MP3 players are making a comeback with travellers – seven devices you should try out
A handy size, and with better audio than your smartphone, these one-trick devices – increasingly known as ‘digital audio players’ – are ideal for travel and exercise
Who needs an MP3 player, especially since playing music while on the go migrated to smartphones some time ago? Well, it seems there’s still a place today for them among travellers, active people and audiophiles.
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Given that smartphones are primarily designed for communication, relying on a separate MP3 player for music saves your phone’s battery. That could be crucial on long journeys. For runs and swims, a purpose-built MP3 player – such as a small clip-on MP3 player or even a waterproof all-in-one device – can be much more convenient than a phone.
However, the main reason that people are turning back to a separate “digital audio player” is sound quality; most of these new models concentrate on high-resolution music, and are purpose-built for much better sound quality than your smartphone.
Sony Walkman NW-A30
It may be a brand most commonly associated with the portable cassette players of the 1980s, but Sony’s Walkmans continue to impress in the digital age. Its 16GB storage isn’t much if you plan to make use of its high-resolution audio playback mode, but its choice of bold colours and its good value help the NW-A30 (from HK$1,680, US$215) stand out from the crowd.
Available at sony.com.hk
Apple iPod Shuffle
Is there any better MP3 player for exercise or ultra-light travel than Apple’s smallest MP3 player? Available in grey, gold, silver, pink, blue and red, this tiny, 12.5 gram device (HK$388) stores just 2GB of music and plays them in random order only. It was discontinued by Apple a few months ago, so grab it while you can.