I need you to help choosing my mobile music player

[mll]

Xmas is coming near, and maybe I'll ask Santa such stuff.

Until now, I always resisted because I felt no need (laptop PC / car stereo where there), but now I need one mostly for 2 uses:

• 1st, train travels, even when the laptop battery is depleted.
• But especially 2nd, night car travels when all family sleeps and I'm driving (the stereo prevents my wife from sleeping, mind you).

Some of you are long-timers with these devices, so I'd love to have your advice on what I should buy. I compiled what I need:

• 1. ability to read as many audio codecs as possible, first one being MPC (Musepack), but also MP3, maybe AAC etc. So RockBox-compatible, of course - ideally, a device in the stable development list.
  
• 2. FM listening, with automatic frequency switching (that's called RDS I think)
  
• 3. FM emitting to listen on stereo devices nearby
  

And then in no particular order:

• sold in Europe
  
• high storage capacity (OK, 1 To would be a lil' too high, but something at or above 1 Go would be nice)
  
• autonomy as long as possible (at least 5 hours)
  
• easy integration with PC (via USB ?) for file transfers
  
• 2nd headphones socket
  
• good general ergonomy
  
• Price no more than about 200 €/$
  
• New or 2nd hand I don't mind (actually I like the idea of recycling) - maybe yours ?
  
• No special need for video

Throw in your suggestions! Thanks for your time. :)

[jewman]

You didn't mention size, so if that's not really a factor, you should check out the iRiver h320. It's about the thickness of 2 video iPods stacked up one on top of another. iRiver is the only major mp3 player producer that produces a player with 2 headphone jacks (although one's really labeled "line-out"). You can get one on eBay for way under 200. You should check it out.

[Spug]

I agree on the iriver H320, which has a 20 GB hard drive.

It's not the prettiest player around, but I have it, and have no ergonomy problems. I don't think it supports FM emitting, though, and I'm not sure if Rockbox supports RDS (I hardly ever use the FM function). Apart from that, I think it covers everything you need.

[Genre9mp3]

There isn't any Rockboxed player that supports RDS. In fact, the only DAP I know of that supports RDS is MS Zune.

Also what do you mean by FM emitting? You can use an external FM Transmitter with almost any device to listen on stereo devices nearby.

[mll]

Thanks guys, I'll definitely have a look at the H320. Too bad for the RDS though (God I wish my car stereo had a headphone socket).

@Genre9mp3: Your questions means you got it right. Didn't know that such external devices existed, yet - I'd be glad to find a DAP that has this built-in function, to prevent yet another device & cable (I assume it plugs itself into the headphone socket).

[Genre9mp3]

Btw, I don't know if Zune supports RDS automatic frequency adjusting (which is what you asked). I know though that it supports at least RDS text.

Anyway, if the FM transmitter is so important to you (and you hate cables that much) you might want to consider the H10 with this accessory: http://www.iriver.eu.com/accessoires.html?p_id=740&L=0

Though I wouldn't recommend H10 over H320 for various reasons. H10 is still in early Rockbox development. AFAIK Radio doesn't even work currently (which I assume is the most important for you) and battery doesn't last long (especially compared to H320/H340 that can last 20 hours with Rockbox and a fresh battery). Oh, and it hasn't a 2nd headphones socket! I just wanted to let you know of its existence.

Go for the H320!  

[mll]

Thanks, found a 2nd-hand one at 170€. I'll leave the week-end before I pay & make the jump I guess.

[mll]

Done. I'm a happy user of a H320. I switched to rockbox nearly at once. 8-)

Many many thanks guys for your precious advice.  

Now, within a pair of hours, I managed to freeze it ti deatch - but this is another story.