CNET MP3 player buying guide

Every month, manufacturers unleash even more MP3 players to an increasingly confused public. Not only do these devices have wildly divergent features, but ongoing format wars mean the MP3 player you choose dictates where you can buy your digital music. These devices are anything but one-size-fits-all.

First, there's the question of design. A player can have every feature in the world, but if the design doesn't match your lifestyle or if the interface is impenetrable, you still won't enjoy it. You'll want to look closely at performance; sound quality and battery life can make or break a player, especially if you travel a lot or have the so-called golden ears of an audiophile.

Before you start checking out specific models, you should have a basic understanding of the types of MP3 players available. Note: all types of players mentioned below can play other formats besides MP3, such as WMA, ATRAC3, OGG, or AAC, but we still refer to them as MP3 players.

Types of players: Hard-drive-based | Micro hard-drive-based | Flash-based | MP3 CD

Hard-drive-based players

Most likely, a high-capacity player can accommodate every song you've ever purchased or ripped from a CD. Hard drives run from 20GB on up, and large players such as the 80GB Apple iPod can hold around 23,000 songs, assuming an average file size of 3.5MB per tune.


Pros: They store all your music on one device. They also tend to have more features and larger screens and are overall easier to use. High-capacity players give you the best bang for your buck in terms of price per gigabyte (for example, $300 30GB iPod vs. $250 8GB iPod Nano). 
Cons: These players are usually built around a 1.8-inch hard drive; thus, they are larger and heavier than the others. Also, hard drives have moving parts, so these players aren't ideal for strenuous physical activity. Finally, most use rechargeable batteries (usually lasting 8 to 20 hours per charge) that you can't replace yourself, so after several years, you might have to pay for a new model or pay to get the battery replaced.

Micro hard-drive-based players

Straddling the line between full-size hard-drive-based MP3 players and compact, flash-based players, these models aim to give you the best of both worlds by using miniature hard drives (about 1 inch or less in diameter) with capacities of up to 12GB. So-called "micro drive" players are being largely phased out in favor of high-capacity flash devices, but you can still find compact hard-drive players such as the Creative Zen Micro Photo for sale online.


Pros: They're smaller and lighter than high-capacity players but still hold more tunes than flash-based models with the same price. 
Cons: You get fewer megabytes per dollar than you do with a larger player, and these models have many of the same disadvantages of larger hard-drive-based units, including the moving parts that limit physical activity and nonremovable batteries that eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Luckily, many new micro drive-based players such as the Creative Zen Micro feature a user-replaceable battery.

Flash-based players

The original MP3 player design, these have no moving parts and are known for their shockproof operation and ultracompact dimensions. Devices range in capacity from 32MB to 8GB, though most new players don't go below 512MB. SanDisk's MP3 line, for example, includes exclusively flash-based players.


Pros: Flash-based players are tiny. They also have no moving parts, so their batteries last longer, and you can jog, snowboard, or bungee jump with them without causing skipping or damage. Many flash players include lots of extra features such as voice and line-in recording. 
Cons: The aforementioned extras can make flash players a bit harder to use, and they have the highest per-megabyte cost and max out at 8GB.

MP3 CD players

These look just like portable CD players, except they can read data CDs filled with digital music. You can burn approximately 150 MP3 songs (10 albums) on one 650MB disc. But if you want to take your CD collection with you, no worries--these devices can play standard CDs, as well.


Pros: These are the least expensive of all types of MP3 players, and they use incredibly cheap replaceable media (CD-R/RW discs). 
Cons: They're large and can skip when jostled.

Find out what makes it possible for us to listen to a bunch of 1s and 0s.

The inner workings: Digitizing music | Compression | Playback | File formats at a glance

Digitizing music

At their most basic level, digital music formats such as MP3s looks a lot like any other computer data file: a long series of 1s and 0s. In order to turn an analog signal (such as one picked up by a standard microphone) into a digital stream, ADC (analog-to-digital converter) software measures the signal at a regular interval to find the sampling rate. These samples, if measured close enough together, form a near-exact representation of the analog signal so as to approximate the transmission using 1s and 0s that computers and MP3 players can read.

Compression

Each second of true CD-quality sound takes up more than 1.3MB of disk space, which is why file-compression technology is essential to digital audio, especially portable audio. Using principles of psychoacoustics (how the brain perceives sound) and perceptual coding (eliminating imperceptible sounds), engineers develop algorithms, called codecs (compression decompression), that compress songs into the smallest possible sizes with minimal loss of quality. The sound depends on two factors: the quality of this compression algorithm and the bit rate at which the song is encoded, measured in Kbps.

Playback

When you play a digital file, you essentially reverse the analog-to-digital process. A digital audio device, such as an MP3 player or a computer sound card, uses a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) to turn the 1s and 0s back into an analog signal that can then be amplified and broadcast over headphones or speakers. The sound depends on the attributes and quality of the digital file, the DAC chip in the player, the amount of distortion and hiss added by interference from the device's other circuitry, and the audio output level of your headphones or speakers.

When a digital device plays music that has been compressed by a codec, software on its chip (called firmware) applies the codec to decode the file, then sends the decompressed 1s and 0s to the DAC.

File formats at a glance

The first format or codec to gain widespread acceptance was MP3, but there are now a variety of players on the market that support AAC, WMA, OGG, and other formats. This table will help you sort out the alphabet soup and determine which codecs you need in an MP3 player.

Format	Comments
AA	Audible, the format used by Audible.com, is designed for spoken audio content such as audiobooks and talk radio programs, including NPR. Many portable music players support AA.
AAC	Advanced Audio Coding, developed by Dolby Laboratories and best known as the format used in iPods. Apple and Real use their own DRM (digital rights management) technology to secure AAC downloads for iTunes and Real Rhapsody. The iPod is the solitary player that accepts copy-protected AAC files and only those from iTunes Music Store.
ATRAC3	ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus are lossy compression formats used by Sony and its squadron of Network Walkman MP3 and MiniDisc players. It is an efficient format that sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rates. This format is akin to WMA and AAC but is generally known as a dark horse, as it is used by only Sony-branded players. Music downloaded or streamed from Sony's Connect music store are ATRAC3 files.
FLAC	Free Lossless Audio Codec, an open-source format that uses a clever algorithm to preserve every 1 and 0 found in the uncompressed file. Though not widely implemented, lossless formats such as FLAC are popular with audiophiles who disdain "lossy" formats (MP3, WMA, and so on) that further compress files.
MP3	Motion Pictures Experts Group Layer 3 is such a mouthful, it's no wonder the abbreviation has taken over. In fact, MP3 is the Kleenex of digital music--so common, it's become shorthand for all portable players whether they use this format, though nearly all do. The eMusic online music store and most file-sharing networks use MP3.
MP3Pro	The latest from Thomson/RCA (the company that licenses MP3 to manufacturers and developers), MP3Pro sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. However, it hasn't been widely adopted by manufacturers other than RCA.
OGG	Ogg Vorbis is the underdog of this group. It sounds great, and because it is open source, there are no licensing fees when it's used to encode or play music--a fact that probably makes developers of other codecs a bit nervous. Although it's not as widespread as AAC, MP3, or WMA in players or online music services, OGG could gain traction as consumers grow more sophisticated in their digital audio usage and developers look for ways to cut down on licensing costs.
WAV/AIFF	This is uncompressed audio, like what you'd find on a standard audio CD. For the most part, WAVs are found on Windows machines, while AIFFs live on Macs.
WMA	Windows Media Audio, Microsoft's format, sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. Some WMA files include copy protection, but others do not (if you left the "Copy protect music" box checked under the Options menu in Windows Media Player you've been ripping copy-protected WMAs). Most players support WMA, and online music stores such as Napster, Yahoo Music, and Wal-Mart use secure WMA.

These days, manufacturers are adding an ever-widening array of features to their players in order to set them apart from the competition. These are the extras that you may want to consider.

Extra features: Color screens, photo viewing, and video playback | Radio |
Wireless capability | Music recording | Voice recording | Data storage |
Personal information management | Sound-tweaking options |
Advanced playback features | Battery type and life

Color screens, photo viewing, and video playback

Most MP3 players now come equipped with a color screen that can display JPEG and BMP digital images. This is a nice feature for those who like to carry their precious digital memories with them. In addition to offering photo viewing capabilities, color displays are brighter and easy to read than their monochrome counterparts. Also look out for players with crystal-clear OLED screens, which offer better viewing angles and lower power consumption (though they are harder to read in bright sunlight). Increasingly, MP3 players are even offering video playback. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing (for that, try a PVP instead), it can be a nice bonus for certain users, such as commuters.

Radio

Many players offer FM radio reception, although they're more common on flash devices, which lack the spinning hard drives and the CD-playing features that can interfere with the signal. AM radio is extremely rare. Other radio-related features include FM recording (usually to MP3), transmission (for playing back audio wirelessly through home and car stereos with FM tuners), and presets.

Wireless capability

The latest technology to be cropping up in MP3 players is wireless connectivity. A prime example is the Microsoft Zune, which uses proprietary Wi-Fi to allow users to share songs with each other over the airwaves via a beaming feature. There's also the SanDisk Sansa Connect, which can hop onto any Wi-Fi network to access the Yahoo Music store for wireless music purchasing and downloads. Yet another--and very different--example is the Insignia MP3 Player & Image Viewer. This player offers built-in A2DP 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. Still, if you're looking for the cutting-edge, this is it. For more information, check out this feature.

Music recording

Most MP3 players that record high-quality audio suitable for music recording as opposed to voice memos or interviews do so through an analog line-input, but there are exceptions. A few devices also record digitally or from mike-level sources. The former works great for dubbing tracks from modern stereo components. The latter lets you use a small, unpowered microphone for live recording. (You can record live audio without a mike-level input but only with a powered mike that outputs a line-level signal to the device's line-in jack.) If you want the highest-quality recordings, make sure the player has a decent ADC and can record to uncompressed WAV files. Real-time encoding to MP3 or WMA comes in particularly handy when encoding from vinyl, cassette, or CD without a computer.

Voice recording

Some MP3 players have a small internal microphone for recording the spoken word. These are acceptable for documenting a lecture, a meeting, or a conversation but unsuitable for high-quality music recording. The sampling rate is typically low, and the recordings are mono. The upside is that you can usually record several hours of memos, then upload the files to your PC for attaching to e-mail or archiving.

Data storage

Many MP3 players can double as external storage devices, allowing you to shuttle data between PCs. Some models don't even require drivers; thus, you could transfer a resume or a presentation to the laptop of the person seated next to you on a flight. So-called plug-in players don't even need a cable since they have built-in USB connectors.

Personal information management

Some MP3 players--notably the Apple iPod and Creative's Zen line--can accept phone books and schedules. The information is generally entered into Outlook or another PIM program, then synced to the device where you can view it but not change it on the go. These features tend to be limited and, for most, won't replace a handheld.

Sound-tweaking options

Audio purists generally prefer to hear songs exactly the way the recording engineers mixed them and don't have much use for digital signal processing (DSP), which changes a song's equalization or spatial characteristics. But since digital audio files come from multiple sources and people have individual sonic preferences, EQ and other DSP settings can be useful. Look for a customizable EQ setting (the more bands the better; five is the norm), as well as the standard presets (Rock, Jazz, Bass Boost, and so on). In terms of spatial enhancers, DSP features such as the SRS Wow add-on can make music coming through headphones sound like it's bouncing around a large room. It's purely a matter of personal preference, but we think music sounds better with some degree of customization.

Advanced playback features

Just about every player offers shuffle, repeat, resume, and playlist functions. Still, there's room for improvement. Newer models offer the ability to create on-the-fly playlists sans a computer; smart playlists that can serve up, for example, a mix of '80s hip-hop; song-rating methods in which preferred tunes appear more frequently in Shuffle mode; automatic cross-fading that adds smooth transitions between songs; automatic volume control, which makes all songs equally loud; and other artificial intelligence modes that can make it feel like a pro DJ is spinning tunes for you.

Battery type and life

Our Personal Tech Radar survey found that our users view battery life as a critical factor. Most hard-drive-based players come with nonremovable lithium-ion batteries, which typically last two to four years. Many manufacturers have some sort of return/repair plan, so check the warranty policy before you buy (the typical replacement cost is about $100).

Flash and MP3 CD players are split between those using AA or AAA batteries and those with an internal rechargeable cell. Since flash players need to be synced more often and it's easy to recharge as you sync, flash players with rechargeable batteries are usually preferable. Generally speaking, the larger the player, the longer the battery life, but this isn't always the case, so be sure to read the battery-test results in our reviews before you pull out your wallet.

MP3 players are definitely not one-size-fits-all. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, use different types of memory, and support different formats. Based on these and other features, certain players are better suited to certain uses--you should choose the player (or players) that meets your needs. Check out the various uses for an MP3 player and figure out which players are up to the task.

Usage profiles: Commuting | Working out | Traveling | Listening to audiobooks |
File hoarding | Recording audio | Watching video

As we see it, here are some top uses for MP3 players, as well as some questions that you should consider in order to figure out if one or more of these usage models will suit you. Some people align with more than one use, and they should possibly consider buying more than one MP3 player to address various needs. For instance, you might want an ultracompact flash player for jogging or skiing and a high-capacity hard-drive-based device for traveling.

Of course, plenty of people just want an MP3 player for general, day-to-day use. If you're simply after a device that plays good-sounding music and is easy to use, any of the top products listed are perfectly suited for this. However, if you're looking for a device for a particular use, read on.

Commuting

You listen to your stereo at home and to your computer at work, but filling your commute with tunes requires a portable player. If you commute by car, look for a hard-drive-based model; size doesn't matter much in this situation, so feel free to save money by buying a heftier unit. You'll also need a cassette-style adapter and a cigarette-lighter charger. The former can be purchased anywhere, but for the charger, stick with manufacturer-approved accessories; that way, you'll avoid frying your player with the wrong voltage or polarity. If your car has no cassette player, you're going to need an FM transmitter device or a direct line-in jack on your car stereo. If you commute via subway or bus, look for a compact flash-based player and, to seal out as much of the din as possible, a pair of noise-canceling or sound-isolating headphones. 
» MP3 players for your commute

Working out

If you spend all your free time in the gym, you need an MP3 player that can keep pace. It should be compact and easy to operate with one hand. Rather than looking for one with massive storage, choose a flash-based model (1GB of storage should be plenty, but more can't hurt) that can also withstand tough workouts better than hard-drive-based players. You may also want an armband, an option on many ultracompact models, and a set of headphones that will stay in place rather than the cheap earbuds typically included. Also, look for sweat-resistant models and other fitness-friendly extras, such as a calorie counter or pedometer. And remember: many gyms offer TVs that you can tune into with an FM radio, so be sure to consider players that include that feature as well. 
» Fitness-friendly MP3 players
» MP3 players with the best FM tuners

Traveling

If you spend a lot of time on the road, you need an MP3 player that will enhance your journeys with music yet doesn't add undue weight to your carry-on. If you travel with the same laptop that stores your music, a compact flash-based player is the way to go, but if you'd rather leave the laptop at home, try a higher-capacity player that will hold all or most of your music--bonus points for one that has an easily removable and replaceable battery. Accessories worthy of consideration include noise-canceling or sound-isolating headphones for the plane, as well as a portable speaker setup for your hotel room. 
» Travel-worthy MP3 players

Listening to audiobooks

MP3 players have quickly become the medium of choice for listening to audiobooks. Compared to CD and cassette players, an average MP3 player is small and has the capacity to hold many hours worth of audio. With download-only audiobook vendors such as Audible.com and iTunes offering a relatively inexpensive alternative to purchasing or renting audiobooks on CD or cassette, there's more incentive than ever for travelers and book lovers to take a listen. If you're looking to purchase an MP3 player that works well with audiobooks, there's a couple things to keep in mind. The first is whether it's compatible with popular audiobook sites Audible.com or iTunes. The second is if the player has bookmarking, a rather critical feature that will keep you from having to fast-forward through extra-long audio files. 
» Best MP3 players for audiobooks

File hoarding

If your appetite for digital music has your computer's hard drive(s) bursting at the seams, you fit the description of the file hoarder. While sound quality and features are important to you, what you need most is an enormous capacity: at least 40GB but maybe even more. Today's portable music devices max out at 80GB or so, with some PVPs offering as much as 160GB. In any case, it shouldn't be difficult for you to find a hard-drive player with enough storage to suit your needs. 
» MP3 players for file hoarders

Recording audio

For some reason, MP3 player manufacturers have been loath to embrace tapers and other portable-recording aficionados and rarely include a mike-level input. That said, a number of players on the market can record from line-level sources such as CD players or stereo outputs, so they're great for converting CDs, tapes, and vinyl records to digital formats such as MP3, WAV, or WMA. Those wishing to record live audio can do the same, although they'll need a powered microphone that can output a line-level signal. Or if voice recording is all you need, look for a model with a built-in mic.  
» MP3 players with line-in recording
» MP3 players with voice recording

Watching video

Nowadays, the line between MP3 players and portable video players (PVPs) is blurrier than ever, as the majority of devices hitting the market include video playback as a feature. Although the screen on a typical MP3 player is too small for extended video viewing, it can be a nice bonus for certain users. Undeniably, MP3 players with relatively large screens make the best substitute PVPs--make sure you look for those that are at least 2-inches diagonal. No denying it's nice to have that extra distraction in certain situations, such as doctors' waiting rooms and airport terminals.  
» MP3 players that play video
» Editors' top PVPs

Back when the cassette Walkman ruled the portable audio domain, you didn't have to seriously think about whether your player would play the music you bought. And when the first widespread digital format (the compact disc) was introduced, consumers faced relatively minor compatibility issues; you had to buy a CD player but could record cassette mixes from CDs without a lot of hassle. With an MP3 player, you have to consider where your music is coming from to ensure your device will play your music. Here's what you need to know about music compatibility.

Where's it coming from?: Existing music on your computer | Compact discs |
Online music stores | Subscription-based music services | P2P networks |

Vinyl/cassettes

Existing music on your computer

If you've already ripped and/or downloaded lots of music, choose a player that supports the format(s) you're already storing. If it's MP3, you're OK with any player, but rarer formats are supported by only certain devices. When you're reading one of our MP3 player reviews, check out the Features or Specs tab to find out which formats the device takes.

Fix up your music collection

Compact discs

If all of your music is still on CDs, you can buy just about any MP3 player since you'll first need to convert your discs to MP3, WMA, OGG, or one of the other formats mentioned earlier. Normally, the necessary software is included with the player, but if not, try Musicmatch. You'll typically use that software to organize the music files, set up various playlists, and transfer music to your device.

Copying music--legally

Read this Insider Secret

Online music stores

Here's where it gets really tricky. If you plan on buying music downloads from an online music store such as the iTunes Music Store or Napster, you need to make sure your player will work with the formats offered. In an ideal world, you'd be able to play any legally purchased music on any MP3 player, but due to format wars and DRM (Digital Rights Management), that's not possible. If you know you're going to buy tunes online, you'll first have to select a store you like, then a player that supports the store. The general rule of thumb is that iPod players support songs purchased from iTunes, Zune players support Zune MarketPlace, and pretty much everything else (mostly known as PlaysForSure devices) supports WMA stores such as Rhapsody and Napster. A handful of stores--eMusic, LiveDownloads, and Audio lunchbox--sell songs in the always-unprotected (and universally compatible) MP3 format.

One important note: Digital audio devices sometimes support the unprotected version of a certain codec but not the secure version. For instance, some MP3 players play normal, unprotected WMAs that you create from your own CDs but not the secure WMAs sold by online music stores such as Napster, Rhapsody, Yahoo Music, and so on. On the plus side, the music industry is starting to show an inclination to sell more unprotected formats online. For example, EMI has already agreed to sell DRM-free AAC files through iTunes. These files can then be played on, say, the Microsoft Zune, which supports AAC files, but only if they are unencumbered by DRM.

The files sold by these stores come with usage restrictions that commonly limit playback to three computers and stop you from mass-producing burned mixes. These restrictions can cause device compatibility problems, but the trade-off for consumers is that those safeguards make the labels comfortable enough to license their songs to online stores.

Subscription-based music services

Imagine legally filling up your MP3 player with endless gigabytes of tunes from an online music store and paying less than the price of a CD. How is this possible? Well, you're not actually buying the tracks; instead, you're renting them in an all-you-can-eat scenario for a monthly subscription fee. Sounds attractive, no? Welcome to the fresh new world of the on-the-go music subscription service. For more information, check out our guide to on-the-go music subscription services.

P2P networks

Most tunes available on file-sharing networks (also called peer-to-peer or P2P networks) are already in the MP3 format, so there are no compatibility issues in this situation. Since someone else did the encoding, however, the audio quality of files on these services varies. Also, the legality of these sites is seriously questionable, so there's a risk of getting in trouble with the RIAA, which could lead to hefty fines or even jail time.

Vinyl/cassettes

If you have lots of music on vinyl, cassettes, or even 8-tracks, you can record it on to your computer, turn the files into MP3s, then transfer those to any MP3 player. In order to simplify the process, consider buying a player that has line-in recording and allows you to encode MP3s directly from your stereo. If your stereo has a digital optical output and you want to record MP3s this way, make sure to find a player that has a digital optical input; this will preserve sound quality during the recording process. If there's no digital optical output on your stereo, any player with an analog input will do. If you end up with a player that lacks line-in recording, visit our Weekend Project for digitizing LPs and cassettes.

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What else do I need?

By now, you should have a pretty good idea of how to choose an MP3 player. But the fun isn't over yet. You can pick from an endless number of accessories that will enable you to use an MP3 player as your car stereo, protect your hardware, improve your player's sound quality, and much, much more. Here are the main types of add-ons for portable audio players.

Extra goodies: Headphones | Optional add-ons

Headphones

Some people don't care about which headphones they use, but they probably haven't tried on a high-end pair; the difference will blow you away. The sound quality on MP3 players varies but nowhere near as much as that of headphones, so be sure to budget for a new set. If you want more "oomph" from your digital music, bite the bullet and invest in a decent pair--your ears will appreciate it.

Some headphones can keep external noise from interfering with your music. Noise-canceling models work by electronically negating external sound, while sound-isolating headphones form a seal around the ear canal to stop other audio from getting in. Both types are great for planes or other boisterous environments, but we wouldn't recommend them for biking through city streets or any other activity that requires awareness of your surroundings.

The Shure SE310 earbuds offer various eartips (silicone, foam) that help to block out surrounding noise.	Here's an example of the over-the-ear style of headphone (in this case, the inexpensive yet noise-canceling RCA HPNC300).

Optional add-ons

Scour product reviews and manufacturer Web sites to determine whether any optional add-ons are available. Examples include in-line remote controls, jogging kits, deluxe carrying cases, flash memory adapters, FM transmitters, flash memory, docking stations, USB/FireWire kits, extra rechargeable batteries, car adapters, and more. Just because these extras are optional doesn't mean they won't enhance your enjoyment of the device.

How about using an MP3 player in your car? As far as cassette adapters go, they work with anything that has a mini headphone jack, so there are no compatibility issues. Yet you have to be really careful with power adapters for both car cigarette lighters and wall plugs. Use only those provided by the manufacturer; even if the plug physically fits, you still need to confirm the adapter's polarity, voltage, and amperage. While amperage can usually be 20 percent less or up to 100 percent more than what's needed by the player, polarity and voltage must be identical to the unit's requirements. If you're unsure about these factors, skip the bargains and buy the power adapter sold by the manufacturer--you'll avoid frying your player.

DLO's HomeDock offers a simple solution for integrating your iPod into your home theater setup, and the included remote lets you control your tunes from across the room.

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