Updated June 7, 2006

Not everyone needs a full-featured MP3 player. In fact, MP3 players with a ton of extras can be confusing for novice users, who are better off with a basic feature set. But if you're an audio junkie--or just like your gadgets to come fully equipped--line-in recording is one of the nicer perks available on portable audio devices. And unfortunately, the ever-popular Apple iPod isn't going to deliver in this area anytime soon. This feature paired with direct MP3 encoding can be a boon to those who like to record live DJ sets or who would just rather forgo using a computer entirely. (MP3 encoding is key, since sound will be saved in uncompressed WAV format otherwise, quickly eating up storage on the player.) Simply connect one end of a stereo-to-stereo cable to your stereo's (or mixer's or receiver's) line-out or headphone port and the other end to your MP3 player's line-in port, and voilà! Note that most receivers and mixers have a quarter-inch headphone port, which requires this adapter. If your MP3 player lacks a line-in port, you'll need to get a new one. Check out the six great players below. Another excellent option: the iRiver Clix paired with the optional cradle pack ($69.99).

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