Which MP3 Player?

Stompa

Sony mp3 players are good.

trets77

Zebra wrote: »

I'm looking to get it for music - to download from existing cd's and playback through external speakers whilst on holiday.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't use other functions if they were available but the primary reason is as a lightweight replacement to a portable cd player.

i assume you plug your existing CD player into some sort of Amp when on holiday ?

if so then it should be fairly simple to get a docking station that you plug into the Amp then connect the MP3 player .

personally i would not have anything but a Apple but i'm a bit of a Apple fanboy . i do understand that your paying a premium price for a premium product , and there good, better priced MP3 players out there .

you should look into what extra kit you will need before making any purchase . With an Apple Ipod you know you can get whatever you need .

Zebra

trets77 wrote: »

i assume you plug your existing CD player into some sort of Amp when on holiday ?

I don't plug it into anything!
Maybe I'm not being clear because I don't know the current terminology.
But what I'm after is something I can take on holiday so that everyone can hear (including those next door!) without having to listen through headphones.
I thought an mp3 player would be good, as I wouldn't need to take the cds aswell.

blue70

I have a Sandisk Clip+ which I bought primarily because it's small and I use it when I go running (I have also owned a Creative Zen which was good), however despite it's size and the fact that it was relatively cheap the sound quality is excellent and it has a good menu system for navigating etc. In contrast my wife bought an Ipod Shuffle (She is more image conscious ). It has only a quarter of the storage capacity of mine and no screen so you can't pick an individual track. I know that not all Ipods are like this but to put it into context both players cost about the same, oh and Itunes is a nightmare - give me simple drag and drop any day.

I know someone has already said this but Ipods are style (and expense) over substance. The only advantage they do have is the massive amount of accessories that are produced.

I would definitely not get an Ipod but you may then find yourself limited when it comes to docking stations, but you will be ok with a set of speakers because they are connected through a cable linking the speakers to the headphone output on the MP3 player - Not as convenient as a docking station but cheaper and the sound quality will be as good if not better depending on the make of speakers.

jayme1

ah are you taking one of these on holiday because if yes then the equivilent in the mp3 world is an mp3 player AND the speakers.

of which you have a few options you can go down the ipod route and get an ipod touch/nano or classic and then buy a speaker dock (you can also control play/pause/skip/back with the remote this way and the dock powers and charges the ipod),
or you can get any old mp3 player and also pair it with a speaker system but you have to use the AUX input of the speakers (ie same speaker system also has an AUX in) but you have to use the mp3 player to control the music and you would also have to have a way tp charge the mp3 player as the speakers wont do it.

both ways are more portable and take up less space than the CD player and with an 8GB mp3 player that is like 3000 songs (130 CDs worth) depending on the quality of the rip.
personally the ease of the remote and ipod charging makes the ipod + speaker dock better IMO

ha or you can do both CDs and mp3

Zebra

jayme1 wrote: »

ah are you taking one of these on holiday because if yes then the equivilent in the mp3 world is an mp3 player AND the speakers.

That's the badger!

I remember the days when you got your music from a Hi-Fi that took up half the living room with speakers the size of a small garden shed, and a box full of LP's.
Then it was cassette recorders that you used to tape the Top 40 off Radio 1 with on a Sunday evening.
Then they invented portable stereos that you needed a shopping trolley to cart about.
Then came those portable cd player things.
Then I thought the newest thing was mp3 players.

A speaker dock sounds a good idea rather than external speakers.

So for an ipod it would be something like this?

Can you record (not the right word but I'm sure you know what I mean) from cd's to ipods, or does it have to be downloaded from itunes?

As Creative Zen seems to be an alternative to ipod - how about this?

SuzieSue

Zebra wrote: »

T

As Creative Zen seems to be an alternative to ipod - how about this?

Just be aware that this one is not mains powered which I think you want. I would look on the Creative website to get alternatives.

Zebra

SuzieSue wrote: »

Just be aware that this one is not mains powered which I think you want.

Oh right thanks, I do. Something to wake up the neighbours.

jayme1

Zebra wrote: »

Can you record (not the right word but I'm sure you know what I mean) from cd's to ipods, or does it have to be downloaded from itunes?

yep you do it on your computer all you do is 'rip' the CD into itunes (for an ipod) and it will even name the songs for you, this is a video on how to do it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXuQmhAp9AY
and this is how to set up the ipod, (you dont have to register or sign up for an itunes account I didnt)

and you dont have to use itunes to buy the music, infact I strongly suggest you dont simply because they are far too expensive, so if you wanted more music either buy it on CD and simply rip it onto your computer or use amazon which I find cheapest or use martin lewis' own http://www.tunechecker.com/

oldagetraveller

For style over substance by all means waste your money on an iPod! If it's music you want then buy a Cowon or iRiver.