Korean Job Discussion Forums

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

If you haven't heard of Rockbox, let me fill you in. It's an open-source firmware for MP3 players that plays a number of different audio codecs as well as MPEG video.
I've installed it on my I-pod and it has transformed it. Now I can play almost any codec such as WMV, FLAC, WAV, OGG etc as well as the standard Apple formats.
Even better is that I can now manually adjust the EQ. One of my biggest gripes was the poor bass output. With Rockbox, you can adjust it manually until it sounds right. Same with middle and treble frequencies.
Also, it means that I don't need to use I-tunes to transfer music. However, there is no MP4 video support, but that's ok because the machine is dual-boot - allowing the user to switch between the original OS and Rockbox.

eamo · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

Genuine congrats on finding a way to make your i-pod not so crappy.............it just beggers the question why you didn't buy a portable device that could do these things out of the box?

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

I got sucked in by the whole Ipod mania. I bought into the idea that it would make me a more complete human being if I had those snazzy white earphones.

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

I used Rockbox on my iRiver H320, then my 5G 60Gb iPod. However it became too small for my wants, and I had to move to the 160Gb iPod. Rockbox doesnt work on them, and probably never will, so I am stuck with iTunes.

I even wrote a patch for Rockbox, and have my name in the credits Smile

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Explat · Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Location: Downtown Pleides

I'm a little puzzled why anyone would need a 60gb MP3 player, but that's not my point.

Yeah, that rockbox.com sounds good, and I'm planning to try it.

I saw a Sansa E250 in HomePlus last weekend for 58 kw. That's a 2 gb player with video that only does MP3 and WMA. Then I saw the rockbox specs, and got more interested. The current rockbox only works with the v.1, though they are trying to do a v.2 for the E250.

So I decided to get one. The display was a v.1. When I got mine home, it was a v.1, too. I bet HomePlus thought they were pulling a fast one, getting some old Sansa stock cheap and making a buck. But the v.1 is better, since it is the only one that does takes the rockbox. The v.2 has new chips, but the one I've got sounds very nice. And it looks like good strong material for the case and screen.

If you don't have an MP3 and a good set of headphones, get one. It makes it much easier to stand some of Korea's irritations, kinda like being on intravenous valium. Nothing like listening to George Carlin while riding a bus in Korea.

I don't know what's the best for store headphones in Korea, but I would suggest a good Philips in ear headphone. I've got an old set that sounds good and has held up well.

I thought I'd pass the Sansa E250 bit along in case any one is interested. Cowon is mighty good, too, and better than the Sansa if you don't soup it up with rockbox.

If anyone would like to share some rockbox for dummies setup info, I'd appreciate it.

mnhnhyouh · Joined: 21 Nov 2006 Location: The Middle Kingdom

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

Rockbox is quite simple, but I am having some problems with the themes. Some of them aren't displaying correctly, yet others are fine. I guess it's a case of trial and error.

harryh · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: south of Seoul

I also used Rockbox with my old Iriver H320, which unfortunately died. I had a nice sounding player - Iriver H320/Rockbox/Headphonia amp/Etymotic ER4S.

Because of so much music I want on a player I bought an Ipod Classic, unfortunately it isn't rockbox'd so I've gone - Ipod Classic/IQUBE interconnect/Meier-Audio Corda amp/Sleek Audio SA6 earphones. I'm reasonably happy with this set up.