SOLVED MP3 players

So one of the buttons failed on my Sansa Clip+. Even though it's still useable as a device, I figured it's time to start looking for a new one. I tended to stick with Sansa MP3 players in the past because I thought they had decent features and a refurb could be picked up cheap. I'm just not crazy about the newer ones. I used a Fuze+ before the Clip+ and I thought it felt cheap, and I wasn't too crazy about the capacitive buttons.

The things I'm looking for:
-Physical buttons are a plus, as I like being able to change songs/volume without looking at the device.
-Decent battery life
-Drag and drop file support (no need to go through some random MP3 management software)
-At least 4GB storage, which is probably the standard minimum for smaller MP3 players these days, I guess. If it does video playback, a MicroSD card slot is a plus. Video playback isn't necessary though.
-Decent sound quality


The sound quality, buttons and battery life are probably the bigger ones, as they are the main reasons I use a separate player over my Galaxy S3 (yeah, with a decent set of earbuds I actually did think the Clip+ I picked up for $28 new sounds better than what once was Samsungs flagship phone).

I remember hearing Cowon was good. Is that still true?

Could get an Android phone and use it off-network.
It should meet all the requirements, and could come in pretty low cost used.

Past that, I'm out of my realm

http://www.rockbox.org/
Pick one of the supported devices.

NiHaoMike said:

http://www.rockbox.org/
Pick one of the supported devices.

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I feel that would be classified as "random MP3 management software"

ATMINSIDE said:

I feel that would be classified as "random MP3 management software"

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Actually for that I was talking about stuff like Itunes, I used rockbox on my clip+

And getting an Android phone seems a bit overkill. Just seems like carrying a second phone for MP3s seems...meh. Was looking for something in the Clip+/last gen Fuze size range.

freakdiablo said:

Actually for that I was talking about stuff like Itunes, I used rockbox on my clip+

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Oh, okay. I guess I thought that was more complicated than it is.
Like I say, getting out of my realm here lol.

I still use my Cowon J3 which replacement my broken S9... Sadly they never did come up with a true successor after that.

I have the Clip+ as well with rock box. Used for my old work for music. Great little player. Grab another Haha. .

All of cowons new stuff is android. Which I find annoying. I don't need another android device. I have a Nexus 4. I just need a music player.

Check out anythingbutipod for some possible alternatives. Though they recommend the sansa clip as one anyway... Lol

Mjolnir said:

I still use my Cowon J3 which replacement my broken S9... Sadly they never did come up with a true successor after that.

I have the Clip+ as well with rock box. Used for my old work for music. Great little player. Grab another Haha. .

All of cowons new stuff is android. Which I find annoying. I don't need another android device. I have a Nexus 4. I just need a music player.

Check out anythingbutipod for some possible alternatives. Though they recommend the sansa clip as one anyway... Lol

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I wouldn't mind another clip, just figured after a year and a half I'll be open to something different. Was looking for last gen Fuzes since that had exactly what I was looking for, but they stopped making them and I guess I wasn't the only one that liked them, as even some of the decent condition used ones are $75-$100 I'll look around that site though, thanks.

They still make MP3 players?

I just use my PSP3000...
Hrmmmm... Lot's of Sansa Clip+ on Amazon nothing really else standing out to me....

freak, I haven't bought one in a long time but I have two creative labs mp3 players, one is a dinosaur, creative labs nomad 40gig hard drive the other is an older Zen. The have both been working for years without a hitch. I don't know if they have the features you are looking for but check them out.

Silver_Pharaoh said:

They still make MP3 players?

I just use my PSP3000...
Hrmmmm... Lot's of Sansa Clip+ on Amazon nothing really else standing out to me....

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Yeah, I get that a lot I just like having a basic MP3 player so I don't have to drain my phones battery or having to keep locking/unlocking it, having something smaller so I don't have to fish a larger phone/PMP out, etc.

Mandrake4565 said:

freak, I haven't bought one in a long time but I have two creative labs mp3 players, one is a dinosaur, creative labs nomad 40gig hard drive the other is an older Zen. The have both been working for years without a hitch. I don't know if they have the features you are looking for but check them out.

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I'll keep an eye out for them. Several of the newer ones have the same capacitive buttons I didn't like on the Fuze+ or a full on touch screen, but I'm starting to realize that's probably the trend these days.

Heck, I'd just get another Snsa Clip+ 8GB. They've got factory recertified ones for $38 after shipping. Throw in a 2-year Square Trade Protection Plan deal, and you total ~$45 for a $50 MP3 player, but also get an extended warranty.

I added a 32GB microSD for 40GB total storage.

Darknecron said:

Heck, I'd just get another Snsa Clip+ 8GB. They've got factory recertified ones for $38 after shipping. Throw in a 2-year Square Trade Protection Plan deal, and you total ~$45 for a $50 MP3 player, but also get an extended warranty.

I added a 32GB microSD for 40GB total storage.

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I may just end up going with another one, but I just saw another new 4GB one for the same price I payed for my current one ($28) somewhere, I think Amazon. I don't usually have more than 2-3GB of music on it. The only times I needed more were on players that could handle video and I tossed some .mp4s on them.

Currently have 18.3 Gigs of music lol

Well thanks everyone. Went with a Clip Zip. All I liked about the clip+ (physical buttons, small, etc.) plus a full color screen. Was only ~$1.50 more than a new clip+ on Amazon. And I don't have to give up rockbox support

Not a bad price for a small portable player.