MP3 player that’s like an iPod

[Otterly]

I’m looking for a small, reasonably cheap (under a hundred quid) mp3 player. Or DAP player if we don’t use mp3s any more and you’ll laugh at me for suggesting mp3. My ancient iPod has finally died and I’d like something close to that. Does anyone do iPod dupes? It doesn’t need Bluetooth, I prefer wired headphones. Doesn’t have to be amazing quality. I just want something that works with iTunes, is robust, has a wired headphone jack, and reasonable storage. And easy to use/shuffle through.
Any ideas? Has to be available this side of the pond. No Bluetooth earphones, i hate how they get hot in your ears.
Thanks!

 

[User names must be unique]

unless you're willing to buy 2nd hand I think the best bet is just to use a phone at this point. new mp3 players on the market are either expensive bulky audiophile bait or cheap chinky shit that'll break if you look at it funny.

 

[Pee Cola]

Sucks that you're locked into iTunes, otherwise I'd suggest a Sansa Clip Sport Go or Clip Sport Plus. The Sansa Clip line has always been a solid choice for non-iPod music players; I had a Clip+ for years which finally died when the battery turned into a spicy pillow. Great sound quality and decent UI.

 

[Grub]

You could try one of those dollar stores that are actually lies and their shit doesn't actually cost a dollar but it's still relatively cheap Chinese shit. They have electronics you wouldn't expect sometimes. Or a thrift shop or something like that.

 

[Named User]

Why does it have to be compatible with iTunes? Where are your MP3s stored?

 

[X Prime]

AGPTek almost has what you want.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/9AD065D2-4DD1-4D15-8AE9-693546624BE0

The problem is the iTunes part I think.

 

[The Last Stand]

I'd buy another iPid touch.

 

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

I just want something that works with iTunes

If that's a requirement, you're limited to a segment of Apple products that's effectively dead and now very expensive. Unless you're absolutely balls-deep in the Apple ecosystem and anything else is a total deal breaker, the best thing you can do is get out - you'll get a better user experience for far less money.

 

[umami's milk]

iPod Shuffles 4th gen and onwards: the 2GB size can typically go for around 20-60 dollars. (They come in various storage sizes)

Look how cute it is!
It clips onto your clothes.
It's iTunes compatible.
Wired headphones only.

 

[WE'RE ALL GONNA]

iTunes

Suffer

 

[hl2_linux]

If you're willing to buy 2nd hand you can get an iPhone4S, they're pretty cheap nowadays and they use the same 30 pin dock connecter as the iPods. You can downgrade them to iOS6+JB with a tool on linux to get a smoother experience than with iOS9.

Battery life is pretty good, at least on mine that was used heavily through the early-mid 2010s. It still holds a charge for nearly a week. The battery life can drop signifcantly when using WiFi in my experience but that can be easily fixed by just turning on airplane mode.

iTunes works great with it as expected, it syncs up fine, lyrics on songs even work.

It obviously includes a headphone jack, and bluetooth.

 

[Silent Seeth]

I am retarded enough that I modded my old classic with flash storage and a 2000mah battery. It lasts a month on a charge. Only problem being that Ipods are getting valuable so the old classics are starting to be expensive.
5th gen or 7th are the best for modding. Incredibly easy too.

 

[Otterly]

I really don’t want to use my phone. I have a phone but I want to use something small, with wired headphones. I dont like the AirPod type ones. I want wires. I’m old.

Why does it have to be compatible with iTunes? Where are your MP3s stored?

Laziness really. My music is stored in two places: iTunes, which I don’t pay for, it’s just I’ve had it forever (our first fancy fluorescence microscope could only use Mac image software back last century so that’s what I had) and also I’ve ripped it all off as files and saved it elsewhere by using the iPod as a hard disc. So I can just download those files but when you do that it doesn’t catalogue them correctly. So only the stuff I have moved from CDs and shoved into iTunes is labelled right. I dont do the subscription stuff. I di t think I’ve ever bought a song through iTunes, you used to be able to just use it to store ripped stuff so that’s what mine does still. Again, I’m old.

If that's a requirement, you're limited to a segment of Apple products that's effectively dead and now very expensive. Unless you're absolutely balls-deep in the Apple ecosystem and anything else is a total deal breaker, the best thing you can do is get out - you'll get a better user experience for far less money.

Yeah I’m fine with keeping to the Mac. I use some specific stuff at work that works well with and tantrums in windows so I’m fine staying with it. I’m not a die hard audiophile or an apple fan girl. It’s just what I have, and have had for almost twenty years with the Mac so it’s where a lot of my music is. Cheap Chinese is fine, I’m not looking for serious performance. I just want something easy to use and wired headphones.

Sucks that you're locked into iTunes, otherwise I'd suggest a Sansa Clip Sport Go or Clip Sport Plus.

I’ve borrowed someone’s clip ages back, I’d forgotten that. It does work with the Mac just fine. I think that might be what I get.

Can’t find a second hand shuffle near me for a decent price alas.
Thanks for all the answers

 

[1Tonka_Truck]

Mp3tag can be used to repair metadata. Don't know if this helps any.

 

[Lord Xenu]

I've had experience with Fiio, Shanling, & AGPtek. All three brands were serviceable. The AGPtek being the cheapest @ $69 USD, however the AGPtek model (which I would recommend) is unavailable at this time.

I’ve borrowed someone’s clip ages back, I’d forgotten that. It does work with the Mac just fine. I think that might be what I get.

As far as I know, they don't make the Clip anymore. DAP's are a niche product now, so if you want a good one with a solid UI, you either pay for one from the established DAP makers or you research into something with the features you want. This HeadFi thread is a good resource.

I posted about the Clip killer in the audiophile thread, the Shanling M0, but it may be out of your price range.

It has a tiny touchscreen and only one button, but works well with gestures etc. Check out Penon Audio and find something with features you like, then check amazon.uk for the product. Both Shenzhen & Penon Audio ship worldwide and are trusted by the ChiFi audiophile scene, but I understand why amazon or something would be better for most people.

This Ruizu M4 might do the trick for you.

Ruizu software has a bad reputation, as most ChiFi DAP's do, but for less than $30 USD it's probably worth giving it a shot. I don't see any reviews on that particular DAP, but the slightly more expensive Ruizu A58 has a poor reputation for audio quality.

Mp3tag can be used to repair metadata. Don't know if this helps any.

MusicBrainz Picard is cross-platform and uses fingerprinting to identify audio. It is top notch free & open source software.

 

[Otterly]

Mp3tag can be used to repair metadata. Don't know if this helps any.

Very, thank you. If I have a spare afternoon to sift through it all I will definitely look that up.

DAP's are a niche product now

I kind of resent that everything’s like that now. All cloud and subscription and you never own anything and you must have your phone. There are plenty of situations where I want music but not my phone, it’s a shame. Thanks for the multiple suggestions, I’ll take a look at them.
The clip I meant was a sandisk one. Called clip sport or something. It was ages back and I can’t remember much about it

 

[tehpope]

You might be better off just getting a second gen ipod mini (the ones with a 2005 date on the back), getting an iflash cf to sd card adapter, a new battery, a sd or micro sd card, and calling it a day. its a pretty simple mod to do. They're cheap at around $30-50 bucks. You can get them even cheaper if you're patient and watch ebay. I got mine for $10 shipped.

I put 512gb in mine. I use rockbox on it though. The apple firmware clocks out at about 30k songs max though. You can get ones pre-modded on ebay too, but they will go for a decent chunk of change. like $50-150 depending on the storage, condition, and other mods.

There's this guy, but its not out yet. Not iTunes compat either.

https://www.crowdsupply.com/cool-tech-zone/tangara

 

[Honored guest]

I personally use my smartphone as an mp3 player, I've had family try those cheap chinesium mp3 players and they don't last more than a few months before they just stop working. Your best bet might be looking for an older used smartphone that still has an audio jack and a removable battery and using it exclusively as an mp3 player. Some people hold on to their old phones so you might be able to buy one from a friend or family member. Go into the setting an remove any apps/programs you don't need and put it on powersaving mode, and switch out the battery when the capacity deteriorates to much.

The age of cheap music players is over, you either have to pay out the nose for a device that is effectively a smartphone that can't make calls, or you roll the dice and buy a cheap chinese knock off that may or may not work.

 

[Ibanez RG 350EX]

I've had family try those cheap chinesium mp3 players and they don't last more than a few months before they just stop working.

I and many people I know have had excellent experiences with Sandisk Sansas. I only just replaced one that was like eight years old and well-used.