MP3 Players
School is opening in less than a month’s time. You know that you are going to commute by bus everyday to school and that would take about 30 minutes each time. Instead of gazing outside doing nothing, wouldn’t it be better to listen to a mp3 player loaded with all your favorite songs just to kill time? So how to get hold of some of the best mp3 players so that everyday would be fun?
MP3 Player Buying Guide
1) Hard Drive Or Flash Type Player?
For hard drive-based mp3 player, big storage is the plus point. Nowadays it is common to see 20 GB - 60 GB capacity players flooding the market and the price is quite reasonable meaning it costs less per gigabyte. However the downside is that since they use 1.8 inch hard drive, these type of mp3 players tend to be heavier than the rest. Moreover since hard drives contain moving parts, they are susceptible to shocks and hence they may not be suitable when used in strenuous activities.
As for flash-based mp3 players, although they are lighter and shockproof (no moving parts) as compared to the hard-drive version (and hence suitable for rigorous outdoor activities), the capacity is usually between 512 MB - 6 GB only and nearly the same price thereby making them more expensive per gigabyte.
2) Storage
It really depends on the user. As a general rule, a song occupies about 4 MB capacity and hence for a typical 20 GB hard drive mp3 player, it can store about 5,000 songs. This is serious stuff man. Some will go the extreme and opt for 60 GB capacity. The choice is yours to make. Same goes for flash-based version.
3) Connectivity
This refers to the method of transfering music files from your computer to the mp3 player. At this point in time, wireless file transfering has not been adopted widely hence the only other options are either using the USB or firewire port. Transfering files via USB connection is slower as compared to firewire but do take note that PCs and Macs support both USB and firewire connections unlike Macs which support only firewire connections.
4) File Types
There are many different file types that exists today namely AAC, AIFF, MP3, RealAudio and WMA just to name a few so it is of paramount importance that the mp3 player that you intend to purchase are able to support the music file types that you intend to transfer from.
MP3 Player Reviews & Ratings
We found the best MP3 reviews from CNET, Consumer Reports and PC Magazine. Professional audio testers there reviewed some of the best MP3 player models from well-known and top-notch makers such as Apple, Archos, Cowon, Creative, iRiver, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony, Toshiba and Zune. MP3 player ratings based on ease of use, headphone quality, audio quality, damage resistance and picture quality determines the best MP3 players in their class.
Best MP3 Player (Flash)
MP3 Player Reviews #1: By far in a league of its own with excellent MP3 player reviews from music lovers and experts is the best rated Apple 8 GB iPod Nano MP3 Player. If there’s only one MP3 player to have, then get this Apple iPod. With massive 8 GB flash-based storage capacity, this best MP3 player from Apple is able to store 2k songs or 25k photos. Supports multiple music file types such as AAC, MP3, AIFF, WAV and video file types such as BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, PSD (Mac only) and TIFF formats for more entertainment options. Connects via USB or firewire connections for faster file transfer. With sleek, attractive design in all-aluminum body (in different colors), 1.5 inch color display and at slightly just above $200, no wonder it is the most popular flash-based mp3 player for the young and old.
MP3 Player Reviews #2: Stopping other MP3 players dead in its track with outstanding MP3 player reviews from consumers and experts is the best rated SanDisk SDMX4-8192 e280 8GB MP3 Player. For music and video you want and more, let this SanDisk MP3 player to deliver. This best MP3 player from SanDisk features 8GB SanDisk flash memory in sleek 1.8" TFT color screen with easy navigation controls, enough for storing and simple retrieval of all your favorite audio and video files. Li-ion battery provides >20 hours of non-stop enjoyment. At just 44.1 x 88.9 x 13.2 mm and weighing just ….g, it fits easily in the pocket for mobile entertainment.
MP3 Player Reviews #3: Totally revolutionary with excellent MP3 player reviews from users and experts is the best rated Sony NWZA818 8GB Walkman Video MP3 Player. Style meets substance to produce this Sony MP3 player that will surely wow your family and friends. This best MP3 player from Sony features 8GB flash memory for storing 5K songs and 30 hours video for all your entertainment pleasure. Supports AVC, DBM, MP3, MPEG-4non-DBM and non-DRM AAC format for multitude of audio and video options. With Clear Bass, Clear Stereo and DSEE for great listening experience. 33 hours battery life. All this and more in 2.0" QVGA LCD monitor.
MP3 Player Reviews #4: Topping expectations with great MP3 player reviews from users and expert testers is the best rated iRiver CXW-4G Clix 4 GB Digital Music and Video Player. Boasting a massive 4 GB storage that are able to store up to 64 hours of MP3 files as well as 128 hours of WMA files for your entertainment pleasure. Supports multiple formats such as ASF, JPEG, MPEG-4, MP3, Ogg and WMA. Features 2.2 inch color LCD display and includes many extras such as FM tuner, Flash games and integrated voice recorder. Supports only USB 2.0 connections for file transfer. At about $150, this mp3 player will surely give iPod Nano a tough fight.
MP3 Player Reviews #5: Slowly climbing up with superb reviews from MP3 player pros and consumers is the top rated Creative Zen V Plus 4GB Portable Media Player. Make a fashion statement with this Creative MP3 player that will leave your friends awe in envy. This top rated MP3 player features 4GB flash memory for up to 4K songs storing capacity. Supports JPEG, MP3, WAV and WMA format for your audio and video playing options. 15 hours playtime. In sleek 1.7" x 2.7" x 0.6" and weighing 1.55 ounces.
Best MP3 Player (Hard Drive)
MP3 Player Reviews #6: Taking top spot without a shadow of a doubt with top-notch MP3 player reviews from hardcore users and audio experts is the best rated Apple 80 GB iPod Video. This 5th generation iPod boasts a whopping 80 GB storage capacity, enough to store up to 20k songs, 25k photos and up to 100 hours of video. Supports multiple file types similar to that of iPod Nano (see above). Featuring large 2.5 inch color screen which is 60% brighter than the previous model for sharper video playback. At slightly above $300, this best MP3 player from Apple is worth every penny (or gigabyte for that matter).
MP3 Player Reviews #7: Rocking the music world with excellent MP3 player reviews from pros and users is the top rated Creative Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player. Though lacking in storage capacity compared to iPod Video, it can still packs in 15k songs and 120 hours of video, enough even for the most crazy music and video lovers. With large 2.5 inch LCD, 262k color display, photos appear real even in bright daylight. Supports multiple formats such as AVI, DivX, MPEG-1,2, WMV9 etc. Includes FM radio and recorder. At less than $200, consumers now have a viable choice.
MP3 Player Reviews #8: Clawing its way up with excellent reviews from MP3 player experts and consumers is the best rated Zune 80 GB Digital Media Player. Have it your way with this Zune MP3 player that will put the coolness into you. This best MP3 player from Microsoft features 80GB hard disk capable of storing 20K songs, 25K pictures and 250 hours video for all your digital entertainment library. Comes in large, high-resolution 3.2" LCD screen for easier viewing. Supports iTunes and Windows Media Player.
Resources: Digital Audio Player (Wikipedia)