Best MP3 player 2021: TechRadar's guide to the best portable music players

Date:
Thu, 24 Jun 2021 12:46:16 +0000

Description:
Looking for the best MP3 player for you and think the iPod is the only name
in the game? Think again.

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Think MP3 players are an obsolete technology? Think again.

The best MP3 players of 2021 are far more advanced than you may have
imagined. Sure, they're not as popular as they used to be, now that music streaming services have made music listening on the go easier than ever, but theyre not an obsolete technology by any means.

Theres still a lot to love about MP3 players and plenty of devices to choose from and no, were not going to recommend a bunch of old iPods to you (though the latest iPod Touch is on this list).

But why might you want an MP3 player over using your regular phone to play music? Maybe you just dont want to be tethered to your phone all the time or maybe you want to save your precious mobile data and battery while out and about.

The best MP3 players are a solid option if youre trying to reduce your screen time, allowing you to leave the house without your smartphone but still access all of your favorite tunes.

These days, the best MP3 players on the market are capable of storing your music library at a much higher bitrate than your 2009 iPod Shuffle ever
could. That means, with a pair of great-sounding headphones to boot, high-quality music can travel with you wherever you go.

MP3 players have also had a significant design upgrade over the last decade
or so, which means added durability and sleeker styles to slip in your
pocket. Thanks to new innovations in audio engineering, theyre also
constantly getting better and improving on sound, with features like hi-res audio support and built-in DAC s (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) becoming commonplace.

If youre on the hunt for the best MP3 players that you can buy in 2021,
you're in the right place. Weve selected the top choices and weve included everything you need to know to make the best buying decision. Our top picks (Image credit: Onkyo) 1. Onkyo DP-X1A

Powerful, spacious and easy-to-use, the Onkyo DP-X1A is at the top of its class Amazing sound quality Android makes for top ease-of-use Two microSD
card slots! A little chunky

Onkyo has been a well-known and esteemed name in audio for years, and for
good reason. The Onkyo DP-X1A may not be the most compact device on this
list, but we think it's the best MP3 player you can buy, offering lots of customizability, an intuitive interface, and fantastic sound quality.

Lets start with the design, which is pretty attractive. In general, the
DP-X1A looks a little bit like a phone, but much thicker, and is completely optimized for audio use. How so? Well, for starters, it has two audio ports one headphone jack and one balanced output for those interested in a cleaner and overall better quality sound. Additionally, the device has an easy-to-use volume wheel, as well as physical playback buttons and two microSD card slots for those with a sizable collection of music.

The player is built with a full version of Android 5.1, complete with
features like Wi-Fi connectivity and the Google Play Store, which results in an MP3 Player that is to Android what the iPod Touch is to iOS. Unlike the iPod, however, the Onkyo DP-X1A is built for super-high-quality audio.

Speaking of the sound quality, it's an absolute dream. It supports a range of music formats, including FLAC, OGG, WAV, MP3, ALAC, and more. In terms of hardware, the device has two chipsets, one to power the overall device, and one to handle the DAC and amplifier resulting in a noise-free experience.

We tested the player with multiple pairs of headphones across multiple price ranges, and were stunned with the clarity and exceptional quality of the audio. Theres a reason the Onkyo DP-X1A sits atop this list its a beast in the portable audio world.

Read more: Onkyo DP-X1A Digital Audio Player review

It seems the Onkyo DP-X1A is currently sold out in the UK for a fantastic alternative, check out the Astell & Kern model below: (Image credit: Astell & Kern) 2. Astell & Kern A&norma SR25

An impressive MP3 player that will make Hi-Res Audio files sing Great design 21-hour battery life Bluetooth LDAC Pricey

The Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 is an impressive MP3 player that's designed to make your Hi-Res Audio files really sing, thanks to a new performance mode, support for balanced audio connections, and Bluetooth LDAC wireless compatibility.

With a unique, off-center design and aluminum body, it certainly looks the part, and its touch screen is bright and easy to use.

Inside the SR25 is the Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 Master Hi-Fi level DAC,
while native support for DSD256 and 32-bit/384kHz audio is more than enough
to satisfy even the most discerning audiophiles.

With Wi-Fi connectivity, you have access to streaming services including Deezer and Tidal , while Bluetooth aptX ensure listening with wireless headphones needn't sound inferior to wired connections. (Image credit: Apple) 3. Apple iPod Touch (7th Generation)

The age of the iPod isn't over yet - this is still one of the best MP3
players Well-designed Tons of apps Audio formats limited No Touch ID

Apple took us all by surprise when it announced the iPod touch 7, the first upgrade to its portable music and video player since 2015.

With enhancements to power, capability, and communication, the updated iPod touch is fully geared towards gaming, with the release coming just in time
for the launch of Apple's gaming service, Apple Arcade .

The bigger upgrade, at least for audio enthusiasts, is the support for the Hi-Res Audio codec FLAC, as well as Apple Lossless, giving you more options than ever when it comes to accessing audiophile-quality music.

Using a Hi-Res Audio playback app for iOS called Vox, we listened to Mozarts Requiem in D Minor. The strings had a warm and natural quality, while soprano vocal duets soared sweetly above the mix without ever sounding harsh.

In our review we also tested out the inbuilt speaker at the bottom of the
iPod touch, and it packs quite a punch despite its size. It wont do for listening to your Hi-Res music, but if just want a little background music
for your gaming sessions and cant be bothered to dig your headphones out, it works just fine.

If you need a new MP3 player, and you don't mind using Apple Music, the iPod Touch will do just fine.

Read more: iPod Touch (7th Generation) review (Image credit: Astell & Kern) 4. Astell & Kern AK Jr

Looking for the middle-of-the-road option? Check out the AK Jr Beautifully designed Audio sounds great Offers Bluetooth Touchscreen isn't responsive enough

Astell & Kern is known for building top-notch audio devices at reasonable prices, and for that reason we think the Astell & Kern AK Jr is the best mid-range MP3 player out of the ones we've seen (and heard). In fact, after spending some time using it, we would argue that its a pretty serious contender against even much more expensive players.

Before diving into the players capabilities, youll notice how well-designed
it is. The sleek, metallic look is very classy, and using it gives you a similar status symbol feel as youll get with the iPhone.

The AK Jr comes in at $259 / 250 / AU$399, which is a very reasonable price for a device of this calibre. For that price, youll get 64GB of onboard storage, though there is a microSD card slot in case you want to expand upon that storage. On top of that, it supports all major audio formats, including FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, and more and its able to play at sample rates of up to 192kHz.

The interface of the device is relatively easy to control, too. The home screen simply gives you options for songs, albums, artists, and so on.

Tap through using the touchscreen, and youll be able to select the music you want to listen to. It would be nice if that touchscreen was a little more responsive, but you get used to it. Battery life sits in at around nine
hours, which isn't amazing, but not terrible either.

So how does it sound? In one word: beautiful.

Music is dynamic and crisp, with a nice and powerful sound in every aspect. The soundstage on these, when paired with a great pair of headphones, is huge
thats to say the left and right are clearly defined, while instruments
placed at the center of a mix are given plenty of room to breathe. We particularly enjoyed the guitar solo on AC/DCs Back in Black, while Eminems rap on Lose Yourself cut straight through the mix exactly the way it was supposed to.

This model is currently out of stock in the US check out the Astell & Kern SR25 for a fantastic alternative. (Image credit: SanDisk) 5. SanDisk Clip Sport Plus

Heading to practice? Don't forget your SanDisk Clip Sport Plus Ultra-portable Inexpensive Easy-to-use Audio quality isnt as good as others

Looking for the best MP3 player to take running with you? If so, you probably want something small and light it probably doesnt need to hold days worth of music, and it probably doesnt need to offer the highest audio quality out there. Most of all, you probably dont want to fork out a ton of cash for it.

If thats you, in our view, the SanDisk Clip Sport Plus is the best option.

For starters, the device offers 16GB of storage, and while that may not be much for your phone, 16GB can hold a ton of songs. On top of that, despite being built for sport, it actually supports a pretty wide range of audio formats including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and WMA.

Perhaps most important for a device like this is the battery life, and itll last you a good 20 hours. Youll even get Bluetooth, which is a huge deal for many who will be using this while running or performing other activities and dont want cables to get in the way.

The interface is relatively easy to use too. Sure, its a little dated, and isnt as powerful as what youll find on your smartphone, but its still capable as a music player. Its not touch-sensitive, though: instead, you navigate through hardware buttons that also serve as playback controls when music is playing, but we didnt have any issues.

As for the sound, as long as you dont expect full audiophile-level quality here (you wont get it), we think you'll find the sound very capable. Overall it's slightly muddy with a small dip in clarity, but for most that wont
matter especially when you're out on a run or hitting the weights at the
gym. Tips and tricks How to choose the best MP3 player for you Additional resources

Need new headphones for your new MP3 Player? These are the best headphones
of 2021 , including the best over-ear headphones , on-ear headphones , in-ear headphones , noise-cancelling headphones , and more.

Tired of being tethered to your player? Don't miss our round-up of the best wireless headphones , the best true wireless earbuds and best wireless
earbuds .

Confused by the terminology? Brush up on your audio knowledge in our guides to Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos Music .

Looking for headphones you can take in the pool or on your run? Check out
our guide to the best swimming headphones and best running headphones .

So, what do you need to consider when looking for the best MP3 player? Well, the most important thing you need to think about is the audio codec your
music library is in.

Anyone who uses Apple Music will probably have a music library completely filled with Apples proprietary AAC codec, and luckily most MP3 players will support that codec. However, if you consider yourself an audiophile, youll need support for lossless codecs like FLAC, WAV and ALAC, as these codecs
dont use the compression methods used on lossy codecs like AAC or MP3.

Youll also need to consider how much music is in your, well, music collection and then how much storage youll need. This is especially the case when youre using codecs like FLAC, which just devour space. The best MP3 players often have an included microSD card slot, which allows you to expand upon the included storage as your library expands but normally only up to a certain size, normally around 512GB.

Here's the best part though: unlike smartphones, the best MP3 players are built to last, so theres no need to go on an endless two-year upgrade-cycle like you might with a smartphone. This means its probably in your best interests to take some time and find the one thats right for you, as you will probably be using it for a few years to come. Looking for a something to listen to on your new MP3 player? Check out our list of the best podcasts around. MP3 player deals



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