Online Shopping - Buyers Guide For MP3 Players

Downloading a music file from the Internet has become one of the most popular Net pastimes and it can now be compressed into an MP3 audio file, which produces CD-quality sound. Special software is required to play or download these files. Within the foreseeable future, there is little doubt that MP3 players will become the standard way for transferring, listening and storing music. MP3 files can be listened to using an MP3 player, which is very easy to use and acts in a similar way to a CD player. Portable MP3 players are now widely available so that when you have downloaded the music from the Internet you can carry it with you in a similar way to a walkman or discman.

WHAT IS AN MP3 PLAYER?

MP3 stands for MPEG1 layer 3 audio. MP3 players are small portable digital devices on which MP3 files are stored. On a conventional CD the data file is very large but if the wav file goes under compression its size is reduced by around a factor of ten. This makes the MP3 files much smaller and because of their small size and the outstanding quality that they produce MP3 files have become very popular to download from the Internet. In order to download MP3 files onto a memory based player you will need to connect it to your computer via a cable. In addition to having some internal memory, portable MP3 players usually accept some type of removable media (SmartMedia, CompactFlash, Clik!, Memory Stick) these will increase the memory capabilities of the player so that more MP3 files can be stored. Most MP3 players operate on regular alkaline batteries, and connect to your computer through a Parallel or USB interface.

The channel through which your MP3 player will access files and transfer them to and from your computer is refered to as an interface. Most MP3 players will be supplied with the appropriate software and cables. There are three main types of interface available with MP3 players.

  • Parallel:- These are standard PC connections for linking an MP3 player to your computer. The parallel cable is used to connect numerous devices including MP3 players to the computer. This interface is more common on older computers and is being replaced by the USB.
  • USB:- Universal Serial Bus interface transfers data at a much faster speed than the parallel interface and is far more reliable. USB ports will be found on the latest computers and they are now the standard.
  • Firewire/IEEE 1394:- This is the fastest method of file transfer currently available for MP3 players working about 30 times faster than the USB interface. You will have to make sure that your computer has a Firewire interface otherwise you will not be able to download songs onto the MP3 player.

MP3 PLAYERS Vs CD PLAYERS

The main advantage to an MP3 player is that there are no moving parts, which eliminates the risk of the music jumping. They are 100% shockproof and you can literally jump around and the music will not skip a beat. Also battery life is extended because it does not have to operate any additional moving parts. This also means that MP3 players are incredibly small, being produced at around half the size of a portable CD player.

MP3 PLAYER SIZES

This refers to the size of the casing that surrounds the portable MP3 player and there are three distinct sizes currently available.

  • Stick:- This is the smallest format and is about the size of a large pen. These are very versatile and can be taken anywhere.
  • Small:- These are normally less than 4" in height and width and usually about 1" in depth. They will easily fit in your pocket making them very convenient.
  • CD:- These are about the same size as a portable CD player. Although they are bulky in comparison to the above two sizes they are in fact still very compact.

MP3 PLAYERS - AVAILABLE MEMORY FORMATS

There are numerous options available to you when looking to expand your player's memory capacity.

  • Clik! Discs:- This is a new form of memory storage, which in comparison to Compact Flash and SmartMedia is much cheaper. However they also require moving parts, which means that if the MP3 player is knocked during use, then the music might skip.
  • CD:- This is another new way of storing MP3s and they work just like portable CD players but read pre-recorded MP3s instead. These provide a staggering amount of memory - up to 650MB. However the CDs can skip and you will also need a CD recorder to make the CD's compatible with your MP3 player.
  • SmartMedia:- These memory cards require the MP3 player to possess compatibility and controlling functions internally. SmartMedia cards are also 100% shockproof so the songs will not skip. You can buy SmartMedia in various memory capacities.
  • CompactFlash:- These too are shockproof but contain the controlling functions. CompactFlash give high-volume storage and are also available in capacities ranging from 2MB - 512MB.
  • MultiMedia:- Capable of storing a wide variety of files, although MultiMedia are not as cheap as CompactFlash or SmartMedia. MultiMedia are also shock proof.
  • Memory Stick:- This is not a common form of media storage yet Memory Stick is small and shockproof and Memory Stick is likely to become more commonplace.
  • Built-in Flash:- This is built in to the MP3 players. Only a few have internal flash memory and these players have no additional memory slots. These MP3 players typically have about 64 MB of memory but you are obviously restricted to the amount of files you can store on the player.

MP3 PLAYERS - FEATURES TO LOOK FOR

Storage Capacity:- Generally an MP3 player will hold about 1 minute of music per Mb of memory. Most MP3 players have an internal memory of around 32Mb, which can then be increased with the additional media.

Signal To Noise Ratio:- The higher the ratio measured in decibels the better and this should be specified on each MP3 player. Around 80Db is the minimum acceptable ratio on a MP3 player.

Music Formats:- Of course all MP3 players play MP3 files but there are MP3 players available that will play other audio files such as wav sound files and WMA (Windows Media Audio) formats.

FM Stereo Included:- Some MP3 players will have internal standard FM stereos.

Portable Hard Disc:- MP3 players with this functionality allow you to download and store ordinary computer files, which can be transferred to another computer.

Maximum Playback Time:- This indicates the maximum playback time available on the MP3 player when the appropriate battery is used.

Upgrade Facility:- Some MP3 players may be upgradeable to play other types of audio format.

Random Play:- Allows you to play tracks in a random order selected by the MP3 player.

Repeat Play:- Allows you to programme the MP3 player to play the same song over and over again.

Equaliser Settings:- Some MP3 players have pre-set equaliser settings while other MP3 players allow you to adjust the music tone to suit listening requirements.

Voice Recording:- If you like the sound of your own voice you may find that a MP3 player that supports voice recording is a good option. Many MP3 players now have built-in microphones for voice recording, adding to their versatility.

Platform:- This indicates what software the MP3 player is compatible with. Some MP3 players are compatible with a Windows-based PC, some with Macintosh and some with both.

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Home Appliances - MP3 Players - 24-7 Electrical

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