MP3 Players
MP3 players are very popular. A lot of people use this device to be able to listen to their music while working, transportation or even studying. MP3 players are known because of the popular MP3 file format, further in this guide we will refer to them as digital audio players because most new devices are able to play multiple audio and even video formats.
Extensive Description
Audio
Digital audio players have of course as main function to play audio. Audio quality is thus the main aspect when buying a digital audio player. The quality of the sound does not only depend on the hardware, but also on the quality of the files. When you look at file quality the bit rate of a file should be kept in mind. For example when looking at MP3 files audio quality is:
| 224 - 320 Kbit/s | Excellent |
| 192 - 224 Kbit/s | Very good |
| 128 - 192 Kbit/s | Good |
The quality depends on the compression that is used. The more compressed a file is, the smaller it is, but that also means a loss in quality. You have to choose for yourself what you think is more important: the number of files on your digital audio player or the quality of the audio.
Of course the headphones also contribute to the quality of the sound. There is a lot of differences in quality, volume and design between different types and brands of headphones. You should buy one that fit your personal needs. You can choose among three types:
- Closed headphones
- Earphones
- Canal phones (In Ear Monitors)
Storage
The audio files can be acquired in different ways, they can be bought online or ripped from a CD. When buying the files online the aspect of Digital Rights Management should be kept in mind. The number of songs you can store on your digital audio player depends on the type and size of the storage that your player uses. There are three types:
- Hard-drive based; these digital audio players use a small hard-drive which have a storage ranging from 1.5 up to 100 gigabyte and thus can store thousands of files
- Flash based; these digital audio players use a memory card to store the files on, which range from 128 megabyte up to 4 gigabyte and thus can store approximately 1300 files (when using digital audio files with a size of 3 megabyte)
- CD-player based; these digital audio players use normal CD’s and CD’s with digital audio files, which range up to 800 megabyte and thus can store approximately 260 files
Connectivity
The audio files used on the digital audio players have to be transferred from another device to the player itself. Mostly this can be done via an USB connection with your computer. Some digital audio players even can be connected to the sound system at your home or in your car. Your device should have the right jacks and cables to be able to connect it with other devices.
Formats
It is very important that your digital audio player can play as many formats as possible, this enhances compatibility and thus you can more easily store and play music on your digital audio player. Here are some examples of audio formats that can be used:
- AA
- AAC
- ATRAC3
- FLAC
- MP3
- MP3Pro
- OGG
- WAV
- AIFF
- WMA
Some digital audio players have color screens and can load images or even play video files. A new emerging format is MP4; this format is even more compressed than MP3 and can contain even a whole movie that can be played on your digital audio player. Mobile phones often also function as a digital audio player and mostly use the 3GP format to play video files. PDA’s and MDA’s often also have digital audio or video compatibility. With a minor software update these devices are even able to play DIVX or XVID files.
Design
The design of your digital audio player should fit your own personal needs. If you want a very trendy designed digital audio player it will cost you a bit more. The design depends on numerous factors; the brand, storage and functionality. Some brands only focus on functionality and compatibility and other brands only focus on a trendy design that will appeal to people as a ‘hot-item’. Storage is also an important factor, the digital audio players with a lot of storage are usually a lot more ‘bulky’ and weight more than their slim counterparts with less storage. Do you want a digital audio player with a lot of storage or do you want a slim digital audio player that has the size of a lighter and fits in your pocket? Do you find functionality more important or do you go with the trend and buy that ‘hot’ design?
Functions
Digital audio players have many possible extra functions. You should check for many different options. The digital audio player should have an equalizer, recording possibilities and a FM tuner is also one of the main functions that should be kept in mind. The power supply and hours of play time differ a lot between certain types. Some digital audio players work on batteries while others work on an internal storage battery that can be charged with an external adapter.
Software
Additional drivers and software are needed for your digital audio player. The drivers help your personal computer to recognise your device and enables communication. The software that comes with your digital audio player allows you to manage the files on your device and your personal computer. With the software you should be able to acquire files from CD’s and your computer’s hard-drive and copy them to your digital audio player. Sometimes you can even alter the file’s information and format to your needs.
Koop de goedkoopste MP3 speler die er is, en je krijgt Yvo's moeder er GRATIS bij! 
MP3 Players Deciding Factors
| Term | Explanation | Priority | Quantity | Range Home | Range Advanced |
|---|
Rate Product Guide
Rating: 3.2 / 5 stars - 30 vote(s).
Guide Comments
- top boys :)
- ssss
- Add a comment...