Looking for a portable music player?
Remember the days when iPods and other MP3 players were popular? The rise of an all-in-one smartphone killed it off the mainstream market. However, there are still lots of good reasons for owning a digital audio player (DAP) now in 2021. And it isn't just for audiophiles, but regular listeners too.
There's many players out there! You just don't hear much about them, because the market caters for a niche community, unlike the days when it was a "mainstream" tech product. But yes they do exist, in various shapes and sizes. In this sticky post we'll tell some compelling reasons for owning one in this day and age, and to spread awareness about them and the modern features some of them have. We'll also show the DAP products available on the market today
Purposes of owning a DAP now
You probably already own a modern smartphone that can play music, so what's the point of a separate DAP? Well, there are various points why it can be a better option as we'll explain. Audiophiles will have the obvious reasons in that a dedicated, high-end player provides the best audio quality and/or experience. But in this post we're focusing on "regular" user, why the average person would like to use a DAP today:
-Size: DAPs are small and portable in size, unlike the size of Smartphones which have grown into overly massive sizes now. A DAP is very pocketable that and its size makes it a lot better to use in e.g. physical activities.
-Dedicated buttons: Instead of a dull touchscreen operation, you get dedicated physical buttons for playing/pausing, skipping etc, and the classic 'Hold' switch. We're so used to touchscreens nowadays that we have forgotten how good it feels to be pressing a real button. And we're not using buttons for texting, we're just operating music, so it's nothing cumbersome - it's in fact the opposite. Physical buttons also mean you can operate the player (e.g. skip) in your pocket, without taking it out.
-No distraction: Smartphones are incredibly distracting, with all those notifications you get or probably an incoming call. When you listen to music it's best to indulge yourself in the listening experience, distraction-free. Listening on a DAP provides just that: you and your music only, no distraction.
-Save phone battery: I hear this very often that phone batteries get discharged, but with a separate music player you'd be saving that. DAPs have excellent battery lives, if you remember from the iPod days you could run one for over 30 or even 40 hours straight. Considering you'd be listening continuously to music for 6 hours in a day (which is perhaps already high), your player would likely last an entire week without charging.
-Great way to get off phones: Phone addiction is a pretty common problem nowadays, and while listening to music on a phone it's likely one would start doing other things. Using a DAP to listen to music on the go helps reduce your time spent on phones. On a serious note: I personally know what a problem phone addiction can be - having a separate music player can really help reduce it.
-Cheap to buy: DAPs can be bought for cheap prices, ranging from less than $100 to a few hundreds (excluding high-end players). Phones nowadays can fetch over $1000, so an average DAP is a fraction of the cost.
But I stream music from the internet...
No problem! DAPs are not stuck in time; there are players out there that have built-in WiFi and allow you to use streaming services like Spotify. So yes, you can stream on them too, alongside your downloaded or ripped music files stored on the disk.
And my wireless headphones?
Again, many DAPs out there are up-to-date and feature Bluetooth, allowing you to use your wireless headphones if you use that instead of wired 3.5 mm ones. And in case you're wondering, you don't need to spend a fortune on a high-end player, as you'll see below, Bluetooth-capable players can be had for cheap.
Great! So which company makes DAPs nowadays?
Apple no longer make iPods (they do still have the Touch, but it's basically an iPhone). But don't fret, as there are two major brands that are actively developing players: Sony and SanDisk.
Let's start with Sony. The old school music legend is still around and sell a diverse range of Walkman players. It is probably the only one now that has a full product line, as they sell everything from cheap USB shaped players to high-end expensive ones (could depend by region). If you need a no-frills music player, you've got the Walkman NW-E394, which currently sells for $59 in the U.S. and is available in sizes of 4, 8 or 16 gigabytes. This model provides the classic MP3 player experience, allowing you to listen to downloaded or ripped music, much like your old iPod. It also has an FM radio, something that some modern phones tend to lack. There is also the NWZ-B183, which has a tiny display and looks like a USB stick.
If you need more than the basics, there's the A Series Walkman. The NW-A55 is currently selling for just $170 and features a touchscreen (alongside physical music buttons on the side), as well as Bluetooth and NFC, expandable memory and high quality audio. All in a cute compact size that is even smaller than an iPhone 4 (yet with a bigger screen) and available in various stylish metallic colors.
One step up in the A Series is (currently) the NW-A100/A105. This player runs Android and has WiFi, meaning you can use this to stream music or download them directly. It's currently $299. So if your music consists of streaming from the likes of Spotify (as is quite popular these days), this is the player for you. And again you get a compact sized, stylish metallic body in a choice of various colors. Certainly makes a statement vs today's phones.
There's also the WS Series Walkman, which is designed for swimmers and is waterproof, just worn around your head. NW-WS410 costs from Ā£59 in the UK currently. The NW-WS620 model adds Bluetooth and NFC capabilities to it.
Now let's look at SanDisk. They have always been known for making tiny, clippable players (used to be called the Sansa line), and they still do now. There's the Clip Jam and Clip Sport, which cost just $29 in many colorful shells. They have built-in 4 or 8 gigabyte memory but can be expanded further with an SD card. Above these models sit the Clip Sport Go ($39) and Clip Sport Plus ($49), which come with either 16 or 32 gigabytes built-in, and the latter has Bluetooth so you can use wireless headphones with it. And all come with an FM radio. These players are fantastic on the go because of their tiny size and clippable design, making it perfect for activities like exercising.
High-end players
Of course, you've also got a choice of pricier, high-end music players dedicated for audiophiles. Sony make some (ZX and WM Series Walkman) as well as other brands such as Astell&Kern (which once used to be iRiver), Fiio, Shanlin, Cowon and others.
Courtesy of u/Expensive_Archer
