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Editor’s Choice Best of the Top Mp3 Speakers

We’ve Pulled Together the Best Mp3 Speakers for Your Dollar.

Why read five different sites with one review each?
What we’ve done is scavenged the web of editors top picks, from CNET to ZDNet and given you a one stop web review experience.

Quick Top Pick:

Think Outside BoomTube H201
Bose SoundDock
Harman/Kardon SoundSticks II
Parrot BOOMBOX
iLuv i99

Editor’s Choice Mp3 Players

Editor’s Choice Headphones

How to Choose Mp3 Player Speakers:

iPod Only	iPod and Everything Else
Most mp3 Speakers out there are for iPods only. These act as a docking station, charging your iPod and allowing you to access the iPod’s functionality via the speaker system. Some have other added functionality like alarm and FM tuner. The main benefit of these is that you don’t have to worry about charging your iPod, it does it for you.	All other mp3 player speakers are basically just multimedia computer speakers. You can connect your player to them via a 1/8th headphone jack and you get the functionality of your player, on your player, and that is it. Bluetooth is the other way to connect your player to speakers, but this still doesn’t charge your mp3 player like a dock does for the iPod.

You know the great thing about portable mp3 players? You can take them anywhere, except most of the time you can’t share. The solution to the problem, mp3 player multimedia speaker system. Some are portable, and some must stay plugged in at home. But how do you choose what is right for you?

First, if you have an iPod, your choices are substantially large. You only need to consider if you want a portable speaker system like the Think Outside Boomtube or stationary dock system like the Chestnut Hill Sound George. Remember, stationary systems that plug into a wall and are intended for indoor use only sound substantially better than portable outdoor systems that typically don’t have enough power to throw down a party.

For those of you who don’t have an iPod, your selection for speaker systems specifically for mp3 players are much smaller. Most systems will not act as a dock for your player which ultimately means that you’ll need an electrical plug for the speakers and another for your mp3 player if you want to charge it while playing through the speaker system. But beyond this particular issue, the selection of high quality speakers is very good and the functionality of Bluetooth in a lot of mp3 players other than the iPod, almost makes a dock system seem old school.

Choosing a non-iPod specific speaker system for your mp3 player basically breaks down to how much you want to pay, and if you want to use Bluetooth. Bluetooth is pretty great but sometimes the range can be an issue, and walls can block the Bluetooth. Price mostly determines the quality of your speaker, though remember, most mp3s aren’t encoded so well and the better your sound system, the more flaws in the encode you will notice. So spending $600 on a speaker system might not be the best idea if your mp3s are not all high quality.

Experts may all agree on the advantages or shortcomings of any product they review but, at AudioReview.com, we believe that the average consumer can best summarize all the details a product has to offer… So read what users have to says!

Think Outside - BoomTube H201 - $99

Specs:

Portable

# of channels: 3

# of satellites: 2

Separate subwoofer: Yes

Power rating front satellite: 12 watts RMS per channel

Power rating subwoofer: 24 watts RMS per channel

PCMag says: The audio quality is impressive and very full, thanks to dual subwoofers (2.2-inch drivers, 24 watts), two powerful satellites (2.2-inch drivers, 12W per channel), and integrated MaxxBass technology. The system’s output is plenty powerful for small gatherings—it provides the most bang for its size of any portable we’ve seen so far.

CNET Says: The overall design of Think Outside’s Boomtube H201 might be unique–even cool–but we could have done with a bit more boom.

ZDNet Says: The two remote speakers sounded reasonably rich, with fair detail in the soaring strings, and we were able to crank the volume to bone-rattling levels with little distortion, thanks to the Boomtube’s output of 20 watts per channel. However, bass response was disappointingly subtle, even with the bass control cranked all the way up.

Bose - SoundDock Digital Music System - $200

Specs:

iPod Only

# of channels: 2

# of satellites: 1

Separate subwoofer: No

Digital Trends says: The Bose SoundDock is an excellent option if you are looking for a simple speaker dock away from your computer for your iPod or iPod Mini. While the unit lacks some of the features that the competition boasts, potential buyers should consider whether they will ever actually use those features. In the sound quality category, the SoundDock comes out on top.

PCMag Says: The SoundDock isn’t an audiophile speaker, but it gives even our favorite desktop models a run for the money above 80 Hz. It’s a triumph of engineering and a shoo-in for Editors’ Choice.

MacWorld Says: If you’re using the SoundDock in the types of environments for which it’s intended—on a desk, or in a bedroom, office, or kitchen—you’ll be rewarded with good sound in an eye-catching package.

Harman/Kardon - SoundSticks II- $169

Specs:

Product Type - PC multimedia speaker system

# of channels: 3

# of satellites: 2

Separate subwoofer: Yes

BNominal Output Power (Total) - 40 Watt

2 x Satellite speaker - 10 Watt - Wired, 1 x Subwoofer - 20 Watt - Wired

Power adapter - External

1 x Audio line-in ( Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm )

CNet says: Harman Kardon bridges the platform gap, allowing anyone with a 1/8-inch minijack input to take advantage of the SoundSticks II and their fantastic output.

DigitalReviews Says: …these speakers are for those who place a little more emphasis on sound and design over total output power. The only thing I would have liked to see with these speakers is a headphone jack on the satellite speaker and possibly a volume meter for the volume control buttons.

ilounge Says: …we wouldn’t hesitate for a minute to add a set of the Soundsticks to an iPod or computer setup. They look great, sound great, and won’t kill your wallet.

Parrot - BOOMBOX (w/ Bluetooth) - $200

Specs:

Portable - Power supply - Internal

Connectivity Technology - Wired - Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, Wireless

Transmission Range - 98 ft

Speakers Included - Speaker - 2-way - 60 Watt - 50 - 20000 Hz

Driver Details - Speaker : 2 x Tweeter driver, Speaker : 1 x Woofer driver

CNet says: The Parrot Boombox wireless Bluetooth speaker system ably combines elegant design, minimalist aesthetics, and better-than-average sound quality at an affordable price.

IT Reviews Says: Given the speaker’s abilities and audio performance alone it’s not overpriced, and if you think you’ll get a decent amount of use from the Bluetooth support it comes in as a bit of a bargain.

TrustedReview Says: If you use your phone as an MP3 player and want something to play your music on then the Parrot Boombox is an excellent option. Sound quality was excellent, besting the iPod Hi-Fi comfortably with little loss of quality when streaming via Bluetooth. The only caveat is the slightly disappointing Bluetooth range…

iLuv - i199 Bluetooth (with BluePin) - $199

Specs:

Plays back your Audio CDs and MP3 CDs with the slide-in CD loading mechanism

Digital clock display with dual alarm

Plays MP3 files stored on a USB storage device, such as USB MP3 players with USB connector

BluePin audio transmitter / receiver

Connector type - 1 x Docking station, 1 x USB, 1 x Headphones

Receive and play the music wirelessly from your audio device with Bluetooth wireless technology, such as MP3 music players, MP3 mobile phones, laptops, etc

LaptopMag Mag says: With the module in place, you can stream music from a phone to the i199’s speakers or transmit sound from the unit to a wireless headset. Though the Bluetooth function isn’t built in, exactly, pairing was painless, and the sound was excellent.

CNet Says: The impressive iLuv i199 provides a dizzying array of features–including iPod compatibility, CD player, AM/FM clock radio–you’ll be hard-pressed to find on any other tabletop audio systems at this price.

Ngadgeti Says: Among this feature-heavy iPod speaker’s many talents is the ability to play MP3s from USB thumb drives, as well as dock and pump out tunes from iPods. It has a slot for regular and MP3 CDs, a radio, and even an alarm clock. The iLuv’s sound is pretty decent, too. It’s a shame that operating it is such a pain.

Editor’s Choice Best Headphones

We’ve Pulled Together the Best Headphones for Your Dollar.

Why read five different sites with one review each? What we’ve done is scavenged the web of editors top picks, from CNET to ZDNet and given you a one stop web review experience.

Quick Top Pick: Headphones	Price	Sound Style
Sennheiser PX 100 Headphones	$39	Clear Mids/Bass Highs Can Peak
Koss Portapro Headphones	$50	Clear Mids/Highs Predictable Base
Grado SR60 Headphones	$65	Extended Bass Good Mids/Highs
Sennheiser HD 555 Headphones	$170	A bit of Extended Bass Detailed
AKG K 701	$449	Crystal Clear Detail Flat response
Denon AH-D5000	$700	Warm Crystal Clear Detail
Sennheiser HD 800	$1399	The new Gold Standard

Quick Top Pick: Earbuds
Shure E3c Isolating Earphone	$70	Deep Base Detailed Highs
Shure SE310 Isolating Earphones	$299	Very well Balanced Detailed Clean
Shure SE530 Isolating Earphones	$499	Unparalleled acoustic accuracy

Quick Top Pick: Specialty
Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones	$99	Good Trade off for no wires

How to Choose Headphones:

Headphones

Earphones

Sealed - Sealed headphones are ideal for noisy environments though they can cause some harmonic distortion due to seal design. Open - Open headphones give the sound space to breathe, but they also let outside noise in. These are ideal for home use or somewhere quiet.

Circum-aural vs. Supra-aural - Circum-aural headphones fully cup the ear and rest against the head. These tend to be much more comfortable for extended listening sessions. Supra-aural rest against the ear and can be uncomfortable to some.

Ear Buds - Ear buds are cheap, both in price and sound, but they are great for action sports because if you loose or break them, $15 replacements wont break you.

Ear Canal - These earphones can sometimes be a hard fit inside your ear canal, which can drive some people crazy. But if you find a match, they do a fantastic job of isolating you from outside sound and they do sound great. For a price.

Headphones and earphones come in so many shapes, styles, and price range it can be over whelming to decide what is right for you. For this list I have tried to stay within the medium to pricey range for the above average listener. This selection won’t float the boat for professional sound mastering or strict audiophiles.

When choosing a pair of headphones you should consider where you are going to use them most. If these are for blocking out sound on a noisy subway or office you’ll want to consider sound isolating earphones or sealed headphones. If you are going to wear your headphones while snowboarding or mountain biking you’ll want to hunt for a “best of the bad” set of cheap ear buds. I go through about 3 pairs a year due to wear and tear and paying $15-$20 a pop doesn’t bust my bank.

For home use you should seriously consider open headphones because these provide the best possible sound quality but can push upwards for $600 for ultra high-end balanced headphones. Never fear, good sets like the Grado SR60 can be purchased for $65.

Now, thanks to blue tooth technology today you can also get your hands on a pair of cord free headphones. Unfortunately these run average of $100 and 80 percent or more of that is spent on the blue tooth.

A very helpful thread on the audioREVIEW forums entitled “Best Headphones”

AKG k701 Headphones - $449.00

Specs:

Revolutionary flat-wire voice coil technology
Patented AKG Varimotion ultra-precision two-layer diaphragm
Bi-wiring, high-performance cable with 1/4″ jack plug
Comfortable, specially shaped “3D-Form” ear pads
Complete with stylish storage cradle
Individually tested and numbered

4.20 out of 5 - 5 Reviews

audiowize Said: After letting them play for a little over 100 hours (they were used when I got them, but not well broken in), the sound has softened and the tunes are sweet. The bass control is out of this world!

tngiloy Said: The sound is clear and neutral. The bass is very good for headphones. I have yet to hear floorstanding speakers that match the sound from these cans. I’m sure there are some, but they are out of my price range.

Wes Phillips - Stereophile - 2006 Says: The K 701s just flat-out sound more like music as I hear it than any other headphones I’ve ever heard. I love ‘em and I won’t be sending ‘em back. They’re mine, all mine! Bwah hah haha haaa!

EnjoytheMusic - 2006 Says: The AKG K701 is one beautifully rounded performer. Top shelf sound, superb ergonomics, a competitive price and no quirks. The new reference has arrived and I’m not letting it go. Anyone wanna buy my K1000s?

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Shure SE530 Isolating Earphones - $499.00

Specs:

Sound Isolating Design
Speaker Type: Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker
Included Premium Fit Kit (with additional 9” extension cable)

CNet Says: Travel-happy audiophiles will be infinitely pleased with the Shure SE530s, but these earbuds should also be a consideration for anyone who has half a grand to drop on some sweet headphones.

anythingbutipod Says: Where the Shures clearly surpass most dynamic driver in-ear phones is their excellent clarity, precision, and “snappiness”.

Wes Phillips - Stereophile - 2007 Says: The SE530s are sonically well balanced, having both extended bass and a smooth, soaring top end, and at $449, they fall between the $299 Etymotics and the $1000 Ultimate Ears.

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Sennheiser HD 555 Headphones - $170.00

Specs:

A comfortable, high-quality headphone system
Extended spatial field surrounds you with sound; ergonomic Acoustic Refinement (EAR) enables ideal sound channeling for a new kind of listening experience

4.20 out of 5 - 5 Reviews

Garth Said: Ecellent headphones overall, but the mid bass boost is too much for me. (The HD-595 is better in this aspect) The spatial sound field is incredible …. it’s like the music is in your brain (I can’t say it in a better way). spilner Said: OK, so here’s what they give you after over 200 hours of intensive burning in: Generally speaking, it’s a nice, detailed and pretty well balanced sounding headphone. Now to be more specific. The harshness of the treble is pretty much gone..

GoodCans Says: …offers surprisingly good detail in all areas; highs, mids and bass. In addition to great sound quality for a portable headphone, it’s light weight, comfortable, and collapsible.

TechRadar UK Says: Meticulous sound reproduction that enlightens not strains the ear, and a good retail price.

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Denon AH-D5000 - Headphones - $700

Specs:

Reference Audio, circum-aural
Real Mahogany wood housing. Micro fiber diaphragm
Acoustic optimizer for life like audio reproduction
Gold plated aluminum connector.
Light wieght magnesium frame structure

Head Room Says: The scientific audio lab measurements don’t lie: the results we’ve seen in every category for the AH-D5000 rival that of any high-end audiophile reference headphone that has entered our testing facility

CNet.UL Says: The D5000s blew us away with stellar reproductions of every musical genre we threw at them — tightly orchestrated classical recitals, brutal black metal performances, chest-pounding drum ‘n’ bass, over-produced pop

HeadphoneReviews.org Says: The first thing that strikes you is the enveloping bass, the full-range sweetness of the trebles, followed by more of the bass. The bass is never completely tight; while most often pleasing

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Koss Portapro - Headphones - $50

Specs:

Dynamic-element design for deep bass performance
Comfort Zone setting on temporal pad for comfortable, secure fit
Collapsible for maximum portability when listening on the go
Multipivoting ear plates and adjustable headband for added comfort
Includes convenient carrying case

4.45 out of 5 - 67 Reviews

RobDigital Said: Highs: Clear and not to sharp though ever so slightly hissy at low sample rates. Mids: Present and strong. Strong like English breakfast tea, not like Starbucks bold. Bass: The bass is very respectable for the size. They won’t send shockwaves through your heart like a nice set of JL subs, but they stand up to the spectrum and with the highs and lows create a rich listening experience. lisitsa Said: The other reviews have covered this as well, but there is something special about the bass. I once had this song which had a really punching bass for the first 20 seconds, and it literally felt like your ears were being plucked.

CNet Says: Koss hit a home run with the PortaPros. Love or hate the design, there’s no denying the sound quality here: they’re the ideal companion for mobile audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.

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Sennheiser - HD 800 Headphones - $1,399

Specs:

Natural hearing experience - realistic and natural sound field with minimal resonance
Biggest transducers ever used in headphones up to today - new innovative dynamic transducer design
Note - You will need a headphone amp for these, a good one.

GoodGearGuide.au Says: Despite the price we were very impressed with the Sennheiser HD 800 headphones. They consistently handled every bass and treble note we threw at them, and the build quality is exceptional.

CNet.au Says: it becomes clear that you need to make quite an investment to get the best out of these headphones. But if you’re a hi-fi hobbyist, or simply love music, then this is perhaps the best set your money can buy

HeadRoom Says: xtraordinary transient response. The natural snap of the leading edge of pianos and drums is beautifully coherent without being overly sharp; within each xylophone strike one hears both the instantaneously loud bell-like tone and the metallic ‘ting’ as the mallet strikes the bar

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Shure E3c - Sound Isolating Earphones - $69

Specs:

Speaker Type: Dynamic MicroDriver

Sensitivity (at 1kHz): 105dB SPL/mW

Impedance (at 1kHz): 16

Cable Length: E2c: 1.57m (62 inches) E2c (in black): 1.45m (56 inches)

Net Weight: 30g (1 oz)

Input Connector: 3.5 mm (1/8″) gold-plated stereo plug

4.48 out of 5 - 25 Reviews

Evan S Said: I am am a drummer in a band and needed good headphones/ earphones for studio work and concerts. I have found that the E2c’s are very good for concerts because they block out alot of noise and you can’t really see that I’m wearing them. Low end bass is very good, but it is a little boomy.

Colin Said: The bass was very rich when I listened to Rap and Treble also brought out sounds I have never heard before in my music. I also watch a part of Saving Private Ryan on my Zune. I was at the end about 30 seconds before the planes came in for an attack I could hear the low rumble! I was amazed!

PC-Mag Says: These light, durable, and accurate ear-canal headphones provide lots of value but are slightly uncomfortable; a significant portion remains outside the ear. They’re a good choice for those who won’t be adding an amp to their rig.

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Editors Note: These headphones have been discontinued but you can still find the quiet easily at online stores. Along with the price drop, $60 at Amazon.com, makes them well worth this list. These are a pair you should snatch up quick!

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Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones - $99

Specs:

Protocol: Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)

Range: Maximum 33 feet

Frequency: 2.4 GHz

Transmission format: Digital

CNet Says: Users looking for an affordable, full-sounding pair of wireless headphones that can handle the abuse doled out by long jogs and cluttered gym bags need look no further.

3dxtreme Says: I have used the FreePulse Wireless headphones on both my iPod and my PC and I can tell you the experience has been very enjoyable. I’ve yet to kill the battery, rated for 6 hours of continuous use. Blue Tomorrow Says: Logitech’s FreePulse Bluetooth Headphones come a long way in providing an easy-to-use, private, wireless, listening experience that will sound good to most. The headphones have connection and range issues and their one-fit design will surely have many users grumbling. But we can certainly recommend these headphones to people who want to bring their audio device with them and not have to deal with routing wires from their pocket to their ears.

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Grado SR60 Headphones - $65

Specs:

Tranducer Type: dynamic

Operating Principle: open air

Frequency Response: 20-20

SPL 1mV: 98

Normal Impedance: 32ohms

Driver Matched db: .1

4.53 out of 5 - 173 Reviews

Nick Said: These headphones are incredible! At $69.00 they are a steal for someone looking for a well built quality set of cans. I read all the reviews online for a good month before purchasing these cans. I would agree with all of them except comfort. I find them fitting perfect against my ears with no discomfort whatsoever.

vchu7105 Said: The Grado’s have a open air, light, but crystal clear feel to them making the music come alive. The Sony Earbuds can’t even compare, just a diffrent class. They are good for travel or mowing the lawn.

CNET Says: Grado’s cheapest headphones belt out big sound with pint-size portable audio devices.

IGN Says: As for value, I would venture to say that there will not be a better set of headphones for $70.00 until Grado figures out a tweak for these. If you are on a budget, you simply must buy the SR60s. And there is no way in hell you will be disappointed.

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Sennheiser PX 100 Headphones - $39

Specs:

Compact, folding, on-the-ear design

Open earcups and adjustable headband

Neodymium magnets for low distortion

4.5-foot cord with stereo mini plug (no full-size plug)

Hard carrying case included

4.15 out of 5 - 13 Reviews

Larscis Said: When I bought these, I was skeptical as to how good they would actually sound. I’ve dealt with higher-end Sennheiser and Grado products before, but hadn’t really dealt in the portable market. After an initial break-in period of about three or four days, the sound quality was, for their size, phenomenal. For any iPod user, these are a definite step up, and they blow away any set of headphones in the price range.

Ray B. Said: I want to confirm anything positive you’ve read about the PX-100 headphones. As a musician with a post-master’s degree in music, I am VERY picky about music. The Sennheisers were my fifth try at finding decent replacements to the stock ear buds

Headphone Room Says: This might be the best “open” headphone for under $50 bucks, and a perfect choice for great listening on the go, at the gym, or directly from your laptop computer and/or iPod. Plus the PX100 has now been made iPhone compatible for happenin’ Apple Fashionistas!

CNet Says: The PX100 is a good choice for travelers seeking a compact headphone design.

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Shure SE310 Isolating Earphones - $299

Specs:

Peaker Type: Hi-Definition MicroSpeaker + Tuned BassPort

Sensitivity (1mW): 111 dB SPL/mW

Impedance (1kHz): 28

Frequency Range: 22Hz – 19kHz

Cable Length/with Extension: 18 in. / 45cm (54 in. / 136cm)

Color: Available in Black and White

4.15 out of 5 - 13 Reviews

Headphone Room Says: We just can’t get past the fact that the SE310 is pretty much the perfect balance of everything we’ve hoped for in a mid-priced ear canal headphone for the past 15 years. Believe us, your iPod is lonely for a pair of SE310s.

CNet Says: If you’re looking for a premium listening experience, check out the Shure SE310 Sound Isolating Earphones. They sound fantastic and will probably outlast your MP3 player.

Digital Trends Says: The Shure SE310s are the best single-driver canalphones we have auditioned to date. While they lack a unique signature and sound slightly flat, overall performance was excellent. The design showcases the maturity of Shure’s place in the market, and the new ear sleeves are the most comfortable we have used.

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Check out other user reviews of headphones on AudioREVIEW.com The Headphone Foums at AudioREVIEW.com

Last Updated 11/05/09

Editor’s Choice Best MP3 Players

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We’ve Pulled Together the Best MP3 Players for Your Dollar.

Why read five different reviews at eight different sites?
What we’ve done is scavenged the web of editors top picks, from CNET to ZDNet and given you a one stop web review experience.

Quick Top Pick:

Editor’s Choice Headphones

Editor’s Choice Mp3 Player Speakers

How to Choose an Mp3 Player:

Hard Drive Players	Flash Drive Players
Pros - Large storage space for music and videos Cons - Fragile, heavier, easy to brake	Pros - Lights, great for sports, harder to break. Cons - Less storge, more expensive per gigabyte

Mp3 Players come in two forms, hard-drive based or flash memory based. The hard-drives version, like the Apple iPod Classic or Microsoft Zune, have larger storage capacity, presently up to 160GB iPods and Archos PMP*. These players are normally heavier and damage easier if dropped. Flash drive players, ranging from 1-32GB storage, are lighter and since there are no moving parts, withstand much more abuse. These are the players you want to take on that mountain bike ride or to the gym.

Most players today have great sound quality if connected to the right set of headphones, so unless you are a real audio junkie, you don’t have to worry much. The latest trend though is to be able to watch the latest action thriller on a screen less then 2.5 inches small. Johnny Depp never looked to so good! When it comes to movies on your Mp3 player, the larger the screen the better. That means you’ll want to look at hard-drive based players if this is a real concern for you. The iPod Touch, 640×480 resolution, and Mircosoft Zune, 320 x 240 resolution, are great products to being your comparison shopping. These players normally have larger screen and more storage space. Though don’t forget to check out less familiar brands such as iRiver and Archos.

Lastly, but not the least important, is the user interface and features of the Mp3 Player. Nobody wants to have to waste time hunting down a track or switching between different EQ settings that never seem to be quite what you are looking for. The best place to find out if a Mp3 Player has a good interface, both on the player itself and the accompanying software, you will want to read user reviews. Experts may all agree on the advantages or shortcomings of any product they review but, at AudioReview.com, we believe that the average consumer can best summarize all the details a product has to offer… So read what users have to says!

Apple Ipod Nano 8GB - Mp3 & Video - $199.99

Specs:

8GB* internal flash memory stores up to 2,000 songs or up to 25,000 digital photos (iPod nano-viewable photos transferred from iTunes)
Ultrathin design measures just under 0.3″ thin and weighs only 1.74 ounces

Supports MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, AAC (up to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (iTunes Music Store), Audible (formats 2, 3, 4), AIFF, Apple Lossless and WAV audio formats, plus BMP, JPEG, GIF, TIFF, PNG and PSD (Mac only) image formats; podcasting support

PCMag says: The iPod’s navigation system is still the best in the business (I guess Creative’s patent on the interface was worth it after all), and menus and scrolling work smoothly. One thing I really like is that you can customize the main menu, though this is neither new nor unique. Apple did add one cool new feature: search.

CNET Says: The third-generation iPod Nano offers crisp, bright video playback, an exceptionally thin all-metal body, above-average battery life, built-in games, and an advanced user interface.

SmartRatings Says: It’s the small iPod with one very big idea: video. The world’s most popular music player now lets you enjoy movies, TV shows, and more on a two-inch display that’s 65 percent brighter than before. Browse through your music collection by flipping through album art.

Insignia Pilot 8GB - Mp3 & Video with Bluetooth - $99.99

Specs:

8GB* internal flash storage holds MP3 files, photos and videos

Built-in Bluetooth wireless audio lets you listen to your music with compatible Bluetooth headphones (not included)

Supports MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, WMA DRM, WMA Pro, OGG, WAV, Audible, MPEG4 (30 fps), WMV (30 fps) and JPEG formats

2.4″ high-resolution LCD color display with wide viewing angles

Built-in digital FM tuner with 20 presets; RDS

Features a Secure Digital card expansion slot for additional memory capacity (media not included)

Custom EQ with 4 presets

Rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to 25 hours of playback time

PC and Mac compatible

CNET says: The Insignia Pilot is an incredible value for a media player, and it’s packed with features: Bluetooth, FM radio, line-in recording, photo and video support, and Rhapsody DNA Integration. It plays back a wide variety of audio formats and is compatible with both Mac and Windows PCs.

ZDNet Says: Somewhat surprisingly, Best Buy’s own Insignia brand of MP3 players has gained quite a bit of popularity among consumers lately. That’s not to say that the devices aren’t good (quite the opposite, actually), but in this image-conscious market, “cheap” electronics under generic brands usually don’t turn heads. Yet that’s exactly what the Insignia Pilot is doing,

Anythingbutipod Says: First off the Pilot is more of the PMP of the two, sporting a 2.4” screen with playback of WMA and MPEG4 at 30 frames per second. On the audio side it will support MP3, WMA, WMA Lossless, WMA DRM, WMA Pro, OGG, WAV, and Audible. Additionally it will support JPEG Photos. But that’s not all. The player also features, RDS (radio titles), SD slot, Bluetooth, and PC and Mac compatibility.

SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4GB - Mp3 & Video - $99.00

Specs:

4GB* internal flash memory stores up to 1,000 songs, up to 12 hours of video or up to 2,000 digital photos**

Ultracompact design measures just 0.3″ thin and weighs only 2.1 ounces

Supports MP3, WMA, WMA secure, WAV, Audible and Overdrive audio, MPEG-4 video and JPEG photo format playback

Bright 1.9″ TFT-LCD display for easy navigation of your media

Built-in digital FM tuner; built-in microphone and voice recording function

Built-in microSD/microSDHC media card slot lets you add additional content (media not included)

24 hours of audio playback and up to 5 hours of video playback

PC compatible

PCMag says: SanDisk throws a monkeywrench into that simple process with its new Sansa Express. Although it costs less, SanDisk’s new 1GB player device boasts features that the shuffle can’t match, such as an a OLED screen for menu navigation, a digital FM tuner, FM and voice recording, and upgradable storage capacity via a microSD expansion slot.

CNET Says: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is supercheap and nicely compact; it comes in a variety of colors and has an expansion slot that accepts microSDHC cards. The player offers a variety of desirable features such as an FM tuner, Rhapsody DNA integration, photo and video support, and a voice recorder. Plus, the battery life for both music and video is very good.

PCAdvisor Says: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a worthy competitor to the Nano, and an even better choice if you’re looking for a player with expandable memory, an FM tuner and a lower price tag.

Creative Zen Plus 2GB - Mp3 & Video - $69.00

Specs:

Storage Capacity1: 4GB (1000 songs)

Display: 1.5″ OLED Display

Battery Life: Up to 15 hours continuous playtime

Playback Format: MP3, WMA, WAV and Audible - avi, other formats via transcoding - JPEG

Organizer: Syncs with and views Microsoft Outlook® Contacts, Calendar & Tasks

Features: Vibrant 1.5″ OLED Display, FM Radio, Direct CD Recording, Syncs contacts, calendar and tasks, Built in Voice Recorder, Skip free playback

Plays music, ZENCast, and audiobooks, Bookmarking

8 EQ settings

Laptop Mag says: Creative’s latest entry into the high-capacity flash player field is a uniquely designed device crammed with features. It’s a decent choice for anyone looking for nano-like portability, along with the ability to sync with subscription services like Urge and Yahoo Music Unlimited.

CNET Says: The Creative Zen V Plus offers a cute, pocket-friendly design without sacrificing screen real estate, and the vivid OLED display is viewable from any angle. The player is packed to the gills with features, including an FM radio, voice and line-in recording, photo and video playback, and compatibility with subscription WMA tracks. It’s the first flash player to be offered with up to 16GB of memory. Oh, and the sound quality and battery life are great too.

PCAdvisor Says: It may not be the most feature-filled player, but its straightforward, no nonsense, and feels great in your hand.

Microsoft Zune 80GB 2nd Gen - Mp3 & Video - $249.99

Specs:

Digital storage media capacity 80 GB

Digital player supported digital audio standards - MP3, WMA

Battery - Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

Battery Life - 20 hour(s), 5 hour(s), Video playback 5 hour(s)

Connector type - 1 x Docking station, 1 x USB, 1 x Headphones

Sound output mode - Stereo

Recharge Time - 2 hour(s)

CNet Mag says: The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative.

Inventorspot Says: Overall, I think that Microsoft has really improved upon the original Zune in many different ways. The 80 GB Zune is not a perfect player, but it’s still pretty good for a second generation player. The improvements over the 1st generation Zune have made this player a contender with the Apple iPod and iTouch , and it’s also already got me excited about what the third generation Zune will be capable of.

Gizmodo Says: Overall, this seems pretty promising. I can’t find any mis-steps or anything where I have to ask “wait, this is dumb, why did you do this?” in both the player and the software. The Zune itself is very sexy, and feels nice to the touch—not too heavy.

Notes:Size Reference Table:

* Number of songs and hours of video will vary based on player, file format, quality and length. These numbers here are close averages based off of manufacturer data.

# of Gigs	1GB	2GB	4GB	8GB	16GB	32GB	80GB	160GB
# of Songs	240	500	1,000	1,750	3,500	7,000	20,000	40,000
Hrs of Video	.	.	2.5	8	30	40	100	200

*(PMP) Portable Media Player - PMP can play music, video and games.

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