MP3 player

I'm looking to buy an MP3 player, or some other kind of portable "music" player.

I want one that will 1) cost $30 to $50 tops, 2) easily sync with a PC and 3) has reasonable sound quality. I'll use it almost exclusively when I exercise, and I plan to play some talk radio type files I've been collecting for the past few weeks, including the Wizard's shows. I may also bring it along on long drives, so it should be able to play through my car's stereo (I do have an "iPod" port marked "AUX" in the car). Any sugestions?

Thanks.

You should be able to find a fine music player at that price point. You below the level for an iPod/iPod Naano, but could afford an iPod Shuffle. If you do not want to do your part to increase Apple's share price, there are capable players from other manufacturers like Sansa, Creative and others. Most include a digital display of some kind, which the iPod Shuffle doesn't have. I have a Creative player I purchased some years ago for $75. It has 1GB of storage. Now, that's not even available at any price. I think you should be able to get at least 2GB. Any player with a headphone jack should be able to connect to your car's AUX input.

Sounds like you want a SanDisk Sansa. The Aux is a 1/8 inch jack, right? You can use any 1/8 inch audio cable to hook up then. Sync with these is drag and drop, just like a flash drive, so it's pretty simple.

I am one of the few proud owners of a Zune 120 GB...I think Microsoft gave up on their players, but the Zune Marketplace is still a great alternative to iTunes for buying music without having that horrendously bloated Apple software on your PC...but like I said, it's not necessary to sync a Sansa.

Oh, and a lot of Sansas also have an FM tuner...nice touch.

Thank you both.

Quote: progrocker

Sounds like you want a SanDisk Sansa. The Aux is a 1/8 inch jack, right?

Well, I haven't measured it or anything, but it looks like a regular small earplug jack. I suppose I'll need a cable? I do remember SanDisk. Didn't they make the extra-super-super floppy disks and drives for backups back in the mid 90s??

Quote:

Oh, and a lot of Sansas also have an FM tuner...nice touch.

That might be nice, too.

I don't know if this site ships to Mexico, but here's a great deal on an 8 Gb, with expandable MicroSD slot and FM tuner, currently at 50% off.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=693041&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&cm_mmc_o=VRqCjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE

If they don't work out, looks like there are numerous 2Gb and 4Gb models that will be in the <50 dollar price range at normal prices.

And yes, normal headphone jack = 1/8 inch cable. Those are cheap, and you may even have some spare ones laying around if you've ever bought more than one set of PC speakers. I'm embarrassed to admit I've got an unused one laying under my desk at my feet right this second.

Yeah, any player will attach to the car's Aux jack, although you'll need a cable for that.

The jack is the same size as a headphone jack - 1/8". You need a stereo cable with 1/8" plugs on both ends. The store where you're buying the player should have them. If not, I wouldn't trust them to sell a good player....

Quote: teddys

If you do not want to do your part to increase Apple's share price,

I don't have anything against Apple. I've some fond memories of my old Apple ][e (one reason I write the ][ in WoVCon ][). I traded that in a promo years ago for 1,500 pesos towards the purchase of a Compaq PC in 96 or 97, green monitor, duodisk and all. I just think since the iMac it's been overhyped, and I've ahd my share of brushes with Apple fanatics.

Quote:

I have a Creative player I purchased some years ago for $75. It has 1GB of storage. Now, that's not even available at any price.

Do you remember when a 64 MB USB memory was outrageoulsy expensive? :)

Quote: progrocker

I don't know if this site ships to Mexico, but here's a great deal on an 8 Gb, with expandable MicroSD slot and FM tuner, currently at 50% off.

Thanks. They have a number for international orders. But I noticed the description says "refurbished." I've had some bad experience with that kind of merchandise... In any case, I'll look up some local stores here first.

Quote:

And yes, normal headphone jack = 1/8 inch cable. Those are cheap, and you may even have some spare ones laying around if you've ever bought more than one set of PC speakers.

It could be I have one.

Quote:

I'm embarrassed to admit I've got an unused one laying under my desk at my feet right this second.

Do you ship to Mexico? ;)

I'm in Texas, I'll drive down to Laredo, you can go to Nuevo and I'll throw it across.

But seriously, cost of the cable locally will probably be less than cost of shipping.

Quote: progrocker

Sounds like you want a SanDisk Sansa. The Aux is a 1/8 inch jack, right? You can use any 1/8 inch audio cable to hook up then. Sync with these is drag and drop, just like a flash drive, so it's pretty simple.

I am one of the few proud owners of a Zune 120 GB...I think Microsoft gave up on their players, but the Zune Marketplace is still a great alternative to iTunes for buying music without having that horrendously bloated Apple software on your PC...but like I said, it's not necessary to sync a Sansa.

Oh, and a lot of Sansas also have an FM tuner...nice touch.

I have one of the Sansas with an FM tuner, however I payed about $100 for it and I don't remember how much storage it has, since it's at home. I'll let you know when I get a chance to check it out.

But FWIW I've been pretty happy with it. I bought it for the exact same purpose as you, Nareed, to listen to podcasts while I exercise. It's light and easily clips on to clothing.

Well, that was quick. I don't really like finding the best deal at once. It hardly feels like shopping.

Anyway, I found two possibles, both at the local Best Buy. One's a Sansa 2 GB 600 pesos (about $48 US). The other's a Sony, also 2 GB, but at only 400 pesos (~ $32 US), but it's marked down from 800 (~ $64 US). If I leave early today, I can even pick it up on the way home.

Naturally the Sony is the better choice, as it would be a bargain. But I've to ask if anyone knows of any issues with sony MP3 players.

Again, thanks!

I don't know of any issues, but you may want to ask yourself why it is marked down. Sony hasn't made a breakthrough product in years; people have moved on to other manufacturers like Samsung, Sansa, Apple, etc.

That said, they still make solid electronics and it could turn out to be a bargain. I don't think you could go wrong with either. Pick whichever design you like more.

Quote: teddys

I don't know of any issues, but you may want to ask yourself why it is marked down.

I assume to make way for new inventory. If it helps any, it's not marked down in Radio Shack and Walmart.

Quote:

Sony hasn't made a breakthrough product in years; people have moved on to other manufacturers like Samsung, Sansa, Apple, etc.

True. Sony was caught napping by the internet revolution. But that's another topic.

Quote:

That said, they still make solid electronics and it could turn out to be a bargain. I don't think you could go wrong with either. Pick whichever design you like more.

Did I mention the Sony comes in pink? ;)

Seriously, I need to look at them. The info on the website isn't thorough. If one has, say, an SD card slot, I'll get that one. Both do have FM radio, which seems pointless but might be helpful on trips.

Wow, good timing. Just saw an article in my RSS feeds today from LifeHacker:

Best Non-iPod Digital Music Player?

They're taking votes in the comments now. In a day or two they'll post the winner along with the runners up and a breakdown on each.

If anyone cares, I got the Sony (they didn't have it in pink <g>). Yes, the Sansa had a slot for micro SD cards and a mini USB port. But that would mean getting a mini USB cable, at least one micro SD and an adapter for the SD slot in the PC. Add the half-off pric eon the Sony and it was an easy decision.

The design is rather clever. It has a USB connector in front, so you just pop it into the USB port on the PC like a thumb drive. Then drag and drop audio files, easy as you please. The gadget and a cable for the car set me back just $43.50

Of course I then had to listen to the spiel about the extended warranty...

This reply is probably already too late. I purchased a Sansa a few months back. (I refuse to support Apple ever since they killed Steve Jobs.) I also was choosing between the Sony and the Sansa. From my research on the Sansa and the Sony, they are fairly similar in technical ability.

The mistake I made was in purchasing the larger memory Sansa. I think mine has 8GB. I didn't know that the Sansa had a microSD port. And since I already have a 16GB microSD card, I could have simply purchased the smaller, 2GB Sansa, and used the microSD card to store the music.

That being said, I do enjoy the Sansa. It was simply and easy to connect to the computer and download all my music.

You can buy the simple cable to plug the Sansa directly to your car stereo. I advise looking online as you can find the cables for very cheap. Of course, I'm not sure how well that works out in your country, but even at the stores, the cables should not be too expensive. I think I paid about $5 for the one I have.

Prior to the Sansa, I had purchased another MP3 player, the brand name I do not remember. It worked, but it had no real shuffle ability. With over 1000 songs, I like to just place the MP3 on shuffle and do whatever I'm doing. The cheap crappy MP3 player would only shuffle the first 10 songs, then after all 10 of those had played, shuffle the next 10, etc. Not what I wanted.

I only wish the Sansa had bluetooth capabilities, as I have a nice bluetooth stereo headset, and I can't stand to wear the standard ear buds for too long.

Quote: Nareed

Naturally the Sony is the better choice, as it would be a bargain. But I've to ask if anyone knows of any issues with sony MP3 players.

I've had largely good experiences with Sony players. They are also known for decent sound quality (not best). Had one break down after disconnecting, though. It's not like others never do, but mars the things a little.
Newer ones (as in since 2010, so you're good) have open storage, which means you can just drop the files in. Experienced users usually strongly prefer this method over syncing that ipods use, since it's much less bother.

Is the player in question this one? - http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/sony-w-series-nwz/4505-6490_7-34847721.html
Sounds like a good deal then. Probably less liable to physical breakage than others, unless you break the earbuds, then you're screwed.

Quote: konceptum

And since I already have a 16GB microSD card, I could have simply purchased the smaller, 2GB Sansa, and used the microSD card to store the music.

I'd recommend against doing that unless the price difference is major. Players with flash cards in them tend to boot longer, have less play time, sometimes the libraries don't merge perfectly. So you're usually better off with onboard memory only. Although having SD functionality is still useful, but not as a replacement for internal storage.

Quote: P90

I'd recommend against doing that unless the price difference is major. Players with flash cards in them tend to boot longer, have less play time, sometimes the libraries don't merge perfectly. So you're usually better off with onboard memory only. Although having SD functionality is still useful, but not as a replacement for internal storage.

The price would have saved me about half the money. The price isn't a huge deal to me, so I'm not too worried about it. I wouldn't have bothered with trying to merge things, just store all the music on the SD card. Plus, I already had the SD card full of music so it would have been easier to just plug it in and go.

Quote: konceptum

You can buy the simple cable to plug the Sansa directly to your car stereo. I advise looking online as you can find the cables for very cheap.

I bought it right there at Best Buy. Later I realized not fifty yards away, in the same building, is a Walmart. I'm sure it would have been cheaper there. Too late to worry about it....

Quote: P90

Is the player in question this one? - http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/sony-w-series-nwz/4505-6490_7-34847721.html
Sounds like a good deal then. Probably less liable to physical breakage than others, unless you break the earbuds, then you're screwed.

Oh, not even close. It's a little thing, lozenge-shaped, with the headphone jack on one end and the USB connector, covered with a cap, on the other, and a clip on the back.

I've tried it in the car already on the morning drive. It works just fine.

What do you know, the little Sony MP3 player was a hit at the office.

Two of the other women in the department want one just like it. We also ran some tests, and found you can copy any kind of file to it. So in a pinch it can serve as a USB memory, too. They were most impressed at the price. I do know a bargain when I see one ;)