Good MP3 player for the gym?

[Muse]

I want another flash player for the gym in case mine dies. I've used this and that and lately Sandisk Sansa m250, have two of them. They have issues, for one thing there are at least 2 versions of firmware (2.x and 4.x, and they differ significantly and have different deficiencies, and you don't know which you are going to get). I don't like the armband, so I don't use it. Tuck it in a pocket, occasionally remove and hold in one hand. 2 GB, sounds good, has customizable EQ for MP3s, superior FM reception, uses one AAA (I use NiMH and carry a spare) obtainable for about $35.

The Sansa m250 is a crapshoot because you probably don't know which firmware you are going to get. While they do have upgradable firmware, you can't go from 2.x to 4.x. 2.x doesn't support accelerated FF/Rew, and since I use ~3 hour MP3s, that's a big drawback. Accelerated FF/Rew works on the 4.x firmware version, but not super well.

What are the good ones now with good bang for the buck?

 

[dbk]

sansa clip
woot had some refurb'd ones before for like $25 i think
/thread

 

[glenn beck]

I use my I-Pod with the arm strap over my big bulging biceps

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: dbk
sansa clip
woot had some refurb'd ones before for like $25 i think
/thread

I have 2 problems with that:

1. The clip uses a proprietary Lion rechargable. I can't carry a spare to the gym.

2. Sandisk doesn't support a refurb program. If you have a problem with your "refurb" Sansa, you get no help from Sandisk. You have to deal with your vendor. I figure the odds of getting a lemon buying a "refurb" Sansa isn't worth the trouble.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: glenn beck
I use my I-Pod with the arm strap over my big bulging biceps

Lucky bastard. I wish my biceps were small enough for the straps. 🙁

 

[Crono]

I have a refurb Zen V Plus. 2GB, built-in battery lasts for hours (like 8 hours plus in my usage), has accelerated FF/RW) and it has FM tuner. Nice OLED screen, too 🙂 It's good, but I actually don't use it that much, so I'll probably just end up selling it in FS/FT, lol. Only cost me $20 or so, IIRC.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Crono
I have a refurb Zen V Plus. 2GB, built-in battery lasts for hours (like 8 hours plus in my usage), has accelerated FF/RW) and it has FM tuner. Nice OLED screen, too 🙂 It's good, but I actually don't use it that much, so I'll probably just end up selling it in FS/FT, lol. Only cost me $20 or so, IIRC.

Looks about what I'm looking for except for the rechargeable Lion. I figure that means I can't carry a spare and if I need a replacement, well, it's a proprietary battery and a problem.

 

[Capt Caveman]

My Sansa Fuze has a battery life of 25 hours.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

I love my new Sony Walkman A728 but it doesn't sound like it's the right player for you (no accelerated FF/RW, no FM radio). It does however have amazing battery life (38 hours audio) so the Lion battery isn't a problem, has customizable EQ.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
My Sansa Fuze has a battery life of 25 hours.

I assume that's a lion rechargeable. I hate those for two reasons. You can't carry a spare (never seen one), and lions have a nasty trait in that they deteriorate way faster if you fully charge them. So, I always play this game of trying not to charge up a lion all the way. It drives me nuts.

One thing about the m250, though: When the battery does die (your AAA runs down), the player doesn't remember where you were in a file and save it to memory. Normally, when you shut down the player it remembers where you were in a file, but if the battery runs down and the player shuts off it doesn't remember where you were. When you put in a fresh battery, it goes back to where it started when you last started it up. Since I listen to ~3 hour files a lot, this is an issue.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
I love my new Sony Walkman A728 but it doesn't sound like it's the right player for you (no accelerated FF/RW, no FM radio). It does however have amazing battery life (38 hours audio) so the Lion battery isn't a problem, has customizable EQ.

No accelerated FF/Rew is a dealbreaker for me. The m250 has the best FM reception I've ever encountered in a portable, no other even comes close. It also has customizable EQ (it doesn't work for the FM, though). The divergent firmware strains are my biggest problem with them. Also, many people have had problems with theirs, but that could be said for most technologies, I suppose. Lots of people have had theirs die, which is why I'm looking for a replacement before mine die.