Good solid-state mp3 player?

2002-07-06 09:46:55

Have a bit of disposable cash, and I'm looking into buying a solid-state mp3 player (flash ram or similar).  my main considerations are:
-price ($200 US is pretty much the top of my budget)
-handles vbr files fine
-decent sound
-USB
-no weird secure music BS

I'll be using it for running, biking, snowboarding, and the like, so a cd/mp3 player or HDD player isn't an option.

upgradeability would be nice, but isn't that necessary as long as there is 64mb or more onboard.  I've heard the Creative Nomad is really good, but everywhere I've looked its out of sight expensive!  I was about to buy a used Samsung mp3 player, but found out it was parallel at the last minute...  I may be patient, but not THAT patient.

Anyway, if you had good luck with a particular product, let me know.

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #1 – 2002-07-11 05:20:05

Still could use some advice..  anyone?

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #2 – 2002-07-11 09:36:30

Mpio DMG - 128 MB internal, plus you can stick on another 128 MB SM card. www.mpio.com

This player was given 5 *s when reviewed at mp3.com, it has excellent sound.

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #3 – 2002-07-11 11:30:36

I'm sorry if I'm going major off topic or trolling but I strongly suggest going to ebay and finding a Creative labs DAP or Archos Jukebox. Having owned a Diamond Rio (and a stash of memory for it), I can say that I'm sick of the thing and I've only used it around 15 times. It's just too much hassle fiddling around with all the memory cards, where as really I'd just like to have it all in one place.

The newer DAP I hear is a bit smaller. You'll probably be able to pick the older one up from ebay for around ~$150. Well worth it!

Ruairi

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #4 – 2002-07-11 12:47:44

I have the MPIO-DMK.  It comes with 128mb embedded flash memory, it's very small and lightweight so I can use it in the gym, has excellent sound, and the battery lasts up to 20 hours.  The downside is  the memory can't be upgraded with a flash card, but that's the tradeoff for its very small size.  Using the altpreset 128 ABR setting I can load about 30-35 songs on the DMK, which is pretty good.  Like the DMG, it's also highly rated by a lot of review sites.  I got mine for $200 at http://www.innogear.com/dmk_1.html.

Daffy

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #5 – 2002-07-11 16:20:59

I recommend the Nex II.

http://www.frontierlabs.com/NexII.html

Do not buy the RCA Lyra. It does not play MP3's as advertised. They have to be re-encoded as an encrypted MPX file before the device will play them.

False advertising at it's finest.

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #6 – 2002-07-11 21:53:42

unfortunately I can't see anywhere to buy mpio products in canada

but I do see a whole sh*tload of nex II's on ebay.ca.  Is $65 US a decent deal?  It appears to come with no memory, but I suppose  compactflash is pretty cheap.  Does it has one or two slots for compactflash?  And can it really support 256mb cards?  This is a tempting deal, I might have to put a bid down

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #7 – 2002-07-11 22:03:47

The dirt cheap ones don't come with any memory, but they support the 256MB (and maybe larger) flash cards, also IBM Microdrives.

Check this group out:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nexiimp3/message/1641

Retail costs are $90 to $110 US.

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #8 – 2002-07-12 02:32:13

I bought the Diva mp3 player. This device has no SCMS, has a USB connector, imbedded memory (mine has 128m), plus a slot that will handle any size Compact flash 1 card. I'm using a 256m Viking 8X, for a total of 384m.

The build quality seems a little cheap, but so far (6months), it's held up. I also keep it in it's case. The display is not backlit (no big deal) reads Id3.1 tags, but as a single scrolling line (again no big deal; I found it's enough info). Use other than the supplied headphones. I've used some high quality Sony's and was amazed at the audio quality and volume (It got louder before distortion than i could stand, and these ears have been through a lot!).

It uses one AA battery, and it lasts about 10 hours. I paid $139, plus $114 for the extra card (do not use Sandisk, as they are too slow, and don't work).

Here's the URL: http://www.mydivaplayer.com

Support has been responsive to questions, usually within 12 hours.

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #9 – 2002-07-15 11:48:30

I have a Cooltrax (which is also know as a Jenson or Cybero) which I got from Scan in the UK.  I paid £122 for a 128MB version which included a 64MB SmartMedia card.  This was the lowest price I have seen in the UK for a 192MB flash player.  The build is OK, the sound is excellent, display goos, the features are pretty good and I have not had any problems with any MP3s, and most of mine are from "other" sources.  The SW that comes with the unit is pretty crap but just about does do the job.  I use XP and the latest updates from Eisen work OK.  If the supporting SW was better I would rate the payer as excellent.  What the SW needs to do is support the player as a logical USB drive that supports drag and drop.  If anyone knows of such SW for this player let me know

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #10 – 2002-07-15 17:08:37

I agree with Spoon on the MPIO, but wanted to add that I STILL use my Rio 500 on very nearly a daily basis.  It's small, lightweight and with a 128MB SM card, holds quite a bit of music and, for me, several days worth of audiobooks. 

No funny encoding schemes, reasonably fast USB, more than half a dozen ways to get music into it.  The only real drawback is propreitary SM card formatting which precludes the use of card readers.

SonicBlue is selling refurbs on thier site for 99 US and refurbs and a few new units can be found on Ebay for less than that.

Eventually I'll probably own an MPIO as well, but since I'm still subscribing to Audible, I'm sure I'll keep the Rio 500 until it disentegrates into dust or stops working.  (though I don't think that will happen with all the abuse I've given it and it still works.)   

Oh, and with a good set of earbuds or phones the sound quality is quite good for most environments, and better than 12 hours playtime on a single AA isn't too bad either.

Chris

Good solid-state mp3 player?

Reply #11 – 2002-07-18 13:45:07

Canada?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...item=1367506449