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 Just like there are dresses of various sizes, styles, colors and prices in a clothing shop, there are different types of MP3 players in the market. MP3 players differ in terms of storage medium, memory capacity and the file formats they support. There are other differences also that exist like those of shapes and sizes. For buying an MP3 player, you need to be clear about the purpose for which you plan to buy an MP3 player and make your research based on that.
This two-part article covers some points that you can go through to find the right type of player for yourself. There are chances that some of you have to use MP3 players in different scenarios and for different purposes and you cannot zero in on one MP3 player. Many-a-time people buy more than one player to fulfill their needs. While you might want a lightweight shock resistant MP3 player for jogging, you could prefer a different one for listening to music while traveling.
While most of you would want an MP3 player for simply listening to good music at your convenience, others might have a different idea on mind. Whatever be the utility of an MP3 player for you, go through the following information. Chances are that you will be ignorant about what all you could use an MP3 player for. Maybe you could put in a little more money and buy something that you can use more than you had initially planned to.
Commuting
There is nothing like sitting at home and listening to good music, but the reality of life is that one has to go out of the comforts of one’s house to learn and earn. When you are out traveling to your work place, college or for shopping etc, it gets boring and tiring to go along long roads without good music. Though most radio channels cater to the needs of commuters, there is nothing like listening to the music of your own choice. The only answer here is a portable MP3 player. For those who travel by their own car, a hard-drive based heavy bulky MP3 player is not a bad choice. You will have to arrange for power supply to your player. It is safest to stick to company manufactured adaptors and cigar-lighter chargers. For those who travel through public transport services, it is best to buy a flash-based player that can handle the shocks better and is light and handy. Do not forget to buy a pair of comfortable headphones that can plug out the noise.
Exercising
For those of you who require an MP3 player for fulfilling their need of listening to music while exercising, a flash-based player is ideal. Go in for a compact, easy to operate MP3 player. Chances are that you will not require a player of more than 1GB memory, so you can easily compromise on that. When you scan the market, make sure that you go in for the accessories required to help you exercise with ease. These include an armband, a pair of comfortable headphones, an in-built stopwatch, calorie counter, pedometer, FM radio etc. Remember to check that the player you buy is shock-resistant and sweat-resistant.
In the second part of this article, let us see explore more options.
Traveling
For those of you who travel a lot, the need for a good player is high. You could look for the option of carrying the music on your laptop and a compact flash-based player. If you do not carry your laptop often, you could look for a player that has a high capacity and yet is small and lightweight, so it does not increase your luggage weight. MP3 players with replaceable and removable batteries are any day better than the others. A pair of good headphones is indispensable and a pair of speakers would be a good idea when you are in a hotel or rest house. Audiobooks
Listening to audiobooks on MP3 players is becoming a popular choice, as opposed to cassette players and CDs in earlier days. MP3 players are smaller and have more capacity to hold audio. Audible.com and iTunes provide download-only audiobooks and these sites have reasonably priced offers. Before you make your purchase, make sure that the MP3 player is compatible with sites like Audible.com, iTunes etc. You must prefer a player that has bookmarking. This feature shall allow you to skip audio files that you do not intend listening to. Music Hoarding
For those of you who have a voracious appetite for music an MP3 player with a high capacity is a must-have. Lighten the burden of your computer’s hard drive by purchasing a player that can adjust 40GB or more. You can save your music with no compromise on quality if you go in for a high-capacity player. Some portable video players have a capacity as high as 160GB and you have enough variety in the market to make your choice.
Recording Audio
While portable recording is not supported by most MP3 players, a lot of the players available in the market are good for converting CDs, tapes, vinyl records etc. to formats like MP3, WAV, WMA etc. Mike inputs are not supported but line-level inputs are allowed by most players. For recording live audio, you’ll need a powered microphone. You can look for an MP3 player with a built-in mike for voice recording.
Watching Video
Most devices in the market today provide video playback features. Hence, there is little difference left between an MP3 player and a portable video player. A typical MP3 player will have a small screen that does not make for good video viewing. You can look for those MP3 players that have a wide screen in case you are looking for a substitute of a portable video player (PVPs). A two-inch diagonal screen size should be the minimum you opt for. Do give a thought to buying an MP3 player with a viewing screen. Whatever be your type of MP3 player, it can be used only if you have it. You cannot imagine how useful it can be for you if you don’t have it in the first place!
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