iriver H120 or iaudio m5(L)? has anyone got either?

[Lexxy_703]

above all, i'm looking for sound quality, ease of use (of the player itself and getting my cd collection onto it) & reliability/build quality.

both of these models get pretty good reviews. i know they are both older models but i'm not after the 'latest' thing with all the bells & whistles! .

any personal experience of either, anyone?

with the m5(L), i had considered going for the x5(L) but am worried in case the extra features, which i won't really use, will make the player less reliable or more prone to glitches.

thanks guys

[Tejstar]

Well I used to own the iRiver H320, which was very similar to the H120 in terms of sound quality. The build quality was fantastic and in terms of file transfer it was easy as pie, a simple drag and drop facility from Windows Explorer.

The sound quality was superb, I'd go as far to say it probably had the best sound quality out of all the MP3 players I've owned (including an iPod and currently a Zen Vision M).

[DennyL]

I have an iRiver H120 and I am very pleased with it. I bought it because it has lots of bells and whistles and in addition it can be Rockboxed. So far I am very pleased with it.

[extremelydodgy]

The M5 is a cut down (i.e. reduced) version of the X5, and the X5 actually has a longer release history - so going for the X won't be any more problemmatic.

The iAudio is somewhat newer-tech than the H120 so you get more developed niceties such as USB charging. Both feature about the same sound quality but the iRiver has built-in analog/optical in/out and the remote is a standard item, while it's an option on the M/X5. The iAudio is notably more svelte than the iRiver.

A good number of iRiver-owning audiogeeks use the optical output in the iRiver to drive DACs, but there is definitely something ropey with it: I blind-tested the optical output with a decent '99-model Sony discman and even one of iRiver's own MP3 CD players, all going through an Audio-Technica optical digital headphone and also a Musical Fidelity Trivista DAC and the SQ eval comes in as Discman >> iRiver MP3CD > iRiver H120. Could be something tonal, could be codec glitches (which Rockbox may have cured - didn't try it with RB), who knows.

There's swings around roundabouts regarding the ease of use - the iAudio has a snappier interface than the iRiver and also the subminiature joystick is a lot more positive to use than the 'rubbery nipple' iRiver control stick but the tininess of the iAudio's stick has a habit of digging into your fingers. In terms of general navigation both are quite conventional and I'd say both are about as mediocre as each other.

[Lexxy_703]

Blimey!, loads of info - thanks guys

i'll have to read it again in the morning, after i've had my 2nd cup of coffee, to make sure i digest it all correctly

the iriver is my definite 1st choice, it's just getting hold of one of the pesky blighters i really don't want a 'new' (really means refurb) off ebay with 3 months warranty...

i WILL order in the next couple of days, so anymore comments would be welcome in the meantime

thanks again