Looking for an MP3 player but not sure which type and model to buy? There is a wide variety of MP3 players, from flash memory based players to hard disk based players. Choosing a good player in the market is not an easy task. What features should you look for? What are the key considerations? This article aims to answer those questions and more. Now, let’s see how we can choose the perfect MP3 player.
Types of MP3 player
There are basically four types of MP3 players on the market today. These include flash-based players, hard disk-based players, and MP3 CD players. Let’s look at them in turn.
Flash-based MP3 players
Flash-based MP3 players have a built-in flash memory chip. They are usually very small, ultra-portable, and have no moving parts. As a user, you can do all your sports activities without worrying about your music skipping a beat. The downside of flash players is their high cost per megabyte. These players range from 32MB to 2GB, and the most popular models are typically the Creative Muvo line, the iRiver iFP series, and most recently Apple’s iPod Shuffle.
Hard drive based MP3 players
Hard drive MP3 players use a 1.8 inch hard drive to store your music. The hard drive can hold large amounts of music; we are talking about 10 GB or more. If you have a large music library and want to store tons of music, a hard drive MP3 player is the way to go. The cost per megabyte is very low. Low? Well, due to the hard disk drive, which has moving parts, these players are not suitable for rough physical activities or extreme sports. One of the most popular MP3 players in this category is the Apple iPod, which sells like hotcakes.
Micro hard disk based MP3 players
More recently, manufacturers have created micro hard drive-based MP3 players such as the Apple iPod Mini, Creative Zen Micro, and Rio Carbon. With a smaller hard drive (still offering ample storage space of about 4 to 5GB), they have a much more compact design compared to full hard drive players. The few models mentioned above are also selling like crazy.
MP3 CD Players
MP3 CD players are another type of MP3 player. These units look and feel like normal CD players. You can record up to 150 MP3 songs to fill a CD-R disc and then play it back on the unit. The disadvantage of these players is their large size and their tendency to jump if pushed.
Key Features of MP3 Players
Having examined the different types of MP3 players, let’s look at the key features of an MP3 player.
Size and weight: If you want to take your MP3 player on trips or sports activities, a small and compact design is very important. In such cases, you should opt for a small flash-based player or one of the micro-hard drive players.
Storage capacity: This is also an important factor. If you need to store your entire music library on the MP3 player, you probably need a hard disk player with 10GB of storage or more. If you only want to listen to a few selected songs on the subway, then a flash-based player would suffice. Note that some players offer expansion slots in the form of CompactFlash or SD cards.
Battery duration: This is often overlooked. Battery life is a very important consideration, especially if you are out and about with your player and have no way to recharge it. Hard drive players tend to have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, while some flash players offer support for AAA batteries. Personally, I own a Creative MuVo Micro N200 that uses AAA batteries. This is great for me because once it runs out I can open a new one, with no problem finding an electrical outlet to recharge.
Connectivity options: How the MP3 player connects to your computer is also an important factor. The latest models tend to support high-speed USB 2.0 transfers. The best ones, like the Apple iPod, also support Firewire.
File format support: Most likely, you want to play MP3 songs on your player. However, if you want to listen to a wider variety of music files, such as WMA or OGG Vorbis, be sure to see it in the player’s specifications.
Other considerations
Many of the latest players also include features that I have not covered in the above. For example, some players come with a built-in FM tuner, which is very useful if you get tired of your MP3 music. Others have a built-in voice recorder that allows you to record audio as WAV files.
Conclution
As you can see, there are many considerations to think about when buying an MP3 player. To get the most suitable player, you have to think about how you will use it. Use should drive your purchasing decision. The other thing to keep in mind is comparing prices, both online and offline – shop around before shelling out the cash. Good luck finding that MP3 player!