Version: 2008
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MP3 players with good taste in music

Jasmine France Jasmine France, Senior Associate Editor September 22, 2008

Music can be a powerful emotional and psychological trigger for many people. Heck, it even has a physical effect on people--anyone who can't help but tap her feet and nod her head when listening to an infectious beat can attest to that. For precisely these reasons, many die-hard music fans will spend hours on end creating the perfect playlists for lounging, working out, commuting, and generally affecting mood and motion. Unfortunately, many of the rest of us don't have the time--or desire--to create all the specifically tailored playlists we could ever want. So what's a casual listener to do? Luckily, many device manufacturers have gotten hip to the fact that there's a significant number of music fans who want reasonably personal track lineups presented to them without all the time and hassle. Several MP3 players released in recent times offer various smart DJ functions that go beyond ID3 tag recognition and individual user play count. All of the options below feature music recommendation functions that can be utilized completely on-the-fly, without connecting to a computer.

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Top 10 MP3 players under $100
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Price $146.82 Check Prices Check Prices $229.99 to $299.99 $239.95 to $349.99 $149.99 to $269.99
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Average user rating 0 stars 0 stars
Review date September 10, 2008 September 17, 2008 September 15, 2008 September 11, 2008 September 17, 2008 November 29, 2007
The Bottom Line The fourth-generation iPod Nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before committing. Thanks to excellent sound quality, integrated noise-canceling functionality, and several smart music sorting options, the Sony S-Series Walkman is a superb choice for music aficionados. The Slacker G2 is the ultimate lazy person's MP3 player. Paired with the excellent--and free--Slacker music service, it makes new music discovery and enjoyment a nearly effortless process, but control freaks and audiophiles need not apply. The second-generation iPod Touch includes features that are light-years ahead of the competition, its design has improved, and its price has finally come down to earth. The Zune 120, with a unique focus on music discovery, is a fierce competitor to the iPod Classic. The Zune's substantial storage capacity combined with its Zune Pass music subscription makes it an ideal solution for restless music fans with large appetites. The Haier America Ibiza Rhapsody is a cutting-edge media player that puts its wireless capabilities to good use while still retaining an easy-to-use design and interface. If you're willing to shell out the dough for a massive feature list, give it consideration.
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Features
Dimensions (WxDxH)1.5 in x 0.2 in x 3.6 in
1.7 in x 0.3 in x 3.5 in
Info unavailable2.4 in x 0.3 in x 4.3 in
2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in
2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.1 in
Resolution320 x 240
240 x 320
Info unavailable480 x 320
320 x 240
320 x 240
Battery technologyLithium ion
Lithium ion
Info unavailableLithium ion
Lithium ion
Lithium polymer
Weight1.3 oz
1.6 oz
Info unavailable4.1 oz
4.5 oz
4.9 oz
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
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