

It doesn’t have a built-in loudspeaker or file storage, but it can play MP3 files from a 32GB or smaller SD card. The closest I can find is the Majority Parkside DAB Digital FM Radio - MP3 Player, which is surprisingly cheap at £29.95 (£40 off). What you’d actually be looking for is the smallest DAB radio that can play MP3 files, though that’s not quite the same thing. Not many MP3 players include DAB because of the extra cost of the chips, the extra space needed, and the extra power consumption. Spend any spare cash on better ear-buds or headphones. You don’t need a FiiO or Astell & Kern or even a Cowon player.
IPOD MP3 PLAYER PORTABLE
In fact, my Sony NWZ A818 (2007) is the best portable music player I’ve ever heard.įortunately, audiophile sound isn’t needed for listening to podcasts and audio books. I have a couple of older Sony MP3 players, and both are well made, sound great, and came with excellent ear-buds.
IPOD MP3 PLAYER SOFTWARE
Sony offers Media Go software for Windows, which will recognize iTunes files, but you can always drag and drop files straight from iTunes. If so, consider the 8GB Sony NW-E394 Walkman at £75. Examples include the 8GB AGPtek M07, which can handle up to 128GB, and the AGPtek Rocker (no FM!), up to 256GB.Īs an iPod owner, you might prefer a name-brand product. However, there are plenty of alternatives that support larger cards. The 8GB Kubik Evo (£26.90) might do, but it only supports SD cards up to 8GB. They are a handy way to move a lot of data around. I use SD Cards on my desktop (via an Anker USB3 adaptor), three laptops, a Roland Edirol digital recorder, a DSLR and several compact cameras.

What would stop me from buying an HccToo is its lack of an SD card slot. This is better value, but you don’t really need the extra storage space. There’s also a 32GB version of the HccToo for £26.98. Music buffs will appreciate its ability to play MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE, AAC, OGG and (for speech) ACELP files. I’d never heard of this machine, but it’s the #1 Best Seller on .uk, so you can browse the 639 customer reviews. They won’t be as well made, but they are so cheap that you won’t lose much by getting it wrong.įor example, you could buy a 16GB HccToo Music Player on Amazon for £18.98, saving £30 off the “list price” and £130 off the cost of a Nano. Many of these players look like knock-offs of the fifth-generation Nano. It would be much cheaper to buy a traditional MP3 player with basic audio functionality – including, of course, FM radio. In other words, if you buy a Nano, most of the money pays for features you don’t want. Alternative MP3 playersĪpple extended the Nano’s life by adding features such as a photo library, video playback and some “fitness” features, such as a pedometer.
IPOD MP3 PLAYER PC
In fact, they work exactly like other MP3 players: you download files to your PC using software such as Apple iTunes and Audible Manager, then transfer them to the portable device. While Apple isn’t making any more Nanos, existing devices will continue to work.
IPOD MP3 PLAYER MAC OS X
However, the newer model requires a newer operating system: Mac OS X 10.6.8 or later, or Microsoft Windows 7 or later. Note that the latest 2015 Nano looks identical to the seventh-generation 2012 version, it just comes in fewer colours. Such products cost more, but their audio performance and ability to accommodate virtually every wired headset are worth investing in.Ĭheck out these thoroughly researched MP3 players that are worthy of your ever-growing music collection.The seventh-gen iPod Nano is launched in 2012. When it comes to wired connectivity, avid audiophiles with vast collections of headphones and earbuds should look for players with more outputs. If you are subscribed to one, look for onboard Wi-Fi. On the other hand, Wi-Fi-equipped products are all but guaranteed to bring you access to your favorite streaming service. Connectivityīluetooth connectivity is a must if you plan to use your media player with wireless headphones or earbuds. Today's splurge-worthy MP3 players will most likely offer you a combination of both.

You should either consider a product with ample built-in memory, or one with a built-in microSD card slot for easy expansion. In addition to the audio hardware and performance, it's important to consider the amount of available storage an MP3 player offers. A high-end MP3 player will also improve the quality of the sound from high-impedance headphones.īut if you're simply looking to untether your music library from your smartphone, a more affordable model should fit the bill just fine. If you own a lot of music in lossless file formats and don't want to compromise on audio quality, consider getting an MP3 player with an advanced DAC (digital-to-analog converter). When shopping for an MP3 player, consider the size and quality of your digital music collection.
