Media players with high-quality sound

[kentauros]

Generally, I'm pretty much an odd person. That is, I do not own (nor desire to own) an iPod or other iProduct. A little over two years ago I decided I needed a DAP / PMP (Digital Audio Player / Portable Media Player) and really wasn't that impressed with iPods from those that owned them. So, a little research was in order.

I'd been using a media-player on my computer called "JetAudio" and it was put out by a Korean company called Cowon. I'd noticed on their site that they seemed to make PMPs, too, and took a look around at them all. Of course, I needed to see reviews of their products, finding the site Anything But iPod and how many there loved the Cowon S9. With enough reading, that's what I bought, and have been very happy with it ever since.

One major plus towards the S9 that I love is that it will play FLAC, APE, Ogg, and a few others I don't come across very often. Many of the blogs where I download music also use these formats and they aren't compatible with iPods without doing your own conversions. As a result, the sound quality is phenomenal! Last year I replaced the earbuds that came with the S9 and bought a pair of Yuin PK3s. The difference in quality was also amazing, but it still goes back to audio format. I can hear differences between the standard 128kbps files you get most places and FLAC. Sometimes mp3 is all you can get, though I have noticed when my favorite sites offer mp3, it's usually well above 200kbps in bitrate.

Here's a couple of sites that do comparison reviews, too:
iPod alternative myth: products that can replace my iPod
Apple iPod touch 2G vs. Cowon S9 vs. Samsung P3


So, what players with high-quality sound do y'all use that aren't iPods? :D

[kentauros]

1. So, is this an ipod-only group, too?

:P :hi: