MP3 Players

New Zealand MP3 Players

Carry your tunes wherever you go, with a portable music player. New Zealand MP3 players are available in a wide variety of sizes, makes and models. Read on for information on what to look for when shopping for an MP3 player.

• Electronics Shopping
• MP3s
• Computers

Portable music player technology allows your music to go with you, wherever you go. MP3 players are the latest must-have electronic accessory, letting people groove to their favourite tunes while walking, commuting or relaxing away from home. Find out how to get your hands on a New Zealand MP3 player that's a good fit for you with our MP3 player shopping FAQ's.

How many songs can I store on my MP3 player?
As a general rule, a song in MP3 format takes up about 3 or 4 megabytes (MB), which equates to around 250 songs per gigabyte. So, for a 5 gigabyte (GB) MP3 player, you'll be able to pack in around 1,250 tunes! Currently, MP3 players in New Zealand have a peak capacity of 80GB (or 20,000 songs) for a hard drive model and 8GB (or 2,000 songs) for a flash drive MP3 player. MP3's can be legally downloaded online.

What's the difference between a hard drive and a flash drive?
You'll need to choose one of two music storage technologies for your MP3 player: hard drive or flash memory. Hard drive storage will let you store a greater number of songs on your portable music player, but these MP3 players will be larger in size and more easily damaged. Those with flash drive storage have more limited song storage space, but are often smaller in size and more durable because they don't have moving parts.

What kind of computer do I need?
You'll need a reasonably up-to-date computer with a USB 1.1 or 2.0 port. As already outlined, you should allow between 3 and 4 megabytes for every song you store on your computer's hard drive.

How does an MP3 player get information about each song?
Part of an MP3 file is an ID tag, which contains information such as the artist's name, the title of the song and information about the album on which the track is featured. When buying an MP3 player, check out the format in which your player arranges this information. Some players allow users to view their music collection by artist, song title, album title or genre. Find a player which shows information in a way which suits you.

Do I need to buy software for my MP3 player?
Your MP3 player will come with software included; this will enable you to download songs from your computer. Before you buy, check that the music programme you use will support your MP3 player.

How should I decide which type of MP3 player to buy?
There are many makes and models of MP3 player on the market, so it's best to visit your local New Zealand electronics store to view their range of portable music players. This will give you a chance to:

• Check out the look and feel of each player – size and weight vary greatly between makes and models. If you'll be using your MP3 player while exercising, you may prefer a smaller, lighter player; if storage capacity is your priority, size and weight may not be a consideration.
• Find a user interface which suits you – larger LCD screens will be able to show more information, making navigation and file management easier.
• Compare price and storage capacity of a range of models – look for the best storage capacity within your price range.
• Listen to determine the sound quality of each player – this varies between makes and models, so read reviews or ask the sales person, as well as listening with your own ears.
• Ask about each player's battery life – some flash drive players are able to take rechargeable alkaline batteries, but most hard drive MP3 devices have a built-in rechargeable battery which requires charging at a power outlet or USB port.
• Find out about a player's extra features – some have FM radio, sound recording capability, photo storage and other whizz-bang tools.

Shop around for the best deal, looking in online stores as well as your local electronics store. Once you've found one that takes your fancy, read online reviews and get recommendations from others about what works and what doesn't in their experience of MP3 players. A New Zealand MP3 player will bring you many hours of listening joy and give you the ability to take your tunes wherever you go. Happy listening!

Looking for more information? Find New Zealand MP3 players in the NZS.com directory.

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Technology images from Flickr: MP3 Player, Microchip and Cable.