# Recommend a cheap MP3 player **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 16, 2016, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980 "2016-08-16T06:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/1 "2016-08-16T06:24:32Z")
Looking for recommendations for an MP3 player that satisfies the following conditions. 1. A simple file transfer. Just copy the MP3s from my computer to a folder on the player. Not an iPod, in other words. I hate all that mucking round with libraries. 2. Has a feature where you can set the player to turn off after a set time. (I have insomnia. Playing gentle music helps me to go to sleep, sometimes. But I don’t want to leave it playing all night.) iPods have this feature, but I don’t like iPods. 3. Doesn’t have to have a huge capacity. 4GB might be enough, and 8 GB certainly is. 4. Preferably from the cheap end of the spectrum. Doesn’t have to be high quality. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/2 "2016-08-16T18:40:45Z")
I suggest an Android smartphone or tablet. Find an app with a “sleep timer” that will stop music after a certain time. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/3 "2016-08-16T19:45:23Z")
Look for a SanDisk mp3; small, lightweight, & inexpensive. I have a couple of ’ em. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/4 "2016-08-16T19:51:29Z")
And they have a sleep timer function? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/5 "2016-08-16T20:19:30Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Look for a SanDisk mp3; small, lightweight, & inexpensive. I have a couple of ’ em. Plus: Expandable via microSD to 64gig, comes with FM turner. Minus: No sleep timer. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/6 "2016-08-16T21:00:01Z")
A sleep timer is a primary requirement. I have several cheap players that are fine for music, but none of them have a timer. Strange, really. You’d think this is an obvious feature to include. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/7 "2016-08-16T21:06:21Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Plus: Expandable via microSD to 64gig, comes with FM turner. > Minus: No sleep timer. I have the ClipZip, (discontinued) it has a sleep timer. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/8 "2016-08-16T21:09:36Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Plus: Expandable via microSD to 64gig, comes with FM turner. > Minus: No sleep timer. Looking online, it says the SanDisk Sansa clip has a sleep timer. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/9 "2016-08-16T21:11:40Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Looking online, it says the SanDisk Sansa clip has a sleep timer. If so, then grab it-SanDisk has always done right by me. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/10 "2016-08-16T22:45:03Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If so, then grab it-SanDisk has always done right by me. > **[clipplus-en-um-03112.pdf](https://mp3support.sandisk.com/downloads/um/clipplus-en-um-03112.pdf)** > > 657.08 KB > [@](#): > > Sleep > The Sleep function turns the player off automatically after a defined period of > playback time. > 2. Select Sleep. > 3. Press the |\<\< or \>\>| button to select desired playback time before power off. > The player will not enter the sleep mode if it is set to off. > 4. Press Select and confirm your choice by selecting Yes or No I do not know how Sansa models work, if that is just a function of one model or not, or if so if that model is still on the market. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/11 "2016-08-16T23:29:48Z")
I second the recommendation for a really cheap Android phone. The ones that are prepaid. Mine was $30, but I’ve seen 'em cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2016, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/12 "2016-08-17T11:53:10Z")
There does exist Android music-sleep timer apps. [Here’s](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.pboos.android.SleepTimer&hl=en) an example. You can get an Android phone for very little (I bought 3 for $15 or less) and not sign up for a plan. Plus you can use it for a lot of other things, e.g., a small WiFi device. ---
**Author:** ![Carryon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Carryon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carryon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-cheap-mp3-player/762980/13 "2016-08-18T13:33:16Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Look for a SanDisk mp3; small, lightweight, & inexpensive. I have a couple of ’ em. I second this. It’s great. The original “Clip” was the best I ever owned, but of course they “improved” it and made it less awesome, but it’s still good. Also you can also buy microSD cards for them to increase storage.