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I have a set of Sennheisers too (PXC 300), however I've found the Audio Technica ATH-CK7s to be much better at providing rich sound at low volumes whilst also pretty much blocking out all external sound.

If you want to be able to hold a conversation with someone then this isn't what you want. However for said scenario of adding mobile phone chatting to the chorus of crying children etc, they are pretty darned perfect. I find that the SQ when coupled with my Samsung YP3 is exceptional.

Yep, the Cowon's are very good. I've owned an X5 since the week they hit the first market in 2005 (I did pay a premuim price for it) and it's worked flawless for me all that time. The sound quality kicks an iPod's ass, and the unit itself is quite rugged and durable as it has survived a lot of physical abuse.

These are also about the most "hackable" devices on the market too, as there are a lot of both hardware and software mods you can do to them. Go read the "iAudiophile" forums ( http://iaudiophile.net/forums for the user community comments and stuff. This brand of portable media players probably has the second largest following behind the Apple iPods. And for the true Slashdot geek, the iAudio model A2 does run a custom Linux as it's kernel (source available), and it's GUI is written with GTK+.

Yep, the Cowon's are very good. I've owned an X5 since the week they hit the first market in 2005 (I did pay a premuim price for it) and it's worked flawless for me all that time. The sound quality kicks an iPod's ass, and the unit itself is quite rugged and durable as it has survived a lot of physical abuse.

These are also about the most "hackable" devices on the market too, as there are a lot of both hardware and software mods you can do to them. Go read the "iAudiophile" forums ( http://iaudiophile.net/forums for the user community comments and stuff. This brand of portable media players probably has the second largest following behind the Apple iPods. And for the true Slashdot geek, the iAudio model A2 does run a custom Linux as it's kernel (source available), and it's GUI is written with GTK+.

They support FLAC and OGG. Basically don't do DRM. And mount as removable storage instead of requiring bullshit applications. Works with all OS that support removable USB storage.

iAudiophile.net fan site
Cowon's US site

I recommend the iAudio X5L. 35 hour batter life. 30gb storage.

Take a look at the iAudio M5 or M3. I have an older iAudio and just got us some newer flash-based ones at work (for digital voice and line-in recording). They sound excellent and support a lot of formats. They're not as easy to navigate as an iPod, but they do a lot more. Unfortunately, the M5 doesn't do FM, which the other ones do. I'm looking to pair one of the FM-capable ones up with a nice pair of multimedia speakers (like the Swans I have at my home desk) and do away with my old CD/cassette/FM radio box at work. Then I can listen on the way in to work through headphones, plug in, listen at work, pull the plug and home I go. Kind of like a laptop for audio. Here's the official links: http://www.cowonamerica.com/products/iaudio/m5/ and http://www.jetaudio.com/products/iaudio/m3/. You might want to check out the iAudiophile fan site: http://www.iaudiophile.net/. Have fun and watch out for tinnitus.

Now if you want something to blow your mind (well okay, not that suprising really). I was reading the iaudio forum and all the people there were the exact opposite. We love DRM, what's wrong with you?! We love DRM! My take is they don't see the potential/real risks. So at least from this view, it seems like the industry has designed the trap with enough space that average people are willing to ensnare themselves.

http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?t =4254

And this thread is about WMP DRM support coming in a new firmware upgrade for these players so that they can work on the subscription sites like Rhapsody and Napster. Now I suppose more features and having the ability to partake if one so choses is okay. But I still can't shake the "wtf is wrong with these ppl?!" feeling... then again, mainstream music... oh well. I'm really not going to worry about this too much. I feel like I just got here on planet earth. I'm just here to observe and take notes. What strange and curious creatures these indiginous so-called human beings are...

iPod? Bah... Check out the iAUDIO X5

http://www.iaudiophile.net/news.php

(Or hey, maybe even that A2 that's on the page when the site loads)

Plays video, has a mic and can record, FM radio w/ record, plays MP3, OGG, WAV. Works just like a USB Harddrive... Oh yeah and it sounds great. Even some of the mac sites I've read people had to admit it.

I have the X5 and both the audio playback quality and the physical manufacturing quality of the unit itself are superlative. The Karma does have sound playback quality just about equivalent to the X5's, but the build quality of that unit seems much more cheap and fragile. Read more about Cowon's offerings at www.iaudiophile.net .

Here's an interesting thread on sound quality:
iaudiophile thread
thread i was really posting about

Now the reason I posted these links, is because they were debating whether or not there is a difference in the sound quality of the headphone out vs the aux line out on the subpack. I believe the conclusion tenatively is that the headphone out sounds better. So you may find these informative.

Here's an interesting thread on sound quality:
iaudiophile thread
thread i was really posting about

Now the reason I posted these links, is because they were debating whether or not there is a difference in the sound quality of the headphone out vs the aux line out on the subpack. I believe the conclusion tenatively is that the headphone out sounds better. So you may find these informative.

The iAudio M3 plays FLAC, as well as Vorbis, MP3 and WMA.

More info:

• iAudio's site
• iAudiophile.net (community)