Sure, I've got some BIG MP3 players (including a 160 GB iPOD), but what I'm looking for is something very small that doesn't have to hold a lot of songs.
 
Does anyone have an opinion about what to get?
 
Do those that strap to your arm work well?
 
Cheap is good.
 
I'm thinking about using this while walking, exercising or during training (for dart competitions).
 
TIA!

What about an iPod Shuffle?

Or a bit bigger, an iPod Mini?

I personally use my multi-purpose Samsung Galaxy smartphone now-a-days when portability is required. Just an option to consider. I have an armband for it that does work okay, although it seems like something better could be created. I just have not thought of it yet. I also use a set of Wireless Bluetooth headphones with it. The smartphone apps and storage capabilities today make them viable competitors for the singular purposed audio players, provided you want a phone also.

craigb


Sure, I've got some BIG MP3 players (including a 160 GB iPOD), but what I'm looking for is something very small that doesn't have to hold a lot of songs.
 
Does anyone have an opinion about what to get?
 
Do those that strap to your arm work well?
 
Cheap is good.
 
I'm thinking about using this while walking, exercising or during training (for dart competitions).
 
TIA!
 

 
I have this one..http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/tv-audio-video/mp3-digital-audio/audio-players/YP-U6AB/XEU-spec as my cheap and cheerful one that I can leave lying around on the beach etc and not be bothered about it getting damaged / stolen. Battery lasts for ages and charges quicker than it says it will. The earphones weren't too bad, but I use the ones that came with my samsung phone because they are better.
 

This?

You might check out the Sansa Sandisk models.  Some of them are pretty small.  I have one that has a slot for a microSD memory.  I added a 32G to it and was able to put 900 wave files on it.  I really like not having to convert to mp3.  I just plugged the mSD into my PC and copied the files.  

Good luck in your search.  

If you're already in the apple realm with the iPod anyway, I would think the logical choice would be an iPod shuffle (as already suggested).

I think they're only about $50

Hi,

I have a small iPod, but sadly, when I put in there my own mp3's it trashes them, and they are all high quality mp3's ... it doesn't sound bad per se, but it has no "depth" of quality to the music, and I no longer use it!

I listen to music to trip and enjoy all the trips ... it is not an exercise in some imaginary mental activity or to find out if I played the right note or not, thus the quality and fidelity is important to me!

First of all, I wouldn't buy anything with an "i" in front of it. Not if you care about fidelity, anyway.

I've had a number of inexpensive players and they were all crapola. Aliasing galore and bass-hyping EQ whether you want it or not. 

I finally got fed up and spent a little money, not for the gobs of storage (32GB, expandable to 64GB) but for the hi-fi playback quality, which is flat and full-spectrum, and with enough power to drive any headphones. At ~ 2" x 4" it's not tiny but easily fits into a shirt pocket. The 16GB version is about 90 bucks less.

Here's a review of it.

If you do get some generic player, be sure to buy it somewhere that'll give you a no-hassle refund. You might want to load up some acoustic guitar and audition it before you get too far from the store.

Cool.  Thanks for the ideas!

Not sure about the iPOD Shuffle, I don't see how you can select what you want (no screen?) or how you can stuff it in a pocket without hitting those buttons.

The Samsung, San-Disk and the Coby all look pretty interesting.  The price on the Coby looks worthy of a gamble too...   Hmm...

I picked up a Sansa Clip for under 30.00 on a sale, and it seems to be fine for ordinary listening. It is small, with a good enough battery life, and expandable with inexpensive SD cards, and it has a flimsy clip that will hold it to something you are wearing (jogging maybe, wrestling or trampoline definitely not).

I have a pretty limited expectation from an MP3 player, and am blessed with pretty ordinary ears. A similar undiscriminating palate for fine wine has saved me a great deal of money over the years, while doing nothing to protect my liver. I do not expect an MP3 player to be able to power over-the-ear headphones or wow me with the subtlety of the recordist's art. It will play Ogg if you are one of the unfortunate few who can appreciate the failings of MP3 encoding.

http://mp3support.sandisk.com/downloads/um/clipplus-en-um-03112.pdf