Compact MP3 Player

Dr_Colossus

Hi, I'm currently looking to purchase a compact MP3 player for running and wondering what people's opinions are and what they use themselves and how they find them etc.

I currently have an old iriver H120 for nearly 7 years and it's been fantastic but someone of a brick to carry around while running. I recently got a new set of Sony MDRAS40EX earphones http://www.noisefreeheadphones.com/SonyMDRAS40EX.htm
that clip around the ears and find them good so all I need is the compact player. Not interested in an ipod shuffle or nano as not willing to get involved with itunes and it's limitations.

The first one I came across was the Archos Clipper 2GB http://www.noisefreeheadphones.com/SonyMDRAS40EX.htm
which is compact and cheap buy downsides being that there's no radio and functions seems limited.

I then came across the Sandisk Sansa Clip+
http://www.mymemory.co.uk/MP3-Players/SanDisk/SanDisk-Sansa-Clip%2B-MP3-Player
which is available in 2GB, 4GB or 8GB. A good deal more expensive than the Archos but added benefits being the micro SD slot expansion, the FM radio and increased functions.

My main requirement for my second MP3 player is predominately size and weight, followed by price and functionality. At present I seem to be veering towards the Sandisk unless anyone has any other suggestions?
Does anyone currently have the Sandisk Clipper+ and how do you find them.
Thanks

evolutionqy7

lol man why dont u just get a good phone i got a nokia 5800 xpress music for 229E which comes with 8GB memory...why not spare the rubbish mp3 player and get a phone...u can get better earphones for less...when i go joging i just keep my phone in hand to stop it from jumpin around case solved whats the point of having many little gadgets when you could have one ? just my opinion :P

ecoli

Only one option for me is the Creative stone. Cheap (30e when i bought it) small (fits in the front pocket of running shorts) 2Gb so plenty of rooms for songs and very light.
the new version also has a built in speaker so you dont even need headphones if you really want to (may annoy passers by)
bought one for the particular purpose of training and has lasted 2 years even survived going through the wash on a few occasions.

http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/productarchive.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=16424&nav=

evolutionqy7

ech shuffle :eek: idk i had an mp3 player years ago looked like one of them memory sticks...now i dont see the point of them...my phone can play movies music videos and music...and can use phone all in one and lasts around 20 hours of continuos music play so why bother and pack up with loads of em? u can always get an arm band for holding ur phone

Krusty_Clown

I'm on my second Sansa Clip (not the Clip+). Have to say, really happy with it, particularly support for audio-books, which I've never tried before, but am a complete convert, on my long runs.

One thing to note: it's most definitely no waterproof, which is why I'm on my second. You can usually find the original Sansa clip (without mem card slot) at a good price.

nomadic

I have both the sansa clip and the archos clipper. The sansa clip is a brilliant little mp3 player. I'd highly recommend it. Mine died for no apparent reason though. I went to extra vision to buy another one but they were all out and had the archos so i bought it for €20. Its grand for running. Really small and light. The sansa clip is definately a better mp3 player with the radio and display but for running the archos is grand and cheap.

the_syco

ecoli wrote: »

Only one option for me is the Creative stone.

Never used it, but it is very very small (bought one for someone else).

Killerz

I use a Creative (4 GB Zen V Plus). About half the size of an average mobile phone, has a radio and is dead easy to use. Having said that, I havent used anything else, but have had no need to. Almost two years running with the same one now. Good for setting up playlists too.

RubyK

I use an Apple ipod shuffle. It's tiny, weights nothing, and fits in my side pocket of my top.

Krusty_Clown

RubyK wrote: »

I use an Apple ipod shuffle. It's tiny, weights nothing, and fits in my side pocket of my top.

Doesn't the new shuffle have the controls built into the dedicated head-phone cable? Means if you want to wear headphones other than the apple headphones that come with it, you have to fork out for an adapter for an extra €20, from someone like Belkin, just so you can use the controls. Typical of Apple, trying to lock people in to their own equipment.
I've used (and killed) three shuffles in the past (mostly through washing machines) but wont buy any more because of the new controls. Why can't anyone make a washing machine proof mp3 player?

RubyK

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Doesn't the new shuffle have the controls built into the dedicated head-phone cable? Means if you want to wear headphones other than the apple headphones that come with it, you have to fork out for an adapter for an extra €20, from someone like Belkin, just so you can use the controls.

I hadn't thought about that Krusty, but I find the earphones grand for running, and like the controls where they are. My budget was tight when I was buying it, and it was the cheapest shuffle I could find. I was happy with the Creative Zen yokey I had at first, but then got to the stage where I didn't like knowing what songs were coming next iykwim. That's why I went for the ipod.

Jip

evolutionqy7 wrote: »

why not spare the rubbish mp3 player and get a phone...u can get better earphones for less...

The Sansa Clip is an excellent little MP3 player, I would imagine it sounds much better than the offering from Nokia you mention.

OP, as I said, the Clip is a great little player, I think there was a discussion about it a while ago, either on this forum or the media player one.

As Krsuty says, the new shuffle has the controls built into the headphones which is a pain in the arse, stopped my buying one anyway.

evolutionqy7

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Doesn't the new shuffle have the controls built into the dedicated head-phone cable? Means if you want to wear headphones other than the apple headphones that come with it, you have to fork out for an adapter for an extra €20, from someone like Belkin, just so you can use the controls. Typical of Apple, trying to lock people in to their own equipment.
I've used (and killed) three shuffles in the past (mostly through washing machines) but wont buy any more because of the new controls. Why can't anyone make a washing machine proof mp3 player?

lol how about you take out the mp3 player before the wash lol

ecoli

RubyK wrote: »

I hadn't thought about that Krusty, but I find the earphones grand for running, and like the controls where they are. My budget was tight when I was buying it, and it was the cheapest shuffle I could find. I was happy with the Creative Zen yokey I had at first, but then got to the stage where I didn't like knowing what songs were coming next iykwim. That's why I went for the ipod.

This would be a problem alright with it however as they are cheap i dedicate this to be solely for training and as such just created an extendednplaylist of songs ideal while running so it does not effect me while running. Besides the songs play out alphabetically dont they?

Dr_Colossus

Thanks for the suggestions guys and gals, will look into the Creative Stone also as have heard good things about the Creative before. Yea I'm a bit anti iPod in general with their itunes requirement and then the restriction of having the controls built into the lead of the shuffle just tops it all off. The features on an iPod are also fairly limited in comparison with some of the competition.
I like the clip feature on the Archos and Sandisk as it enables you to clip it onto the collar of your tshirt or trouser/shorts thereby doing away with the need for pockets or arm bands etc.

HxGH

I use an old iPod shuffle...

I don't know why everyone hates them so much...

Just put on your favourite music and you won't need to keep looking for a good song.

Jip

It's the new ones that are a problem due to the controls on the headphone cable.

RubyK

HxGH wrote: »

I use an old iPod shuffle...

I don't know why everyone hates them so much...

I didn't know people hated them so much til this thread! I'm not into techno/gadgets, so my opinioin isn't worth much, but my it does what I want/need to keep me moving

Krusty_Clown

HxGH wrote: »

I don't know why everyone hates them so much...

Because they won't survive a 60' wash.

Having said that, my Sansa Clip didn't even survive a 20 mile run in torrential rain, so the iPod wins. I had an iPod Nano, which didn't like being kicked down the road at great speed during my first marathon, and a Sony digital radio which didn't work after landing in a puddle.

Anyone want to loan me their mp3 player?

HxGH

My iPod shuffle holds up to 8 hours of music so it does the job for me no problem.

Krusty_Clown

Here you go: Sansa Clip+, 8GB, Radio, microSD or microSDHC support, support for Audiobooks: 51 euro delivered.

€4 cheaper than a 2Gb Shuffle, without radio, or SD slot.
Simple economics.

guerito

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Here you go: Sansa Clip+, 8GB, Radio, microSD or microSDHC support, support for Audiobooks: 51 euro delivered.

€4 cheaper than a 2Gb Shuffle, without radio, or SD slot.
Simple economics.

+1 on the Sansa. Had an old one and twas great. Super-lightweight, good sound once you used a decent set of earphones, and the built-in clip is handy. Have used an ipod shuffle and a creative stone (the one without the screen) as well - both sounded ok, but you had to buy the silicon clip skin for the stone or else endure it bouncing around in your pocket while you ran. Shuffle had the clip, but both had pretty fiddly controls. I have a new clip+ on order (looking forward to the radio for listening to Off The Ball on those early evening runs!).

Raging_Hull

I have to agree with the other Shufflers. I have been using one for the past 8 months since my poor Nano drowned in my pocket one wet wet night. The shuffle is brilliant. Cheap, tiny, light, simple to use and very quick to charge.:)

Dr_Colossus

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions guys and gals. I purchased the Sansa Clip+ in the end, 8GB with radio, micro SD slot expansion, voice and FM radio recorder all for under €49 delivered. Very impressed with the player, it's size, weight and functions and it's thus making my old iRiver redundant.
Happy running and exercising all.
Thanks again