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MP3 Player Reviews

Updated: Mar 18, 2024 17:44
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#1
alaScore 100

Sony NW-A306

Get a big boost to the quality of your mobile sound without putting a big dent in your bank...

2 expert reviews

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#2
alaScore 99

Sony Walkman NW-A306

Here's everything you need to know about Sony's latest Walkman that couldn't be more different...

3 expert reviews

#3
alaScore 99

JBL Tuner 2

JBL has made a versatile if not exactly powerful radio

2 expert reviews

#4
alaScore 98

Apple iPod Touch (4th Gen, Late 2010)

Incredibly thin, sleek design ; High-resolution Retina display ; Solid Apple build quality ; iOS...

151 expert reviews | 22830 user reviews

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#5
alaScore 98

Samsung YP-K5

unfortunately, you can't create playlists directly on the k5—you need to transfer them via...

58 expert reviews | 400 user reviews

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#6
alaScore 97

Apple iPod Touch (5th Gen, Late 2012 - Mid 2014)

As an upgrade, the fifth-generation iPod touch hits all the right marks. It's thinner and lighter...

52 expert reviews | 13873 user reviews

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#7
alaScore 97

Apple iPod Touch (7th Gen, 2019)

There are other alternatives to the iPod touch that aren't phones. You can also get a dedicated...

14 expert reviews | 19 user reviews

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#8
alaScore 97

Sony NW-A3000

If you're just looking for better photo quality than a point-and-shoot on a really tight budget...

25 expert reviews | 764 user reviews

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#9
alaScore 96

Apple iPod nano (5th Gen, 2009)

No other MP3 player on the planet packs more features, from video to a pedometer, into a smaller...

87 expert reviews | 7636 user reviews

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#10
alaScore 96

Apple iPod Touch (6th Gen, Mid 2015)

The updated iPod Touch remains a great portable media player and overall entertainment device...

23 expert reviews | 4427 user reviews

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#11
alaScore 96

Apple iPod Touch (1st Gen, 2007-2008)

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen, the first review (or at least the first we've seen) of the iPod...

150 expert reviews | 5581 user reviews

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#12
alaScore 96

Sony Walkman NW-A105

You don't need a dedicated music player for listening to music but if music affects your life in...

2 expert reviews | 60 user reviews

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#13
alaScore 96

Creative ZEN

But it's a great choice for gadgeteers and audiophiles alike. If the 16GB's $150 price tag is too...

124 expert reviews | 5728 user reviews

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#14
alaScore 95

Apple iPod Touch (3rd Gen, Late 2009)

The updated iPod Touch remains a great portable media player and overall entertainment device...

60 expert reviews | 6500 user reviews

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#15
alaScore 95

Apple iPod Nano (4th Gen, 2008)

It's been just over a week since we ran a smash-and-grab at Apple's unveiling of its newest...

83 expert reviews | 7239 user reviews

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#16
alaScore 95

Pioneer XDP-100R

Pioneer's XDP-100R is a polished, flexible, and sweet-sounding high-res audio player with loads...

14 expert reviews | 33 user reviews

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#17
alaScore 95

Apple iPod classic (6th/7th Gen, 2007/2009)

The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. None can match its combination...

87 expert reviews | 11906 user reviews

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#18
alaScore 95

Apple iPod Nano (7th/8th Gen, 2012/2015)

Apple's latest iPod nano marks another re-design for the company's littlest player, but still it...

37 expert reviews | 11592 user reviews

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#19
alaScore 95

Apple iPod Shuffle (4th Gen, 2010)

Apple's most affordable iPod is a cheap, workout-friendly option for listening to music or...

55 expert reviews | 9951 user reviews

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#20
alaScore 95

Creative ZEN X-Fi

If maximum flash storage for the dollar is what you're after, this is a good choice...

100 expert reviews | 1322 user reviews

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#21
alaScore 95

Apple iPod nano (6th Gen, 2010)

iPod nano watchbands -- they're everywhere! Seriously, ever since Steve Jobs said that an unnamed...

82 expert reviews | 7414 user reviews

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#22
alaScore 94

Cowon Plenue 1 / P1

​If you're looking for a no-nonsense, great-sounding player the Cowon Plenue 1 is pretty hard to...

7 expert reviews | 1 user reviews

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#23
alaScore 94

Apple iPod Touch (2nd Gen, Late 2008)

At Apple's last event, Steve Jobs called the iPod touch the company's "most popular iPod," and...

61 expert reviews | 11914 user reviews

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#24
alaScore 94

Apple iPod nano (3rd Gen, 2007)

The shape may have changed, but Apple's relentless attention to detail remains. The third...

72 expert reviews | 6205 user reviews

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#25
alaScore 94

Apple iPod classic (5th Gen, 2005)

Red clickwheel? Check. Signature-filled black backing? Ditto. Exclusive music video? Got that too...

99 expert reviews | 10305 user reviews

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    Buying Guide

    Buying Guide - MP3 Players

    MP3 players have become the indispensable portable media device of an entire generation, so much so that it is difficult to imagine a time when music, videos, and movies could not be taken with you while on the go. Apple started the trend with their unbelievably popular iPod series of MP3 players, but today a host of manufacturers have caught up and there is a huge range of choices available to the consumer.



    Contents

    The Apple iPod vs. Everyone Else

    The iPod series from Apple is so ubiquitous that it almost defines the MP3 market itself. The iPod was the first MP3 player to make a big splash, and with good reason. It's worth considering the advantages and shortcomings of iPods before going further with your buying decision. The interface is intuitive and easy to use, the device itself is attractive, compact, and ultra-portable, and Apple's iTunes Store is a ready-made source of abundant and affordable content. iPods also have a plenty of accessories to extend their use, from boom boxes and clock radios with iPod slots to iPod cases that come in many colors and fabrics. However, iPods typically are more expensive than comparable MP3 players by other manufacturers, they come with fewer accessories standard, and the copyright protection on iTunes content does not allow for sharing with other devices.

    The iPod may have been the first MP3 player to become a part of the popular culture, but other manufacturers have been quick to develop their own technology and address some of the iPod's shortcomings. Many other brands offer an AC charger, radio tuner, and satellite radio compatibility as standard features. And content on these MP3 players can usually be shared freely on your other devices.

    What to Look for in an MP3 Player

    Multimedia Options – MP3 players can do much more than just play music. More advanced models can play videos, movies, games, and more. Obviously, increased functionality comes with an increase in price, but an MP3 player with strong multimedia support offers the most convenient package available, since you are able to store your favorite music, videos, and movies all in one place. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing, it can be a nice bonus for certain users.

    Storage Capacity – If you are just storing music files, an MP3 player with smaller storage is fine, but if you plan on having a lot of videos and movies, you will need one of the larger units. Many MP3 players can double as external storage devices, allowing you to shuttle data between PCs. There are hard-drive MP3 players and Flash-based models. Usually hard-drive players run from 20GB on up, and large players such as the 160GB Apple iPod Classic can hold about 40,000 songs. Flash-based players range in capacity from 512MB to 64GB. Following is a rough guideline for storage space for music files:
    512MB 8 hours of playing time
    2GB 30+ hours of playing time
    20GB 300+ hours of playing time
    40GB 650+ hours of playing time

    Battery Life – Battery life is very important, since most people require a lot of use from their MP3 player between charges. Ten to fifteen hours is standard, but twenty hours and beyond is not uncommon and does not require a significant additional expenditure. Flash-memory players tend to have longer playback times than hard-disk players. Playing videos can run down a battery in just a few hours. Most hard-drive-based players come with nonremovable lithium ion batteries, while flash-memory players are split between those using AA or AAA batteries and those with an internal rechargeable cell.

    Wireless Capability – The latest technology to be cropping up in MP3 players is wireless connectivity. Some players have Wi-Fi network which allow users to access online stores for wireless music purchasing and downloads. Also some offer built-in Bluetooth, meaning it can be paired with a compatible pair of wireless headphones for a cord-free listening experience. Wireless functionality is still in the up-and-coming stages, so the execution may not be perfect on many devices quite yet.

    Headphones – While many players can produce near audio-CD quality music out of their headphone jacks, the headphones they come with can degrade the quality. Some people don't care about which headphones they use, but they probably haven't tried on a high-end model; the difference will blow you away. If you're particular about sound quality, it would be worth buying a decent pair of headphones – your ears will appreciate it.

    Popular MP3 Player Brands

    Apple makes several versions of the iPod. The tiny iPod Shuffle is the entry-level model: the current version only plays music and offers 4GB of storage. The iPod Nano is the smallest one that offers video playback, yet the newest version still offers 16GB of storage. The iPod Classic offers a hard drive with additional storage, while the iPod Touch includes a touch-sensitive screen and a web browser that can accommodate wireless downloads.

    SanDisk is the number two manufacturer of MP3 players, behind Apple, and their devices are easily upgraded with a number of different card-based expansions. Samsung has brought its tremendous reputation in electronics to the world of MP3 players, and they have several well-received models at a number of different levels of price and performance. Sony revived the Walkman brand for its line of MP3 players, which have proven as popular in the '00s as they were in the '80s. Creative Labs and Archos were two of the first MP3 manufactures, and they have a substantial number of offerings at different price points.

    Popular MP3 Player products

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