Which mp3 player?

[Yuriman]

I need an mp3 player for my mother-in-law's business. She has been using an 8gb iPod connected to a "stereo" receiver but she needs more space now. Turned off by prices of new iPods, I'm looking for a cheapish player that isn't likely to die on me randomly, very preferably with a microSD slot. I'd like to put a 32gb card in it.

Something like a Sansa Clip might be ok, but I'm worried it might not like me dumping 10,000 cheesy Christmas songs in a folder and hitting shuffle. I need something that can play music while charging via USB (I don't think the Clip can). The ability to import a playlist OR the ability to sort music via folder is essential. She has a Mac and is familiar with iTunes but I could introduce her to other programs (that run on a Mac).

What do you guys recommend?

 

[lothar]

No option for used Android phone that has a MicroSD slot?

**EDIT**
Forgot about the "Mac" part of your post. I'll let other people respond since I don't use a Mac and I'm completely clueless on other alternatives besides iTunes on a Mac.
If this was Windows however...There are lots of options and alternatives.

 

[CA19100]

No option for used Android phone that has a MicroSD slot?

**EDIT**
Forgot about the "Mac" part of your post.

A used Android would still be an option there. She can set up the music in iTunes, and use Salling Media Sync to sync the Android phone with it. Very painless.

When I was still using an Android, that software did very well for me. (The interface on its music player still sucked, but at least getting content onto it was easy!)

 

[luv2liv]

on ebay, there's tons of great android phones practically brand new. but the price is so much lower than expected because the phones have bad ESN. i was tired of waiting for a good touch screen mp3 player, might as well get a decent used phone like the samsung galaxy s2

 

[kache]

Rockboxed Sansa Clip+ with a 64GB microsdxc and you'll never need anything else.

 

[s44]

Used Galaxy S (Captivate, Fascinate, Vibrant)

 

[bigrash]

Used ipod since she already knows the interface.

 

[vshah]

agreed, find a used ipod classic for cheap

 

[Yuriman]

I'll take another look tonight after work for an iPod, but the idea of using an Android phone intrigues me. I'm currently using a Galaxy S2 as my main phone and I'm pretty happy with it, with the leaked Jelly Bean firmware from Samsung... but I do have an upgrade available on my contract (AT&T). The phone I'd really like is a Nexus 4 but it seems you can't get them through AT&T, and I'm not willing to pony up the $200 for an S3.

The Galaxy S doesn't look bad for $85 + uSD, but I'll wait for a few more opinions.

 

[Yuriman]

Looks like AT&T has a refurbished One X available for the right price. Worth using an upgrade on it and retiring the S2 to a glorified mp3 player, or should I save my upgrade and pick up a used Galaxy S (or equivalent) on ebay?

Again, I'm very happy with the S2 running Samsung's official 4.1.2, it's at least as smooth as the Nexus S, and I'm leary of giving up my SD card. They also have the Galaxy Express and Xperia TL.

EDIT: Now that I think of it, I could use Play Music's web interface and connect the phone to the office wifi, and avoid local storage entirely.

 

[Lewy]

If you want the very best sound possible buy a Cowen z2 it's $254 on Amazon and take microcsd, plays Flac etc. and is a decent small tablet too. They have other lesser devices that sound great but all seem expensive too.

Next best sound wise and a lot cheaper (#35-60) and more portable are the Sansa clips (+ or newer Zip) they play flac and take microsd etc.too but aren't as fast or useful as the z2 but most of us wouldn't notice much of a difference in sound if using flac but will with loss media due to the z2's superior software filter.

You could wait for the next Nexus 7 to come later this spring out as it is reported to have a microsd slot and can run the Jetaudio for androids app which is made by the same people who make the z2 available cheap or free on Google play. I believe it will have has a Tegra4 processor in it too. It will be heavy like the nexus 7 first gen though compaired to the Sansa.

The Jetaudio app appears to work on most if not all androids so check it out if you have one?

 

[ixelion]

I've had the Cowon S9 for close to 5 years, still works perfectly and don't plan on replacing it anytime soon.