Choosing the best MP3 players: top 10 hot models

Can't imagine your life without music? Especially for avid music lovers, below are the 10 best music players that can be installed on your computer or laptop. All these audio players are free, have a powerful equalizer, are easy to configure, do not load the system and have a lot of interesting features.

The question of which music player is better is not considered here. It's up to you to decide. This article lists popular music players for Windows, and choose which one to install yourself.

Winamp audio player

Winamp is the legendary free music player. Every user knows it, and it is probably installed on every second computer or laptop.

Winamp is a powerful processor that reads all formats and plays video. It became popular due to its high-quality sound, equalizer and freeness.

The main advantages of this audio player:

• support for all audio formats – mp3, flac, etc.;
• playback of video files;
• convenient search;
• the ability to create playlists and bookmarks;
• a huge number of skins (covers);
• access to 30,000 world radio stations;
• control from the browser (via its own toolbar);
• MP3 Surround support;
• synchronization function with Android;
• works on Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10;
• completely in Russian.

As for the shortcomings, judging by the words of users, the latest versions of this music player freeze, and the PC sometimes slows down. But usually this happens due to the installation of new skins and plugins that load the system.

Link to office Winamp website.

MP3 player: buyer's guide

What is an MP3 player?

In case the name doesn't mean anything to you, an MP3 player is a compact electronic device that cannot make calls, send SMS, and in most cases, also open Internet sites or play games. Its main and often only task is to play music from the internal flash memory in MP3 format (still the most popular in the world) or in other audio formats: WAV, FLAC, ALAC and others. As a rule, the classic “empetrish person” cannot do anything else. But he doesn’t need it! After all, the advantages of this class of devices seriously outweigh the poor functionality.

Why is an MP3 player better than a smartphone?

1. Firstly, cheap MP3 players sound better than cheap smartphones, and expensive ones sound better than expensive ones, while costing much less. In the language of analogies, a smartphone is a Swiss army knife that can do everything, but does everything equally poorly, and a player is a corkscrew that has only one function, but performs it perfectly.
2. Secondly, most players have convenient physical buttons for controlling playback and volume. Pressing on them, receiving a tactile response, is much more comfortable and pleasant than sliding your finger across the phone screen. Especially when it’s frosty outside, and you don’t want to take off your gloves at all.
3. Thirdly, players are much lighter and more compact than smartphones. The modern fashion for huge touch screens has turned smartphones into heavy, bulky shovels that are little more convenient to carry in most pockets or handbags than real shovels. And it would be nice to just wear it! What if you want to go for a run with music? The player will fit into the narrowest pocket, but with a smartphone you will have to dance.
4. Fourthly, the player saves smartphone memory and can also be used as a portable flash drive.
5. Fifthly, the battery charge of an MP3 player usually lasts for a very long time, which cannot be said about smartphones. And the player helps save precious phone charge.
6. Fifthly, you can take the player with you to places where you cannot take a smartphone with a camera, for example, to sensitive sites.
7. Finally, sixthly, players sometimes can do things that smartphones can’t even dream of. One Espada Cassette Capture EZCAP from our selection is worth it!

What to look for when buying an MP3 player?

There are several important points here.

Memory size. If you are buying a player specifically for MP3 music, then a model with 4 GB of built-in memory will be enough for you: this will fit several hundred songs (depending on their quality and duration) and an entire library of audiobooks. When choosing a device capable of playing lossless formats, look for more memory, preferably 10 times, and even with the possibility of expansion using SD cards. One way or another, there will be no excess memory. Practice shows that the most convenient flash drive is a player that you always have with you.

Supported audio formats. Actually, most people buy MP3 players for music in MP3 format. For the most part, these devices also support less common formats: OGG, WAV and others. Whether you need a machine that supports FLAC, AAC, ALAC and other lossless options is up to you. Still, 95% of people do not hear the difference between an MP3 with a decent bitrate and the same song in CD quality, and of the remaining 5%, only every tenth is ready to buy headphones that can demonstrate this difference. However, it is better to have lossless support in the player than not.

Display. It should be bright and not fade in sunlight. Whether it should be sensory is a separate question. In my opinion, touch screens in audio players are pampering. A good player can live just fine without a display; the Apple iPod Shuffle and its numerous clothespin clones are an example of this. And the main thing is...

Interface and controls. The buttons on the player should be large and comfortable so that you can press them blindly in your pocket or in the cold with gloves on. It is desirable that the system interface is also convenient and logical, but it depends on your luck. For example, my favorite Cowon players sound great, but they operate as if they were designed not in Korea, but on Mars.

Additional functions. Most modern MP3 players can not only play audio, but also view photos, show movies and listen to radio. These options have already become the default functionality. Some can do all this and much more, turning into analogues of smartphones, only without access to the GSM network. Is it necessary to overload a device that is beautiful precisely in its simplicity with garbage functions, and pay exorbitant prices for it? In my opinion, no. It's better to buy a smartphone.

How to choose the best MP3 player?

MP3 players have a lot of parameters, but this is in theory. In practice, there are not many important characteristics left in this class of devices. For example, it used to be customary to divide players according to the type of internal memory into flash and HDD, but time has put everything in its place, and players with hard drives like the Apple iPod Classic have died for a long time. The same applies to the features of the built-in digital-to-analog converter and amplifier. To an ignorant person, names like Wolfson or OPA won’t mean anything anyway, so I don’t see much point in dwelling on this issue. Just follow three basic rules:

1. Be sure to listen to the player before purchasing. Sound quality is an extremely subjective thing, so you should not trust reviews, numbers and testimonials, but your own ears.
2. Don't rely on the included headphones. More expensive players don't even come with headphones. And if they do, then with rare exceptions they are such rubbish that you don’t even want to take them out of the box.
3. Don't expect too much from a player (especially a cheap one). If you want to rock high-ohm studio monitors, head to the recording studio. Or go to the store for a separate portable audiophile amplifier.

Music player Aimp

Aimp is another free audio player in Russian. It has a pleasant interface, powerful functionality and is one of the most popular music players.

The main advantages of this audio player:

• 32-bit audio processing;
• support for all formats (mp3, flac, ac3, wav, wma, etc.);
• functional equalizer + ready-made modes for various genres (pop, rap, rock, etc.);
• setting up hot keys (you can switch music even while playing a game or working in a browser);
• convenient search;
• large selection of covers;
• There is a portable version (does not require installation).

Link to office Aimp website.

AIMP

AIMP is one of the most functional, optimized and convenient music players for Windows. Artem Izmaylov Media Player has long been in demand among many users and does not lose its relevance thanks to constant updates and a familiar interface. The program boasts a complete set of tools.

The outer shell is similar to the famous Winamp player. The main window contains player controls, playlist and equalizer. The playlist can simultaneously work with several subscriptions located in different tabs. You can independently distribute your music into separate lists and avoid the need to constantly switch between them.

If the appearance is not to your taste, you can download a new skin at any time on the official website.

AIMP plays not only music, but also online radio stations and videos. Takes up little disk space while performing versatile functions. Thanks to an expanded set of built-in codecs, it supports more than 30 formats.

Advantages:

• smooth operation;
• multifunctional and convenient equalizer;
• does not load the processor and requires a minimum amount of system resources;
• there is a function to turn off the computer when the track is finished playing;
• custom bookmarks;
• support for parallel work with several playlists.

There is only one drawback - updates are installed manually.

Among the additional features it is worth noting: tag editor, audio converter, music library. AIMP was, is and will most likely remain one of the best music players for PC.

Audio player Songbird

Another great free music player for Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP. It is a combination of the best advantages of the Firefox browser and the iTunes service. Essentially, Songbird Player is a music browser. After all, with its help you can listen not only to music that is saved on your laptop or PC, but also to tracks from the Internet.

Main advantages of music audio player:

• support for any formats (mp3, flac, etc.);
• creation of “smart” playlists that are updated automatically (taking into account user-selected criteria);
• built-in web browser that allows you to listen to music on the Internet without downloading it, as well as create tabs and favorite bookmarks;
• works not only on Windows, but also on Linux and Mac;
• support for more than 25 languages, incl. Russian;
• creating a library, convenient sorting and quick search;
• dozens of cool covers;
• regular updates.

Also, the developers are constantly improving this music player, trying to make it more convenient. There are plans to add support for mobile devices, subscription to music sites and other useful features.

Link to office Songbird website.

Top 10 players for Windows

Light Alloy

Universal software that can work with almost all known video and audio formats. The application is adapted to work with the Windows operating system of various versions, starting from 95 and higher. It takes up virtually no free space on your hard drive - only a few megabytes. The code is optimized for quick launch, and it consumes quite few system resources. For Russian users the program is completely free. The main thing that attracts people is ease of use. You can switch to full screen mode by clicking on the mouse wheel. Playback is paused with the left mouse button or spacebar. The rewind slider is also quite convenient - it displays a timeline, so a person can start watching from the moment where he left off last time.

If necessary, the user can use the function of selecting a codec: due to this, you can find the one that is least demanding on resources or allows you to ensure the highest quality. The program is able to work with absolutely all existing codecs. There is a testing system that determines the number of frames per second, as well as the period of time during which frames are processed. This function is also used to determine the capabilities of the hardware and check to what extent the video is compressed. The interface is multilingual, there is support for the Russian language. If necessary, you can change the design of the program shell, activate the position on top of all windows, and so on.

Advantages:

• Very convenient to use;
• A huge selection of settings is combined with ease of operation;
• Automatic system for determining installed codecs;
• Directly from the program you can access codec settings;
• There is a function to save your favorite frame;
• Works in almost all versions of Windows;
• Supports subtitle files;
• It is possible to view video frame by frame;
• Distributed absolutely free.

Flaws:

• Screenshots are saved only with .bmp resolution;
• To apply the selected codec, the application will have to be restarted.

AIMP

The full name of this program stands for Artem Izmaylov Media Player - it was developed by a Russian programmer. The application itself does not weigh too much and is well suited for playing music and videos of various formats. There is an expanded set of built-in codecs, with which you can work with a wide variety of formats - over 30 pieces. The application is capable of playing music from online radio stations. If necessary, the playlist can be saved and edited directly during playback. The functions of the keys are changeable; with their help, the player is controlled even when it is in an inactive window. The equalizer has a huge number of settings designed for use with the most popular genres of music. The appearance changes depending on the user's preferences. In this player you can edit tags of audio files. There is a scheduler that will automatically turn off the personal computer after the last file from the current playlist has finished playing. The application is not demanding in terms of resources and runs on Windows platforms from XP and higher.

The program is designed in such a way as to make it as convenient to use as possible. In general, the interface can be divided into three key blocks - music library, playback itself and playlist management. The control unit has five buttons responsible for calling up the menu and changing the cover color. Three more buttons control the window: expand it to full screen, minimize it to tray, or close it. Design themes can be downloaded from the official website of the developer, and there are quite a lot of them - each user will be able to find something most suitable for themselves. The program has regular updates. The application cannot download them on its own, so from time to time you will have to update it manually.

Advantages:

• Smooth playback, no delays were detected between tracks;
• A convenient and functional equalizer is provided;
• Consumes a minimal amount of system resources and practically does not load the central processor;
• There is a search function in the playlist;
• If necessary, after finishing playing the last file, the program can turn off the computer;
• The possibility of custom bookmarks is provided;
• You can work in several playlists at the same time.

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Flaws:

• You will have to install all updates yourself.

SMPlayer

A functional multi-platform program that can work not only with Windows, but also with Linux. It uses MPlayer as its engine, so the application can work with most available formats, both audio and video. One of the most useful features of this player is that it saves the settings of all files that are played using it. If for some reason the user interrupted watching the movie and closed the program, then the next time it starts it will start exactly from the moment at which it was stopped. In addition, all settings for subtitles, audio channels and volume indicators will be loaded automatically. If necessary, you can set up a system of hot keys, adjust the font size of subtitles and their color.

There are many different filters that allow you to remove noise from a music file and use deinterlacing. The developers have provided for the production of minus versions of songs by removing vocals from them. Such files can later be used during karaoke. Rewind a movie or any other video file by rotating the mouse wheel; you can adjust the contrast and color saturation. You can speed up the playback process by 2, 4, etc. once. Sound and subtitles are synchronized automatically. The application has a built-in browser of limited use, with which you can view videos on the YouTube portal. If desired, the played video can be scaled and the aspect ratio changed, adjusting them to the diagonal of your own monitor.

Advantages:

• Convenient and intuitive interface, fully translated into Russian;
• You can watch videos online and listen to Internet radio stations;
• The toolbar is customizable depending on the user's preferences;
• The program remembers the settings of each of the played files;
• Sound and subtitles can be delayed to optimally synchronize them with the picture;
• Supports compact or full screen mode;
• The video can be rotated, flipped, played in mirror format;
• Works with all existing codecs.

Flaws:

• You won’t be able to improve the quality in one click – to do this you will have to configure the parameters manually;
• Does not read specific formats like m2ts.

ALLPlayer

Another completely free program designed to work with video and audio files. The developers regularly release updates to it, and the interface is Russified. The program can run on Windows operating systems from XP and higher. The size is only 44 MB and consumes minimal system resources. The functionality of the media player is very wide; the application can work with a huge number of formats. There is an integrated package of codecs, so even without codecs installed in the system, any movies will be played. You can use subtitles in a variety of languages. At first glance, it may seem that this program is no different from similar applications, of which there are a great many today.

When playing sound, Dolby Surround technology is used, which allows you to get quite high quality sound even on modest computer speakers. The application can work with CD and DVD discs. There is an option called “recent files”, with its help you can find the necessary compositions or videos that were played not too long ago. It is possible to change the appearance of the application shell; it is capable of downloading subtitles for played films independently. The program is equipped with a built-in video converter, which allows you to change the resolution of media files and adjust them to a certain diagonal of the phone. DivFix helps you recover damaged .avi videos. There is another very interesting opportunity - developing your own design shells, and this is done very simply.

Advantages:

• Expanded software functionality;
• Works well with subtitles, downloading them on the Internet independently if necessary;
• There is a convenient and easy-to-use built-in converter;
• Availability of a huge package of its own codecs;
• Media files can be protected by setting a password;
• You can create your own design options.

Flaws:

• When adding the appropriate data, the utility may begin to slow down slightly;
• Russification is present, but not complete.

6. Media Player Classic Home Cinema

Another completely free program designed for use exclusively on the Windows platform of all versions. Using this player you can reformat DVD. It works with both built-in and external codecs, so the application can play almost any file. The creators of this software have taken care to equip it with extremely useful features that will be useful to each of the users. The player is designed primarily for playing music and video files, but it can simultaneously work with multiple monitors or with a computer and TV. The utility is equipped with everything necessary to read and restore damaged content in .avi format. If the TV's motherboard is supported by this device, then it will be possible to record the broadcast directly to a personal computer. There is a recording timer function, after which the computer automatically turns off.

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There is support for subtitles here, which allows you to view videos in unfamiliar languages. There is a function to save your favorite frames right while playing the movie. The interface is completely Russified; a huge number of plugins are available on the Internet that can significantly expand the functional side of the program. All played files are saved in history - the user will always see which film he has already watched and which one he is yet to become acquainted with. While viewing, the user can use hardware acceleration.

Advantages:

• Can partially replace Adobe Flash Player;
• It is possible to work with DVD format files;
• Suitable for working with audio with visual effects;
• If the television tuner is compatible with the program, then you can record the broadcast directly into the computer memory;
• Thorough hardware decoding;
• Plays and repairs damaged files with .avi resolution

Flaws:

• The developers did not provide automatic adjustment of brightness and contrast;
• It may slow down a bit when working with heavy files.

VLC Media Player

The first program in our review that is open source. The application weighs a little, but it is very powerful, lightweight and quite functional. The program is capable of working with most video and audio formats, and the use of external codecs is completely optional. This player reads information from CD, DVD, Blu-Ray discs and supports HD, Full HD, Ultra HD resolutions. It can be used to play multimedia streams using a variety of protocols. If necessary, the video scale can be made larger or smaller; there is a full-screen playback mode. There is a function for selecting a specific fragment and playing it cyclically, you can create screenshots, visualize music, and so on.

The set of effects for working with sound includes a convenient and functional graphic equalizer, and it has both several standard settings and the ability to save custom ones. Subtitle display parameters are adjustable - font size and type, letter thickness, presence and color of outline, location on the screen, presence or absence of shadows. If desired, the user can use hardware acceleration of the computer's central processor. Most functions are customized to specific keys depending on the user's convenience. On the official website of the application you can find a huge number of extensions and plugins that can be used to further increase the functionality of the program.

Advantages:

• The interface is designed in the spirit of minimalism, simple and clear, there are a large number of fine settings;
• Can be used on all existing computer platforms, there is even a version for Android;
• If desired, you can view the streaming video online;
• Playlists can be created, saved, deleted and edited;
• There are a large number of additional modules.

Flaws:

• It is not very convenient to change the volume when working with video;
• It happens that it starts to slow down - this is especially noticeable when playing high-definition films such as Blu-Ray.

Daum Potplayer

This utility was developed by the same programmers who created the well-known KMPlayer. This program consumes significantly less resources and hardly loads the operating system, providing stable 60 fps regardless of the power of the hardware used. If necessary, you can record video from the screen or from the camera on your laptop. If the application is installed on a Windows platform, you do not have to first install a codec package. If desired, you can also play television channels broadcast on the Internet. There are a lot of built-in effects and filters, a video capture function is provided, and it supports any multimedia file formats.

The outer shell looks stylish, but at the same time quite modest. The audio options include a multi-band equalizer that allows you to fine-tune the sound of each file. When playing video files, the user can adjust parameters such as brightness, contrast, color. At the top of the window you can find a special slider that controls the transparency of the shell. This is not a required feature, but it allows you to give the program additional originality.

Advantages:

• Regardless of the file format, the program will open it in the shortest possible time;
• Works on all Windows operating systems, including 64-bit ones;
• Low demands on system requirements;
• If necessary, independently searches for subtitles on the Internet;
• You can control the player via the touch screen;
• Updates are installed automatically;
• Support for various types of design.

Flaws:

• During the installation process, you will have to manually specify the language.

KMPlayer

One of the most popular programs for playing audio and video. Despite the fact that the first version of the application was released quite a long time ago, it still continues to be very popular among users. First of all, this is due to a very large package of built-in codecs, with which you can play any file format. The program has a decent number of fine settings, so it will be quite easy to make it your own. With its help, you can watch movies without translation, with subtitles, which the application searches on the Internet independently. There are a lot of specific functions for working with video. In general, there are several versions of this application - for use on a computer, tablet or even on a mobile device.

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This program instantly opens movies, regardless of their format and size. The main application panel contains only the main control buttons; everything else can be found in the settings. The program's interface is quite simple, it won't take long to get used to it, it is completely Russified and available for free download. Updates are released regularly, but you will need to install them manually.

Advantages:

• Universal player;
• Large set of integrated codecs;
• It works very quickly on both modern and outdated computers;
• There are a lot of effects and settings, so viewing becomes truly comfortable;
• Free application.

Flaws:

• Sometimes you have to search for a long time for the necessary setting;
• Users note some instability - during video playback it periodically freezes, the problem is solved by restarting the player.

BS.Player

The player is capable of significantly surpassing many modern players, although it was developed quite a long time ago - its first version first appeared about 14 years ago. The program can work with video and audio documents of various extensions, and the “file types” section provides a complete list of supported formats. The equalizer here is built-in, includes seven bands, the frequencies are adjusted only in general terms, but this is quite enough to get good sound. Users note special video processing, making viewing even more comfortable and enjoyable. The load on RAM and video card is minimal, no matter how heavy the video is played.

There is a tag editing function here, and it is implemented quite interestingly. Subtitles can be downloaded separately from video files. The program supports several dozen languages, and you can install additional language packs and plugins. There is a function for playing streaming video from the Internet. The main window combines all the necessary operations; no unnecessary details can be found here. The set of settings is optimal – this application is often praised by novice users. If necessary, the video can be scaled.

Advantages:

• Completely free application;
• Minor system requirements;
• You can control it using a multimedia keyboard;
• The program can work with video recorded on digital cameras from Panasonic, Canon, Sony and JVC brands;
• If an image and text are embedded in the audio, then during playback they will also be displayed on the screen;
• The interface supports Russian language.

Flaws:

• The presence of advertising (if necessary, it can be easily removed);
• Some translation inaccuracies.

ComboPlayer

The most powerful multimedia player in our review of the best players for Windows - that's why it came in first place. Another important quality is that it is distributed absolutely free. With this application you can not only watch movies and listen to music. It is capable of playing TV channels, working with online radio stations, and playing movies from torrents. The hardware requirements here are insignificant6 for the application to work correctly you will need 1 GB of RAM and 350 MB of free hard disk space. Immediately after installation, free access to 20 television channels and 400 radio stations is available. There really are a lot of possibilities here: there is an extended package of built-in codecs that allow you to work with various video formats.

Using the application is very easy - just launch it and select the desired channel, after which you will start watching. All channels are played in at least 480p quality, but “Russia” and “Channel 1” will be played in higher quality – 576p. To access other channels, you must purchase a subscription. If there is enough space on your hard drive, you can record a TV broadcast or a radio station, and the latter can be filtered by adding only the most interesting ones to your favorites. There is a parental control function - you will have to enter a password every time you launch this application. It is also possible to watch a TV program on each of the active channels.

Advantages:

• Can be used to watch TV;
• Simple and very clear application interface;
• Works fast enough even on weak and outdated computers;
• Supports most existing media file extensions;
• For comfortable use, you don’t have to spend a long time delving into the settings.

Flaws:

• Supported by operating systems from Windows 7 and higher;
• When working with torrents, you must ensure that you have the required amount of free space on your hard drive.

Aero Glass MP3 Player

This music player will definitely appeal to all Windows 7 connoisseurs. After all, this music player stands out for its incredibly beautiful “glass” design. It is also characterized by minimalism, and therefore will appeal to lovers of simplicity.

Key benefits of this free audio player:

• colorful visualization;
• ideal audio player for Windows 7;
• reads only mp3 and acc format;
• convenient equalizer;
• creating your favorite playlist;
• “Quick pause” option (move the cursor to the upper left corner, and after 1 second the music will stop).

In general, if you are tired of bulky media processors, then Aero Glass MP3 Player is what you need! It is not overloaded with functionality and reads only 2 popular formats; it is pleasant to look at and pleasant to listen to. What else is needed for happiness, right?

Aero Glass Download Link.

Foobar 2000

Also included in the list of the best music players for a computer is the Foobar 2000 audio player. It is designed in a minimalist style, works quickly, and is suitable for Windows XP, 7 and 8.

The main advantage of the audio player is its modest “appetite” for system resources. Therefore, if you have a weak PC or laptop and Winamp slows down the system, you can pay attention to this music player.

Other advantages of Foobar 2000:

• impeccably clear sound;
• support for popular audio formats;
• extract files from RAR and ZIP archives directly on the fly;
• creating playlists;
• setting up hot keys;
• DVD Audio and losses format support.

Yes, the design of this audio player is not pleasing, but in all other respects it is in perfect order.

Link to office Foobar website.

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The best Hi-Fi players

The most advanced high-end technology, capable of playing not only MP3, but also uncompressed audio files.

Fiio X3 II – a timeless classic

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

This player is made of metal, tracks are controlled using a wheel. The device is equipped with a Cirrus Logic CS4398 chip and supports 24-bit DAC. Works very well with low frequencies, filtering them thoroughly. There is also support for DSD audio decoding.

The player can work autonomously for more than 11 hours. There is no built-in memory, but you can install MicroSD up to 128 GB. The sound quality is excellent, despite the unusually low price for this category of players.

Pros:

• Relatively affordable price - just over 30 thousand.
• Great sound.
• Bluetooth.
• Support for high-capacity flash drives.

Minuses:

• Not the best battery.
• The design is long outdated.

The Fiio X3 II will appeal to music lovers for whom only impeccable sound quality is important.

Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX2 - the brand's flagship based on Android

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

NWZ-ZX2 is one of the leading players in the line. It is convenient for use with a smartphone and runs on the Android Jelly Bean platform. This allows you to use a Wi-Fi connection and third-party applications, as well as download files from the Tidal library.

What sets the new Walkman apart is its excellent sound quality. The player itself has a memory of 128 GB, the user can add another 64 using microSD. The battery lasts for 30 hours of continuous operation of the device.

Pros:

• Great sound.
• Lots of settings.
• Nice design.
• Convenient controls.
• Powerful battery.
• Impressive memory capacity.
• Supports most formats.

Minuses:

• High price - almost 70 thousand.

Sony Walkman NWZ-ZX2 is an expensive but functional player with a beautiful design and a very user-friendly interface.

JetAudio Basic

JetAudio Basic is one of the best audio players. It weighs a lot (38 MB, versus 3 MB for Foobar 2000), but the functionality here is simply enormous.

Main advantages of this music player:

• powerful equalizer;
• displaying the rating of audio tracks;
• many sound effects;
• work on a timer;
• karaoke;
• audio file converter;
• support for multi-channel audio and subtitles;
• a large number of covers;
• easy management of your favorite playlists and albums;
• speed control.

In other words, JetAudio Basic is a real media combine. Such a music player will be an ideal option for avid music lovers who lack the capabilities of “light” programs. If you are not satisfied with the sound quality in other audio players, try this option.

Link to office JetAudio website.

The best MP3 players with microSD support

This category includes music players that do not have enough built-in memory - they play all songs from external media.

Hidizs AP100 – stylish model with excellent sound

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

This player has good characteristics and produces fairly clear sound. Many users also like its design. But the main thing is that the Hidizs AP100 model has a sound close to Hi-Fi, while its price is much lower than standard representatives of such a high level. The manufacturer decided to expand the scope of delivery, so buyers can count on receiving pleasant bonuses (case, USB cable, various adapters).

The player transmits sound well, suppresses noise, and has a high dynamic range of 103 dB. The model has a built-in CS4398 DAC, a modern and reliable CS8422 sampling frequency converter, as well as an AD823A low-pass filter and a CS48L10 equalizer. Its advantage is that it is hardware based. There is also a reference oscillator that runs on two quartz crystals.

Pros:

• USB DAC support.
• Works with any audio format.
• Hardware equalizer.
• Logical control.
• Ability to play music at very high volume.
• Reasonable price.

Minuses:

• Quite large and has a considerable weight.

The Hidizs AP100 player is an ideal option for fans of high-quality music who do not want to overpay for the purchase of Hi-Fi equipment.

Shanling M0 is an inexpensive device with a good battery

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

This is one of the most affordable mid-segment players. The manufacturer offers a variety of colors and quite good filling. The ESS Saber ES9218P single-chip system allows you to convert a digital signal into an analogue one, and the player can also be used as an external DAC.

Shanling M0 supports Bluetooth 4, LDAC and aptX codec. The player's sound is inferior to its competitors, but significantly superior to smartphones, even quite expensive ones.

Pros:

• High quality electronics.
• High power output.
• Light weight and small size.
• Almost any Bluetooth is supported.
• Available as USB DAC.
• Holds a charge for a long time.
• Reads cards up to 512 GB.

Minuses:

• Lack of control buttons.
• No balanced output.

The Shanling M0 model is perfect for users on limited budgets, as well as those who plan to use their equipment on the go.

xDuoo X10 – laconic in appearance, rich in sound

4.9

★★★★★

editorial assessment

72%

buyers recommend this product

See review▶

The player is a Hi-Res device and is equipped with good electronics, but its design is quite simple and not very attractive. There are two slots for memory cards.

xDuoo has a minimal number of settings, but if desired, installation of other firmware is available, which will allow you to edit the file configuration and expand the capabilities of the device. The player simplifies high frequencies, softens mids, and reproduces low frequencies very well. If you are not very picky about high sound quality, then this model is quite suitable.

Pros:

• Optical output.
• You can use multiple memory cards at the same time.
• Relatively easy to use buttons.
• Expressive bass.

Minuses:

• Does not support USB DAC.
• The factory firmware has few settings.

The xDuoo X10 player is the best option for those who do not care about design, but require good quality music.

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XMplay player

Another great free music player for PC is XMplay. Reads all possible multimedia formats and supports a huge number of functions.

The main advantages of this music player:

• high quality playback;
• support for playlists created in other music players;
• a large number of covers (you can choose to suit every taste);
• quick launch of tracks through the context menu (a line is added to it to launch music through this audio player).

Its only drawback is its requirement for resources. Especially if you install various covers and plugins.

Link to office Xmplay website.

KMPlayer

KMPlayer has captivated the hearts of users for a long time. This multifunctional player stands out qualitatively among the huge market of players. Korean developers installed all the necessary codecs into the program, saving users from unnecessary hassle and wasting time. Even when loading a format that is not supported by the program, the KMP player will look for it on its native website.

KMPlayer is easy to customize and flexible in operation. Thanks to data storage in the registry, the player can be used as a portable one. It is possible to edit and include subtitles, while loading the audio track, and select the audio stream. Built-in nine-band equalizer.

One of the rare but useful functions is the normalization of the audio stream, with which you can avoid wheezing and sound problems. The tools include not only video capture, but also audio files.

Advantages:

• universal media player;
• variety of integrated codecs;
• a large number of effects and settings;
• automatic update from the official website;
• flexible to use.

Flaws:

• demands on system resources;
• There may be difficulties with the interface;
• At times unstable at work.

The program is easy to configure and make “for yourself” on any PC. With each new version, the number of supported formats increases, while new functionality and features are added.

Music player Foobnix for VKontakte

Foobnix is ​​not that famous compared to other audio players, but it has some cool features:

• CUE support;
• converting audio files from one format to another;
• support for more than 5000 radio stations;
• search and download music from the Internet.

The latest feature of this music player will be very useful for modern users and will help you quickly find your favorite tracks heard from friends or on the radio.

Foobnix can also integrate with VKontakte, allowing you to listen to your favorite tracks (yours and your friends) through an audio player! That is why it is included in the top 10 best music players for Windows.

Link to office Foobnix website.

The best MP3 player for old-school fans

Espada Cassette Capture EZCAP

Do you think cassette players died out 20 years ago? Say it to the face of the player from Espada! The main thing is that you can not only listen to music from cassettes, but also digitize it to your computer in MP3 format using a USB cable. A special chic is the reverse function, so you don’t have to take out the cassette and turn it over when the film runs out on one side. A great nostalgic option for those who still remember why an audio cassette needs a faceted pencil. It’s a pity that there is no analogue for vinyl records or at least for reels of film.

Price: ₽ 1,802

Windows Media Player

This is a standard music (and video) player that is installed on any Windows PC. Many users do not like it because of its large size, slow operation, etc. But all this applied to the early versions.

Today, Windows Media Player has undergone significant changes and has become much better. Now it is a powerful media processor for playing video and audio files.

It may still lose out to the above-mentioned music players, but if you don't listen to music often, then why install another player? The functionality of the standard Windows Media Player will be more than enough.

Let's sum it up

When choosing an MP3 player, you should approach it with special care so as not to purchase a model that will simply disappoint after a couple of days of use. If you are an athlete or simply lead an active lifestyle, then it is better to purchase a compact version. It's easy to hide, put in a convenient way, and it will serve its main purpose - playing music. If you just use the player to listen to music during the day, you can take a more functional option. Then there will be video, photos, and high-quality music, which brings so much pleasure.

STP Music Player

A modest name and an equally simple music player, which, however, has its advantages:

• is not demanding on resources and works very quickly;
• does not distract (minimizes in the taskbar);
• supports setting hot keys;
• has a simple design.

Thus, STP is a good audio player that takes up minimal space and does not require many resources. True, the appearance leaves much to be desired.

STP player download link.

How to choose an MP3 player

In general, choosing such a thing as an MP3 player is not difficult, but the whole problem lies in taking into account several important nuances. Without taking them into account, you may regret your choice when you buy a player that does not satisfy you.

Let's look at the criteria in more detail.

The size and weight of the player affect ease of use