Previously, to listen to music on the road, you had to take a huge tape recorder with you. Now it's enough to take a small box that easily fits into your pocket and is called an MP3 player. At first glance, his choice should not be a problem. Is it difficult to choose a device that will produce music? But when you come to the store, you can face a huge choice, from which the eyes run. In some memory more, in others less, someone plays two hours, and someone's hour and so on. But with everything in order.
Here are the criteria you should pay attention to:
- Type
- Power type
- Display or display
- Communicative
- Control
- Headphones
- Additional functions
- Package Contents
Kind
Let's start with the fact that mp3 players are of three kinds. And they share the way they store information.
- CD players - can play music from CDs. That is, they have no memory of their own. They are not very much, they are compact, since they are approximately 12 centimeters in diameter. And less than the size of the disc they will not be able to do. Most manufacturers have long removed this type from production.
- Flash-players - in this type, the carrier is the built-in or replaceable flash-memory. Its volume can vary from 128 MB to 64 GB.It is considered more reliable and durable, since it has no moving parts. The size, compact enough and convenient in operation. Its weight is only a few grams. Not afraid of physical damage. With it you can run and jump, which is very convenient during the morning jog. It is very similar to an ordinary USB flash drive.
- HDD-players - as a medium use a hard magnetic storage. These players can store from 1.5GB to 500GB.But at the same time they can weigh more than 100 grams, which is not always convenient. But they also "live" for longer. These players require careful attention, as they are very sensitive to mechanical damage. Accidental falling can cause damage to the device. A huge plus is that players of this type can be used to transfer video files and not only.
Power type
If you have determined the amount of memory and the type of device, then go to the type of power supply. There are 2 types: batteries or built-in batteries. Which is better or worse for you. A player that runs on batteries is convenient because you can change them at any time. And thus it is not necessary to search for a source of the electric power what to continue to listen to music. Of the minuses, it is worth highlighting the high cost of batteries, which will often change. The dimensions and weight of the player are also not small, since it is impossible to make it smaller than the size and battery power. Built-in batteries are not visible when worn. The player will have a very small size and weight. The downside is that you need a network connection( if charged by a power supply) or to a computer( if charging is from a USB port).Any battery has a certain amount of recharge, after which it starts to discharge more often. But every year more and more new models of accumulators are produced. They are able to survive more than 4,000 recharges and allow you to produce music for more than 20 hours without interruption.
Be sure to pay attention to how much the player can work without recharging. Most likely this item will be indicated in the technical specification. After all, buying a device that can contain more than 5000 tracks, but no one will work 3-4 hours. Autonomous operation should be directly proportional to the built-in memory, but at the same time not less than 6 hours. As a rule, for HDD-players the period of autonomous work can be more than 15 hours without recharging.
Screen or display
To their choice, too, should be taken responsibly. Without it, you can simply get confused by the huge number of tracks that are stored in the device's memory. Check that the display shows the battery status. For more convenient use, the track name and duration should be displayed. And also the ability to control the equalizer, so that you can adjust the bass, treble and bass frequencies not only on the computer.
If you decide to buy a player with a hard disk drive, it is better that the screen be of sufficient size for viewing video and photos. Some players support the format.txt, which allows you to read books on the go. But a convenient display is also required for reading, so that a sufficient number of letters fit on it. Although it will be more correct to buy a tablet or an e-book.
Communicative
Or, more simply, the interaction of the player with the computer and how easy it is to delete and record tracks. Some manufacturers organize communication with the computer through the special programs that come with the device. In this case, the player can be connected only to the computer where there is such software. Therefore, when choosing such a device, it is necessary to check whether it is possible to download the required software from the manufacturer's website in case of loss of the installation disc. But now most manufacturers release mp3 players, which are recognized by any computer as a removable device. This is very convenient, since it does not require the installation of special software and, if necessary, the mp3 player can be used as a USB flash drive to transfer information.
Control of
It should be as simple and straightforward as possible. Before buying, be sure to ask to turn on the player and view the control menu, it should be clear to you. It is necessary that all the basic functions be easily accessible, otherwise you will have to spend a lot of time studying the instructions. This is not an obligatory condition for the purchase of the player, but it can bring discomfort in the future use.
Headphones
This is the main criterion that determines the sound quality. Usually the headphones that come with the package do not please the perfect sound. Therefore, to check the quality, do not be too lazy to take with you headphones that you trust and then you will be able to determine the real sound quality. Remember that when sounding there should be no extraneous sounds, wheezing.
Additional functions of the
Most players besides the standard track playback function have a number of others. Let's consider some of them.
- FM radio - will come in handy if the music you have recorded in memory gets tired or will end.
- Wi-Fi - this function can be in HDD-players, allows you to download data directly to the device's memory without using a computer. It is very convenient to use in a cafe, waiting for an order, and not only.
- Bluetooth - allows you to share information( pictures, songs, videos) with other devices, which also have Bluetooth. For example, a PDA, a laptop, a phone.
- Dictaphone is a useful feature, but, as a rule, does not shine with a special quality. The microphone is not so sensitive that it should be recorded accurately and qualitatively.
Package Contents
The standard set includes - headphones, USB cable, lanyard, for comfortable carrying the player and software. Often the package does not include a charger from 220V.Therefore, if you do not want to charge the player from the computer, you may need to separately go bankrupt to this device.
And for those who better perceive information by ear, we posted a useful video:
