Lizzie asked:


I’m looking for a new mp3 player (right now I have a Zen V Plus) that has great to outstanding sound quality, long battery life, is reasonably priced, and “nice looking.” I’m looking for an 8 GB to 16 GB and would prefer to stay away from Ipod but hey who knows. So what would you reccomend?

Billy

Michael Paul Jr asked:




If you’re having a difficult time deciding on the right MP3 player for you or a family member, don’t fret. I know how you feel. And I’m here to help. I’ve put together this buying guide for MP3 players to help you decide which player best suits your needs. Over the coming days, you and I will cover everything you need to know and make the right decision for you and contrary to what my regular readers may already be thinking, that choice might not automatically be an iPod.

Before we start talking about specific models, let’s begin our discussion by covering all of the different types of players. Each type will have different benefits for you, and have its own drawbacks as well. But with the many different types of MP3 players available, you’re sure to find one to suit your needs.

One more note of interest, most MP3 players will play other formats. These formats include but are not limited to WMA, OGG, AAC, and others.

Hard Drive based players

If you’re the type of person that has to have a manor house in the British countryside to house your collection of records and CDs (yes, former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman is that person), you’ll probably need a hard drive based MP3 player. Hard drives at this point in time run anywhere from 20GB up to 80GB in the current top of the line iPod model. That 80GB will let you pack around about 25,000 songs in your pocket on average, which is much better than packing around that many CDs worth of songs.

Pros: All of your music is with you everywhere you go. Many of these bigger players also offer video capability and are far cheaper per gigabyte than the smaller models. Hard drive players give you the best bang for your buck in the overall scheme of things.

Cons: Since these players have basically a laptop hard drive in them, they are bigger and heavier than the rest. Hard drives have to spin to read the information, which means moving parts, which means less battery life. The batteries for these players generally require you to send them back to the manufacturer if they need to be replaced as well.

Micro Hard Drive based players

These players are the in-betweeners. These models offer the best of both worlds by using a smaller hard drive than their big brothers with a larger capacity than many of the Flash based players. Players such as many of the Creative products can’t store as much as the big iPod, but they are a lot lighter.

Pros: Smaller and lighter than full hard drive based players. Song capacity is higher than many flash based players for the same price.

Cons: Many of the same drawbacks as their larger cousins. Moving parts make for shorter battery life than smaller, flash based players. Also, any player with a hard drive inside is not the best choice if you plan on taking your tunes along with you to the gym. You don’t want to jar that hard drive around while you’re doing that last mile on the treadmill.

Flash memory based players

Flash memory based players originated the craze. Long before the iPod, small flash based players were available from Creative, SanDisk and other manufacturers. Ranging in size from the 512MB player from SanDisk and the 1GB iPod Shuffle, to the 8GB iPod Nano. Flash players provide the most versatility in design and choice.

Pros: Tiny. Miniscule. Ridiculously small. Take a look at the newest iPod Shuffle. It’s as small as a matchbook. And forget about moving parts. There are none. These players are solid-state, so you can move and jump and hop around all you like, these guys don’t care.

Cons: Flash based players are the most expensive per-gigabyte of any player. And some of us with fat fingers and bear paws for hands have a hard time using the controls.

MP3 CD

The CD player still lives, but now you can burn a disc with MP3s and carry about 10 times the amount of songs on a disc as a traditional player. And you can still play standard CDs as well.

Pros: Cheapest way to go for most folks.

Cons: Big, bulky, ugly, totally not cool. CDs are so dull and boring at this point. Resort to this choice only if you wish to have no social life whatsoever. Just walk into a room with one of these guys strapped to your side and listen for the snickers to begin.

Clinton

Daniel P asked:


I was looking for an iPod touch alternative, and I stumbled upon the Archos 605 WiFi, but that was too big, costly and hard drive based. I was looking for a flash based MP3 Player that has good WiFi battery life, and a built in web browser. Thank you!

Rosa

Bradley James asked:




Below you will find some useful information and comments about a few of the most popular MP3 players by Rio, including the Nitrus, Carbon, Cali, and Forge. None of these MP3 players are perfect, but each offers a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that should be taken into consideration before you purchase any one of them. Be sure to compare price, usability, and the overall performance of each.

Rio Carbon 5 GB MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: The Rio Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours of MP3 (160 hours WMA) music, and with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, music lovers need not worry about running out of juice.

Sporting an ultrathin and tapered design and with 25 percent more memory than iPod Mini, this tiny MP3 player–about the size of a business card–will slide into any pocket, virtually unnoticeable. The Rio Carbon is capable of holding up to 80 hours of MP3 music (160 hours of WMA), and with up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge, music lovers need not worry about running out of juice. Supporting USB 2.0 and a host of file formats, users can download music efficiently and easily from most of their favorite online music sites. The Rio Carbon also includes voice recording and provides seamless integration and support of both the Windows and Mac platforms.

Features:

- 5 GB of memory stores up to 80 hours of MP3 music or 160 hours of WMA music

- Plays MP3, WMA, and Audible audio formats

- Built-in microphone for voice recording

- Easily drag and drop data and music files onto your player

- Rechargeable battery offers up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge

- USB 2.0 for faster downloads

- Charge from USB or the included power adapter

- Windows and Mac compatible

- Includes Rio Music Manager, the most intuitive way to create and manage your digital music library

Comments: Users tend to agree that this is one of the best mp3 players Rio has developed. It’s really quite small and slim, and can actually fit in your pockets. 5GB of memory really doesn’t sound like all that much any more, but I think most new user will find that that is plenty of space. The long battery is nice (20 compared with iPod’s 12), and the interface is easy enough to work with. One little dissapointment is the inability to hit any buttons on the device when it is in its carrying case. Also, it does have some compatibility issues with Mac music programs like iTunes. If you really love Mac, you may want to consider iPod or Shuffle instead (this goes for all Rio products).

Price: $230

Rio Cali 128 MB Sport MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: Wrapped in grippy, protective rubber, the Cali 128 is built to play hard. Solid-state electronics carry over 30 songs with no skips — ever. Comfortable Sport Clip earphones, case with armband, and integrated stopwatch with lap timer make the Cali a functional sport accessory. 5-band adjustable equalizer gives more control over your sound than most players. Onboard FM tuner means you always have something to listen to. An empty expansion slot allows you to add up to 512 MB of additional SDTM or MMCTM memory. Simple menus and intuitive controls make for easy one-handed operation.

Features:

- 128 MB of memory plays back over 2 hours of MP3 or 4 hours of WMA music (over 30 MP3 or 60 WMA songs)*

- Expansion slot to add up to 512 MB additional memory using SD or MMC cards (sold separately)

- USB 1.1 connects to almost any computer

- Transfer content between multiple PCs

- 18-hour continuous playback using one Energizer AAA Battery

- 5-Band adjustable equalizer with pre-sets

Comments: Anyone considering buying this device should be aware of some odd functional issues that may be frustrating. First of all, when changing memory cards, many users have had to actually take out the batteries in order to get the device to recognize the new memory card (another note: some users have had problems getting the device to accept 3rd party memory cards). Also, it seems that the player may not be able to play regular mp3 formats you may have on your pc hard drive. Rio admits that these mp3 files need to be converted through their own software in order for them to work. These, and other odd quirks, undermine this particular player quite a bit. On the positive side, the device has good battery life, plays clear, crisp music, and has a good radio feature as well.

Price: $120

Rio Forge 512 MB Sport MP3 Player

Manufacturers Description: The Rio Forge series is our latest generation of flash based sport players. The Rio Forge was designed for people that like to play hard and use music to play even harder. The new design integrates the grippy, protective rubber from previous models with a new shiny stainless steel face plate for added durability. Up to 20 hours of battery life allows you hours of non-stop work out time. Comfortable Sport Clip earphones and a newly designed case with armband keep your player and music secure and accessible. Simple menus and intuitive controls make for easy one-handed operation. Stopwatch and Lap Timer make the Rio Forge the ultimate gym or running companion. Plus, the new FM record feature allows you to record radio content onto your player to listen to at a later time.

Features:

- Holds 16 hours worth of Music

- Storage capacity may be upgraded up to 1 GB

- Durable Stainless Steel Face

- 512 MB of storage

- Stopwatch feature for work-outs

- Up to 20 hours of battery life

Comments: This latest generation of sport mp3 players by Rio is perhaps the best so far. What we really liked about this device is the easy to use and intuitive user interface and clear LCD screen. The one downside is the 512mb upper limit in storage (although technically you can upgrade to 1GB), which is a little low compared with the market average. Even so, the features like the FM tuner and stop watch make this a really cool little sport mp3 player. It’s about as durable and user friendly as they come, plus the battery life is friendly for those long work-outs. Thumbs up on this one.

Price: $180

Rio Nitrus 1.5 GB MP3 Jukebox

Manufacturers Description: The revolutionary Rio Nitrus packs 1.5 GB into a stealthy, razor-thin design. With the ability to carry over 375 songs, never before has this much capacity been offered on a player this small. Fast USB 2.0 connection loads the player quickly. Simple menus, thoughtful controls, and a clear display make navigation instinctive. A 5-band adjustable equalizer provides a custom listening experience. Quality components throughout yield a player without compromise.

Features:

- 1.5GB HDD plays back over 25 hours of MP3 or 50 hours of WMA music (over 375 MP3 or 750 WMA songs)

- USB 2.0 for fast transfers

- Transfer content between multiple PCs

- 16-hour continuous playback with the rechargeable LiIon battery

- 5-Band adjustable equalizer with pre-sets

Comments: This is an overall fairly solid mp3 player with a few design and engineering defects that should be mentioned. First, the buttons are not quite as easy to use, or as well laid out as some of Rio’s other players. Specifically, the volume buttons are smaller and closer together than they should be. Another thing is problems with the battery life, some users getting significantly less time out of their batteries than they are supposed to. And you really can’t expect to get the full 16 hours. Also, the scrolling feature doesn’t seem to help much. On the plus side, the device is big enough in storage size (1.5GB), and small enough in physical size to appeal to alot of potential consumers. The sound is also quite good and just about every volume level.

Price: $175

Earl

Mike Singh asked:




According to the latest market studies, the iPod has sold over 1.5 million units as compared to the other MP3 players. The iPod video 30gb holds over 15,000 songs, 25,000 photos, or 150 hours of video with a battery life of 14 hours for music, and two hours for videos. This is exciting when we think about having no choices a few years ago, or carrying around a lot of CDs. Of course, we could always listen to the car stereo! But when a person is out shopping for a MP3 player, is the iPod really any better?

First of all, we need to understand that the iPod is an MP3 player, not that iPods and MP3 players are identical and in competition. A good rule of thumb to remember is this: when you look for a DVR, you don’t say you are looking for a DVR. For example, you say you are looking for a Tivo. An analogy would be this – when you go to buy a carbonated beverage or soda, you don’t say you are looking for a carbonated beverage, you say you are looking for a Coke or a Pepsi. Both are carbonated beverages. When you look for an MP3 player, you don’t say you are looking for a MP3 player – because it could be any brand, including the iPod. You say you are looking for an iPod. This, and other subtle differences, is the difference between an iPod and an MP3 player. And when recognizing this, understand that of all the negative reviews of any of the MP3 players, all the complaints of errors were 95% user errors – not reading what the item was actually capable of doing.

The iPod is the most popular MP3 player out there. This is not even open for discussion. Owned by celebrities in the Rolling Stone Magazine or on Entertainment Tonight, you never see them talking about the benefits and features of their Creative Labs or iRiver, other brands of the MP3 players. Why? Because it is not considered “hip” or “cool” to talk about anything other than an iPod. It HAS to be an iPod for a person to fit in, to be with it, and to be accepted as one of the leaders in MP3 players.

But then, don’t most of us grow up? We begin to see all options that fit our needs, not just what is hip. We begin to see ourself as an individual, not just as one of a group – with no separate identity. We pass through Junior High and High school, and head into college, begin a family, or just get on with life. And with this, we begin to see the benefits of more affordable MP3 players, not just one. We begin to look at what we want in a MP3 player beside a brand name.

The most important focus for most buyers who are paying their own bills is money. The iPods are very expensive, with a nonreplacable battery that loses its resiliency in about a couple years. And if money is issues with the ol’ pocket … consider how much extra space you can get for your dollar by going with a different brand name than iPod. If the price tag on the iPod 60GB player is $399 and the price tag on the Toshiba 60GB player is $249, then a person has something to consider. Another option could be the MP3 CD players, which offer more megabytes per dollar with CDs that hold 10 hours of music each. Some people get hung up on the fact it is not a hard drive-based player, while others feel it is comparable enough to go for the extra saved money. It’s all about choice.

Additionally, the iPod video and audio formats can sometimes cause problems with people who like to use certain types of media formats. Apple uses a few exclusive types of video and audio formats, like the AAC-encoded files, because they are Apple where other manufacturers use multiple formats to become more attractive to the consumer. Many reviews consider this an extremely negative drawback to the iPod, as they feel “hemmed in”. Other MP3 players allow the choice of “BuyMusic”, “Musicmatch”, or “Napster”. Most MP3 players support a wide range musical service choices. Make sure you investigate what formats are supported by iPod and other manufacturers you are considering, it could make or break your purchase.

Apple’s iPod is the industry leader for a reason, because they make tremendous products, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t other great products on the market. With many drawback such as a high price, review complaints of limited support, limited memory, limited types of music that can be recorded or played, or with unlimited ability to record online music. Other brands to look would be Rio, Creative, Samsung or Dell – it may be time to do a comparison study!

Jesus

John M Axelberg asked:




Are you a real music lover? Do you wish to own the best MP3 player out in the market? Then, you should be patient enough to conduct a good research about the same. There are plenty of MP3 players introduced by different companies and finding the best would be a little difficult task. MP3 players are being used like a cell phone these days and newer models are arriving very soon.
Certain factors are to be taken into account before you choose the one you need. The budget is the first thing as you should be checking out those MP3 players under your determined cost set up. Battery life is something which has to be given the primary consideration. It depends on the usage by you. If you are to use it for short term purpose, battery life will not be affecting you in anyways. On the other hand, if your usage is for undefined hours then you have check out this factor and consider it seriously. Always go for those devices having a longer battery life.

The size is the next parameter which has to be looked upon. There are some devices having small screen and the others with large screens and the weight might also be differing. Always go for those light weight models which come very handy and portable.

Apart from the music player function, most of the MP3 players also act as a storage device, a radio and also provide visual experience. You can choose it depending on your own requirements as there are plenty other functions as well like alarm, album, calendar and lot more.

The final step would be to check out the add-ons which can be availed for the device. You can check out for more information on the internet as there are plenty available.

Alex

Anne Ahira asked:




While electronics used to be the domain and passion of male consumers, that’s not the case any longer. Female consumers, especially the younger ones, are just as excited as music and electronics as any young man. That’s why pink MP3 players are such a popular choice for buyers these days. A number of models are available with their own great features. Below is an overview of some of these pink MP3 players.

SanDisk Sansa Fuze

These bright pink MP3 players are good choices, especially if you value the reputation of SanDisk which is most known for making flashing memory. The player has a 4 GB hard drive so you can store a large number of files. However, the player also comes with an FM player that contains 40 pre-set stations so you can easily hear the latest music to find new favorites to add to your collection. The rechargeable batteries can give you up to 24 hours of music enjoyment. Voice recording and video viewing are also options on the player which costs around $90.

Sony Walkman Video MP3 Player

This paler example of pink MP3 players is made by Sony who clearly has a strong reputation in the portable music industry. The player includes a 4 GB hard drive capable of holding more than 900 songs. Along with this capacity, the player also features a back lit screen that makes navigating through your library easier. Plus, the battery life of the unit is impressive. Up to 45 hours of music listening can be enjoyed without the need for recharging. Of course, the battery life is greatly reduced when viewing videos but that’s common with all of the pink MP3 players. The price is around $70.

Creative Zen Mozaic

While these pink MP3 players also come in silver and black, the pink version is the most eye-catching. Unfortunately, the device has a smaller capacity than some of the others. Only a 2 GB hard drive is inserted in the player so only 500 MP3 files can be found. Double that number of WMA files can be stored on the device. More than 32 hours of music listening can be done on a single battery charge. The gadget includes an organizer and FM tuner. Video viewing is also possible on the gadget but any videos will need to be reformatting using software that accompanies the player. The price is around $60.

Apple iPod Nano

One of the most popular pink MP3 players is the Apple iPod Nano which is currently in its fourth generation. The newest versions have brighter screens and slightly better battery life than their predecessors. For around $150, you can purchase the 8 GB model which can hold an amazing 2,000 songs or 7,000 photos or even 8 hours of videos. Battery life is still not quite as impressive as with other pink MP3 players at only 24 hours for music or four hours for video. Overall, it’s still one of the best mp3 players on the market.

Leroy

aaomusic asked:

www.shopsansa.com The new Sansa View is a video MP3 player with a vast array of features and generous capacity, at an unbeatable price. Available in 8*, 16* and 32* gigabyte capacities, the sleek-looking Sansa View marries the finest MP3 player attributes with full-motion video support (typically found in larger portable media players (PMPs)), a larger screen, long battery life and generous capacity—all in a thin, easy-to-carry package. An MP3 player at its core, the Sansa View comes equipped with all the soup-to-nuts features typically found in the Sansa audio line. The smooth, backlit scroll wheel and vibrant 2.4″ widescreen display make it easy to navigate to: a music library; video collection; digital photos; digital FM radio with 20 pre-sets; an integrated microphone and voice recording, and Audible audiobooks.

Edgar

John Gibb asked:




Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ll know that the most popular mp3 player in the world by far is Apple’s iPod. It comes in all sorts of editions, including the Mini, the Nano, and the Shuffle – and every single one is a best-seller.

What you might not have realised, though, is that Apple isn’t at all the only game in town when it comes to mp3 players. In fact, they’re quite a recent entrant into the market. Companies like iRiver and Creative have been around a lot longer, and their players are usually worth considering too, as they can often be cheaper than the equivalent iPod or have more features.

When you’re comparing the prices of mp3 players, the one feature you should look at more than any other is capacity. Don’t lose sight of the fact that a 40GB mp3 player can store twice as much as a 20GB one.

However, there other features to look for. Even though everyone calls them mp3 players, mp3s are not the only format you might want your player to be able to play – if you want to use it with Microsoft’s Media Player, for example, you’ll need a player that is also capable of playing wma (Windows Media Audio) format files. If you want to buy music from the iTunes Music Store, you need a player that can play aac (Apple) format files.

Another issue is battery life. Almost all mp3 players are now powered by mains chargers rather than by changing the battery, but battery life varies wildly, from as little as 2 hours up to as high as 10. Make sure you don’t get saddled with a player that won’t work for a long time if you want to use it for extended periods away from a power outlet.

Of course, the most important feature to many people will always be how their mp3 player looks when they’re using and wearing it. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, but don’t be fooled into buying a turkey just because it has a pretty design

Ray

Alden Jerry asked:




People are always looking for comfort in their lives. They want all the amenities in life. If they love music, they want to have the best music players. If photography is their passion, they need the best digital cameras.

For all those who love music, an MP3 player would be an ideal gizmo. These compact gadgets can store thousands of songs and allow you to listen them on the move. They have clear and crisp sound quality with compact headphones that fit in comfortably.

The advanced technology has given rise to various improved and updated electronic devices. From a digital camera to mobile phone to MP3 player, there is something for everyone. There are varieties of choices available with varied price ranges. You just have to make a choice depending on your budget and requirements. Music players with radio will allow you to tune in to a channel of your choice and get updated news and songs. These mini devices help you listen to music through a blue tooth device or headset.

Storing your favourite songs in a device and listening to them on the move was a dream in the past. These days, you can easily download your desired songs from the internet. There are many types of MP3 Players in the market like creative MP3 CD players, flash-based players and hard-drive based players. For a music lover, the most exciting way to enjoy music is a portable MP3 player. This small system holds the user’s personal play lists, and even allows for video recording. The device is designed for enjoying music on the go no matter where we are. Carrying these players is much more handy than carrying various CDs into your hands.

If you’ve decided that you want to buy a portable MP3 player, here are numerous choices to choose from. Battery life is something you have to consider while buying it. Compare the battery life of various brands and evaluate how long the battery will last under the normal use.

Allison