The players:
Microsoft Zune HD 16GB
HTC One M7
Malaysian 4GB mp3 player
Headphones: Focal Spirit One Professional
Music:
Sting - Fields of Gold
Feist - 1234
Yo-Yo Ma - Appassionato
Kansas City Symphony/Michael Stern - Britten's Orchestra
Nicki Minaj - Starships
Thomas Fersen - Au Café de la Paix
For listening to classical, pop music, I prefer the Zune HD 16GB slightly more than the HTC One M7.
With this headphone and music, the HTC sounded a little boomier compared to the Zune which was crisp. I turned off Beats audio on the phone since it usually annoyed me, except on specific headphones.
As a versatile device, it is hard to compete with the HTC. Plays all formats I have tried. The HTC has an IR transmitter - use as a universal remote control. And I like the Zoe camera app. 1080p Screen. However the OLED screen on the Zune though small, is outstanding: vivid colors and blacker blacks. No wave playback though. The Zune HD is one of the few portable HD radio receivers . Depending on your area, this can be useful.
The no-name malaysian 4GB mp3 player tried to swallow the jack of my headphones (too tight). That and the funny interface and screen disqualified it. But its audio quality was surprisingly good for the price.
A bonus comparison between two setups using Sennheiser HD 280 Pro:
(1) HTC One M7
(2) Micromega Mydac -> Schiit Vali -> voltage divider (for hiss)
The phone was somewhat more shrill. Interestingly again, closer than I expected. The low end is nicer to me on the Mydac/Vali combo and the orchestra sounds more layered.
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