The iPod is not the only, and perhaps not even the best, digital music player. Here are some of the alternatives.
The little iPod bestrides the mp3 music player market like a colossus. There is, however, a handful of other players which can match and exceed it for quality and features, if not market share. Note that to make the most of a good player you need good earphones, which cost at least Rs 2,000 a pair.
Hifiman HM-801
It looks boxy, but houses one of the finest DAC (digital-analogue convertor) units there is. It can produce sound to rival the best non-portable players used in studio setups. It costs a whopping $800 and purists swear by it. To get the most from it, opt for a headphone in the range $150-200.
Cowon S9 or J3
Cowon, known as iAUDIO in the USA, makes affordable, high-quality players. Their legendary D2 is considered the best-sounding budget player ever released. What sets the S9 and J3 apart, besides great sound, is the displays, which use AMOLED (active-matrix organic light-emitting diode) technology and are crisp, bright and don’t drain the battery.
Microsoft Zune HD
Microsoft failed to gain much market share for their earlier Zune players. The new Zune HD battles its own history more than its competitors. It is well-built and feature-rich but still gets ignored. It plays high-definition video seamlessly, unlike most others, and is also compatible with the new HD radio. Many consider it superior to the iPod Touch, but Zune cannot match the community support of Apple players in creating apps.
Sony W250
The player for joggers and fitness freaks. It does away with the earphone cord and separate player. The W250 is a wearable device which wraps around the ears. One end houses the player. The idea isn’t new, but Sony have got it right in terms of weight, water resistance, etc. It released just two months ago and has been tested to positive results.
Sandisk Sansa
Sandisk, with their massive footprint in the flash memory market, have decided to use their core price advantage to offer well-priced mp3 players. For every item in the iPod bouquet, Sandisk have a competing product, 20 per cent cheaper. They sell well and are well-made.
