Best MP3 player 2021: review (TOP 12) of popular models

11/15/201902/19/2021 Ivan Korabelnikov 0 comments

Do you love music and are used to it accompanying you everywhere, but at the same time you are unhappy with the sound quality and the quick discharge of your smartphone? Then you need to purchase a player, because this particular device provides perfect sound and does not require daily recharging. It would seem that choosing the best mp3 player is not difficult, but navigating the variety of models can be very difficult.

How to choose exactly the player that will fully satisfy all your conditions and suit you personally? Let's look at some of the nuances of choice, technical specifications and ratings of this year's best-selling models.

Why mp3 players are still popular

Nowadays there is such a variety of different gadgets that it would seem that an ordinary MP3 player should not be in demand. After all, you can listen to music or an audiobook from any smartphone. Nevertheless, players are still sold in sufficient quantities. Why?

The secret is simple - this device is compact, convenient, but, most importantly, it reproduces very high-quality sound, which is important for music lovers and connoisseurs of good sound.

The best MP3 players for quality music lovers

Sony NW-E394 Walkman

A device from one of the recognized leaders in the field of portable audio. Actually, before the appearance of the first iPod in the West, all players were simply called Walkman. And this device in no way discredits the glory of its ancestors: it produces excellent rich and loud sound, the bright color display does not fade in the sun, and the capacious battery is enough for 35 hours of continuous operation. 8 GB of internal memory. Not the newest model, but for its 5,000 rubles it’s an excellent choice for a beginning music lover.

Price: ₽ 5,210

Fiio X1 II

The Fiio company is widely known as a manufacturer of not too expensive, but quite audiophile devices. In addition to excellent sound quality and excellent body assembly, this device is distinguished by the presence of Bluetooth: you can connect wireless headphones to it and simultaneously use a special remote control. In addition to MP3, the player supports a wide range of lossless audio formats. You can customize the sound using a 7-band equalizer. Headphones with impedance up to 100 ohms are supported. The battery will last for 12 hours of operation. The screen is color, bright and large (2 inches diagonal). The device itself is quite large and heavy for a player, but it looks quite elegant. The X1 does not have its own memory, but it supports cards up to 256 GB. The price of all this pleasure is about 9,500 rubles.

Price: RUB 6,990

Cowon i9+

My personal favorite, priced at 11,000 rubles, is a player from the Korean manufacturer Cowon, which has been making players and only players for many years. Like all Cowon products, the i9+ isn't cheap, but it doesn't do much. Basically - play music in a variety of formats. But he does it loudly, brightly and clearly. In my selection, no one can compare with it in terms of sound quality, except perhaps the premium player from Sony for 70,000 rubles. The main problem with this baby is the same as with other Cowon players - a terrible interface that you need to get used to. But if you can overcome the culture shock, you will definitely fall in love with this baby.

Price: RUB 10,990

Apple iPod Touch 6

The same “iPhone from which you can’t make calls.” Not a player, but a multimedia entertainment center on a full-fledged mobile operating system iOS 8. The bright 4-inch Retina display makes it a pleasure to watch movies, surf the Internet, and play games. The device supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so you can connect wireless headphones to it and use it to access the Internet or download an application from the App Store. The 8-megapixel camera takes good pictures by the standards of smartphones five years ago. The battery will last for 40 hours of music or 8 hours of video. Built-in memory - 32 GB. Price - about 16,000 rubles. A great way to get into Apple products without shelling out outrageous prices for a new iPhone.

Price: RUB 16,329

Types of MP3 players

Players can be divided into three main types.

Actually mp3 players

An ordinary music player is a miniature device designed to play audio files of one or more formats. It is convenient to use while walking, jogging or playing sports.

Multimedia players

This MP3 player is a multifunctional gadget with which you can not only listen to music, but also watch videos, photos, and read books. That is, the device plays not only audio files, but also video, as well as graphics and text. Some models are equipped with a built-in radio and voice recorder.

Multimedia players are no longer as compact as classic models; their sizes are sometimes not inferior to smartphones. It’s already inconvenient to use such a gadget while jogging, but it will help brighten up your travel time by watching movies or clips. At the same time, energy consumption will be low, and the sound quality will be excellent.

Hi-Fi players

Hi-Fi (English: High Fidelity) translated from English means “high precision”. Such a music player reproduces sound very close to the original, that is, with minimal distortion.

These devices are considered premium because they are manufactured using advanced acoustic technologies, have high-quality DACs, as well as more powerful amplifiers that allow you to play audio files not only in headphones.

Unfortunately, such a device is expensive and beyond the reach of many music lovers.

Best Budget MP3 Players

Ritmix RF-3410

Representative of classic MP3 players: this is exactly what they were like at the dawn of their appearance: similar to a flash drive and with tiny monochrome displays. The only difference is that this model, which costs about 1,500 rubles, has more memory than in the old days - 8 GB, which can be expanded using SD cards. The body is rubberized and attached to clothing using a clip. The battery lasts for 10 hours of operation. This device will not produce stunning sound, but it is perfect for e-books, especially since there is a bookmark function specifically for them. Theoretically, you can even read ordinary books in TXT format here, but I’m afraid to even imagine who will do this on a 1-inch diagonal screen.

Price: RUB 1,389

Digma R3

This device is very similar to the previous one: the same microscopic monochrome display, the same flash drive format with a clip, the same 8 GB of internal memory, the same price of 1,500 rubles. Can be used as a voice recorder or radio: the player stores up to 20 stations. The main advantage, like the previous device, is its low price.

Price: ₽ 1,590

The most popular brands and manufacturers

Among the best companies that produce audio players are the following companies.

Apple. The American company produces not only world-famous smartphones, tablets and laptops, but also portable multimedia players iPod shuffle, iPod nano and iPod touch.
Sony. The Japanese multinational corporation produces portable audio players under the Walkman brand.
Fiio. A relatively young Chinese company was founded in 2007. Produces budget models of Hi-Fi players of excellent quality.
Ritmix and iRiver. South Korean brands specializing in portable equipment, including high-quality mp3 players at an affordable price.
Digma. International manufacturer of digital devices. The trademark is owned by Nippon Klick Systems LLP, headquartered in Hong Kong.
Cayin. A Chinese brand that has been producing Hi-Fi equipment for more than two decades. In the Russian market it is known for its amplifiers, DACs, as well as high-quality portable players.

Comparison table of the best MP3 players

Name	Main characteristics	Price
Ritmix RF-3410	The memory capacity is 8 GB, which can be expanded using SD cards, the battery lasts for 10 hours.	₽ 1 389
Digma R3	Memory capacity 8 GB, can be used as a voice recorder or radio.	₽ 1 590
Sony NW-WS413 Walkman	There are 2 microphones, protected according to the IP65/IP68 standard, fast charging is supported, 4 GB of internal memory.	₽ 7 490
Ritmix RF-1015	Volume 18 l, power - 1000 W, metal body, internal coating - stainless steel, 4 operating modes.	₽ 298
Sony NW-E394 Walkman	The battery lasts for 35 hours of continuous operation, 8 GB of internal memory.	₽ 5 210
Fiio X1 II	There is Bluetooth, supports a set of lossless audio formats and headphones with an impedance of up to 100 Ohms.	₽ 6 990
Cowon i9+	Plays music in a variety of formats, loud and clear.	₽ 10 990
Apple iPod Touch 6	4-inch Retina display, supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 8 megapixel camera, built-in memory - 32 GB.	₽ 16 329
Espada Cassette Capture EZCAP	There is a reverse function, so you don’t have to take out the cassette and turn it over when the film runs out on one side.	₽ 1 802
Sony NW-WM1A	Supports audio up to 384 kHz sampling rate in DSD studio recording format, aluminum housing.	₽ 65 681

What to look for when choosing a player

It’s easy to buy an MP3 player if you know what technical characteristics you need to focus on.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/music-headphones-headset-listening-4511122/

DAC and amplifier

We have already said earlier that the quality of the sound directly depends on the quality of the digital-to-analog converter. The better it is, the more frequencies your player can reproduce. High-quality DACs allow you to hear every note, rather than being content with the overall rhythm of the composition.

If the technical characteristics of the player indicate the DAC model, then such a gadget is definitely recommended for purchase, however, the cost can be unreasonably high. The best DACs are made by Crystal, Philips and Wolfson.

The amplifier is designed to enhance the amplitude of the sound wave, which makes the sound in the headphones louder and clearer.

You can find out about the presence of an amplifier and digital-to-analog converter, if they are not listed in the technical specifications, based on the supported formats.

Supported Formats

The sound quality also depends on the audio file format and how it is compressed. Compressed audio files are small in size, do not load the gadget’s processor, and also have quite decent sound. Uncompressed ones, on the contrary, are characterized by a large file size and processor load, but do not lose sound quality and have a huge bitrate.

The DSD and DXD formats are of ultra-high quality, producing the clearest and most detailed sound possible. Files sound great without compression or loss of quality - APE, FLAC, ALAC, PCM, ADPCM, WAV and AIFF.

Compressed formats include OGG, MP3, AAC, WMA.

The more formats a player can play, the better. Unfortunately, many budget models are only able to work with a few formats, so audio files of other types have to be converted using special programs, and this is not always a good solution for quality.

If the player supports uncompressed formats, it means it has a good quality DAC and a good amplifier built into it. If the gadget plays only compressed files, then the processor is responsible for all sound conversions, which significantly reduces the sound quality.

Construction type

Based on the type of construction, players are divided into the following types.

Clip. This is a miniature device that can be attached to clothing using a clothespin.
Monoblock. It is a “box with buttons” to which you can connect any headphones. This appearance is very common and popular.
Headphones. A very convenient form factor for athletes or people leading an active lifestyle. Externally they look like headphones with a headband passing through the top or back of the head. Thanks to the small number of connectors, they can be waterproof and used in the pool or waterproof, that is, protected from rain splashes. Unfortunately, they are not very convenient to manage.
Flash. They are a flash card with a USB connector and allow you to directly connect to other devices, as well as use the player as a flash drive.
HDD. They have a built-in hard drive, the size of which determines the number of recorded tracks. Typically, such players support graphic and video formats. The main disadvantages are the size of the device and instability to external influences.

Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/music-dick-smith-electronic-hip-hop-1461176/

Type and amount of memory

Based on the type of memory, players are divided into three groups.

No built-in memory. These are the most budget models, cheap and compact. Most often they are miniature in size and practically weightless. A memory card for them will have to be purchased separately.
No MicroSD support. They have limited internal storage and are not equipped with a memory card slot. This variety is the most common. Cheap models have a small internal storage, so to replenish the music library you have to delete “something unnecessary” or shell out for a more expensive device.
With built-in memory and microSD card slot. An ideal option for music lovers, since music can be recorded both on the device itself and on a memory card.

If the player only supports compressed audio files, then it does not need a large amount of memory. The optimal capacity in this case is 8-16 GB. To create a music library from formats without compression and loss of quality, it is advisable to have a memory of 16 GB or more.

The memory capacity of Flash players varies from 1 to 32 GB. HDD players will delight their owners with memory from 32 to 256 GB. Accordingly, the cost of the device will depend on the size of the storage.

Display Features

Initially, players were not equipped with displays. Now even in budget models you can find a touch or monochrome screen on which the track name and other parameters are displayed.

For models that support video and graphic formats, screen parameters are of great importance. Its size and resolution directly affect the quality of the “picture”. But do not forget that the player is designed for high-quality sound reproduction, and the presence of other functions only creates interference. It’s better to watch a movie on a tablet or smartphone than on a tiny audio player screen.

A small display on which you can see the name of the song, information about the battery charge, and equalizer settings will be sufficient.

Battery Features

Depending on the model, the flash player can run on batteries or a built-in battery. The latter can be lithium-ion or lithium-polymer. The autonomy of battery gadgets ranges from 10 to 15 hours of continuous operation.

HDD players are equipped with more substantial batteries that operate continuously from 15 to 24 hours.

It is advisable to select players with capacious batteries, then the gadgets will work for a long time and will not require frequent recharging.

Bluetooth availability

An MP3 player with Bluetooth allows you to connect wireless headphones or communicate with other devices to receive or transfer files.

Extra options

Wi-Fi support. Connects the player to the Internet and allows you to download music files.
FM tuner. Almost all models are equipped with this function, but for active people it is useless. Listening to the radio on the go, moving in the subway, car or even public transport can sometimes be inconvenient, since radio frequencies are constantly being retuned, favorite channels are lost, and noise and crackling are heard in the headphones. But for homebodies and summer residents this will be additional entertainment, as it will give them the opportunity to listen to the news or their favorite radio programs.
Equalizer. Allows you to adjust the frequencies of the audio range to obtain a specific sound. For example, bass lovers emphasize low frequencies and enjoy heavier music.
Dictaphone. It often records not of the best quality, so you should not rely on its availability. For journalists, a high-quality voice recorder with a player as an additional option is more suitable than vice versa.
Outdoor speakers. Many users consider this device useless, since the sound quality in the headphones is already excellent.
Video support. In fact, this is rather an unnecessary function, although many people find it useful. Why? Yes, because an additional source of interference appears in the player, which does not have the best effect on the sound quality. Premium models do not have this feature.
Case material. Of course, metal is more reliable than plastic, but the cost of the gadget will be higher.
Moisture protection. There are models that are completely waterproof. With this player you can take a shower and swim in the pool. But do not confuse it with moisture protection - this function protects the gadget from splashes and raindrops, but nothing more.
Dimensions. Judging by Flash and HDD players, the more memory, the larger the device. However, flash players will not bother you much with their weight and size; they are often a little larger than a five-ruble coin, but the weight of HDD players can sometimes reach 500-700 g.
Photo and video shooting. The quality of pictures and videos leaves much to be desired; this feature is clearly intended to increase the cost of the device. Don't fall for marketing gimmicks!

Best MP3 Players for Sports

Sony NW-WS413 Walkman

A player priced at about 6,500 rubles from the company that invented this format of wearable electronics. The device is similar to a Bluetooth stereo headset, but offers exclusively the functionality of an MP3 player: it doesn’t even have a built-in radio receiver. But there are two microphones that transmit ambient sounds directly to the owner’s ears, so you can communicate with your jogging partners without removing your headphones. The device is protected from dust and moisture according to the IP65/IP68 standard. Fast charging is supported (in 3 minutes the player is charged enough to work for an hour). The battery will last for 12 hours of operation. 4 GB of internal memory is not too much, but it is enough for morning charging.

Price: RUB 7,490

Ritmix RF-1015

A cheap clone of the once super-popular Apple iPod Shuffle, made in a clothespin form factor without a screen. This player has no internal memory at all; you will have to buy a card with a capacity of up to 16 GB. The battery should be enough for 5 hours of continuous operation. The main advantage of this device is the price of 300 rubles.

Price: ₽ 298

Useful tips

Before you buy a music player, take the advice of experienced music lovers.

Do not pay attention only to the appearance of the device; first study its technical characteristics and reviews from real users.
Pay attention to the package. The player, especially an expensive one, will be maximally protected if a case is included - it will protect the device from scratches and mechanical damage.
Before purchasing, be sure to check the player for sound quality. To do this, it is better to take your own notes with you, rather than “local” ones from a consultant. If there is crackling, noise in the headphones, or a familiar melody sounds with less detail, then it is better to abandon the chosen model and look for another one.
Of course, inspect the gadget for scratches and external damage.
The headphones included in the package are usually not of good quality, but are an attachment to the device. If you are a true music connoisseur, then it is better to test the player with your own headphones. And for beginners, the advice is to purchase a headset separately.
The device will last a long time if you take care of it properly. Do not throw it even on a soft surface. Do not leave it discharged for a long time - rechargeable batteries do not like this. Make sure that moisture and dirt do not get inside the device.
If your specialty is far from radio engineering, then in case of problems, contact specialists.

Best premium MP3 player

Sony NW-WM1A

An ultra-expensive device from Sony costing about 66,000 rubles. Supports audio up to 384 kHz sampling rate in DSD studio recording format. Aluminum case, comfortable round physical buttons, large and bright touch display, 128 GB of internal memory and up to 30 hours of continuous operation. The device weighs as much as 267 grams, and it contains more assorted digital “improvers” than sprat in a tin can. Against the backdrop of this audiophile splendor, it’s somehow awkward to even stutter about the lack of an FM tuner or WMA support. A player that is more suitable for stationary listening as the center of a home audio system, which can sometimes be taken with you.

Price: RUB 65,681

Nice additions

Before the iPod nano 5G, Apple fundamentally did not integrate a radio receiver into the player - it was offered to be purchased separately for about 1,500 rubles.

Until now, apart from the Click Wheel, beautiful design and powerful sound, the iPod nano had nothing to brag about: it could play music, show videos and run simple games. In terms of functionality, competitors were two cases ahead of Apple. But with the fifth generation such jokes will no longer work. The most important innovation is a camera that can only shoot video in 640x480 resolution. Why does a player even need a camera when every cell phone has one, only Steve Jobs knows. We will say that shooting with the player is inconvenient, the lens is positioned in such a way that your fingers constantly cover it, there is no quick access to the camera, it is turned on through the menu. And the quality of the video leaves much to be desired, although it is enough for uploading to YouTube.

COWON and Sony have nothing to answer to this, and there is no need to. But the same S9 has a calculator, a small notepad with an on-screen keyboard, a Flash movie player and a modest drawing tool - quite enough to entertain yourself on the road.

Sony only has a couple of large speakers. They sound surprisingly decent and loud, and compared to the built-in speaker in the iPod nano, this is generally a Hi-Fi system (at least for a radio in the country).

We would like to separately note the FM radio receiver, which has been built in by all player manufacturers for a long time, but which was first introduced by Apple. Previously, the company offered to purchase it as an additional module for 1,500 rubles. We honestly compared the reception confidence of all three players and did not find any significant differences.

Sundries

Apple - 5/5
COWON - 5/5
Sony - 4/5

Players with high sound quality

xDuoo X10

Despite the fact that this player is somewhat clumsy in terms of design, its hardware is of very high quality. Despite the fact that the appearance is not very attractive, the case is made of high-quality aluminum alloy of increased strength, so it is almost impossible to damage it even with aggressive daily use. However, this product is very convenient to use. All buttons and switches are analog, the control wheel is decent in size, and the menu is intuitive, which gives this gadget a significant advantage. On the front panel you can find a fairly large display, the diagonal of which is 2 inches. It is very bright, has an anti-reflective coating, so all the information will be very clearly visible even on a very sunny day. Viewing angles are narrow, but this is quite normal.

Below the screen there are several buttons responsible for menu navigation and playback control. On the top side of the model there is a connector for connecting a microUSB cable and a power button, on the left there is a volume rocker and two slots for memory cards, each of them can have a capacity of up to 128 GB. The interface is completely Russified for user convenience; there are not too many menu items - it won’t take you long to figure it out. You can optimally appreciate all the benefits of the player's sound using full-size headphones. The sound is quite thick, well divided into planes, the bass line is a little imposing, which gives the music additional interest. It has an accentuated selection, mid and high tones are spelled out quite clearly - not a single note is lost.

Advantages:

Metal body;
Good ergonomic shape;
Smooth operation of all moving elements;
High sound quality;
Fully Russified interface;
Practical design;
Bright screen.

Flaws:

It's not easy to reach the reset button;
High price.

xDuoo X10

Fiio M3K

The model has small overall dimensions, so it can be easily put into a pocket of any size. The body of the product is aluminum, the front side is covered with tempered glass. Only the upper and lower end parts are made of plastic here, which does not in any way affect the appearance or strength of the device. The design is available in either silver or black. The build quality, like all models included in our rating of the best mp3 players, is excellent. All side corners are rounded, the back panel slips a little in your hands, but this problem is easily solved by using the silicone case that comes with the device. The weight of the product is 77 grams, so it will not hinder movement at all.

All the keys on the front side are touch sensitive, and there is also a vertical navigation bar. The basis of the device here is the AK4376A microchip, which has 32-bit decoding, and has its own amplifier with a power of 25 mW. In the sound area there are certain rises in the lower and upper parts of the range. The first adds intensity to drums and bass instruments, resulting in a winning sound for both electronic and acoustic compositions. The firmware works very quickly, navigation is carried out literally in seconds. Additional features include the presence of a five-band equalizer; absolutely all known music formats are supported.

Advantages:

Sufficiently high filling power;
Compact overall dimensions;
Long battery life;
Availability of an equalizer with standard and manual settings.

Flaws:

The output power with the included headphones is almost impossible to notice; it is better to immediately buy additional headphones.

Fiio M3K

Cayin N3

Available in several colors - red, black and light blue. The case has compact overall dimensions and fits easily in your hand. It has an anti-slip coating that reliably protects it from scratches. The back panel has an original finish, which is made of artificial leather. The display here is not touch-sensitive, but color. The buttons located below it are touch sensitive. On the bottom side there is a headphone jack and a USB Type-C connector that supports fast charging. On the right side at the top there is a power button, and below it there is a volume rocker. All keys have raised markings that allow you to control the product by touch.

High sound quality is ensured by the AK4490EN microchip, which has small overall dimensions and quite moderate energy consumption. The amplifier here is OPA1622 - it is responsible for low and medium frequencies. The output power of the headphones is about 260 mW, which is quite enough for both vacuum products and classic earbuds. There is also an original wireless high-speed interface Bluetooth v4.0. The operating frequency of the Ingenic X1000 central processor is 1 GHz. The graphical shell loads quite quickly, works stably, no slowdowns were noticed. The battery life is about 12 hours.

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Advantages:

Availability of Bluetooth module;
The kit includes a silicone case;
High sound quality;
If necessary, the user can change the characteristics of the digital filter.

Flaws:

The touch buttons are not backlit.

Cayin N3

Small sizes for everyday use or sports

Sony NW-WS413

Products designed for use during active sports have been produced by this company for quite a long time. The main distinguishing feature is the presence of a Bluetooth module, which allows you to pair with smartphones and other third-party devices. In addition, there is a remote control. The device is reliably protected from dust, dirt and even salt water getting under the housing. The player is manufactured in three color options - emerald, black and ivory. All models look very stylish. In general, the player itself looks like ordinary headphones: there are two small cups and a headband. At the same time, the headphones go deep enough into the ear canals, so all the subtleties of the melody can be heard with good clarity. Despite this, even at maximum volume this device will not drown out the sounds of the surrounding world.

A cable for charging the battery is included. The controls are quite simple, the buttons are large and rubberized. The case is manufactured in accordance with the international standard IP68, which means immersion in water to a depth of one meter and staying there for half an hour. Depending on the configuration, the internal memory can be 4 or 8 GB, where you can download a decent number of music tracks even in very high quality, for example, in .flac format. In offline mode, when the volume is turned on at full volume, this device can work for about 12 hours; a fast charging function is provided. The sound quality is quite high, there are a number of proprietary settings, any genres will be played well, from classical music to modern house, blues, rap and other types.

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Advantages:

Excellent workmanship and assembly quality;
Beautiful and stylish appearance;
Well suited for all ear canals;
Reliably protected from exposure to pollutants and moisture.

Flaws:

It's not very convenient to listen to underwater, although they hold quite tightly.

Sony NW-WS413

Shanling M0

Despite its small overall dimensions, the device is distinguished by quite wide functionality. The key distinguishing point is the reliable body, made of aluminum, which has additional stiffening ribs and is square in shape. It is covered with a layer of paint, protected from various external influences. Almost invisible in the hand. The volume control wheel is knurled, making it quite easy to scroll. The build quality is excellent - all the elements of the case fit together quite tightly, no backlash was noticed. All internal elements are securely fastened, nothing shakes or dangles. All corners are rounded, on the bottom panel there is a jack for connecting headphones and a USB Type C cable. The headphone plug is inserted quickly and easily, and is securely fixed in the socket. The volume wheel is also responsible for turning the device on and off.

On the opposite side there is a slot closed with a plug for installing a microSD memory card, the capacity of which can reach 512 GB. The display diagonal is 1.54 inches, the resolution is 240x240 pixels - quite decent for such a compact device. Watching video on it is very inconvenient, but all menu items and various settings are simply visible. You shouldn't expect wide viewing angles either - after all, this is a player, not a smartphone or TV. The weight of the product is minimal: it is about 40 grams. The menu is quite clear, you don’t have to spend a lot of time figuring it out, which makes the player even more convenient.

Advantages:

Elementary controls - you can get into it in a couple of minutes;
Small overall dimensions;
Reasonable cost;
A decent amount of built-in memory plus a slot for a flash drive;
Nice appearance.

Flaws:

The volume wheel is a bit slow to rotate.

Shanling M0

Ritmix RF-3450 8Gb

This is one of the cheapest models in our entire review of the best mp3 players, and the device is characterized by rather modest overall dimensions, so it can easily fit even into a jacket or trouser pocket. The case is made of high-quality plastic with a matte finish, which reliably protects the structure from slipping out of your hands, and also does not allow dirt to accumulate on the surface. The last point is important due to the fact that the player is manufactured in white. The overall dimensions of the device are small - they can be compared with a standard flash drive. It connects to a computer or other charger via a very ordinary USB connector, which is hidden under a plastic removable cap. It will reliably protect it from the accumulation of dirt and moisture.

Data exchange with an external device is not too large - about 1 MB per second, so in order to download the music you like, you will have to stock up on a decent amount of patience. On the back of the case there is a switch and a headphone jack. At one end there is a slot for installing a memory card, the maximum capacity of which can reach 16 GB. On the front side there is a joystick and a liquid crystal display that displays all the information necessary for the user: the track being played, its duration, remaining battery charge, and so on. The display brightness is average, although there is an LED backlight. The sound quality is at a quite decent level: bass lines are clearly audible, vocals, mids and highs are optimally layered.

Advantages:

A very practical and easy-to-use model;
Compact overall dimensions;
There is a slot for a memory card;
The case is matte, protected from the accumulation of dirt;
Very affordable price;
Fast interface and well thought out menu.

Flaws:

Does not support .flac format;
Weak battery.

Ritmix RF-3450 8Gb

Sony NWZ-B183F

This player looks very original, although it is not equipped with a large touch screen, unlike most similar designs. The display here is small in size, but it is quite bright - everything will be perfectly visible on it even in direct sunlight. In addition, its small size significantly saves charging; it is monochrome and has a light blue backlight. The brightness can be adjusted manually if necessary. The body itself is metal, which only adds practicality to the product - it will not be scratched or covered with a layer of dirt even when used in unfavorable conditions. The build quality is also quite high. Almost all buttons protrude slightly beyond the edge of the device, so they can be easily detected by touch. On one side there is a removable cover, under which there is a USB connector. The player itself is small in size - about 8 cm long, about 2 cm wide, and 1.5 cm thick.

The sound is quite acceptable, there are a large number of fine settings. The product can work with many formats. There is a playback memory, so the next time you turn it on, playback will start from the point where the user left off last time. A voice recorder, microphone and other additional functions are not provided here, especially since most users consider them simply unnecessary.

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Advantages:

Interesting and stylish design;
There is no need to use additional wires;
There is a built-in radio receiver;
Quite reasonable price;
Good sound quality, especially if you connect suitable expensive headphones.

Flaws:

The volume of built-in memory is only 4 GB.

Sony NWZ-B183F