No, you didn't accidentally enter a time machine back to 2005. Believe it or not, the MP3 player is not dead. Well, that actually depends on what you think of when you think of an MP3 player. Sure, the classic iPods of yesteryear might be out of the picture, as our smartphones can do everything they can and more. But, there is still room for a dedicated device for audio, whether it’s for a much higher quality of audio or simply to have a compact, affordable option that doesn't get weighed down with all the additional functions of a phone.
The term MP3 player is used loosely here, as playing lossy MP3 files is the least of what some can do. We’ve found options that feature powerful DACs and amplifiers, giving you the premium sound and power to use with high-end over-ear headphones or earbuds. You'll also find substantial support for different audio formats, various connectivity options, and more storage flexibility in many of these devices. So, if you're looking for a portable home for your music library, you'll find it here.
TL;DR – These are the Best MP3 Players:
- Apple iPod Touch
- Mighty Vibe
- FiiO M11Plus
- Sony NW-A306 Walkman
- Astell&Kern Kann Max
- SanDisk Clip Jam
Apple iPod Touch
Best MP3 Player
Apple has stopped manufacturing and selling the final iPod available, the iPod Touch, but you can still grab the device that led the way in the MP3 player market from certain retailers online. This iPod lets you load up on a library of MP3s, though it doesn’t boast the highest-end DACs or heaps of storage. However, you can listen to music from Spotify and just about any other streaming app with a Wi-Fi connection.
The iPod Touch features a sleek and slim form factor paired with a dependable touchscreen display running on a familiar operating system. Unlike the past several generations of iPhones, you actually have a jack to plug your headphones directly into the device, or there’s Bluetooth for wireless playback. It doesn’t stop there, as the iPod Touch can do just about anything the iPhone does, including gaming and taking photos, except you can’t connect to cellular networks.
Mighty Vibe
Best Budget MP3 Player
The Might Vibe is reminiscent of the iPod Shuffle, featuring the same compact, screenless design with basic controls and simple functionality. You get handy clip to attach it to clothes, while water and sweat resistance means your good to take it to the gym or on hikes when you want to leave your phone at home. With up to 5 hours of playback it should last through most workout sessions and 8GB of storage holds about 1,000 songs for on the go listening.
To get using the device requires the Mighty app and either a Spotify Premium or Amazon Music subscription. From there you download music or podcasts for listening offline, and the Mighty Vibe even automatically syncs your playlists wirelessly. When you’re ready to get listening, there’s both a wired headphone input or Bluetooth. Not bad for a price just over $100.
FiiO M11Plus
Best MP3 Player Under $1000
Not for the casual listener, the FiiO M11Plus is pricey and meant for audiophiles. With it comes support for a broad range of file formats, from classics like MP3 and WAV to FLAC, OGG, and more. The device makes the most of those hi-res file formats thanks to the twin ESS ES9068AS DAC chips and THX AAA-78 amp, providing a hard-to-beat, insanely wide soundstage and stunning detail.
The FiiO M11Plus delivers a solid but slightly bulky music player with a brilliant 5.5-inch touchscreen alongside a volume slider and a programmable button on the side. 64GB of storage is built-in to get you started, though if you have a library full of high-res audio, you’ll need to take advantage of the microSD slot. You also get three audio ports—2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm. Two-way Bluetooth is available for a wireless audio solution, and there’s even support for the LDAC and aptX HD codec.
Sony NW-A306 Walkman
Best MP3 Player Under $500
Sony’s NW-A306 Walkman doesn’t offer all the functionality of the iPad Touch, but it leaps way ahead of Apple where it counts; audio experience. It’s ready to level up your sound with the S-Master HX amplifier and DSD support that helps turn your favorite lossless and master-quality audio files into powerful performances. You get a 3.5mm input for those audiophiles who prefer the ultimate listening experience. But when going wireless via Bluetooth, there’s support for aptX HD and LDAC codecs for a near lossless audio stream on supported headphones.
Weighing a quarter pound and being less than half an inch thick, this compact device can go anywhere. The Sony NW-A306 even runs on Android 12 and supports WiFi to stream music. That comes in handy, as it offers a light 32GB storage capacity, but you can always slot in your own microSD to store the extra-large files from audio formats like FLAC and WAV. As an added perk, this MP3 player also serves as a USB DAC connected to your computer when you’re at home.
Astell&Kern Kann Max
Best MP3 Player When Price is No Object
If you’re all-in on high-fidelity audio and willing to spend some serious dough, then the Astell&Kern Kann Max is the ultimate DAP. Powering it is an ESS ES9038Q2M quad-DAC for incredible output performance and low noise. You get four gain levels along with 15 Vrms output, driving your headphones to their optimal state, while playback at 32-bit/768Hz and DSD up to 22.4MHz means you’ll find uncompressed level sound quality.
All that capability lets you take your favorite lossless audio files and play them through your headphones on the go, whether they are balanced, unbalanced, or even wireless Bluetooth headphones with LDAC or aptX HD support. The output jacks are also gold PVD coated to prevent contact noise and improve function. Everything is housed in a sleek aluminum frame and ceramic chassis with a handy touchscreen display to navigate your music library.
SanDisk Clip Jam
Best Impulse Buy MP3 Player
You aren’t going to find quality amps and audio converters on the ultra-cheap SanDisk Clip Jam, though you might be surprised by what you can get for $30. With its compact size and built-in clip, it’s the perfect audio player to take on runs or give to your kids, especially if you don’t want to deal with an expensive portable device. You even get a handful of bright colors to choose from and a screen that displays the song playing.
The SanDisk Clip Jam doesn’t offer wireless connectivity, nor does it support apps or streaming, but there is an FM tuner to get the radio. And you can add a microSD card to augment the 8GB of onboard memory for a total of 40GB to house some of your music library. It also plays MP3, WMA, AASC, OGG, WAV, and FLAC tracks, so this MP3 player might be all you need.
What to Look for in a Portable Music Player
We tend to call portable music players “MP3 players,” a tacit acknowledgment of the overwhelming popularity of that lossy, highly compromised audio format. But, the most important consideration when shopping for a player is to make sure it supports the format your music happens to be stored in. That might include Apple iTunes tracks in AAC format, or high-quality “audiophile” tracks in FLAC, OGG, or lossless DSD files. Keep an eye on storage capacity as well: A modestly-sized music collection of high-bitrate music can easily climb into the hundreds of gigabytes.
Most audiophiles already know the value of a high-quality digital-to-analog converter (DAC). An MP3 player with a high-quality DAC can easily sound better than your PC’s onboard sound card. And while the advantages of putting a pair of DACs in an MP3 player are debatable, driving the left and right stereo channels with discrete amplifiers can certainly ensure accurate sound reproduction.
Should you care about getting an MP3 with a balanced audio port? It depends upon how good your headphones and hearing are. A balanced port can reduce line hum and increase the signal-to-noise ratio, letting you hear more of your music. But you need to be able to swap a standard 3.5mm headphone cable for a 2.5mm balanced cable – and your headphones ideally need to be designed for balanced connections, or there’s no point.
And if you want to connect your player wirelessly, look for Bluetooth support – ideally, with aptX wireless codec support for higher-quality audio. Otherwise, shop for your audio player by asking the same questions you’d ask for any portable device – do you like the interface, for example, how long does the battery last, and do you want it to do anything besides play music, like run apps or play games.
Dave Johnson has been writing about gaming and tech since the days of the Palm Pilot. See him shout into the Twitter void @davejoh.
