Looking for an MP3 player

RomfordNavy

Anyone help me understand the differences between portable MP3 players.  There seems to be a multitude of different DAC chips, I can't work out which is best.

Looking for a say £150ish MP3 player with decent sound quality.  Any recommendations?

Neil_Jones

Your phone will probably double up as an MP3 player if you get an app off the appropriate app store.

The quality of the sound depends on two things:  The quality of the file in the first place and the quality of headphones.  MP3 files can be quite "lossy", as in it lobs away parts of the audio that most people can't hear, though your mileage may vary.  Also the lower the bitrate the more data that gets shaved off and the more horrible the file sounds.  Higher bitrates preserve more of the sound quality but take up more space.

Even the most expensive player and speakers on the planet won't make any difference if you play an MP3 encoded at 96kbps through it, it'll still sound rubbish.

Olinda99

I would also add that the quality of the sound alao depends on the quality of your hearing!

PHK

I must slightly disagree with @Neil_Jones, a phone is unlikely to have a good quality DAC compared to a dedicated player. 

A decent audio player, playing FLAC (or similar files) with decent ear/headphones is a world removed from using a phone. 

@RomfordNavy asks a perceptive question because whilst a Sony signature series at several thousands pounds will give much better quality than a no brand android based player at £90, it’s a lot less clear what is best in the in between category. 

If you look on Amazon the reviews don’t really help. A £125 F20 seems to be rated higher than a £400 NW series. 

Without a detailed review or demonstration it’s very hard to decide. 

@Olinda99 modern players and many phones have automated hearing tests that adjust the sound output (frequencies and volume) to compensate for many hearing problems especially age related hearing changes. 

RomfordNavy

Neil_Jones said:

Even the most expensive player and speakers on the planet won't make any difference if you play an MP3 encoded at 96kbps through it, it'll still sound rubbish.

I know MP3 is not the best quality but can download tracks from youtube at 320kbps now.

Neil_Jones

RomfordNavy said:

Neil_Jones said:

Even the most expensive player and speakers on the planet won't make any difference if you play an MP3 encoded at 96kbps through it, it'll still sound rubbish.

I know MP3 is not the best quality but can download tracks from youtube at 320kbps now.

Yes but that wasn't the point of my post.

DullGreyGuy

PHK said:

I must slightly disagree with @Neil_Jones, a phone is unlikely to have a good quality DAC compared to a dedicated player. 

But there are other options like using a different DAC with your phone, iFi have a range of options for use with a mobile phone or push the boat out with Astell&Kern. The advantage of a USBC DAC rather than dedicated MP3 player is that you can use it for other things like improving the sound from a laptop etc 

RomfordNavy

My last post seems to have gone missing so repeating it again:

Are any of these from Aliexpress any good:

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006750301277.html

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005002172304919.html

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005005658557200.html

DullGreyGuy

RomfordNavy said:

My last post seems to have gone missing so repeating it again:

Are any of these from Aliexpress any good:

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005006750301277.html

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005002172304919.html

https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005005658557200.html

They'll be standard no-brand Chinese electronics... 

There are some reviews on pseudo music sites saying the item received wasnt the item listed, OS is buggy and slow, battery life is ok for the price paid and playback, when it finally starts, is better than expected for the price.