Looking for a linux compatible music player

MONODA · 2009-04-05 07:46:05

I am looking for a portable music player which works with linux and can play ogg files. I own an iaudio 7 but it just stopped working a few days ago, i dont know why... Any recommendations?

Barrucadu · 2009-04-05 08:22:43

I can't suggest anything, as I don't have one, but I was looking into perhaps getting an iaudio 7. Until it stopped working, how was it?

I've heard that ARCHOS ones are good, but they're expensive and I haven't tried one myself.

BetterLeftUnsaid · 2009-04-05 08:24:23

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Sansa Clips. They're small, cheap, use a standard USB cable, play both FLAC and OGG, and work great with Linux.

.:B:. · 2009-04-05 08:24:31

Cowon iAudio D2 . Not cheap either though, but it's recommended by a lot of audiophiles. I have it too and I like it, despite some shortcomings like the lack of playlists and stuff...

MONODA · 2009-04-05 08:36:29

I had forgotten about sansa, I might get a one which i can put rockbox on.

"I can't suggest anything, as I don't have one, but I was looking into perhaps getting an iaudio 7. Until it stopped working, how was it?"
I guess it was only half decent. You cant use the Now Playing Playlist feature if you are browsing using tags (so you need to browse by folder which can get annoying obviously.), it takes several seconds to boot, far too long (it gets frustrating easily), it doesnt have support for playlists at all, it has a very weird interface. The good thigs about it are the LONG battery life (60 hours), it has very good sound quality and can play almost every file type (sound files).

How is the iaudio D2? does it work well, what do you like and not like about it?

.:B:. · 2009-04-05 09:25:24

The interface is a bit shabby, imho. I had an iRiver Clix first gen before and I liked that far more, it had a far more thought-through interface. You have to jump through a lot of hoops on the D2 to get things done. I do like the fact you can define functions of the hardware keys on top - you can lock the device but they will stay available (e.g. to modify volume, to pause, or to skip to the next track). It's a bit of an all-in-one player but like all those compromise devices that means it does not excel in a particular area.

Sound quality is good, and I bought it because of the OGG/FLAC support and because you can drop in an SDHC card. I am waiting for the 32 GB cards to become affordable (they are so not, over here), and then I'll get me one. While the expandability is nice, it seems it won't integrate seamlessly with the existing storage. I do like the fact it can interface as a UMS device; the pesky MTP 'standard' (which has support on Linux through libmtp). I'd really like to have better playlist support, though. The touchscreen is a nice extra but I guess I'm over my touchscreen frenzy . It is easy but I think a well designed button setup can still compete.

So, to resume, the pro's:
- acts as a UMS device
- FLAC and Ogg Vorbis support
- expandability through SDHC (up to 32 GB for the moment)
- side buttons remain usable even if the device is locked
- stable interface, if you want to get adventurous you can dump a skinnable flash interface on it
- long battery life (it usually takes weeks before I have to recharge, and I listen to it every day)
- good sound quality

Cons:
- unintuitive interface
- crappy playlist support

xd-0 · 2009-04-05 09:36:06

Iriver have always had good ogg players

Allan · 2009-04-05 09:36:29

I did a search a couple of months back and settled on the Cowon iAudio U5 (http://www.cowonglobal.com/product_wide … eature.php). Never actually bought it though...

elmer_42 · 2009-04-05 18:21:07

I've heard a lot of good things about the Cowon S9, including the fact that it supports OGG files and uses MSC for compatibility with all OS's.

Berticus · 2009-04-05 18:29:53

Cowon iAudio and iRiver are my recommendations.

MONODA · 2009-04-05 19:47:10

im looking at the cowon s9 now. looks really good, though i'd like to know how well it supports playlists and now playing playlists. Do irivivers work on linux and play ogg usually?

EDIT: I love rockbox, do you think it would be completely idiotic if I bought a ipod video off ebay to put rockbox on?
EDIT2: actually now that i think about it, I really dislike hard drive based mp3 players...

Last edited by MONODA (2009-04-05 19:55:31)

hatten · 2009-04-05 21:09:57

EDIT: I love rockbox, do you think it would be completely idiotic if I bought a ipod video off ebay to put rockbox on?

I did, and i am happy (only it cannot play flac)

haxit · 2009-04-05 21:31:55

hatten wrote:

EDIT: I love rockbox, do you think it would be completely idiotic if I bought a ipod video off ebay to put rockbox on?
I did, and i am happy (only it cannot play flac)

I put rockbox on my old ipood. However the keys didn't work on the ipod, so it was no fun.

scottuss · 2009-04-05 21:43:58

I can honestly say: Avoid any Apple products with Linux. I've had no end of trouble. And if you want to use Rockbox, I'd go for something like an Archos. If you do want to get an iPod, don't bother with the newer ones, Rockbox won't go on a classic. I hope they get it on there one day

jack.mitchell · 2009-04-05 22:49:10

I second the D2, own one myself and its a fantastic little player. Screen is crisp and clear, i've skinned mine and it looks beautiful, got a very knowledgeable and techy userbase so they're always pushing for new firmware and making little programs for it. I use it in UMS mode also, however I believe that there is better support for playlists in MTP mode. You will have to do a bit of searching.

Check out the forums here http://iaudiophile.net/

Jack.

EDIT: Just been having a read and cowon have now released a D2+ seems to be the same player but with a nice new spanky firmware and casing. This could mean another bout of updates for the firmware due it being a 'newly released' product and better playlist support could be high in the list.

Last edited by jack.mitchell (2009-04-05 23:02:06)

elmer_42 · 2009-04-05 23:55:27

Oh, right. The D2. My cousins got two of those upon my request. I played with one for a little bit, and the UI seemed pretty nice, but I didn't have the chance to test it out with Linux.

Runiq · 2009-04-06 05:40:49

Got myself a rockboxed Sansa e280 recently, and I'm amazed to no end with that Rockbox thing. It's definitely superior to the original firmware and the player itself wasn't that pricy. You just gotta look out a bit, the V2 models don't work with Rockbox (yet). I had to get an 8GB+1GB MiSD V1 one off eBay for €70, which was more than reasonable I'd say. (I'm not much of a video guy, the e280 doesn't have a big display.)

RiceMonster · 2009-04-06 06:14:38

elmer_42 wrote:

Oh, right. The D2. My cousins got two of those upon my request. I played with one for a little bit, and the UI seemed pretty nice, but I didn't have the chance to test it out with Linux.

I've got a D2, it works quite well. All you have to do is add songs to the MUSIC folder (I've honestly never tried adding videos to it, 'cause I have no interest in that, so I can't say anything in that regard). So I'll the D2 as well. It's also nice and small and the UI's pretty straight forward.

Last edited by RiceMonster (2009-04-06 06:16:55)

Zeist · 2009-04-06 06:21:12

I have a Cowon iAudio X5L. It is an older model Cowon player, and it is the most compatible and awesome player I've ever owned.

I only have good things to say about Cowon products.

Stalafin · 2009-04-06 12:33:34

BetterLeftUnsaid wrote:

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Sansa Clips. They're small, cheap, use a standard USB cable, play both FLAC and OGG, and work great with Linux.

Seconded! They are cheap, have a great build quality, awesome sound (they are considered among the best on the market despite their price), play OGG and FLAC, and are simply a new USB mass storage when connected to the computer.

MONODA · 2009-04-07 18:12:57

has anyone had any expereince with the s9? how is it?

jack.mitchell · 2009-04-07 18:32:52

Did you have a look on http://iaudiophile.net/ - the best forums for cowan and iaudio stuff.

rwhite · 2009-04-09 00:38:42

i have the s9 and its really nice it has awsome picture with the oled and great sound quality

Arch Linux

#1 2009-04-05 07:46:05

Looking for a linux compatible music player

#2 2009-04-05 08:22:43

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#3 2009-04-05 08:24:23

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#4 2009-04-05 08:24:31

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#5 2009-04-05 08:36:29

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#6 2009-04-05 09:25:24

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#7 2009-04-05 09:36:06

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#8 2009-04-05 09:36:29

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#9 2009-04-05 18:21:07

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#10 2009-04-05 18:29:53

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#11 2009-04-05 19:47:10

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#12 2009-04-05 21:09:57

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#13 2009-04-05 21:31:55

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#14 2009-04-05 21:43:58

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#15 2009-04-05 22:49:10

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#16 2009-04-05 23:55:27

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#17 2009-04-06 05:40:49

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#18 2009-04-06 06:14:38

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#19 2009-04-06 06:21:12

Re: Looking for a linux compatible music player

#20 2009-04-06 12:33:34

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#21 2009-04-07 18:12:57

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#22 2009-04-07 18:32:52

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#23 2009-04-09 00:38:42

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