MP3 recommendations
 

I'm after an MP3 player to take to the gym with me, nothing too expensive.

I'd rather it was a Sony as I currently have a HiMD Minidisk player (MZ-NH1) and would like to carry on using the Sony software rather than have to install yet another piece of software.

Not really interested in an Ipod, canââ‚Âà ‚¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ã‚¢t say they do it for me (like they seem to do for most of you).

I've been looking at these:

NW-E405

NW-E99

The 99 looks like better value at 1GB.

Anyone got any ideas what I should go for? What have you all got?

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Personally I'd spend a little more and because you get more gigs for your bucks. It's great just to shove a shedload of stuff on and press the random button. Constant surprises and if you stick stuff on you think you might like alongside stuff you know you like it's like having your own radio station. You'll soon be plugging it into your hi-fi as well as in your ears.

When I bought mine I did look at the Creative Zen but plumped in the end for an..... ipod (sorry Shaun - what you got against them though?) Sony's new 20gb looks interesting though. Edit: http://www.dabs.com/uk/shopbybrand/s...quicklinx=3MWC

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

I just don't see the fascination with them Andy, they're ugly as sin. :sick:

I see what you mean about more GB for your buck with the slightly more expensive products. :D The reason I'm looking around is I want something fairly inexpensive that I can bash about at the gym and not worry (too much) if it gets scratched or bumped. :spin: Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢ve already got an MD player for storing all my music on for when I'm travelling or going away. Guess Iâ₠¬ÃƒÆ’¢â€žÂ¢ll have to keep reading reviews.

Looks like the rest of the world (and CF ;) ) have Ipods for all their music needs!

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

I use an iRiver H340. It's magic. Way better in every respect (especially build quality) than the archos FM recorder i had before. This thing's not as small as an ipod, but arguably better looking, and definitely more solid.

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

If you are planning to use if for the gym then the ipod shuffle wowuld be a good product (but you have a thing against the ipods).

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

I've also heard alot of good reviews of the iRiver.
Whatever you decide, try to get one that has atleast 15GB or more if possible. They are all coming down in price at the moment.
You will find that your 1GB is used up very quickly unless you want all your tunes at the lowest quality.

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

But a hardware based one is far better if you run, row, cross train at the gym, you can just clip it to your shirtsleeve, I wouldn't want to try that with a 40Gb iPod.

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Can't argue with that - but fabulously functional design though.

WEll I guess I'm guilty of being a bit evangelical about ipods, but then again I don't ever recall going to a gym! ;) Sorry, no nowt about smaller machines beyond my lad buying a 256mb jobby for £40 in Currys and dropping it two weeks later. Fascia smashed immediately :( So, avoid that sort of tat!

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Couldn't agree with you more mate. I think my Creative Zen Xtra is much better than the Ipods. Things like all the controls are on the side, so you can control it whilst it is in your pocket without wasting money on expensive remotes.

For a little bit more than those links (£120 on dabs), you can get a Creative Zen Micro. I don't know how good it is, I assume it is much the same as its bigger brother, but with less storage.

Don't worry about the creative at the gym. The buffers are huge on them. It only stopped once and that was when it was shaking like billy-o. It didn't stop when it dropped out my pocket on the rowing machine :)

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Can say the same about the iPod, it's more a weight thing.

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Well in the end I plumped for the solid state NW-E99 for £109.99 I only hope it lives up to its reviews. I ordered it through the CF Amazon link, I wonder if it worked?

Cheers for the info guys.

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

Further to this thread, I am quite keen on IPODs, but really just want to run with music and listen on the train etc.

However, I cannot decide whether to get a mini IPOD (£139) or a 1Gb ishuffle (£89). I certainly will not pay £19 for an arm band, although I can see the use, £19 is just robbery.

Any thoughts from shuffle or (mini) ipod users?

Re: MP3 recommendations
 

if it's for running, i wouldn't risk using a player that's not solid-state.