.

cheers

Rich

[Andrei]

I have used the Cowon players and they were fine. Nowadays I just use my mobile phone.

[Ali Tait]

Not used one, but these seem to have happy owners. Not much internal memory but can be expanded with micro SD cards-

http://www.sandisk.co.uk/products/music-video-players/clip-plus-mp3-player/

[technobear]

Sansa Clip+ and a 64GB micro SD card

[The Barbarian]

+1 for the Sansa Clip.. You have onboard space + addition Micro SD card as Chris mentions above..These also have on board EQ.

:sofa:

You can charge them thru your Laptop but i use a Motorolla 'Razr' Mobile Charger when on holiday, these use the same mini 'B' USB connection ;)

[stairpost]

Cheers for the replies.

The Sansa does look promising but it is bloody tiny.

[wee tee cee]

The clip is a great wee player...just google the volume limiter removal. I also use a couple of i pods-classic with everything ripped lossless...now discontinued. I have one of the very small cowon players which is sonically the front runner. Haven't tried the bigger ones.

[struth]

Never tried any tbh but have a few minidisc walkmans and they are damned good, and can be picked up cheaply

[Canetoad]

Battery life with the Sansa Clip playing Flac is pretty dismal too. Worth noting if you decide to get one. :)

[WAD62]

Get yourself an android phone with an SD card slot...

My Samsung S4 has 128GB card, Poweramp for FLAC playback, and USB Audio Player PRO for streaming to an asynchronous DAC

When Android 5 comes out you won't need USB Audio Player PRO, it will stream natively via USB

Oh and it makes phone calls too...:)

[stairpost]

Thanks for all the interesting input, I have battled through google and decided on the Fiio X1 with a decent size sdcard.

I do really like minidisc and have had a couple of Sony walkmans in the format, but carrying discs around is not an appealing though anymore.

[technobear]

Do come back and let us know what you think of it. Remember that sounds wise it will need 200 hours to 'cook'.

[stairpost]

Do come back and let us know what you think of it. Remember that sounds wise it will need 200 hours to 'cook'.

Will do, I may leave it running for a week before hand though.

[zygote23]

Sony xperia z compact....loads of storage and plays flac perfectly......does all the smart phone stuff too and even remote controls my Squeezeboxes.

[ReggieB]

I listen to FLAC via my Motorola Moto G Android phone, a Sansa Clip and a Cowan i9. The phone's audio performance is definitely the weakest. The Cowan is the best. Sansa Clip is a great solution on a tight budget.

However, for me the key to mobile sound quality is a headphone amp. In the office, I use a Creek OBH-11 and on the move a Fiio E7. Both raise the sound quality of the Cowan to a different level.

[Nihil Sleighride]

I had an ibasso DX50 which sounded great but at the end of the day just wasn't convenient to be carrying around along with my Samsung Galaxy S3for not that much improvement in sound quality.

I've now had a Sony Z2 since June last year and couldn't imagine now getting a separate device for tunes on the go and it connects via Bluetooth to my mechless Parrot system in the car. All bases covered.

[stairpost]

I do think it's interesting that phones can be a perfectly usable replacement to a player, I often use my iphone to stream spotify when in the car (with my partners permission as it's her car), I have always liked the idea of a separate player though, plus I am tied to my iphone for another year and really can't stand itunes.

Would be nice to go to a shop and have a look at players like in the good old days, but it seems like all decisions and purchases must be done online, can't see a Fiio dealer within 100 miles of me.

Still, it's exciting to wait for a parcel though eh?

[stairpost]

I do think it's interesting that phones can be a perfectly usable replacement to a player, I often use my iphone to stream spotify when in the car (with my partners permission as it's her car), I have always liked the idea of a separate player though, plus I am tied to my iphone for another year and really can't stand itunes.

Would be nice to go to a shop and have a look at players like in the good old days, but it seems like all decisions and purchases must be done online, can't see a Fiio dealer within 100 miles of me.

Still, it's exciting to wait for a parcel though eh?

[WAD62]

I listen to FLAC via my Motorola Moto G Android phone, a Sansa Clip and a Cowan i9. The phone's audio performance is definitely the weakest. The Cowan is the best. Sansa Clip is a great solution on a tight budget.

However, for me the key to mobile sound quality is a headphone amp. In the office, I use a Creek OBH-11 and on the move a Fiio E7. Both raise the sound quality of the Cowan to a different level.

For a slightly more portable option the Fiio E6 is hard to beat...at the other end of the scale the iFi DSD nano is incredible when used with a smart phone and FLAC

[Thebiglebowski]

I picked up a Cowon S9 off ebay last year for around £30 and although it only has 16GB sounds and looks great.

If you want to go old school the iRiver H340 was a great player and could be loaded with the rockbox firmware.