Looking for a new MP3 player and think iPods are the only name in the game? Think again.
In the words of the timeless Bob Dylan, the times they are a-changin’.
These days, simple MP3 players are no longer where people go to listen to all of their music. Now, the smartphone is the most prevalent listening device, and with pretty good reason. Using a smartphone obviously means that you don’t have to carry around an MP3 player, phone and camera separately.
That doesn’t mean that MP3 players are obsolete, though. In fact, for some people they’re great investments for both their high quality audio abilities or sturdy durability. Aside from all that, perhaps the most obvious reason to get an MP3 player is if you’re an audiophile.
Why? It’s simple, phones have to make some concessions in order to include all the features that consumers need, so they simply can’t offer the same level of audio fidelity. On top of that, phones have limited storage, and while music streaming services somewhat address that issue, most streaming services are still confined to offering relatively low quality audio. Audiophile-grade MP3 players, however, are built to include high fidelity digital-to-analog-converters, guaranteeing that you can get a premium music experience.
Of course, if you are an audiophile it’s important to keep in mind that the source, like an MP3 player, is only one step in a long chain. For many, the other half of that chain will be a fantastic pair of headphones, and you can read up about those here: Best Headphones 2017.
So, what should you be considering if you’re purchasing an MP3 player? For starters, you’ll need to take into consideration what audio codec your music library is in.
If you use iTunes, you’re probably downloading music in Apple’s AAC format – and, luckily, many MP3 players support that codec. If you’re an audiophile, you’ll probably need support for FLAC, ALAC and WAV, high-fidelity lossless audio codecs that do away with the compression methods used on lossy codecs like MP3 and AAC.
You’ll also need to consider how large your music collection is and therefore how much space you’ll need. This is especially true when you’re using codecs like FLAC, which take up a lot more space. Occasionally MP3 players also have a built-in microSD card slot, which permits you to expand upon the included storage pretty easily – but usually only up to a certain size, often about 512GB.
But, here’s the best part: unlike smartphones, MP3 players aren’t all that turbulent these days, so you really won’t need to go on an endless two-year upgrade-cycle like you might with a smartphone. That also means you’ll really want to take your time and find the one that’s right for you, as you will probably be using it for a few years to come.
We’ve categorised our list of the best MP3 players by use case. Looking for archival? Check. What about something a little more compact? Simple! Here are some of the best MP3 players available today.
Powerful, spacious and easy-to-use, the Onkyo DP-X1A is at the top of its class
Onkyo has been a well-known and esteemed name in audio for years, and for good reason. The Onkyo DP-X1A may not be the most compact player on this list, but it is the best all-around, offering huge customizability, an intuitive interface, and an fantastic sound quality.
Let’s start with the design, which is pretty nice. In general, the DP-X1A looks a little bit like a phone, but much thicker, and is completely optimized for audio use. How so? Well, for starters, it has two audio ports – one headphone jack and one balanced output for those interested in a cleaner and overall better quality sound. Additionally, the device has an easy-to-use volume wheel, as well as physical playback buttons and two microSD card slots for those with a sizable collection of music.
It’s a very nice setup, and while it may take you a minute or two to get accustomed to the button placement, once it clicks it’ll feel as natural as breathing.
Then there’s the software and interface, which again, is simple to use.
The player is built with a full version of Android 5.1, complete with features like Wi-Fi connectivity and the Google Play Store. Which results in an MP3 Player that is to Android what the iPod Touch is to iOS.
Unlike the iPod, however, the Onkyo DP-X1A is built for super-high-quality audio – but the overall experience of owning a player that can go far beyond simply playing music is the same. The Android experience is pretty stock, though there is an Onkyo-built music app, which gives more control over things like EQ, DSP features, and so on.
Then there’s the sound quality, which is an absolute dream. It supports a range of music formats, including FLAC, OGG, WAV, MP3, ALAC, and more. In terms of hardware, the device has two chipsets, one to power the overall device, and one to handle the DAC and amplifier – resulting in a noise-free experience.
We tested the player with multiple pairs of headphones across multiple price ranges, and were stunned with the clarity and exceptional quality of the audio. There’s a reason the Onkyo DP-X1A sits atop this list – it’s a beast in the portable audio world.
Need something a bit more portable? Try the HiFiMan SuperMini
HiFiMan is perhaps best known for its headphones, but it makes some pretty great MP3 players, too. For an example, look no further than the SuperMini.
The SuperMini, as the name suggests, is a little smaller than most of the other players on this list, but that doesn’t seem to come at a huge cost – it’ll still deliver excellent audio quality and it’s pretty easy to use, too.
The device, which has a price tag of $399 (£400, AU$399), doesn’t have any onboard storage – you’ll have to buy a microSD card separately. It does, however, support a pretty huge range of audio formats, including FLAC, DSD, WAV, MP3, and AIFF, and audio with a sample rate of up to 192kHz.
The user interface may not be as flashy as some others on this list, but it’s still pretty easy to use. It’s a monochrome display, and is controlled via three buttons located under the screen. The tradeoff to using a monochrome display, however, is that the battery life is pretty long, sitting in at a hefty 22 hours.
Then on to sound, which, as you would expect from a company like HiFiMan, is great. The high-end on this player is nice and crisp, without being too aggressive by any means. On top of that, there are plenty of mids to go around, without the player at all straying into inaccurate territory. We were a little skeptical of the idea of a player from a company that offers players well into the multi-thousands dollar range, but the SuperMini holds its own, and at a decent price.
Looking for the middle-of-the-road option? Check out the AK Jr
Astell & Kern is known for building top-notch audio devices at reasonable prices, and for that reason we think the Astell & Kern AK Jr is the best mid-range MP3 player. In fact, after spending some time using it, we would argue that it’s a pretty serious contender against even much more expensive players.
Before diving into the player’s capabilities, you’ll notice how well-designed it is. The sleek, metallic look is very classy, and using it gives you a similar “status symbol” feel you’ll get with the iPhone.
The AK Jr comes in at $259 (£250, AU$399), which is a very reasonable price for a device of this calibre. For that price, you’ll get 64GB of onboard storage, though there is a microSD card slot in case you want to expand upon that storage. On top of that, it supports all major audio formats, including FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, and more – and it’s able to play at sample rates of up to 192kHz.
The interface of the device is relatively easy to control, too.
