What mp3 player?

[FunkyNige]

Right then, my trusty Motorola mp3 player is slowly giving up the ghost, the time has come for a new one. It'll be used for when I go running/cycling so massive volume isn't needed, neither are decent headphones as I'll be using my existing ones.
My needs are

• 2GB
• Small/light
• NO video playback, it'll mainly be used for runnning so a screen that plays videos is an unnecssary extra
• Drag and drop to put music on, I really don't want any extra software on my computer
• Not an iPod (don't ask)
• Cheap is a bonus

Any reccomendations? I've had a quick look on Amazon and there are some v cheap ones on there but I don't know if these will be any good?

[agent006]

I have one of these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MobiBLU_DAH-1500i

Which seems to tick all the boxes. My only criticism is it's not particularly loud; but that's based on my Rio Karma, so it may well be Ipod loud.

[LordGrover]

Any joy with this topic? I've lost my Rio Carbon so need to replace it. Again, not keen on apple.

[Bodo]

Cowon iAudio F2:

• USB connector, connects as storage device
• supported with Windows, Linux and Macintosh; no additional software needed
• available with 1GB, 2GB, 4GB
• plays MP3, OGG, WMA, FLAC, ASF and WAV
• 22 hours music playback from LiIon battery
• £60 for 2GB
• weight 39g

[_ian_]

New Sony ones are drag and drop and dont have any software with them.

The non video ones seem to be quite cheap too.

£39.99 here

Edited by _ian_ on Sunday 6th January 18:30

[zax]

Creative Zen Stone. Small, light, tough and very cheap so if you break or lose it you can just buy another. Absloutely no frills at all. I use mine outdoors running and at the gym, it's survived very well in it's little latex "clip-on condom" case

[FunkyNige]

LordGrover said:

Any joy with this topic? I've lost my Rio Carbon so need to replace it. Again, not keen on apple.

It's looking very like the Sony NWD series at the moment, they're not small though.

Edited by FunkyNige on Sunday 6th January 23:02

[stemll]

This Sandisk player is 2Gb and has a micro SD slot so, add a 2Gb card for about £10 and you've a 4Gb player for £45 that's not much bigger than a USB key.

[LordGrover]

Thanks for the suggestions. The sandisk offering is interesting. Has anyone tried the iRiver S10? clicky

It looks the part, isn't expensive and has some good reviews ...

[Bodo]

LordGrover said:

Thanks for the suggestions. The sandisk offering is interesting. Has anyone tried the iRiver S10? clicky

It looks the part, isn't expensive and has some good reviews ...

Looks good! It does the Ogg file format up to Q10, which means around 500kbit/sec, which is as close as you can get to lossless formats.

One thing to check though: it is not clear if the device uses a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, since the USB adapter and the headphone appear to use the same socket:





Might as well be that the socket is just combined, and allows a 3.5mm jack. Check before you buy, when you want to eliminate the possibility that you might be tied to accessoires offered by the manufacturer only.

[Bodo]

Just found this on Google:



Looks like it's only the USB plug that has a proprietary design, which is nothing to worry about since it will probably outlive the device.

[LordGrover]

iRiver S10 - the bollox! Seriously impressed!

[agent006]

My qbe has the same 3.5mm combined headphone and USB plug as that iRiver.