Best MP3 Player that isn't an Apple iPod/Touch

vikingaero

Hi Geeks,

I'm looking for an 8Gb MP3 player. Don't want to spend £120 on a Nano or Touch and I'd rather avoid iTunes and be able to drag and drop files into the MP3 player.

Realistically whatever I buy may end up sitting connected to the MP3 input in the car which is why an Apple product would be complete overkill if I never use the touch function.

I'm erring towards a £50-£60 Creative Zen. Anyone have opinions?

OneADay

Creative Zen.
Used to have a Zen Nomad - 40gig - I used it a lot - sold it later on ebay when it was bashed about a bit.
Tired ipod 60gig and now have 160gig version - don't like it - interface is just too much - the creative was better sound and even easier to get the right song playing when you have so many stored on the disk.

Just wish Creative would do bigger disk sizes.

Dave_C_2

I have a Creative Zen 8GB and love it.
Be warned however that (from the ABI FAQ)

The Zen supports being an MTP (Message Transfer Protocol) device. The Zen does not support being an MSC (Mass Storage Class)/UMS (Universal Mass Storage) device for its internal flash based memory storage. This means, for music files, it organizes by ID3 Tags and not by files/folders.

Most car stereos support MSC/UMS, but very few support MTP
Make sure your car stereo supports MTP on the USB input.

You will have the same problem with other players such as the Sansa Clip.

Dave

shandypants5

Sansa Fuze User here.

Nice interface and does what it says on the tin.

Fifer

I have a Sansa Fuze and it's always worked well, has a memory card slot, doesn't need iTunes and sounds pretty good too.

mchale

Sansa clip ???

Dreamnine

The Fuze isn't made anymore, although you may be able to get a refurb - it's successor, the Fuze+ isn't a good player at all.

Cheapest - and best - is probably a Clip+ (I have one and can recommend it). Also good is the Sony S754/755.

Other good players are Cowon - the i9 or J3.

Fifer

What did they change for the worse with the Fuze+?

S0litaire

Aldi is selling a cheep 8Gb media player today for £30
http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_19273.htm

Supports AVI video format
Supported audio format: MP3, WMA, FLAC and APE
Picture format: JPEG and BMP
Multi-language OSD display
Voice recording function
E-book function
1.8" TFT screen
F.M. Radio
12h playing time

Dreamnine

Fifer wrote: »

What did they change for the worse with the Fuze+?

Really poor touch controls.. plus a tendency for the player to get very sluggish when the microSD is only half full of files.

vikingaero

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll pop into Aldi tomorrow morning. Failing that it's back to order a Zen from Amazon. The Sansa Fuze is still available from Marketplace sellers.