mp3 player recommendation

[slackerinabox]

A few requirements:

1. must support protected WMA (for use with zune pass).
2. must have buttons or be easy to use while driving
3. at least 8 gb
4. Sub-$200
I recently bought a sony s-545 (I think) and I love the sound quality but hate the button placement. I may get a zune refurb but, after listening to the sony, my zune 30 sounds absolutely lo-fi. Are the 2nd gen zunes better in the sound department?
Thanks!

 

[gorcorps]

I'm going to say cowon D2, however it doesn't really solve #2 too much. It's a touch screen player with SOME buttons, but it's a little awkward to use while driving. The buttons let you control volume, and skip forward/backward but you still have to browse w/ the touchscreen.

Other than that it should be good. Plays protected WMA, can be bought up to 16gig and has an SDHC slot, and is fairly cheap via amazon and other e-stores.

 

[slackerinabox]

I'm going to say cowon D2, however it doesn't really solve #2 too much. It's a touch screen player with SOME buttons, but it's a little awkward to use while driving. The buttons let you control volume, and skip forward/backward but you still have to browse w/ the touchscreen.

Other than that it should be good. Plays protected WMA, can be bought up to 16gig and has an SDHC slot, and is fairly cheap via amazon and other e-stores.

I was about to pull the trigger on that yesterday - funny! But my hesitation was due to the stylus. I already hate touch screen devices, especially as a driver (I only use it hooked up to aux in my car - I won't pretend i need an mp3 player for working out ), but a stylus touch seems even worse.

Is the stylus required?

 

[gorcorps]

I was about to pull the trigger on that yesterday - funny! But my hesitation was due to the stylus. I already hate touch screen devices, especially as a driver (I only use it hooked up to aux in my car - I won't pretend i need an mp3 player for working out ), but a stylus touch seems even worse.

Is the stylus required?

Not at all. I tossed mine as soon as I started with it. It's pretty finger friendly, though it IS a resistive screen so a bit less responsive than say an itouch or any new phone. I still haven't seen anything that came out recently that I'd rather have.

 

[ViRGE]

Doesn't Zune Pass only work with Zunes?

 

[slackerinabox]

Doesn't Zune Pass only work with Zunes?

I thought so as well until I tried zune tracks on my sony - works just fine. You just need to use Windows Media Player to sync. Play4sure players should all work, based on what I'm reading

 

[ViRGE]

I thought so as well until I tried zune tracks on my sony - works just fine. You just need to use Windows Media Player to sync. Play4sure players should all work, based on what I'm reading

Humm. And you're sure they were DRM'd files?

 

[gorcorps]

Humm. And you're sure they were DRM'd files?

Several DAPs still play protected WMA. Just look at their tech specs and you'll see if it supports it or not. The D2 is one of them