Need high audio quality player with FLAC support

[ShadowfoxXXX]

I need a player with high quality output.

Must support FLAC.

A customizable EQ is preferable.

Must not have any proprietary software required. EG: fucking itunes

I don't care if it has a touchscreen or not, actually no touch screen is preferable.

Must more than 16 GB, preferably hard drive.

Can you guys help me out?
I am absolutely sick of my ipod touch.

[The DarkSide]

Cowon S9 & D2/D2+, Samsung P3 & Q2, even the Sansa Fuze supports FLAC at this stage of the game.

[The DarkSide]

The D2/D2+ uses sdHC cards for expansion w/full library integration, and the P3 and S9 are 32gb. Do a little research, then get back to us.

Also, if you want a HDD player that supports FLAC playback, only the Archos players will be available to you. Unless, you'd like to find an older HDD player and RockBox it.

[ShadowfoxXXX]

i just did sorry lol.
Deleted my old comment.
The s3 looks nice, and has a good price, I may go with that, but id prefer no touchscreen, and a hard drive instead of flash memory...

[mysticstylez]

Originally Posted by ShadowfoxXXX

I am absolutely sick of my ipod touch.

If you are that sick of it, I'll trade you my 4gb D2 for it.

[ShadowfoxXXX]

i need a bit more than 4GB lol

[Dreamnine]

There's nothing with a hard drive, unfortunately unless you count the Zune and i-pods.
Cowon and Samsung players that support FLAC max out at 32GB

[The DarkSide]

Archos plays FLAC, and a ROCKBOXED iPod, up to 5/5.5g, will do FLAC as well (same for any Rockboxed player). Same goes for the Cowon and Samsung players, as they do FLAC quite well (think I mentioned this before, all of it)..

[gebal]

(As this question normally arises) Why do you want the hard drive?
Its more susceptible to damage, adds bulk to the player and takes away from battery life. So unless you want the hard drive so that you can change it, then theres no reason to have one when you can get 32gb of flash.
And as dreamnine said, the only available hard drive players (bar the archos lot, but they arent suited to being music players) are the zune and ipod, which both have proprietary software.

[ShadowfoxXXX]

hard drives are cheaper and have more storage than flash memory, but i guess 32 gigs is fine.

I'll probably get the P3 because of the great sound quality.

Problem is, the 32 GB p3 is impossible to get ahold of...

The archos looks cool, and cheap, but really i just want something that can play music, and maybe videos. It doesnt need to have any online capability, or podcast support.

[Tommifier]

If you can't find the P3, you should go for the Cowon S9.

[ShadowfoxXXX]

Originally Posted by Tommifier

If you can't find the P3, you should go for the Cowon S9.

Ive heard the s9 has kinda bad build quality, but its definitely in my radar.

[legend bob]

I'd go with the S9 as long as you're not using Linux.

I've actually just been thinking of getting an old ipod video 5.5g and rockboxing it.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by legend bob

I'd go with the S9 as long as you're not using Linux.

I've actually just been thinking of getting an old ipod video 5.5g and rockboxing it.

Isn't the battery life on those worse than a Clip?

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by ShadowfoxXXX

Ive heard the s9 has kinda bad build quality, but its definitely in my radar.

That's a false statement. I SOLD my Touch 2G for the S9, and the build quality is fantastic. The problem people have is that they equate weight w/build quality - and the S9 isn't a brick like a Touch, Zune, or so many other players.

It's just lighter than most others in it's class, THAT'S the issue w/it's build quality - and it's an anti-issue.

[ShadowfoxXXX]

Originally Posted by The DarkSide

That's a false statement. I SOLD my Touch 2G for the S9, and the build quality is fantastic. The problem people have is that they equate weight w/build quality - and the S9 isn't a brick like a Touch, Zune, or so many other players.

It's just lighter than most others in it's class, THAT'S the issue w/it's build quality - and it's an anti-issue.

I know what you mean, I care more about function than form, I just wanted to be sure it wouldn't fall apart on me after the first day.

[The DarkSide]

Originally Posted by ShadowfoxXXX

I know what you mean, I care more about function than form, I just wanted to be sure it wouldn't fall apart on me after the first day.

I guarantee it'll break if you use this on it: