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MP3 player buying guide

What kind of MP3 user am I?

Figure out what kind of MP3 player user you are and help narrow the field.

That's because MP3 players are definitely not a one-size-fits-all product. They come in a range of shapes and sizes, use different types of memory, and support different formats. You should choose the player that both meets your needs and suits your personality.

As we see it, here are the main personality profiles for MP3 player users, as well as questions to help determine which camp(s) you fall into. Some people align with more than one type, and they should possibly consider buying more than one MP3 player to address various needs.

For instance, you might want an ultracompact flash player for jogging or skiing and a high-capacity hard drive-based device for more general use.

User profiles: Commuter | Fitness freak | Traveler | Audiophile | File hoarder

Commuter

You listen to your stereo at home and to your computer at work, but filling your commute with tunes requires a portable player. If you commute by car, look for a hard drive-based model; size doesn't matter much in this situation, so feel free to save money by buying a heftier unit. You'll also need a cassette-style adapter and a cigarette-lighter charger. The former can be purchased anywhere, but for the charger, stick with manufacturer-approved accessories; that way, you'll avoid frying your player with the wrong voltage or polarity. If you commute via subway or bus, look for a compact flash-based player and, to seal out as much of the din as possible, a pair of noise-canceling or sound-isolating headphones.

Sony NW-S705F (2GB)

Sony NW-S705F (2GB)
Noise-canceling technology embedded in an MP3 player? Sounds like the perfect foil for that wailing baby for us.
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Fitness freak

If you spend all your free time in the gym, you need an MP3 player that can keep pace. It should be compact and easy to operate with one hand. Rather than looking for one with massive storage, choose a flash-based model (with up to a 1GB of storage) that can also withstand tough workouts better than hard drive-based players. You may also want an armband, an option on many ultracompact models, and a set of headphones that will stay in place rather than the cheap earbuds typically included.

Sony NW-S203F (1GB)

Sony NW-S203F (1GB)
Get kicking with a bunch of sports dedicated features like step tracking and purpose-built playlists to match your different jogging speeds.
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Traveler

If you spend a lot of time on the road, you need an MP3 player that will enhance your journeys with music yet doesn't add undue weight to your carry-on. If you travel with the same laptop that stores your music, a compact flash-based player is the way to go, but if you'd rather leave the laptop at home, try a high-capacity player that will hold all or most of your music. Accessories worthy of consideration include noise-canceling or sound-isolating headphones for the plane, as well as a portable speaker setup for your hotel room.

Samsung YP-K5 (4GB)

Samsung YP-K5 (4GB)
Those intercontinental flights can really get to you sometimes. The YP-K5 squeezes 4GB flash memory and 30 hours worth of playback into a 106g form factor that is sure to please users, whether they are in business or economy. And you can dump the speakers at home. This fellow comes with its own.
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Audiophile

Although often misused, the term audiophile refers to those users who prize sound quality above all other factors. Audiophile stereo systems often run upward of S$10,000 and include pro-level components connected with gold-plated cables. Audiophiles have been reticent to adopt the MP3 format, due to its lossy compression, but if they choose high-enough bit rates and look for lossless codecs in their MP3 players, their portable needs can be satisfied. It goes without saying that audiophiles would never use bundled headphones, so high-end replacement 'phones are a must.

Apple iPod (30GB; sixth generation)

Apple iPod (30GB; sixth generation)
Considered by many to be the king of MP3 players right now, the iPod supports both the Apple Loseless and AAC audio formats.
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File hoarder

If your appetite for digital music has your computer's hard drive(s) bursting at the seams, you fit the description of the file hoarder. While sound quality and features are important to you, what you need most is an enormous capacity: At least 40GB but maybe even more. Today's portable music devices max out at 100GB or so, which should be enough to keep you satisfied until manufacturers can fit more memory into the 1.8-inch drives used by high-capacity MP3 players.