Small, Powerful Audio Players

With video features, new ways to connect to music services, and more, the latest audio players do a lot more than just play MP3s. Our lab tests of 21 models reveal today's best buys.

Paul Jasper is a technology consultant and freelance writer based in San Francisco. Eric Butterfield is a senior associate editor for PC World.

Paul Jasper, Testing by Tony Leung

The latest generation of portable audio players offer interesting new features and more storage, and the best of them deliver excellent sound quality. The highest-capacity player we've tested recently is the 80GB Apple iPod, which can store around 20,000 popular songs of average length and compression level. The Microsoft Zune has a neat new wireless sharing feature, and the SanDisk Sansa e260R integrates easily with the Real Rhapsody online music service. Many models appear similar at first glance. We point out differences in features and performance to help you weigh which is the right player for you.

Sound-Quality Tests

The PC World Test Center conducted sound-quality tests on the 21 players we reviewed for this story, using an ATS-2 analyzer provided by Audio Precision, a maker of audio test and measurement equipment. The first test assessed the output level each device could attain before reaching 1 percent distortion, generally regarded as an acceptable threshold. A second test determined the frequency response using 30 tones ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. The lab also measured crosstalk (how much the left and right channels blend, thereby narrowing the stereo field), signal-to-noise ratio, and total harmonic distortion. Obviously, the less distortion and noise an audio player creates, the better it sounds.

In our tests, the hard-drive-based players tended to deliver better audio quality than the flash-based models did. A top-performing flash player such as the iPod Nano, however, offers better sound quality than many hard-drive models do.

Online Stores

To buy music, owners of Apple iPods must shop at the iTunes Store, which supports only AAC-encoded files. But owners of devices that support the PlaysForSure digital rights management system (which uses the WMA format) can select from a range of stores such as Napster, Urge, Wal-Mart, and Yahoo Music Unlimited. Notably missing from the list of players compatible with PlaysForSure, oddly, is Microsoft's Zune, which doesn't support PlaysForSure and works only with the Zune Marketplace DRM system.

In this article:

Intro

Flash Players

Hard-Drive Players

Renting Music: Boatloads of Tunes for a Monthly Fee

Media Players: Big-screen Portables for Watching Movies

Flash Players (chart)

Hard-Drive Players (chart)

Flash Players

Creative Zen V Plus--Best BuyThe top spot on our flash players chart went to the Creative Zen V Plus, in part because the product is reasonably priced and well designed. The 2GB model we tested sells for $140, but a 4GB unit costs just $40 more. Apple's second-generation iPod Nano placed a close second. The device offers even better audio quality, though it delivers fewer features. We tested a 4GB model that sells for $199. You can also buy a 2GB version for $149 or an 8GB unit for $249.

Samsung prices its 2GB YP-T9JQB at an attractive $125. The 4GB iRiver Clix provides a large screen and an interesting user interface, and costs $200. MobiBlu's 2GB US2 costs a low $130 and delivers very good audio quality.

the iRiver Clix has a big, 2.2-inch screen.

Each of the players on our chart is compact enough to slip into a shirt pocket, but still roomy enough for a color screen. You can view photos stored on the players, but the screens are so small (most of them measure 1.8 inches or less) that it's hard to make out much detail. The iRiver Clix has the largest display, at 2.2 inches. All except the iPod Nano play videos, but, again, the little screens make them barely usable in this capacity. In addition, few flash-based players support anything other than their native video format, so you must use the player's video conversion software before moving files to the device; two exceptions are the iRiver Clix and the Samsung YP-T9JQB, which can play MPEG-4 files natively.

All of the players except the MobiBlu US2 support the display of album cover art while songs are playing.

Controls and Features

Apple iPod NanoThese flash players' navigation systems share many similarities, though some designs take a little getting used to. The iPod Nano is the most intuitive. The Creative Zen V Plus is nearly as easy once you learn that holding down the back button gives you a menu of options, but its small joystick requires some fiddling compared with the iPod's signature touch-sensitive thumbwheel. The iPod interface is the slickest one we've tried--scrolling through long lists of songs or artists requires only a light touch.

Samsung's T9 is inexpensive, but sound quality isn't great.The Samsung YP-T9JQB and the MobiBlu US2 each have four-way controls on their fronts with a select button positioned in the center, making it easy to navigate menus and operate the most common functions. The SanDisk Sansa e260R, which failed to place on our chart due in part to its subpar audio quality, adds a rotating ring for scrolling through lists; unfortunately, the ring protrudes, getting in the way of the directional buttons. In lieu of buttons, the entire face of the iRiver Clix rocks in four directions, a novel and easy-to-use approach.

FM, Recording, Batteries

The Mobiblu US2 has dual headphone jacks.

The iPod Nano is the only player on the chart without an FM radio. For the rest of the players, tuning in to channels is usually quite easy, but you often have to consult the manual to set up the station presets. All of the radio-equipped models except the Creative Zen V Plus let you record from the radio, but only the MobiBlu US2 lets you schedule a recording. Reception quality varies widely--all of the players use their headphone cords as antennas, and you'll likely notice some interference and dropouts as you move around. Of course, if you spend a lot of time listening to the radio, you're missing the point of an MP3 player.

You can use any of the flash-based players in our review except the Nano as a handheld voice recorder, but the sound quality makes this feature better suited for quick personal reminders than for, say, heavy note-taking in class. For better-quality recordings, get a player that has a line-in jack so you can plug in a microphone or connect directly to your audio source. The Zen V Plus has such a jack.

The players recharge their proprietary batteries from your computer's USB port and can play from 14 to 30 hours. Only the Sansa e260R has a battery you can replace yourself. Its $20 battery kit even includes a screwdriver for removing the four small screws on the back of the player.

Flash Players (cont.)

Each audio player maker recommends a different way to upload music, photos, and video clips to your player. For the iPod Nano, you use iTunes, which allows you to easily rip CDs, organize your music collection, and sync your music with the player when you connect it to your computer. The software is well integrated with the iTunes Store. The Sansa e260R uses RealNetworks' Rhapsody software, which offers an attractive interface and works seamlessly with its online store. The iRiver Clix uses Windows Media Player to manage your media library and sync the player. Creative's Zen V Plus comes with two applications: The first, Creative Media Explorer, offers basic playlist management and browsing functions. The second, Creative MediaSource Player/Organizer, helps you manage your music library.

The MobiBlu US2 comes with a PC-based app for transcoding videos to the player's native MJPEG video format. MobiBlu supplies no uploading software, but suggests using Windows Explorer to copy content to its device. However, you could use Windows Media Player to sync music with the US2 or the iRiver Clix, or you could use other free software, such as Napster or Rhapsody.

You can play music files on the iPod Nano only if you've uploaded them using the iTunes software or a compatible third-party program that can sync with an iPod, such as J.River Media Center or Rhapsody. An iTunes option configures the player as a USB mass-storage device, but any media files you've dragged and dropped via Windows Explorer won't be playable on the device. The other players on our chart do let you use Explorer, though most require you to drop files into a specific folder in order for them to play.

The SanDisk Sansa e260R and the Kingston K-PEX 100 (another player that missed our chart) are notable for their inclusion of media slots. (Not surprisingly, both companies make media cards.) Each of these players accepts tiny media (microSD for the SanDisk, miniSD for the Kingston). Of the two media types, microSD cards are the more expensive, running upward of $70 for a 2GB card; the same capacity in a miniSD Card starts at about $25.

Sound Quality

For overall audio quality, the iPod Nano was the only model on our flash players chart to earn a score of Superior, though several of the other devices received a mark of Very Good. The Nano produced little distortion when played at high volume, as did the Samsung YP-T9JQB.

The iRiver Clix produced a well-rounded frequency response, taking top honors in that test. Conversely, the SanDisk Sansa e260R had the worst frequency response of all the units, a showing that contributed to its missing our chart.

The iPod Nano and the MobiBlu US2 introduced the least amount of hum or hiss, delivering the highest signal-to-noise ratios of the flash-based players. The Zen V Plus did the best job of keeping its channels distinct, thus generating the widest stereo field of the bunch. To view the complete results of these tests, see each player's test report in our online chart.

Hard-Drive Players

Apple iPod--Best Buy

All of the hard-drive players on our chart deliver impressive sound quality. Apple's fifth-generation iPod sports the easiest-to-use interface, which helped the 30GB version earn our Best Buy. The player lacks some features found on competing models, however, such as an FM tuner, voice recording, and support for online music servicesall of which the Creative Zen VisionM offers. The Toshiba Gigabeat S30 and the Microsoft Zune have well-designed interfaces, but they don't match the elegance of the iPod's.

Creative Zen VisionM

Of the hard-drive players, the 30GB iPod is the thinnest, at 0.4 inch; the Gigabeat is the lightest, at 4.5 ounces. The Zen VisionM and Zune are chunkier and weigh an ounce or so more. That may not sound like much, but you'll feel the difference with the player in your pocket.

Video to Go

The Microsoft Zune has a 3-inch screen and Wi-Fi.

The Microsoft Zune has a bright, 3-inch LCD. The screens on the Toshiba Gigabeat and the iPods are slightly smaller. All of them offer the same (relatively) high resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The Gigabeat's 2.4-inch display and the 2.5-inch screens on the Zen VisionM and the iPod are fine for watching a sitcom during your morning commute, but paying attention to a full-length movie could become a chore. Also keep in mind that the Gigabeat's display is oriented vertically, so you'll have to turn it 90 degrees to watch video. If you want to watch a lot of video on a portable device, consider one with a spacious, 4-inch-plus screen; see "Media Players: Big-Screen Portables for Watching Movies."

Apple's 80GB iPod has a great screen and tons of storage.

Finding video for these players is becoming easier. Apple's iTunes Store sells TV shows at $2 an episode, and last September added movies. Recent films cost up to $15 each, while older titles sell for $10. Toshiba partners with Vongo to offer movie downloads for Gigabeat devices. Vongo sells movies for $4, or you can opt for a $10-per-month membership, which lets you watch as many as you like. As of press time, Zune Marketplace didn't sell video.

Amazon's Unbox video download service offers $2 TV shows, and sells most movies for $8 to $15. Unbox also "rents" movies for viewing within 24 hours for just $4. Unbox works with players certified for Microsoft's PlaysForSure Video, including the Gigabeat and the Zen VisionM.

Two other options: You can transfer recorded shows from a TiVo Series 2 digital video recorder to your Gigabeat or Zen VisionM (doing so to an iPod is possible, too, but requires a $25 conversion application). You can transfer video from a Windows Media Center PC to the Gigabeat or Zen VisionM, as well.

Controls and Features

The Toshiba Gigabeat S30's navigation could be easier.

None of the other players' controls quite match the iPod's thumbwheel for ease of use. The Zen VisionM has a vertical touchpad, though using it along with the four surrounding buttons gets confusing. The Zune's circular control looks like a thumbwheel but works as four directional keys; nonetheless, navigating the Zune is a breeze. The Gigabeat has a four-way control and a select button that are just as easy to operate, though you'll need to consult the small buttons on the device's side panel to adjust volume, play/pause, and skip between songs. Every player has a hold button to protect against unintentional key presses.

Navigating the menus is surprisingly similar across all of the players, though each has its quirks. At the top level, selecting the iPod's Now Playing option shows the currently playing song. The Zen VisionM offers a similar feature, but you have to drill down one level to the Music Library. On the Zune you must press the back button repeatedly to get there. The Zune and Gigabeat use their left and right buttons as shortcuts while you're in the menus, so you can quickly skip between, say, different artists while viewing a list of their albums. The iPod and Zen VisionM have a search option that allows you to scroll through letters to spell out the name of an artist, an album, and so on--it's actually quicker than it sounds. The Zen VisionM's menu button presents a context-sensitive set of options that you can use, for example, to display the details of a track or to delete it.

All of the hard-drive players we tested, except the iPod models, have built-in FM tuners. Each device provides at least 25 channel presets. The Zen VisionM lets you assign names to the presets, but the Zune picks up the station ID as well as transmitted data and displays the title of the currently playing song. Only the Zen VisionM can record--it does so through its built-in microphone and from the radio. The Zen VisionM also can display video and photos on a TV, but you must attach an included dongle, which has an A/V-out jack. For iPods, you'll need to buy the optional Universal Dock ($39), which supplies similar connections.

Hard-Drive Players (cont.)

Microsoft makes much of the Zune's ability to wirelessly beam songs, playlists, and photos to other Zune players. However, received tracks disappear from the Zune's inbox after either three days or three plays. You can tag these tracks for purchase from the Zune Marketplace when you next sync the device.

Eventually, Microsoft plans to link the Zune up with PCs and Xbox 360 game consoles using wireless connections; but for the time being, you need a USB cable to sync the player with your PC.

Batteries, Sound Quality

All of the hard-drive players on the chart can recharge their battery from a computer's USB port, though the Gigabeat comes with a separate charger. The dongle that's included with the Zen VisionM serves the same purpose in addition to providing mini-USB cable and A/V connections.

The Zune scored the highest overall in our audio-quality tests, but the other hard-drive devices were nearly as good. The iPods achieved the clearest sound at high volumes in our maximum-output-level test, and they delivered the widest stereo field (exhibiting very little crosstalk). All of the players performed well at reproducing a variety of frequencies in our frequency-response test. We registered very little distortion from the Zune. The Gigabeat had an excellent signal-to-noise ratio, while the iPods generated slightly more noise, which means that you may notice some hiss from them during quieter music passages.

Renting Music: Boatloads of Tunes for a Monthly Fee

Rhapsody To Go displays all of your tunes--both rented and purchased--in a song library for later transfer to your player.

Many options exist for buying music files online, but a subscription service could expose you to many more new artists. And renting songs may be the least expensive way to populate your audio player with music.

The best-known services are Napster To Go, Real Rhapsody, Urge, Virgin Digital, and Yahoo Music Unlimited. Most of them charge about $15 a month for a plan that lets you load an unlimited number of files onto your portable audio player. Most also offer $10-a-month plans, but those usually prevent you from moving the files off of a computer and onto a portable player. Some discounts are available if you pay annually.

The Format Fine Print

Of course, your player will need to be compatible with the service. For example, the Sansa e260R has close links to Best Buy's Digital Music Store, which runs on Real's Rhapsody 4.0 service. The service includes Rhapsody Channels, which automatically update the player with new music each time you sync.

In most cases, a PlaysForSure device will work with most of the five services mentioned here--but despite the moniker, compatibility is not always guaranteed. For example, the Toshiba Gigabeat S30 is incompatible with Yahoo Music Unlimited. Worse, the Microsoft Zune doesn't use the PlaysForSure DRM format, and so will work only with Microsoft's Zune Marketplace. Apple iPod owners can't rent music, period: iPods work only with iTunes, which doesn't offer a subscription service.

Nevertheless, a PlaysForSure device is currently your best bet for enjoying wide-ranging compatibility. Though files purchased from Rhapsody 4.0 will play on both PlaysForSure devices and iPods (though not the Zune), audio files rented from the Rhapsody To Go subscription service will play only on PlaysForSure devices. As you might expect, these services won't let you burn rented tracks to a CD.

Typically, a subscription service requires that you download songs to your PC and then transfer them to your music player. If you want to conserve hard-drive space, you'll like that Rhapsody 4.0 allows you to drag files directly from its download list to your player (the files temporarily reside in your PC's cache, but don't remain on your hard drive).

Syncing and Expiration

The SanDisk Sansa e260R is the first player we've tested that touts special integration with an online music subscription service (the R stands for Rhapsody). One plus is that the e260R will notify you when your subscription is about to expire. That's a helpful feature considering that you could lose all your music if you forgot to renew your subscription and then tried to sync your player--a likely scenario if you and your player spend an extended amount of time away from your PC.

Eric Butterfield

Media Players: Big-Screen Portables for Watching Movies

Movies look great on the Archos 604 WiFi's 4.3-inch wide screen.

If you want to watch TV shows or movies on a handheld device, you'll want more than just an audio player that's capable of playing video. Portable multimedia players are superior for watching video because they have bigger screens.

The largest display on an audio player in this story is the Microsoft Zune's 3-inch LCD. By comparison, the screens on portable multimedia players look huge. The $450 Archos 604 WiFi has a bright, 4.3-inch wide-screen display with a resolution of 480 by 272 pixels (the audio players on our charts top out at 320 by 240 pixels). Video and photos looked very attractive on the bigger screen. Also, the Archos display is a touch screen, handy for selecting photos and scrolling through a slide show. The $499 Wolverine Data ESP 5120 has a 3.6-inch display, but it isn't a wide screen. Images appeared less sharp on its 320-by-240 screen than on the Archos device, and I noticed jagged edges on some objects--but it was still more enjoyable to watch than any of the audio players were.

Movie Downloads, Extra Features

Both the Archos model and the Wolverine device support PlaysForSure, so you can play movies from a compatible video download service, such as CinemaNow or Amazon's Unbox. The selection from these sites is limited, however: At press time CinemaNow offered fewer than 1000 movies for purchase, and Amazon's Unbox listed 1570.

The Archos 604 WiFi's 30GB hard drive is somewhat meager, considering the size of video files. A 50-minute episode of Star Trek that I downloaded from Unbox took up 240MB; the movie Office Space, which runs 90 minutes, used up almost 1.7GB. The Wolverine's much larger 120GB hard drive makes it the better choice for portable backup storage--particularly for photographers, since the device has memory card slots that support seven formats.

The Archos has no card slots but offers wireless connectivity and the Opera browser. It can record TV programs as well, though this requires an optional dock, which costs $80. Also, the 604 WiFi has a kickstand so you can prop it up--on an airplane's food tray, for example.

Eric Butterfield

Tiny, Talented Players: Flash Players (chart)

Small flash-based players are best suited for active users. Creative's Zen V Plus has a great price and lots of features.

Find the Very Latest Flash-Based Audio Player Charts

Click on the links below for the latest online Flash-Based Audio Player rankings or a comprehensive list of all Audio Players we've tested.

Most current Top Flash-Based Audio Players chart

All Audio Players

Top Flash-Based Audio Player From the March 2007 Issue of PC World Magazine

Big Players, Big Screens for Video: Hard-Drive Players (chart)

These large-capacity devices hold a lot of tunes, and have roomy, high-resolution screens for viewing photos and video.

Find the Very Latest Hard-Drive Based Audio Player Charts

Click on the links below for the latest online Hard-Drive Based Audio Player rankings or a comprehensive list of all Audio Players we've tested.

Most current Top Hard-Drive Based Audio Players chart

All Audio Players

Top Hard-Drive Based Audio Player From the March 2007 Issue of PC World Magazine