The MP3/MP4 Store | How to choose an MP3 Player

How to choose an MP3 player (or MP4 Players)?

There are so many different models of MP3 players by many different manufacturers from at least a dozen different countries. How do you pick yourself a suitable one?

It is not an easy task; here are some information that may be of some use to you. Hopefully you would find them useful in selecting your MP3 player.

Different types of portableMP3 players

There are 3 different common types of portable MP3/MP4 players:

Flash-memory Based

Hard-Drive Based

CD Based

Flash-memory based MP3 players are the most common kinds of MP3 players in the market these days because of the long life-span of flash-memory (meaning your player could be used for up to 10 years) and the compactness of the players. They are also more drop-proof (if you drop your player, it is more likely to fail because of the LCD screen broke than because the memory-chip or other components broke). However, they are limited to at most 8GB or 16GB and could be relatively expensive (based on price/GB) if you need a lot of storage space.

Hard-Drive based MP3 players have the advantage of being able to store huge amount of audio/video files in a very compact machine. They are also the cheapest if you rank by price/GB. They are very suitable for storing video files which may be too large-size to store in flash-memory-based players. However, they are typically heavier and more likely to fail if you drop them.

CD/MP3 players allow you to directly play CDs as well. However they are relatively bulky and are not as cool as flash-based MP3 players.

CD based MP3 players are the cheapest around in the market. However they are also the largest in terms of physical size. At any point of time, you can have at most 512MB (120 MP3 songs) because of the CD limitations. However, each CD is only going to cost you less than US$1. If you need 4GB of songs, you are going to have to store them in 8 separate disks and they would only cost you less than US$8. However, you would have to carry 8 bulky disks along. Most people prefer CD based MP3 players only because it also plays CD-Audio disk and they could immediately listen to them after getting the latest hits from the Audio Stores and they are relatively cheaper than the other 2 types.

What memory size should I choose?

Below is Storage Capacity Chart that shows the number of songs that may be stored in the various sizes MP3 players. If you intend to use your MP3 player to record voice (maybe in lecture hall/classroom), be sure to add some extra allowances. Personally I feel that 512MB to 1GB (including recordings) should be sufficient for most people especially if you MP3 player also come with FM radio. However, if you are going to be on some audio-subscription plan (let say additional US$10/month or additional US$120/year) that allows you to download and listen to unlimited number of songs (as long as you are still on the plan), then you may wish to consider getting say at least a 4GB player (like the Apple iPod Nano) to get your money worth-while without having to reload your machine with songs too often.

However if you intend to load your MP3 players with video files (in the case of MP4 players), then you would need a minimum of 1 GB to start with. While it is good to have a hard-drive based MP4 players, most MP4 players would only allow you to play 2 movies continuously at one short before you have to recharge your battery. Many MP4 players are able to store up to 2 movies with 1GB of memory. Flash-based MP4 players with SD/MMC slots (like the Luxpro iOta), miniSD or microSD slots (like the SanDisk Sansa E250) are good alternatives to Hard-Drive based MP4 players as video files on SD Cards could be shared easily with friends and relatives. Quality 1GB SD Cards could be available for less than US$14 per piece (Exigo 1GB SD Card) and 2GB SD Cards for slightly less than double that price.

Storage Capacity Chart
Memory-size	MP3 format	WMA format
128MB	30 songs	60 songs
256MB	60 songs	120 songs
512MB	120 songs	240 songs
1GB	240 songs	480 songs
2GB	480 songs	960 songs
4GB	960 songs	1920 songs
8GB	1920 songs	3840 songs
30GB	7200 songs	14400 songs

Consideration Factors:

There are hundreds if not thousands of models out in the market by no less than a few dozen MP3 manufacturers in the world.

Every different model has their strength and weaknesses and was designed with different considerations. Here are some of the factors you should consider when selecting the player:

The low-price but very durable Espidi-168F MP3 Player produces paradoxically good audio music

Price

Price is always one of the most important considerations when getting anything. MP3 players these days range from US$24.99 to a few hundred dollars. They are normally proportional to the memory-sizes and features that they offer. Normally the more expensive models have better-quality parts but this is not always true. Low-price MP3 players could have good sound quality too. One low-price durable MP3 Player with comprehensive features you could consider getting is the Espidi 168F 1GB MP3 Player.

Memory-Size

MP3 players in the market range from 0MB (those that have expansion memory slot) to >30GBs. 256MB to 1GB players are the most common size players in the market. 512MB to 1GB should be sufficient to meet most users' requirements unless you intend to use the player for video-playback.

Comprehensive features

Most MP3 players, besides being able to play MP3/WMA format, come with FM radios, voice/FM recording features and can double as a data-storage flash-memory drive. Some also offer additional optional features like line-in recording, games, telephone directories, JPEG viewer and text readers.

The Apple iPod (Video) is a very popular hard-drive based MP4 player that features a large 2.5" screen and has a video-out port for connecting to TV screens.

Video Playback

MP3 players with the ability to player video files are commonly known as MP4 players irregardless whether they could directly play the MP4 format or not on their players. Most players could play only a particular video format file which has to be converted (transcoded) using the supplied software from popular format files like MP4,AVI,MPEG,MOV,DAT (VCD) and WMV.

Looks

As with other products, looks is also one of the most important considerations when you purchase a MP3 player. Even though a player may have very good audio quality and comprehensive features, if it does not look sleek or sporty, it may be deemed as a cheap inferior player despite the fact that it is better and is more expensive, when compared with friends carrying sleek-looking models.

Audio Quality

This is definitely one of the most important considerations. Even though most MP3 players play pretty decent music, the good-quality ones could really make audio entertainment a real pleasure such that you would never want to pick up anything else (not as good as it) once you listen to one. Players with Sound-To-Noise Ratio (SNR) of >=95dB have very decent sound. One other important factor to look out for is the Bass output. A lot of player perform pretty well for the treble range but fail at the Bass range. The best players excel even for the Bass range where they could deliver top-quality audio allowing you to hear very clearly the background music and the 3D audio effects.

Sports Design

Some players were designed for sport usage. These players typically are more drop-resistant and could take more shocks. They are normally made of rubber/plastic material and are easier to carry. They normally also have less holes such that perspirations/water could not easily sip in to corrode the players. Some also come with sport-essential features like stop-watch and pulse-rate indicators. There are also many MP3 arm-bands available in the market that could convert non-sports MP3 players for sports usage. However, it would be difficult to change songs/radio stations once you strap the armband to your arm.

Recording Features

Many MP3 players also come with recording features: voice, FM Radio and line-in. Voice recording allows you to record down important occasions such as school lecture or company meeting so that you would not have to miss out anything. FM recording allows you to legally copy music that you like from the broadcasting stations and add to your collection almost without having to pay anything (except for battery). Line-in recording allows you to record audio from another source such as your TV. Voice recording and FM radio recording features are pretty common features in MP3 players today. Some players allow you to record audio in 7 different frequencies (8kHz,11kHz,16kHz,22kHz,32KHz,44kHz & 48kHz) according to needs making it unnecessary to spend a lot to get a very high-memory (>1GB) player.

A nylon pouch that could protect your player from getting scratches

Pouches like this nylon pouches could protect your MP3/MP4 players against scratches

Durability

A player with a durable case is a player that would last a long-time. Players come in different built. The plastic-coated casing players are lighter and cheaper to build but are more easily scratched. Metallic casing players are normally more expensive and heavier but are more scratch resistant. Though many manufacturers also have 'skins' or plastic protective covers, these extra-accessories do not look as good and destroy the original look-and-feel of the machines and make them bulkier. You should never put your players together with your keys or mobile phones in your pocket. Having a pouch (like this economical black Nylon pouch) helps to prevent scratches. The MP3 player should at least be made of non-flimsy plastic and should not feel as though it would give way when placed in your pockets.

Expansion SD/MMC/miniSD/microSD slot

Having a memory expansion slot is a very nice thing as it allows you to share your audio resources and expansion without incurring a high-cost initially. You could share your music with your family members or friends by passing/borrowing to/from them self-compiled SD cards (the way you pass them your CDs). Or you could get your friend to help you record down the class-lectures (need a few SD cards) that you and your basketball teammates would be missing and each of you would have at least 1 SD card to listen to independently at any-time when you get back.

File Format supported

Most MP3 players these days support MP3, WMA and WAV formats. Apple iPod also support the AAC file format which is slightly more efficient than MP3 format but not as widely used. Many audio subscription plan companies require your players to be WMA-DRM compatible in order to play the subscription music.

The 3-color OLED screen of the Luxpro ez-Tangent MP3 player displays up to 4 lines of lyrics allowing users to chant along with their favourite songs even in darkness conditions (just before sleeping).

Screen

Most MP3 players come with at least a LCD screen. Back-lids are needed to see monochrome LCDs in the dark. OLED screens are very comfortable to watch in darkness especially if you wish to see lyrics displays. 1.5" screen are too straining to watch for prolonged video playbacks but may suffice for short period viewing.

Lyrics Displaying

Some players could display synchronized lyrics if there is also a similarly -named LRC file. These files could be downloaded FOC from the web or created by yourself manually (lyrics downloaded or typed) using the bundled software. Lyrics displaying feature essentially turns the MP3 player into Karaoke Machine making it easier for you to learn to sing the songs you like or chant along with nice melodies. Many of these machines also are able to display in many different languages thereby providing a very good and convenient way for learning a foreign language. A good MP3 player to consider for MP3 players with execellent multi-language lyrics displaying is the Luxpro ez-Tangent (given its cool OLED screen which is more soothing to view than backlid LCDs).

Battery Life

Most players accept either AA batteries, AAA batteries or rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Even though AA and AAA batteries could also be rechargeable, they would not last long enough to be practical solutions. The listed life-spans by manufacturers are data for alkaline batteries. If you are going to be a very frequent user of the MP3 player, it is advisable to get the MP3 players with built-in Li-ion rechargeable
batteries even though they are more expensive. Li-ion based players are cheaper to operate because electricity cost is negligible compared to battery cost. Most Li-ion based players charge up to 80% in less than 4 hours using either the computer USB port, USB power-hubs, USB AC adaptors or USB chargers mounted on 12-24v cigarette lighter socket in cars. They should be able to last at least 8 hrs in order to be adequate for an outdoor trip without recharging although most of the time you probably would be able to charge in using the computer USB port or car charger.

Weight

Though this may not seem important, it sometimes can make a difference to the comfort level especially if you have the carry the machine the entire day. This is sometimes the trade-off manufacturers make in favor of a lighter machine or a longer-battery-lasting machine. Compact and durable MP3 machines under 50g can make outdoor trips very enjoyable without any burden.

Physical Dimensions/Comfortable to feel & hold

The MP3 player should not be too small nor should it be too bulky. Ideally they should be able to fit nicely into the pockets (especially the jeans coin pocket) without having to dig for it (smaller doesn't mean better). The earphone cable should be long enough and be able to position pretty freely in the pockets below the waist (unless it is a neck-strap earphone). The machine should be ergonomically-shaped and feel very comfortable in your hand.

The Luxpro iOta is an excellent slim-built MP4 player that produces strong Bass sounds. It also features a SD/MMC slot that accepts up to 4GB SD cards.

Ease of carrying

MP3 players shouldn't be a burden to have when you are out on outdoor trips and should leave you completely hands-free. Different manufacturers have different methods of achieving this: Neck straps, hook, pouch or skin/jacket. Others also bundled with a long pair of earphones for reaching to the slack pocket. Ideally, MP3 players should be able to fit nice into the coin-pocket of jeans easily as this eliminate the need for protective skin/jackets/pouch while keeping it away from scratch-causing keys and mobile phones.

Software

Most manufacturers bundle their players with all the necessary essential software for using your MP3 player including a ripper (converts music from CD to MP3 format), a lyrics-editing software, video conversion software (MP4 players only) and necessary drivers. Even if such software is not bundled, they are easily downloaded from the web free-of-charge.

Earphones

The pair of earphones is the single piece of replaceable items that could affect the comfort level and quality of music that you hear. For a start, it should be long enough to reach your slack pockets. It should also be a quality stereo one that has a decent SNR (Sound-To-Noise Ratio) of >=90dB or better than what your player is capable of supporting. Try to get one that outputs the Bass range well unless you are some one who doesn't like strong Bass. Most MP3 manufacturers distribute earphones that fit into the ears (earbuds). If you are the type that needs to crank up the volume when you listen, consider getting another bigger one that covers your ear (instead of type that is positioned inside your ears) . This way, you lower the probability of damaging your ears. If you exercise regularly, you may also want to consider getting another pair of rubber-coated (instead of wire-mesh) earphones for sports usage both for durability and hygiene reasons. The iPone TW-EH-IP420 Stereo earphones is an economical and durable pair you could consider getting. Since the pair of earphones is also the one that is most easily damaged and is most likely not covered by manufacturers' warranty, it does not harm to get another pair as spare.

by Fabian Eng. Copyright (C) 2007 [ The MP3/MP4 Store at http://www.mp34store.com ]

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