MP3 Player

Shorthand for MPEG Audio Layer 3, a set of standards for storing and compressing digital audio files. Essentially MP3 takes a CD file, and compresses the sound to a much smaller file by removing the bits that the human ear cannot actually detect. Because of this, music can be downloaded from the internet or from a cd onto a PC quickly whilst retaining the sound quality .

Whether you want to listen to music while working out, or you just need to occupy yourself as you commute on public transport, a portable MP3 music player could suit your needs. MP3 players are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes and capable of storing thousands of songs. These light and compact players set your music free so you can easily mix and match songs in any order.

What types of mp3 players are available?

MP3 players offer three types of storage: hard drive, flash memory, or recordable CDs. Hard-drive players have the greatest amount of storage space but are most expensive. Flash-memory models are small but hold a limited number of songs. MP3 CD players have an unfashionable chunkiness but recordable CDs are cheap and provide plenty of capacity for MP3 files.

Nearly all MP3 players require that you have a reasonably modern PC with a free USB 1.1 or 2.0 port (and in some cases, a FireWire port). As you begin creating your music collection on the computer, you may want to upgrade your hard drive to be able to store more music files.

Storage

The greater the storage capacity, the more songs you can hold. Hard-drive based players store up to 60gbs. Flash memory-based models generally have up to 512MB of built-in storage (around 120 songs). Many give buyers the option of adding memory through either CompactFlash, SmartMedia, or MultiMediaCards. MP3 CD players, the size of standard portable CD players, use inexpensive CD-R discs.

File management

MP3 files include ID3 tags that provide artist, song title, and album name information to the player. Working with this data, a player can organize your music files. Find an easy-to-read LCD screen that shows the information you use regularly. Even with an effective display, it can be hard to navigate through hundreds of songs.

Transfer speed/port type

Downloading 5GB of songs from your PC using a USB 1.1 interface can take all day. If you're a speed freak, search for players that employ the much faster USB 2.0 or FireWire. With FireWire (included on Apple's iPod, amongst others) you can transfer an entire album in seconds. (If your PC lacks a FireWire port, you can add an internal FireWire card).

Software

All players come with software and drivers that allow you to download songs from a PC. Some of the popular units have drivers you can use within RealOne or MusicMatch Jukebox; this permits you to import from a CD-ROM and download the MP3 file to your player using the same application. Hard-drive-based players often let you use Windows Explorer to drag and drop your files into the device.

Extra Features

  • Mp3 players are particularly suitable for joggers as they are lightweight and tracks do not jump.
  • If you plan to carry your player wherever you go, consider investing in both a fitted cover and a rugged carrying case for protection.
  • Consider a player with an FM tuner, not essential, but a worthwhile addition especially if you grow tired of your own music.