Topic: Portable FLAC player

[dmonkey]

I'd like to find a portable harddrive-based player that will decode FLAC format. I have a long commute each day and I hate to have to burn CDs to listen to any of the stuff I've downloaded. I'd like to have sort of an "iPod-type experience" with my live FLAC files -- ie. just USB the player to the computer and transfer and I'm ready to run.

What are the options out there for portables that decode FLAC? I understand that the iRivers will do this with Rockbox, but are there other options? Ideally I'd like to keep price down, as I already have an iPod and my wife already looked at my crazy when I proposed the idea of another portable player the other day. 

My apologies if this has been discussed before. I tried searching and didn't have much luck.

Thanks in advance!

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

RIO KARMA.  EBAY.   

[Nick's Picks]

rock-boxed anything
might as well make it an iRiver so you can record w/it as well.

[noahbickart]

Why not just convert flacs to Apple Lossless for the Ipod you already own?
-Noah

[Colin Liston]

This one plays FLAC

http://www.vibez.us/

[live2496]

You could also use any pocket pc and conduit's Pocket Player (www.conduits.com). It plays flac files. I think that I have tested up to 24-bit 96kHz with it. You can use SD media to put your flac files on and swap out different SD cards.

If you get one with Bluetooth, you can listen over Bluetooth headphones.

I think that Pocket Player will work with Windows Mobile phones too.

If your wife wants to have you committed at that point I would go with the iPod idea.  :-)

[Lil Kim Jong-Il]

I was looking for a flac player for exactly the same reason.  I never found what I wanted that could play flacs and record 24/96 so I gave up on flac and bought a used MT.  To make a long story short, I use the MT now to play back MP3s though a cassette adapter in the car.  I never thought I'd play MP3s but that works more than well enough for the playback system in my old car.

[George]

Pick up an iriver H100 or H300 series and rockbox it and your set. 

[KLowe]

FWIW.  I LOVE my trekstor vibez.

SOUNDS great also.

[Teen Wolf Blitzer]

All are great choices.  I've eyed the Vibez for awhile but it's hard to beat the Karma.  I got one for under 100 bucks on Ebay.  Works like a charm.  20GB HD which is bigger than most units.  JMO.

[KLowe]

how does one get the rio to play flac.
an upgrade firmware?  I read the specs and didn't say anything about flac

Nice unit.  Lots of em on ebay for about 15-20 bucks right now.

[Colin Liston]

The Rio Karma plays/played FLAC right out of the box.  I've had one for a while but I've dropped it a few times and the HD freezes up on me all the time now.

[dmonkey]

Thanks everyone for the info. I hadn't really ever looked at the Vibez thing before -- looks pretty cool. I noticed there are a lot of iRivers on eBay right now. I might give one of those a try.

Thanks!!!

[pfife]

The Rio Karma plays/played FLAC right out of the box.  I've had one for a while but I've dropped it a few times and the HD freezes up on me all the time now.

I had one and it died about 6 months after I got it.

[pfife]

do you really need portable flacs?