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[kevm3]

Ahhh someone help me please! For $300 max, what would be the best portable music player? I really need one and I need one soon... It's damn near impossible to work out in the gym when Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani and the black eyed peas are playing.

I need a player that:
* is durable
* has decent storage space

Thanks in advance!

 

[Matlock]

If you just want it for working out, go for an iPod shuffle 512 MB for $100. Comes with a necklace attachment, and is very durable.

Loading it can be as easy as plugging it into a usb slot, and charging goes by the same process. So simple, a marketing major can do it!

edit:

accessories that might go well with this--

a decal from http://www.decalgirl.com
- put a little of your own personal style into it

armband from The Apple Store
-for obvious reasons, but the necklace attachment works just fine too

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

Flash based players are cheap, and better for working out as they don't have moving parts. That said, I own Rio Karma, which has a 20 GB hard drive. I have an armband for it and use it all the time when running and working out, with no problems. It's a great player with tons of options, and you should be able to find it online for well under $200.

 

[Dilbert]

I know not everyone is an engineer, but you need to be more clear about your requirements if people are going to provide useful help:

1) The primary use for this player is going to be at the gym. Will you use it anywhere else?

2) Does "durable" mean that HD-based players are ruled out? If you would consider a unit with a hard disk, then what does "durable" mean?

3) How many gigabytes would be a "decent amount" of storage space, and how important is that factor in your overall consideration? (Most flash-memory MP3 players have 1 GB or less; most HD players have 4 GB+ and can be MUCH larger, depending on cost.)

4) Do you need an FM tuner? (Many people watch TV at the gym, and the sound is usually broadcast through local FM.)

5) Do you plan to purchase music online? Does the software interface on your PC matter to you?

 

[Diablos]

Heh... I was thinking the same thing today.
I want something that is at least 20GB.
I'm trying to find a car deck that is under $200 and has RCA audio jacks.

 

[Cerebral Palsy]

I'd go for the iPod shuffle or something similar. If you're using it for working out, especially running, don't get anything with moving parts.

 

[Drexon]

The Creative Muvo counterpart has a screen and is cheaper I believe (than the Crap 'Shuffle'r).

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

The Creative Muvo counterpart has a screen and is cheaper I believe (than the Crap 'Shuffle'r).

Yeah. I think the regular iPods are pretty nice devices, but why anyone would buy a shuffle, which doesn't have a screen, is beyond me. It makes it impossible to listen to custom playlists or even specific albums. It's either random, or all one big playlist. That's not the way I like to listen to my music, at least not all the time.

 

[Pochacco]

The best reason to buy an iPod shuffle is for iTunes.
If you use iTunes, or would like to, then go with Apple.
Otherwise, there are better flash players.

If you're shopping for HD players, an iPod should be at the top of your list. There are alternatives, but iPods are pretty damn good. I personally like the Minis, if you don't need that much storage.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

The best reason to buy an iPod shuffle is for iTunes.
If you use iTunes, or would like to, then go with Apple.
Otherwise, there are better flash players.

If you're shopping for HD players, an iPod should be at the top of your list. There are alternatives, but iPods are pretty damn good. I personally like the Minis, if you don't need that much storage.

There are other online music stores that work with a wider variety of mp3 players than iTunes. That said, Apple has done the project right. Everything just integrates so well, iTunes for managing your library, iTunes Music Store for finding and buying new tunes, and the iPod syncing up with iTunes so you can take it on the road. It's all just very slick.

 

[cvxfreak]

I think a 6GB mini will be appropriate for you - just buy the corresponding lanyard for it. It's not that heavy and you'll have the full benefits of a regular iPod with you, plus plenty of space.

 

[Claus]

iRiver H10. Damn, it's hot.

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/hd/h10_6gb.aspx

 

[Lemurnator]

Heh... I was thinking the same thing today.
I want something that is at least 20GB.
I'm trying to find a car deck that is under $200 and has RCA audio jacks.

Personally I say drop iPod all together and don't pay more for less. iPod marketing is AMAZING, they've managed to make people unfamiliar with most DAPs refer to EVERY single DAP as an iPod.

I would suggest checking out the iAudio X5 and iRiver H300 series of DAPs first. Superior sound quality, a VAST array of features, durable, not as stylish as the iPod but both are packed with plenty of bang for their buck.

iRiver plays video files with the firmware update, I have every season of South Park and Futurama on my iRiver H300 right now and 8 gigs of music. It's a 20 gig player but the iRiverter program converts any video down to the size of the screen and makes 20+ minute long continuous videos very small.

iRiver has very interesting features if you're a musician, eg: the ability to look specific parts in a song at the press of a button and the ability to slow down or speed up the playing speed of the file.

iRiver has an FM tuner, the ability to view pictures and Text Files.

iRiver can record from ANY source, the built in FM tuner, the Audio IN jack, and the built in MIC. All of which you can record at a bitrate of your choice into MP3 format.

Everything is drag and drop.

iAudio X5 does almost all the same things, but it's got some flaws. It however has the absolute best sound quality of any MP3 player.

 

[Lemurnator]

iRiver H10. Damn, it's hot.

http://www.iriveramerica.com/prod/hd/h10_6gb.aspx

H300 > H10

 

[Claus]

H300 > H10

$100 more than what he's looking for.

 

[Dilbert]

iRiver plays video files with the firmware update, I have every season of South Park and Futurama on my iRiver H300 right now and 8 gigs of music. It's a 20 gig player but the iRiverter program converts any video down to the size of the screen and makes 20+ minute long continuous videos very small.

iRiver has very interesting features if you're a musician, eg: the ability to look specific parts in a song at the press of a button and the ability to slow down or speed up the playing speed of the file.

iRiver has an FM tuner, the ability to view pictures and Text Files.

iRiver can record from ANY source, the built in FM tuner, the Audio IN jack, and the built in MIC. All of which you can record at a bitrate of your choice into MP3 format.

With the exception of the FM tuner, exactly how would ANY of those features be appropriate for someone who wants to listen to music while working out at the gym?

 

[kevm3]

To be more specific, I doubt I'd need an FM tuner since most of the music on the radio stations around here are crap. I'd also prefer something that has a decent amount of space (8+GB), features (screen, playlist, etc) and won't mutilate itself while I'm working out. Thanks for the replies already posted though.

 

[FightyF]

I'm trying to find a car deck that is under $200 and has RCA audio jacks.

I just got a cheap deck...JVC KD-G510. It has a 1/8th RCA (headphone) jack right in the front so you can plug in whateva and play it. I plan to hook up a tablet w/ 30 Gb HDD. So it's a big fat touchscreen with winamp on it...the tablet also has wireless capabilities so when the car is parked in the garage or outside I can send the files wirelessly.

That is...if I can scrap up the change I need to buy the tablet in time (found a used one at a great price...but I'm piss poor ATM).

 

[Zensetsu]

I love my Creative Zen Micro 5gb. Never skips, I jog with it and its fine....nice amount of space and you can use it like a flash drive.

 

[Lemurnator]

With the exception of the FM tuner, exactly how would ANY of those features be appropriate for someone who wants to listen to music while working out at the gym?

They aren't, it's just added bonus to what's already one of the best DAPs on the market.