Recommend an MP3 player and headphones.

Mumblyfish

I apologise for what must be the least inspired H/A topic of recent months.

I've never been in the market for an MP3 player until now, and the choices available to me make my head spin. I'm looking for something pretty specific, and was hoping that some of you fine lads and lasses could make the decision for me.

It'll pretty much live inside a shirt pocket, so it should be small and light.
It must have a display, however simple, since I tend to jump between tracks I have in mind rather than leaving everything to the mercy of the shuffle - so no iPod Shuffle.
Storage space isn't an issue.
It won't be used for videos, or radio, or web browsing, or e-mails, or touch-screen applications where a stapler is pushed down when you hit the screen and a counter goes up tee hee. So, I'd rather not pay for any functionality beyond "Plays music, good".

I'm also looking for a set of headphones to suit; this is where I'm running into real trouble, and where I'm expecting most to throw up their hands and tell me to ask elsewhere. See, I'm batshit insane and I don't like buds at all. I'm looking for a nice set of cans suitable for wearing outdoors. Ideally something with a very short cable (though I don't mind cutting it to size myself, as much as I expect I'll screw it up), tight fitting, light and with a low profile... for a set of cans, anyway.

Thanks, H/A.

proXimity

What price range are you looking at for both the player and the headphones?

Mumblyfish

Price really isn't an issue.

Sorry, should have said that.

Smurph

I have a sansa e260 specifically for the gym. 4 GB, got it from w00t for like $30 refurbished. I never use it for video or radio but it can do those. Music sounds fine. $100 less than an ipod nano.
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3402959

truck-a-sauras

Sansa makes another great model for small uses....The Clip. Bought an 8GB for my mom this past x-mas and she loves it. Very small with great storage and a screen. I played with it a bit and highly recommend it.

Echo

I really love my last-gen iPod nano - the one about the size of a credit card, not the current tall model. No problems whatsoever keeping it in a shirt pocket.

As for head phones, I like Koss Porta Pro. Great sound, and lifetime warranty on them.

proXimity

For headphones, I'd recommend the Sennheiser HD 280s. They're about $100, and have a (fairly) easily replaceable cord. You say you can't stand earbuds, but have you tried in-canal-buds like some Shures? They feel quite different, and sound MUCH better.

As for MP3 players, I'd tokenly recommend an iPod Nano.

Ramen Noodle

I'd go for a nano.

BlindZenDriver

I like Sony. They offer a huge range and their in-ear headphones are great.

Especially the small lighter size ones with their huge battery time and quick recharge. The one I have is not sold anymore but 50 hours play time and 3 minutes charge time give 3 hours play.

Also even though I have two Apple computers (and a Hackintosh) using an iPod is just to much like everyone else. With a Sony one does not have to buy a cover :-)

Mumblyfish

The 8Gb Sansa Clip and Koss Porta Pro are exactly what I was looking for. The Clip's build quality doesn't seem too swish, but by all accounts it plays music and does it well. I don't like how its library is built by tags rather than folder structure, but I can take a few hours out of a day to properly tag my collection. The Koss Porta Pro is exactly what I was looking for. I was worried that I would have to put in a bit of effort to make a pair of cans look good, but it seems like they'll be making me look good, instead.

Thanks, H/A.

SmallLady

Mp3 player: the Creative Zen is awesome. i mine.

Headphones: you can't lose with skull candy.

proXimity

You can't win with skullcandy

AggroChan

Mumblyfish wrote: »

The 8Gb Sansa Clip and Koss Porta Pro are exactly what I was looking for. The Clip's build quality doesn't seem too swish, but by all accounts it plays music and does it well. I don't like how its library is built by tags rather than folder structure, but I can take a few hours out of a day to properly tag my collection. The Koss Porta Pro is exactly what I was looking for. I was worried that I would have to put in a bit of effort to make a pair of cans look good, but it seems like they'll be making me look good, instead.

Thanks, H/A.

haha, wearing those right now.
responses range from cool to dorky as hell
but i personally dig the look and the quality is amazing so 8-)

KalTorak

If you're looking for earbuds, I recommend the Sennheiser CX300s (i think that's the number). Their MSRP is around $55, but I've seen them on Amazon for $20. Super comfy, good cord length, great sound quality for the price, and a two-year warranty that I found useful after I'd abused the cord for 13 months.