Best MP3 player for around $100

[Spooner]

My lil bro's birthday next month and he really wants an mp3 player.

My older bro and I could go in on something for around a hundo maybe, but getting an iPod (obviously preferable) is a bit out of our price range/willingness to spend

 

[tk149]

You have to decide if you want a hard drive based player, a flash memory based player, or a CD based player.

 

[LordJezo]

refurbished 10 gig ipod for $169

its an ipod so he wont care if its used.

 

[Broohaha]

figure out a scheme to steal an ipod that wont cost you more than 100 dollars. that's your best bet.

 

[beer]

Nothing in the $100 range is going to be disk-drive based. It's all going to be solidstate. Most of the CF-compatible ones can be had for around $70...spend $30 or so and get him a 256 MB card, or more and get a 512...that's the best you can do.

 

[Spooner]

Originally posted by: LordJezo
refurbished 10 gig ipod for $169
its an ipod so he wont care if its used.

yeah, i noticed those, but even $169's a bit out of our price range.

Plus i need it by Oct 13th..... i don't trust that shipping.

 

[Spooner]

Originally posted by: tk149
You have to decide if you want a hard drive based player, a flash memory based player, or a CD based player.

probably a hard drive based player

 

[tk149]

I've seen some first-generation Archos Hard-drive based MP3 players over in the Hot Deals forum. You might try there first. Or over at "Chubby Billfold."

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: tk149
I've seen some first-generation Archos Hard-drive based MP3 players over in the Hot Deals forum. You might try there first. Or over at "Chubby Billfold."

A 6GB Archos will run around $125 - $150, so definitely not worth it given their track record. Archos = Sucks. For ~$100 you are probably looking at a flash type player.

 

[SuperFreaky]

If you want to consider a Flash memory based player...

I've been trying to decide on the <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=27&threadid=1136951&FTVAR_MSGDBTABLE=">Best USB Flash Drive/MP3 Player/Voice Recorder? (128MB+)
</a> in this thread.

 

[Spooner]

the flash players are only 128mb.

that's just plain awful

 

[00Jones]

Try ebay?

 

[dman]

There were two rio units at costco. one had 128MB built in, w/ radio, and had a slot for SD card. it was $99, dont' know the model.

The other was probably less, but I didn't catch the price. It had 64MB built in and a 32MB SD Card was included. I don't think it had a radio.


Just FYI, no idea if they are good/bad/etc.

 

[Mr N8]

Originally posted by: Spooner
the flash players are only 128mb.

that's just plain awful

You could also get a cd-player that plays mp3. A little bigger, but at least you can get 800mb.

 

[lilFajita]

I got the Rio s35S for 109 shipped, though I'm not sure that deal is still out there. I wanted a sport type player for working out, with expandability and FM Tuner. The rio s35s seemed like the best combo of those things. I got it at 6ave.com, but Buy.com might have the deal with a rebate.

Rio s35s

 

[tk149]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster

Originally posted by: tk149
I've seen some first-generation Archos Hard-drive based MP3 players over in the Hot Deals forum. You might try there first. Or over at "Chubby Billfold."

A 6GB Archos will run around $125 - $150, so definitely not worth it given their track record. Archos = Sucks. For ~$100 you are probably looking at a flash type player.

Sold out now, but there was a FW thread about "Archo 5GB Jukebox MP3 Player $79.99 @ Outpost.com". So they are out there for cheap, you just gotta look around.

 

[Krugger]

rio s series. an S10 is under a $100 now, upgradeable with SD cards, firmware constantly being updates. good support.