Top 5 MP3 players with line-in recording
This list compiles our favorite MP3 players that produce great results using a standard line input cable.
Say what you will about the bygone days of cassette decks, the medium lent itself extremely well to recording. Whether taping your favorite song off the radio, making a mix for your latest crush, or recording your toddler's musings on Sesame Street characters, recording sounds from the world around you was as simple as pressing a big red button.
These days, it's no easy feat to hunt down a portable music player capable of creating quality recordings with push-button simplicity. Some of these players, such as the Toshiba Gigabeat U and Cowon iAudio 7, can also detect the silences between songs and automatically split the recording into separate tracks--handy for recording entire albums in one pass.
If you're looking to add recording capability to an iPod, check out the Griffin iTalk Pro.
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 8.3 Excellent |
1. Cowon iAudio 7
The Cowon iAudio 7 beats the industry heavyweight iPod Nano in price, features, battery life, and sound quality. The user interface could use some refinement, but all-in-all this is a very impressive MP3 player.
Read review of the Cowon iAudio 7.
Price: $$149-150 (check latest prices)
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 7.3 Very Good |
2. Toshiba Gigabeat U
The Toshiba Gigabeat U is one tough, classy player that nails all the right features at a great price.
Read user review of the Toshiba Gigabeat U.
Price: $64-94 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Excellent |
3. Creative Zen V Plus
The Creative Zen V Plus is a superb choice for anyone looking for a compact and feature-filled flash MP3 player with great sound quality. If you're looking for a more sophisticated design (or have large thumbs), check out the iRiver Clix instead.
Read user review of the Creative Zen V Plus.
Price: $130 (check latest prices)
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| 8.3 Good |
4. Cowon D2
If you can get on board with the Cowon D2's PDA-like touch screen interface, the reward is great-sounding audio, a smorgasbord of features, and a fantastic battery life.
Read user review of the Cowon D2.
Price: $151-160 (check latest prices)
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| 7.3 Good |
5. Creative Zen Nano Plus
If you're looking for a feature-packed flash player but you don't want to spend a ton to get one, Creative's Zen Nano Plus is the device for you.
Read user review of the Creative Zen Nano Plus.
Price: $n/a (check latest prices)
