MP3 players for file hoarders

Donald Bell, Senior Editor

Updated February 07, 2008

Does your digital music collection run into the hundreds of gigabytes? If you've amassed a king's share of music, or have a thing for ripping your CDs to large, lossless audio formats, then you need an MP3 player with some serious storage. These days, the cap on MP3 player capacity runs at around 160GB, with hard drive MP3 players such as the iPod Classic and the Archos 605 WiFi leading the charge.

If you need a lot of space, but don't like the idea of carrying a bulky player, there are some slender, high-capacity Flash memory MP3 players coming out (such as the iPod Touch) that are finally tipping into the 30-plus-GB territory formerly reserved for hard drive devices.

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Product name	Apple iPod Classic (160GB, silver)	Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)	Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)	Creative Zen Vision W (60GB)	Apple iPod Touch (32GB)	Creative Zen (32GB)

Review date	September 10, 2007	August 30, 2007	November 12, 2007	September 13, 2006	September 17, 2007	September 14, 2007

CNET editors' rating	8.0 Excellent	8.7 Excellent	8.3 Excellent	8.0 Excellent	8.7 Excellent	8.3 Excellent

Users' rating	6.7 Good ( from 6 users)	6.6 Good ( from 55 users)	7.7 Very good ( from 248 users)	7.2 Very good ( from 23 users)	7.8 Very good ( from 27 users)	9.2 Spectacular ( from 8 users)

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Review summary	The iPod Classic is a refinement of the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and advanced user interface.	The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy.	The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative.	The bulky but easy-to-use Creative Zen Vision W and its nice screen will dazzle video lovers who don't require video recording.	The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out, but prepare yourself for sticker shock.	We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features.

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Basic Specs
Device type	Portable media center	Digital AV player	Info unavailable	Digital AV player	Portable media center	Info unavailable

Key multimedia features	Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , Digital audio player	Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function	Info unavailable	FM tuner , Voice recorder , Memory card reader , Digital audio player , Digital photo viewer , Digital video player , External HDD function	Digital audio player , Digital video player , Digital photo viewer	Info unavailable

Display type	LCD 2.5 in	TFT 4.3 in - Color	Info unavailable	TFT 4.3 in - Color	LCD 3.5 in	Info unavailable

Supported still images formats	JPEG , BMP , GIF , TIFF , PSD , PNG	BMP , PNG , JPEG	Info unavailable	BMP , GIF , JPEG	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Supported audio formats	AAC , Protected AAC , MP3 , MP3 VBR , Audible 2 , Audible 3 , Audible 4 , Apple Lossless , WAV , AIFF	MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM)	Info unavailable	MP3 , WAV , WMA , Audible , Protected WMA (DRM)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Video playback formats	MPEG-4	WMV , MPEG-4 , Protected WMV (DRM)	Info unavailable	WMV , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

PC interfaces	USB 2.0	Hi-Speed USB , IEEE 802.11b , IEEE 802.11g	Info unavailable	Hi-Speed USB	USB 2.0	Info unavailable

Battery technology	Lithium ion	Lithium polymer	Lithium ion	Lithium ion	Lithium ion	Lithium ion

Mfr estimated battery life	40 hour(s)	Info unavailable	20 hour(s)	Info unavailable	22 hour(s)	Info unavailable

Included accessories	Earphone , USB cable , Docking adapter	USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones	Info unavailable	AV cable , USB cable , Carrying pouch , Stereo headphones	Earphones , USB cable , Dock adapter , Polishing cloth , Stand	Info unavailable

Width	2.4 in	4.8 in	2.4 in	5.3 in	2.4 in	3.3 in

Depth	0.6 in	0.8 in	0.5 in	1 in	0.3 in	0.4 in

Height	4.1 in	3.2 in	4.3 in	3 in	4.3 in	2.2 in

Weight	5.7 oz	9.2 oz	4.5 oz	10.5 oz	4.2 oz	2.3 oz

Color	Silver	Info unavailable	Black	Black	Info unavailable	Black

Hard drive	Info unavailable	160 GB	Info unavailable	60 GB	32 GB	Info unavailable

Compatibility	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Intel VIIV Technology	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

Flash memory cards supported	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	CompactFlash Card type I , CompactFlash Card type II	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

TV standards supported	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	PAL , NTSC	Info unavailable	Info unavailable

PC interface(s) supported	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Hi-Speed USB

Flash memory installed	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	32 GB

Flash memory form factor	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Integrated

Digital player signal-to-noise ratio	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	97 dB

Dimensions (WxDxH)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	3.3 in x 0.4 in x 2.2 in

Resolution	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	320 x 240

Software type	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Drivers & Utilities , Creative Media Explorer , Creative ZENcast Organizer

Manufacturer warranty	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	1 year warranty

Product type	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Digital player / radio

Sound output mode	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Stereo

Equalizer factory presets	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Pop , Jazz , Rock , Disco , Vocal , NewAge , Classic , Acoustical

Digital player (recorder)	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	Info unavailable	AAC , MP3 , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Audible

Product name	Apple iPod Classic (160GB, silver)	Archos 605 WiFi (160GB)	Zune (second generation, 80GB, black)	Creative Zen Vision W (60GB)	Apple iPod Touch (32GB)	Creative Zen (32GB)

Full specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications	Full Specifications

Price range	Check latest prices $296-350 from 16 stores	Check latest prices $360-452 from 10 stores	Check latest prices $230-260 from 8 stores	Check latest prices $599 from 1 store	Check latest prices $475-537 from 15 stores	Check latest prices $270-310 from 8 stores