Hello, ZuneBoards, this is my first post, and I hope I placed it in the correct area.
Monday, the 11th, I had decided to finaly purchase a Zune 80 from my local walmart. I wanted a personal media player that could hold my large collection of music on my XP Laptop, and had spent a large amount of time (goofing off on the net on my accounting class computer, really.)researching whether I should get a Zune or an iPod. After using someones iPod Classic, I found I hated the display, and decided I would go with the Zune.
After I bought it, I spent about 30 mins installing the software and updating the device. After that, I didn't sync any music from the computer I had installed it to. I mearly took the 'Premium Headphones' and listened to the default content. I was very happy with my purchase, until I took music from my old mp3 player, placed it on the computer, and synced it to my new Zune. (My laptop is at another location, so I don't have all of my music.)
After syncing my small collection of Dream Theater, Circa Survive, Coheed and Cambria, ect, I took the headphones and tried to listen to my songs.
This is when I about returned my device. The sound quality was AWFUL! I wound up listening to my old mp3 player before the night was over. At first I had concidered that it was the files themselves, after all, I did sync from a crappy desktop computer. But then I tried something. I plugged an old, windows 98 era Computer Speaker into the headphone jack, and tried it again.
Perfect. The songs sounded exactly as they should have. So, I decided to try several different, albiet cheap, pairs of headphones, ranging from 2 different pairs, RCA and Panasonic models that I had laying around. Same issue as the Zune Premium 'Phones. I was very dissipionted, but decided to try one more thing. I was headed to work, so I took my zune and plugged it into my casset adaptor, (goes in cd player or mp3 player and plays music from the device in car speakers) That too, was perfect.
Is there something wrong with my zune? Or is it just the headphones? I tried I think a total of 3 differenty pairs, and they all sounded the same. The insturments are louder then the vocals BY FAR, and some of the instruments do not sound correct at all. There is even very small amounts of white noise, I think. But in cheap computer speakers and a 10 dollar car cassest adaptor, the zune 80 is amazing. Any one have a possible solution? Sorry for any uneeded information.
well, did you mess around with the EQ's? The one that is set could be one that you really don't like. Change that around first. Then, you can always call Microsoft and tell them to send you another pair, if it's the headphones, you'll know, but first change the EQ.
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Indeed. I'm an audio tech major, so I like my stuff to sound good. My friend is going to let me try his bose headphones, and I have read reviews online about some great headphones that where used on the Zune.
However, if I can't get any to work, I'm afraid their will be problems...
I actually have started my corses yet. (Gotta grad. High school first.) I've been accepted to Ohio State University, and my plan was to get my core classes out of the way there and transfer to the School of Creative Arts in Fort Wayne, Indiana, or to Captial University in Ohio.
Those headphones you mentioned, do you have prices for them? I hate to think it's all headphones on my Zune, and just hope it's these cheap ones. (Even if they sound freaking great on my old Insignia mp3 player)
First, if you can afford/justify Bose headphones, it's hard to go wrong. There is a reason they cost as much as they do.
Next, you mention playing your Zune through speakers and car/cassette adapter, but you don't mention whether or not you tried the Zune headphones through another source, like the PC or another player. By doing this you can determine whether it's the heaphones, or the Zune settings, and it will give you a better idea of what to expect from those headphones when you get the settings straightened out.
Lastly, see if any of your friends have what would be considered a "step-up" or better grade set of headphones to try. Again, that will give you a lot more information to work with. If your looking for more bass response, the styles that have the longer inserts seem to have a fuller sound, and typically a better bass response.
Good luck!
Last edited by ricts; 02-13-2008 at 10:34 AM.
Reason: spelling
Though I did not try the zune headphones, the computer speakers I mentioned have a jack for headphones. I plugged the Panasonic model into that,and then the speakers into the zune, as I did before, and the audio was just as good as it was from the speakers. I will try the zune headphones, the panasonic and RCA all sound fine on other devices, including cd players, other mp3 players, ect.
It sounds like it must be settings on the Zune, but I'm at a loss to understand why the Zune will sound fine with speakers and bad with headphones, plugged into the same output jack.
Eh, thanks for the suggestions. I try a couple things, such as high end headphones. (borrowed, i'm not paying 100+ if they are not going to work). I am kinda at a loss why the new Zunes would rid themselves of EQ settings, if the 30 had them...that's kind of a big thing with people. Oh well, I will trying syncing the songs from my laptop, try different headphones, and if not, I'm afraid the zune is going back...
Is there no way to change the zune settings? I haven't messed with the Software all that much, but there seems to be no way to make any...drastic edits to improve anything.
Those headphones you mentioned, do you have prices for them? I hate to think it's all headphones on my Zune, and just hope it's these cheap ones. (Even if they sound freaking great on my old Insignia mp3 player)
yeah, well, you see, I have the EM2's, but they're like $300. yeah.....it's a lot. but, I found some other headphones that I got from Shure before the EM2's, they're called the E2C's. I found those on Amazon for like 70 bucks. Those were pretty good too. But I mean, the EM2's are amazing, made for professionals like me....hee hee. Didn't mean to sound conceited there....wait. Yes I did.
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No. Just...no. Don't do it....don't do it...DON'T ****ING DO IT!!!
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yeah, I know what you mean, i spent that money after saving up for a while. I was making 6.35. but hey, I did it man!
But you could always get the E2C's you know?
Oh yeah, I probably could. It took me a while to save for just the zune, but I am worried that it will all be the same no matter what headphones I get, and then theres the fear I won't be able to return it or something.
oh, well, I mean, if you can't return it, you could always sell it.....to me? I want an 80 so bad, and if it really is the Zune, then you could probably call Microsoft and report the problem. You know? But I don't see why you can't return it in the first place. But even if you do take back/sell, you should still get those headphones.
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No. Just...no. Don't do it....don't do it...DON'T ****ING DO IT!!!
Yes kids, referral link spam abuse is a terrifying thing. Come here to learn how you can get help.
Awful Sound Quality on Headphones??
