New MP3 player

[Joe of loath]

Hi all

So, I need a new MP3 player to replace my Creative Zen. It's perfect, about 2.5 years old and still as good as the day I got it, but 8gb is too little now that my music collection is over twice that.

However, there's too much choice out there. I'm looking for:

Not an iPod.
32gb+
Preferably flash based (I'd only drop a hard drive based player and kill it)
OS agnostic (drag and drop preferred)
Rockbox support now or in the future (Not required, but would be nice)
Good sound quality (I'm an audiophile :p)
Available in the UK.

Is there anything out there that fits my list of 'likes'?

Thanks!
Joe

[Dustin2128]

Sansa fuze v2. Largest model is 8GB but I think it supports up to 40 via microSD. Excellent rockbox support too.

[Macskeeball]

The Samsung Galaxy Player (http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/mp3-digital-audio/mobile-internet-players/YP-G50CW/XEU/index.idx?pagetype=prd_detail&pid=uk_mp3digitalaudiotype_banner2_galaxyplayer_26 012011) is an Android-based iPod touch competitor, so you'd get an audio/video player and a pocket computer in one device. It uses WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity, and also has GPS.

http://www.thfire.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Samsung-Galaxy-Player-50.jpg

[Aquix]

A good news/review site for mp3 players is http://anythingbutipod.com/ (http://anythingbutipod.com/)

:)

[Hwæt]

Sansa fuze v2. Largest model is 8GB but I think it supports up to 40 via microSD. Excellent rockbox support too.

I'm going to have to offer a counter-recommendation here. Before you get a Sansa Fuze+, know that the controls on them are extremely fast and slide all over the place, making it very difficult to choose individual tracks. Furthermore, they do not have a hardware locking switch. To lock it, you must do it via a menu in the player and to unlock it you simply have to slide up the touch pad. Therein lies the problem: if you are walking it will unlock the player via moving it up and down your leg.

If you don't plan on going anywhere with it, a Sansa Fuze+ is an excellent USB compatible player that supports OGG, FLAC, and MP3, but if you are, you're better off with another MP3 player. The original Sansa Fuze was so much better.

[Dustin2128]

I'm going to have to offer a counter-recommendation here. Before you get a Sansa Fuze+, know that the controls on them are extremely fast and slide all over the place, making it very difficult to choose individual tracks. Furthermore, they do not have a hardware locking switch. To lock it, you must do it via a menu in the player and to unlock it you simply have to slide up the touch pad. Therein lies the problem: if you are walking it will unlock the player via moving it up and down your leg.

If you don't plan on going anywhere with it, a Sansa Fuze+ is an excellent USB compatible player that supports OGG, FLAC, and MP3, but if you are, you're better off with another MP3 player. The original Sansa Fuze was so much better.
I was talking about this one:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Sansafuze.JPG/800px-Sansafuze.JPG

[3rdalbum]

There are 32 gigabyte Sony Walkman players out there. Excellent sound quality (they even give you reasonably good earbuds), flash-based, drag 'n' drop on any operating system, and they should be available in the UK. No Rockbox as far as I know.

The one I have is the X series, which has a very-responsive touch screen, active noise-cancelling earphones, a built-in podcast client with wifi, and an OLED screen.

[Bucky Ball]

If you're an audiophile:

http://www.cowonglobal.com/

They're not cheap but they are fantastic. Not sure, though, if they have a 32Gb model. I have the iAudio7 which is discontinued. It is brilliant (me muso for thirty years with home studio and discerning ears). For the true audiophile ... they also play FLAC files which most don't and work with Linux out of the box. Highly recommended from me. Good luck. ;)

[VanR]

I was talking about this one:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Sansafuze.JPG/800px-Sansafuze.JPG

I have that one and I love it. Bought a 4 gig Micro SD card to add on and it's the best $29.99 (refurbished see link)http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7335569&CatId=4518 I ever spent. Use it to listen to my classical every day when I walk.

[drawkcab]

If I ever give up on my old iriver hp120, I'd look at a Cowon. Good stuff!

[earlycj5]

If I ever give up on my old iriver hp120, I'd look at a Cowon. Good stuff!

Hear hear!

My D2 is dying, looking at a J3 to replace it.

Sound quality and battery life are outstanding.

[Joe of loath]

With the sansa fuze and clip+, does the SD card interface with the library on the player? I can put a 32gb SD card in my Zen, but the id3 tags are only loaded into the database from songs on the internal memory.

I like the Cowon J3 and D3, but it's just so expensive. I could get a decent android tablet for half the price.

[Hwæt]

I was talking about this one:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Sansafuze.JPG/800px-Sansafuze.JPG

Oh alright, you meant that one. Sorry, some people just mix up Fuze 2 and Fuze+. That one is an excellent player.

[VanR]

With the sansa fuze and clip+, does the SD card interface with the library on the player? I can put a 32gb SD card in my Zen, but the id3 tags are only loaded into the database from songs on the internal memory.

I like the Cowon J3 and D3, but it's just so expensive. I could get a decent android tablet for half the price.

Yes all the songs on both the internal 4GB and external (removable) 4GB micro sd card appear in the menu on my Sansa Fuze. There does seem to be a small folder icon that tells you the song is on the removable card though. But you don't have to search for them separately if that is what you are asking.

[BrokenKingpin]

Look into the Archos MP3 players. They run Android so there is a tun of stuff you can do with them. They can be a bit expensive though.

[FreeTheBee]

I have a 32GB Cowon S9, the predecessor of the J3. The sound, screen and battery life are great. I would definitely go for a J3 if my player would break down now.
You could also check some reviews at anythingbutipod (http://www.anythingbutipod.com).

[Joe of loath]

Yes all the songs on both the internal 4GB and external (removable) 4GB micro sd card appear in the menu on my Sansa Fuze. There does seem to be a small folder icon that tells you the song is on the removable card though. But you don't have to search for them separately if that is what you are asking.

That's exactly what I want. I already have a smartphone, a PDA and a laptop, so I don't need an MP3 player that 'does apps' too :p My Zen is perfect, but only gives you filesystem access to the SD card. I might buy a bottom of the range fuze and put all my music on a 32gb micro SD card.