Recommend me an MP3 player for turbo use please

proto
proto Posts: 1,483
edited February 2008 in Workshop
After borrowing my daughter's iPod, I've discovered that listening to music helps me endure the boredom of turbo training sessions. So thought I'd buy a cheap, simple device for myself. No need for big storage capacity, an hours or so listening would be enough, which is probably only 150mb or something. It would be good if it had a radio combined too.

An iPod shuffle might fit the bill, but I would like to be able to create playlists and have a menu screen, although I'm concerned that having a screen would seriously reduce battery life on the very small USB solid state devices like the Nano or Shuffle.

I could use my phone which has a decent player (Nokia 6300) and radio but my favourite headphones don'e fit (bigger jack plug dia). I particularly life these headphones as they have a volume control built into the cable/lead, saves faffing around with the device itself, which will probably be tucked into my back pocket.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Comments

  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    i'd go for the ipod shuffle

    just create your playlists etc in itunes - I create a playlist in itunes called 'cycling' and while my regualr ipod syncronises with the entire itunes library, the shuffle only syncornises with the 'cycling' playlist.

    at 1Gb it will be large enough to hold a lot more songs should you wish to take it out on the road with you (some like to, some don't - I do)
  • wheeler585
    wheeler585 Posts: 552
    You can pick up the ipod shuffles from ebay for about £25-30...Bargain!! :lol:
    Up hup hup hup.....fricking hate that!
  • jswba
    jswba Posts: 491
    I'd highly recommend a Creative Zen. They have a variety of models, from 1-2GB flash memory models up to 30GB hard drive ones (the one I have). They're really sturdy, the batteries last a long time, the sound is very good, plus they have a radio.
  • aarw
    aarw Posts: 448
    Zen Stone or Zen Stone plus?? The plus has a screen.

    noise isolation headphones are also a great job for the TT.
  • jswba
    jswba Posts: 491
    aarw wrote:
    Zen Stone or Zen Stone plus?? The plus has a screen.

    noise isolation headphones are also a great job for the TT.

    Either works for me! TBH, I've got a massive screen on my Zen, but it's largely redundant.
  • Garybee
    Garybee Posts: 815
    I've got one of the 1gb £15 MP3 players from ASDA. Works fine, plugs directly into the computer without any extra leads to lose and i won't get upset when it gets trashed on a ride. Road/wind noise and noise from the turbo negates any difference in sound quality anyway.
    Hypocrisy is only a bad thing in other people.
  • custom-freak
    custom-freak Posts: 85
    hello
    have you considered an adapter for your phone? if nokia don't do one then eBay should throw up something suitable, my n95 came with an adapter that has a mic and controls for the mp3 player, i simply plug my own headphones on and off i go, useful if someone phones as well as all i do is hit one button and it pauses the music and answers the call, simplicity itself.

    Cf
  • mrbrown
    mrbrown Posts: 2
    Creative Zen Stone Plus with BUILT-IN speaker! Very handy.

    It's a new model.

    http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=17437

    main-prod17437.png
  • huggy
    huggy Posts: 242
    Tesco have an offer on Philips 2GB players, £50, and quite good looking.
  • aarw
    aarw Posts: 448
    custom-freak wrote:
    hello
    have you considered an adapter for your phone? if nokia don't do one then eBay should throw up something suitable, my n95 came with an adapter that has a mic and controls for the mp3 player, i simply plug my own headphones on and off i go, useful if someone phones as well as all i do is hit one button and it pauses the music and answers the call, simplicity itself.

    Cf

    I can just imagine taking a call 15 miutes into a 20 min interval... :lol::lol:

    You don't loose sound quality if you use isolating headphones. i use Shure E2C's, maybe a little excessive for a £30 mp3 player but still....
  • bahzob
    bahzob Posts: 2,195
    Use Zen Stone with the armband accessory as find it keeps drier that way than in back pocket.

    PS to this if you are a geek (sorry but I am) then the podcasts on Tri-talk.com make good informative listening if the turbo sessions are not too extreme.
    Martin S. Newbury RC
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Ipod shuffle - no contest. Plus it's great for when you're out and about, clips on anywhere and weighs nothing. Plus itunes is a joy to use.
  • aarw
    aarw Posts: 448
    i'd agree, but he fancies some radio on there...
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    Thanks for all the replies. Well it just so happens that my wife has an underused iPod shuffle in her bedside drawer, so I 'll requisition it for 'trial' purposes, and then borrow it on a non-return basis, and see how it goes.

    I'll use my phone for listeneing to the radio, so this afternoon I ordered a 2.5mm - 3.5mm jack plug adaptor, so I'll be able to use any standard headphones.

    I'll investigate buying some better headphones too. I've never really got on well with the ones that you stick in your ear, I must have the wrong shaped ears or something, as they always fall out. Headband type, or behind the head/neck type? The ones I use at the moment wrap around/hook over my ears.I wear specatcles too which complicates matters a bit. Any recommendations? I'm not looking to spend a fortune, maybe £20-25.00 and I'd prefer an in-line volume control.
  • kmahony
    kmahony Posts: 380
    If you do decide to buy one, take a look at an iRiver.
    Radio, takes an AAA battery, that lasts forever, great sound. 2Gb for 40quid.

    http://www.advancedmp3players.co.uk/sho ... 7ea7f74dac
    http://2008etape.blogspot.com/

Categories