MP3 Player Buying Guide

MP3 players provide a great way to enjoy music. Whether you're on the move, at home, in the car or outdoors, MP3 players are practical, easy to use and versatile - playable with earphones or through a stereo.

There is a wide range of MP3 players available to buy online, at different prices and with different functions. To help you find the one that suits your needs, here are some hints and tips about things to consider when choosing an MP3 player.

How to Choose an MP3 Player: Introduction

An MP3 player is a portable device for playing music, as well as for performing other functions like radio and video playback.

MP3 is a hi-tech equivalent of taping music - a digital compression format that computers use to compress audio files to a twelfth of their size. The files can then be played on the computer or transferred to a portable MP3 player. Because the song files are smaller, more can be stored on the MP3 player per megabyte of storage.

A song file is usually around 4 megabytes, or 240 songs per gigabyte, so a larger MP3 player of 40 gigabytes is often enough to store an entire music collection - all on one easy to use device where you can find the song you want to hear at the click of a button.

You Want To Buy an MP3 Player But Which Type?

There are three main types of MP3 player currently on the market: hard drive-based, flash memory-based and CD player-based. Hard drive-based MP3 players can store the most songs, while flash memory or solid-state MP3 players are smaller with fewer moving parts, making them more suitable for use while on the move. MP3 CD players simply play CDs with MP3 tracks on them, so one CD can accommodate up to 12 times more songs than usual.

Hard drive MP3 players can also store and show photographs and video on a colour screen. Flash memory-based MP3 players often come with a small display giving song information, or even a small screen for showing photographs and video.

How Much Music Can You Store On An MP3 Player?

The bigger the hard drive or memory on an MP3 player, the more capacity there is for storing songs, photographs or video.

A CD MP3 player does not store songs; it only plays CDs with MP3 tracks, so the capacity is determined by the storage space on the CD, which is usually 700 megabytes, or about 100 songs.

Flash memory-based MP3 players start at around 256 megabytes (60 songs) and can go up to 8 gigabytes (2000 songs).

Hard drive-based MP3 players start at around 20 gigabytes and can go up to 160 gigabytes. As well as music, hard drive MP3 players are recommended for storing photographs and video.

Consider Battery Life When You Buy an MP3 Player

Hard drive MP3 players usually run on a rechargeable battery, while flash memory and CD MP3 players will run on rechargeable or conventional batteries.

It's important to choose an MP3 player with a battery life that lasts for as long as you're likely to use it for between charges. Playing music generally uses less power than playing videos, and because flash memory-based MP3 players have fewer moving parts, they are the most efficient when it comes to battery life.

Typically a hard drive MP3 player will have up to about 15 hours battery life, while flash memory MP3 players can last for up to 100 hours.

How to Choose MP3 Player Accessories

There is a wide range of accessories available to buy with your MP3 player. They can be stylish and functional, and are designed to enhance your enjoyment of your MP3 player.

Here are some of the useful accessories presently available on the market:

Cases: An MP3 player case can add colour and texture, as well as protecting it from knocks and scratches.
Speakers: You can buy specially designed speakers to connect with MP3 players. They can either be passive or include an integrated amplifier, and many MP3 player owners prefer plugging the player in to speakers over their existing home hi-fi!
Cables and docks: There is a range of cables and docks available to connect your MP3 player to home audio systems, computers and even other MP3 players.
Car kits: For listening to your MP3 player while in the car, a car kit is an essential and easy to use package that will connect your MP3 player to the car stereo.
Radio tuners: Many MP3 players can be turned into portable radios, thanks to a range of easy to use radio tuners that can be added to the MP3 player.
Microphone: For MP3 players that include a recording facility, plugging in a microphone turns your MP3 player into a handy dictaphone.
Headphones: MP3 players usually come with a quality pair of headphones, but you can upgrade for an improvement in sound quality and comfort.

Do I Need to Buy an Extended MP3 Player Warranty?

When you are choosing an MP3 player it's worth finding out about the warranty that comes with it. Many warranties are free and cover repairs and replacements with reasonable conditions.

Try to keep to a budget when looking for a new MP3 player. By shopping around online, comparing different MP3 retailers' prices, and taking advantage of special offers or discounts, you might be able to find a better model of MP3 player for your money.