Testing Digital Audio Players

by Bill Machrone

This page contains links to detailed testing I've done on digital audio players. My goal is to use my ears first and foremost, and when I hear things that don't sound right, break out the test gear to find out what's going on and why.

I'll update this page as I dig deeper into various players.

• Quantifying Digital Audio Player Performance
  Why does Apple's iPod shuffle have superior bass performance to other players? And how do you quantify the apparent difference in players' bass performance? Here's a new testing methodology that appears to work.
   
• Distortion in Digital Audio Players
  An otherwise-great player can shoot itself in the foot if it does a poor job with its EQ presets and tone controls. Here's a comparison between the iRiver H10 and the iPod Mini 6GB

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