MP3 players

[We Are Legion]

I've been using my Android phone as a portable MP3 player for the past year, but due to many reasons, it is simply not practical as a primary music playing device sometimes due to battery, android's shoddy music library organization, and a lack of EQ settings.

So I was looking to get a new portable MP3 player, but I've heard of issues with iPod. For one, I've heard you have to convert each file to a different format before it will play, which could be an issue considering my exceptionally large library. I would rather not double the size of it and need to do another step before simply dropping the files onto my portable device.

I've also heard ipods can sometimes not play certain files judged by their authenticity or legality, which would be a problem considering much of my collection may or may not have been purchased.

Is iPod really that much of a pain in the ass or is there a similar brand or device I could use instead? My biggest concerns are EQ settings and an easily manageable library, hopefully one that could separate music by genre first (easiest top category for me).

And just a side question, what are some LOUD headphones? I was set on the Beats by Dre for aesthetics alone, but I have no idea how they measure up decibel-wise to other brands because the local Best Buy won't let me unplug them from their machine and test them. Over-the-ear style is what I want, tired of uncomfortable on-ear styles.

TL;DR - I need a simple no-bullshit MP3 player with EQ settings and loud fucking headphones that fit over my ears... help please.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

For headphones I have a pair of Sony, cost me around $70 and compare alongside most Skullcandy headphones of the OTE style. I would recommend the Sony only due to them being about $30 cheaper.

Also I have never encountered any of those issues with an iPod, but I also update mine from my friends Mac since it does update your entire library on the PC, and you can simply add the new songs on the Mac.

 

[We Are Legion]

Well unfortunately I have no access to a Mac or normally have any interest in Apple products. That's sort of another reason I'm trying to avoid an iPod. Once they get you with one product, they try to reel you in.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

Except when it comes to mp3 players your only real option for not wasting money is an iPod, and it really sucks that its been on the market for about a decade now, and nobody has come close to matching the quality.

My advice would be to find an older generation with a relatively manageable hard drive(dependant entirely on your computers hard drive) so you can keep your playlist and just update it whenever you need to. It will be a bitch and take forever if the iPods HD is too large, and with an older model you wont be paying out of your ass, or to Apple.

 

[We Are Legion]

Might have to. It sucks though because I know there are other brands, I just don't know anything about them and everyone I know uses iPod for that stuff. Gonna dig a little deeper but hopefully I wont have to bite the bullet.

 

[Slim]

As far as headphones go... I'd go with Beats by Dre. That was just top notch and best I heard in all the different types of headphones and everything that I've tried out over the years. The price tag definitely hurts but... the sound... mannnn it is so nice.

 

[Crippler]

I agree on the Beats as i got a pair for Christmas, shit is legit. As for MP3 player ever heard of the iriver i had one and it played all formats and was totally easy to use.

 

[ThatGuyFromNukemHigh]

One of my friends tried out a Sony, & a Zune before finally buying an iPod. The Zune's HD crashed after the 3 month warranty ran out, and the Sony's battery went to shit after about 4-5 months. I have had my iPod for 6 years now, the battery is getting shitty only lasting about an hour, but for my own needs it really isnt a problem, and I use a dock when Im home.

 

[We Are Legion]

Yeah I was gonna swing for one of the over-the-ear Dre Beats headphones. Definitely pricy, but it's probably the best portable headphones.

I actually downloaded a nice music app for my phone called NRG Player. It's actually got everything I need, very easy to use, and it has a preamp for louder output. Now all I need are headphones that can handle it.

 

[We Are Legion]

As far as headphones go... I'd go with Beats by Dre. That was just top notch and best I heard in all the different types of headphones and everything that I've tried out over the years. The price tag definitely hurts but... the sound... mannnn it is so nice.

I agree on the Beats as i got a pair for Christmas, shit is legit. As for MP3 player ever heard of the iriver i had one and it played all formats and was totally easy to use.

Quick question about those Beats headphones... how's the loudness? I mean like, are they actually LOUDER than most headphones or just clearer-sounding?

 

[Slim]

Well I always went for clarity and so I didn't put up as loud as it could. But I can say that as loud as I had it... there was no obstruction or sound or anything. Stayed clear, everything.

 

[Ryan]

Personally, I purchased the latest generation iPod Nano about a month ago and I think it's fantastic. I've always just bought into Apple when it came to music players because the quality is so unbelievably superior to just about every other mp3 player on the market that it's almost laughable. I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 that I use when I'm at school, but it just doesn't compare when it comes to playing music because Samsung doesn't have a music management program for the phone so you can't really edit your library without copying it all over from iTunes again. Suffice to say it's an enormous pain in the ass. As for a standalone music player, I'd bite the bullet and just buy an iPod. If you spend even $100 on any other music player, the 50 extra dollars you would have spent on a Nano like the one I have will have been worth it because when it comes to music, EVERYTHING is iPod compatible and Apple has done a phenomenal job of just making it easy. Admittedly, iTunes isn't the greatest music player, but everything to do with the iPod is just so user friendly. In addition, if you've never had an iPod before, now is almost the perfect time to buy in because they JUST changed the connector from the 30 pin connector to the lightning connector, which, as much as people bitch about, is WAY faster than the old connector. I guess that switch didn't quite bother me as much because I don't have tons of appliances compatible with the old connector and because I still have my old iPod should I ever want to use my sound dock. As for music not working because it's not purchased, that's just not true in most cases. I have plenty of mixtapes that I listen to all the time and they were all free and I have no problems.

As far as headphones go, I just use the ones that came with the iPod. The new earbuds are actually pretty good considering they come with the iPod. I think they're comfortable, the sound is good and, as I said, they came with the iPod.