Looking for a good MP3 player for the gym...

In My Humble Opinion
1

I already bought and returned a couple (from places that don’t have restocking fees :slight_smile: ) and I’m underwhelmed.

I have a CD player that was designed for battle: it was pricy, but it has rubber gaskets that can possibly survive a few seconds in the pool. If I drop it, it survives. The battery compartment is robust. Does there exist a MP3 player like that?

This is what I’m looking for in an MP3 player:

o 128mb
o Can be dropped from three feet and will definitely survive.
o Can possibly survive a more serious event.
o Doesn’t have little delicate parts that will get snapped off if I bump it against a barbell or something.
o A solid battery compartment cover. Dagnabbit… If I’m going to change the battery every 10 hours or so, it had better be able to take it. Ditto for the USB connection port.
o Can hang from my neck. (I think those armband things will only last two or three months and then where do I get a new one?)

Any ideas?

2

I purchased the Rio Sport (64MB Internal) from SonicBlue’s web-site. They have factory-refurbished for 99.00 which includes the player, carrying case/belt clip, arm-band, USB, headset, and software.

o 128mb

The RioSport accepts MMC memory cards. With an easily applied firm-ware update, you can go to 512MB MMC, plus the original 64mb. This is why I purchased the 64MB vs. the 128MB. Why spend the money for the internal if it is expandable, right?

o Can be dropped from three feet and will definitely survive.

Done that, it survived.

o Can possibly survive a more serious event.

Slipped out of my hand getting into the car and skidded across the parking lot, it survived but the belt-clip is understandably ‘scratched’ but no degredation in function.

o Doesn’t have little delicate parts that will get snapped off if I bump it against a barbell or something.

I purchased mine also for gym use. The outer “rim” of the player is rubberized. It also has a rubber case that hugs the player for use as a belt-clip or with the arm band. I’ve beaten the hell out of mine to be honest and zero problems.

o A solid battery compartment cover. Dagnabbit… If I’m going to change the battery every 10 hours or so, it had better be able to take it. Ditto for the USB connection port.

The battery/MMC expansion cover is on the back of the RioSport and seems fairly straight-forward. It is a simple slide into place cover, no dainty hinges. Judge for yourself if this is a pro or con but the carry case/belt clip wraps entirely around the back and outer edges of the player (pro for me) thereby adding extra protection to the back cover from impacts, sweat moisture, etc.

The USB cable connects to the player via the same jack that the headphones connect to. Seems pretty solid, much better than my digital camera which has a slot similar to cell phone battery chargers which seem flimsy.

o Can hang from my neck. (I think those armband things will only last two or three months and then where do I get a new one?)

SonicBlue sells accessories so you can replace it. I personally use the arm-band during my run and then switch to clipping it to my shorts while lifting weights. I’ve used a Nike FM radio with arm-band for 6 months and have used my RioSport with arm-band for 3 months now and have not seen anything to indicate it’ll wear out. I use mine 3x’s a week at the gym and run 3 miles 3x’s a week.

The player is small enough that you could use a lanyard and hang it from your neck without any un-do difficulty.

Anyway, just my opinion of course. I looked at the SonicBlue Rio and the Nike PSA. I liked the Nike PSA but it a.) was not upgradeable and b.) consumer reviews just blasted the heck out of it on every single web site I could find as being completely unreliable. My wife liked mine so much that I bought her one too. That is two for two with no complaints and no worries.

Good luck,

MeanJoe

3

I have had a fairly problem-free time with the Apple iPod. It’s survived a fall of more than three feet, it has no separate battery compartment, it has no parts that stick out (cotrolled by a touch-sensitive flywheel). It has a belt clip but you could get some cord and dangle it from your neck if you wanted. The only issue I’ve ever had is that it’s frozen up on me a few times and it takes some time to unfreeze.

4

I also have a SonicBlue Rio Sport, I’ve been using it daily for 6 months now, and I can’t say enough good things about it. <b>MeanJoe</b> gave a lot of details above, I will add that you can get memory sticks for it pretty cheaply now. Also, I have found it to be very durable. I wear it on the armband(which is just fine after 6 months) and am always dropping it and slamming it into doorframes and it’s survived very well. Plus the software is easy to deal with and it’s very light…

5

Well, I gave a few a try and I’m still searching for the perfect match.

The Nomad lasted about five minutes: Cute, but I found that its USB jack did not fit the front USB ports on my machine (the ports are recessed; fine for a standard USB cable, but bad for a device with a USB jack sticking out of it).

I finally tracked down one of the Rio Sport models folks mentioned and was displeased with its belt clip. It’s the right size, but it has absolutely no way to attach it to anything. It comes with a half-shell belt clip assembly that must be used if you don’t want to carry the thing in your hand. The plastic shell covers some of the buttons, leaving you to poke at the buttons through inconvenient holes they provided. The shell covers the battery cover, so to change batteries, you have to pry it out of the holder. Otherwise, I liked it.

I was using the RCA Lyra for a few days, but it seems to have expired from too much sweat.

I’m now working on the poorly-reviewed Nike psa128. It seems to be fine for now. Again, no way to hold the darned thing, but at least it’s armband allows access to the back cover. The whole magnet business seems a bit too clever; it comes with a recharger, though. I’m not happy that one must open the back to plug in the USB cable.

Anyone else care to share their experiences?
How about those cute iriver players?

6

Which ones have you tried?

I bought a Samsung Yepp almost a year ago, for use at the gym, and it works great. It sounds like you might inflict a bit more abuse on your machine though. It has a cradle that it clips into, which in turn goes onto the arm band. However, I have the armband on the largest setting, and it wouldn’t fit anyone with significant guns. The unit also comes with a loop for wearing it on your neck. So, not the toughest unit, but it’s so tiny it stays out of the way of most abuse. I’ve dropped it with no ill effects, but wouldn’t recommend stepping on it once it’s on the floor. It has a piece of casing that slides over the battery case, so you’re covered there. You will need to buy different headphones to replace the ones it comes with though.

7

My iPod has worked well for me in the gym. I use the extended “remote” earbuds cord to set it on the treadmill while I run. It’s fallen once or twice, but is no worse for wear. Scared me more than it hurt it. Plus, it has a whopping large capacity and looks damn spiffy. Spiffy is important at the gym.

8

Okie, another question people: do mp3 players skip like CD players do when you run with them? I always have problems with this - even my 40 second antiskip CD player skips.

9

No they don’t. That’s one of the top reasons to get one in my book. Besides that, they are much lighter and you don’t have to burn CD’s all of the time just to listen to MP3’s you downloaded.

10

I have a cute iriver Mp3 player! One word of warning - the battery cover pops open a lot - usually bouncing around in the bottom of my purse. Other than that, I love it. It’s the size of a lighter and hold two hours of music, plus it’s got an fm radio and a voice recorder (I haven’t figured out how to use that, yet) . The software is pretty challenging, fortunately, my SO is a Computer Genius, I honestly don’t think I could have done it on my own. It has a neck strap and other than the battery issue is pretty sturdy. Plus, it’s so darn cute!