TOP 10 Best MP3 Players According to Customer Reviews

My rating may cause confusion: why describe mp3 when every smartphone has this function? According to experts, so far not a single mobile gadget can produce such a sound as a player. Even a budget line will improve the sound in "heavy" headphones, correct broken compressed files. Athletes and swimming enthusiasts will also be interested in my ranking of the best MP3 players of 2019. I will present the original models that can withstand real life, and not on the manufacturer's promises of diving. Original models with wireless communication should be of interest to users of full-size headphones, and why - the answer is in the description. Well, such a function as DAC is available only in players.

Inexpensive mp3 players

DIGMA U3 4Gb

A multi-functional budget player opens the rating. Works as an MP3 player, USB stick, radio. With a voice recorder and 4 GB of built-in memory, as in the Sony NWZ-B183F. Price - 1290 rubles.

Pros:

• Stylish sporty design. In shape - like a big flash drive.
• Built-in USB connector, protected by a cover.
• Simple mechanical operation with buttons.
• The information display backlight turns off automatically after 10-15 seconds to save power.
• Voice recorder recording in WAV format like DIGMA Z416B.
• Supports MP3, WMA, WAV files.
• You can listen to tracks on the car radio.
• Connect to a third party device via AUX.
• High-quality sound, adjustment through the equalizer.
• The maximum memory capacity is 64 GB, which is 2 times more than in DIGMA Z416B.
• Upgrade available.

Minuses:

• There is no hold button.
• Very "braked" control. If you need a track from another folder, then by clicking on the "menu", you will first go to the settings, and then you need to scroll to find the playlist. Then it will be transferred to "All Songs", then to "Albums" and only at the end to "Performers", where the track will be found.

Decent sound, beautiful view, versatility, built-in USB-connector, total memory capacity - 64 GB, which is 4 times more than in the Ritmix RF-4850 8Gb.

Ritmix RF-4850 8Gb

Considered a female model, decorated with Swarovski Zirconia crystals and pattern. Three body colors. Plays lossless audio format and AVI video, supports FM radio. The price is 1900 rubles.

Pros:

• High-quality sound in MP3, WMA, lossless FLAC / APE formats.
• Multifunctional: play music, record to a dictaphone like in DIGMA U3 4Gb, FM radio, display text files and photos.
• Large built-in memory - 8 GB, 2 times more than the Sony NWZ-B183F.
• The original "feminine" design.
• You can view graphic files just like in DIGMA Z416B.
• Slim - only 8.9mm.
• Large 1.8 ″ color LCD screen.
• Can be improved by the latest version, reflash.

Minuses:

• Mini USB, we could have put a modern micro, but we need an adapter.
• It plays tracks incorrectly, and "selects" unloved ones on its own. The same track may sound stuttering, and after a while it is already normal.

Users believe that the gadget is not worth its money: apart from the design, nothing stands out. The sound is poor, even the EQ setting does not correct the dull bass. The middle is flat, the top is squeaky. If functionality is important for watching video + music, then it is better to buy DIGMA Z416B or watch videos on your mobile.

DIGMA Z4 16GB

Player with audio processor AT J2127, with built-in audio decoder, support for traditional formats and lossless FLAC with zero loss of quality, with support for reading books and remembering the last opened page, Bluetooth support. Price - 2100 rubles.

Pros:

• Display with color LCD screen and support for ID3 tags. Reproduces videos, images, text materials.
• Communication protocol - Bluetooth for connection with wireless headphones or speakers.
• FM radio, like in the Ritmix RF-4850 8Gb, but with many preset stations - there are 30 of them.
• Autonomous work - 20 hours, as in the Sony NWZ-B183F.
• Charging via micro-USB from PowerBank.
• There is a special clip for attaching to clothes.
• The volume of built-in memory is 16 GB.
• Dictaphone with MP3 and WAV format recording as in DIGMA U3 4Gb.
• There is a variable speed playback function.

Minuses:

• I would like more memory - the same as in the DIGMA U3 4Gb 64 GB.
• There is no WMA support like the Ritmix RF-4850 8Gb or the Sony NWZ-B183F. Because of this, some compressed files do not open correctly.
• You can't write songs from the radio: it's very strange that the previous model of the DIGMA U3 4Gb brand has such an opportunity.

Excellent, according to reviews, a sports media player. Compact, lightweight, with a clip for fastening, it plays the whole range of "necessary" formats: MP3, WAV, APE, FLAC, OGG, AAC, M4A and images: JPG, BMP, GIF. Supports reading books, connects via Bluetooth to wireless gadgets. Long battery life - 20 hours, like Sony NWZ-B183F.

Sony NWZ-B183F

A classic model, miniature (its size is the same as that of a Bic lighter), with an aluminum body. With fast charging function and continuous playback up to 20 hours, like DIGMA Z4 16GB. Price - 2990 rubles.

Pros:

• Four vibrant body colors.
• The minimum number of plastic elements, the main material is aluminum.
• The ability to store, play music by folders.
• Fast charging in 3 minutes.
• Full charge recovery in 1 hour 10 minutes.
• There is a bass boost mode for electronic music.
• Bright screen backlight with wide viewing angle.

Minuses:

• Very fine print on display.
• The buttons are small, with a tight move.
• Only two formats - MP3 and WMA, even the budget DIGMA U3 4Gb supports more.
• The volume of built-in memory is scanty - 4 GB, there is no slot for a memory card, as in the Ritmix RF-4850 8Gb or DIGMA Z4 16GB.

According to reviews, you shouldn't pay almost 3 thousand for the model: the DIGMA Z4 16GB is much better in sound quality, memory capacity, ease of operation.

Hi-Fi players

Fiio M3K

A compact model with rounded sides, a silicone case, lightweight - 77 g, with a huge maximum memory card capacity - 2000 GB, with an audio DAC chip. Price - 6790 rubles.

Pros:

• Good MZK firmware with the most necessary functions: a player with covers, a file manager, playlists, a five-band equalizer.
• Microphone and ADC for monaural mp3 recording.
• The built-in AK4376A audio chip with its own amplifier, which is used in mobile devices, supports 32-bit encoding with low noise and low power consumption.
• Touch control with keys or vertical navigation bar.
• Perfectly plays any format of music.
• Can be used as a PC sound card to convert audio from digital to analog.
• OS Linux.
• Autonomous work - 23-26 hours, which is almost 2 times longer than in the Cayin N3. Standby time - up to 38 days.

Minuses:

• The screen is average in quality, in the bright sun you have to look for a viewing angle for information to be read.
• Low power, it is better not to connect high-impedance headphones and low-sensitivity full-size headphones to it.
• Poor recording quality.
• No FM radio like the Sony NW-A55.

A media player with decent sound, versatile across genres, with low background noise, with USB-DAC like the more expensive Sony NW-A55.

Cayin N3

Powerful yet compact model featuring a DAC chip, a full 130mW per channel amplifier into 32 ohms, Bluetooth wireless technology and aptX support. Price - 10980 rubles.

Pros:

• USB-C socket. Charging, access to a memory card, DAC function, reading flash drives, sound output to external DACs, coaxial output with a special adapter.
• You can control the buttons on the headset.
• The AK4490EN chip with reduced power consumption.
• Low-pass filter on the Texas Instruments OPA 1652 chip.
• Headphone amplifier OPA 1622.
• The 3-position Gain switch gives a better pairing compared to the 2-position in the Fiio M3K.
• Wireless Bluetooth v 4.0 with aptX support. Can be used as a transmitter or receiver.
• Ingenic X 1000 processor running Linux.
• Excellent sound for the mid-price segment.

Minuses:

• The touch buttons are not illuminated, it is difficult to hit them in the dark, they are located close.
• Unusual interface.

Perfectly balanced compact player with good sound. Unlike the Fiio M3K, it produces low frequencies with an emphasis in the mid-bass area, which impairs listening to rock compositions. But the smoothed middle frequencies "correct" low-quality recordings, transform them into "comfortable for listening".

Cowon PLENUE D

Restrained, no frills design, compact, high-resolution music sounding up to 100 hours in mp3 format and 50 hours in FLAC format, with a built-in stereo DAC. Price - 14,500 rubles.

Pros:

• Built-in memory with a volume of 32 GB.
• Touch screen like Sony NW-A55.
• Digital equalizer with forty-eight user, genre, for a certain type of headphone presets.
• Long battery life - up to 100 hours - in mp3 mode.
• Intuitive interface.
• Excellent sorting of music by genre.
• Touchscreen display and keyboard. Nicely drowning buttons.
• The harmonic distortion level is 0.0004%.

Minuses:

• Player only, no USB DAC capability like the Cayin N3 or Fiio M3K.
• Not enough memory, you could catch up to 128 GB.

A model without any "side" features like a USB DAC like the Cayin N3, it's just a great music player. It reproduces music of all genres, according to reviewers and testers, 100% for its niche. Built-in high-class DAC, responsive interface, powerful proprietary processing complex JefEffect 5, five-band equalizer with 48 different presets, BBE, Mach3Bass, 3D
Surround, MP Enhace. The player plays well with any, even "crooked" headphones with low sensitivity or high impedance.

Sony NW-A55

Player with fast Bluetooth streaming, full HD aptX support, noise canceling function, connects to MAC and Window, USB DAC. Autonomous work - up to 45 hours. Price - 16,900 rubles.

Pros:

• The special assembly technology increases the sound quality: first-class frame made of milled aluminum, soldering the board lead-free with gold, gold-plated on the built-in plate and contact springs.
• Ergonomically located control buttons are located in the dark and by touch the first time.
• The LDACTM audio profile with a traditional Bluetooth connection increases the data transfer rate by 3 times compared to a regular audio profile.
• Upgradeable firmware.
• Noise canceling function, ambient sound mode.
• Like the Cayin N3 or Fiio M3K, it can be used as a player or via a USB connection as a DAC.
• Resolution upscaling technology for recovering compressed DSEE HX and S-Master HX audio files.
• Vinyl processor, equalizer.
• Its own type of charging connector is proprietary.

Minuses:

• Quiet sound, you have to twist it to the maximum. I would like, as in Cowon PLENUE D, up to 130 mW.
• Doesn't support OGG format like Cayin N3 or Cowon PLENUE D.

An excellent player with normal "live" sound, not sterile, as in Cowon PLENUE D (according to reviews). Simple clear menu, user-friendly interface, scrolls in 4 directions, provides quick access to settings. Remembers the track and its storage location. Can be listened to in mp3 or FLAC. The sound is well detailed, the highs do not hurt the ear, dense with a distinct lower register of low frequencies. Sound reproduction is 100% higher than in any smartphone.

Sports Players

Sony NW-WS625

Compact, lightweight headset - headphones + player with built-in memory of 16 GB, remote reception from mobile gadgets via Bluetooth / NFC, with a waterproof built-in microphone. Price - 9,900 rubles.

Pros:

• Special "licked" shape, light weight - 32 g.
• Increased IPX68 water resistance: the gadget can be immersed in a pond to a depth of 2 m for up to 30 minutes.
• Complete set with ear pads of different sizes and properties. There are regular and waterproof liners.
• Control - on the earpiece or through an external remote control made in the form of a ring. The remote control is protected only from splashes, sweat, rain.
• Autonomous work - up to 12 hours.
• Own connector for charging, as in the Sony NW-A55.
• There is a quick charge function for 3 minutes.

Minuses:

• Mediocre sound. Could provide at least 2 timbre modes on the equalizer to switch when changing ear pads. And so, when changing waterproof earbuds, the sound becomes dull, like in a barrel.
• The docking station must be carried with you at all times; the gadget is not charged from another source.

According to user reviews, one of the best waterproof sports gadgets. Convenient for active sports, can be used as a Bluetooth headset. The player will not satisfy special audiophile needs: the sound is simple, with emphasized highs. The bass is average, enough for any compositions and genres. If you need both sound and the ability to do sports, that is, not such advanced gadgets for water resistance, but with good sound, I recommend DIGMA Z4 16GB.

AfterShokz Xtrainerz

Another sports model with the same level of water resistance as the Sony NW-WS625. It is positioned as a special swimming gadget. Push-button control, flexible titanium frame. Price - 12,900 rubles.

Pros:

• Dust and waterproof.
• Ergonomic fit thanks to the flexible and lightweight titanium headband.
• Special Open Fit design. The ears are open, you can hear the surrounding noises when exercising outdoors.
• Charges quickly (in 90 minutes) via a standard USB connector.
• Bass and volume boost function underwater.

Minus:

• No wireless connection.

An excellent model for swimming, for diving to a depth of 2 meters in fresh and salt water. Unlike the Sony NW-WS625, an equalizer is built in to improve sound (land / water).