View Full Version : MP3 player with AAA/AA batteries
Hi All
I'm looking for an MP3 player with the following things:
*takes AA or AAA batteries so I don't have to find a computer or wall outlet to recharge, and I'm just not a fan of the solar recharger things.
*has an FM tuner so I can get a weather report
*isn't super heavy
I mostly listen to music at camp because I like to hear the birds, people coming up behind me, etc, but it does help to have music on a tough climb.
Anybody know of such a contraption? Brand name/price/where can I find it?
If you can find a Creative Zen Nano Plus that will fit your needs. Uses 1 AAA battery.
Here's one on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Creative-Nano-Plus-Player-Black/dp/B0009F4OR6
Or you may be able to find some other types/brands at Target or Walmart.
Here's a Sansa with FM, 2 GB rather than 1 and cheaper.
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-m250-Player-Black/dp/B000BP8AY2/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_0
jersey joe
02-17-2009, 12:10
I like the RCA pearl, It takes a AAA battery and has expandable storage(SD CARD). However, It doesn't have a radio...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P6LA3K?smid=A3H89ADJHTH9SN&tag=cnet-ce-20&linkCode=asn
Wise Old Owl
02-17-2009, 13:37
On a side note look at your cell phone, My last one had a slot to add a chip and the new ones will accept 2gb most models will accept bluetooth headphones and mine accepted a special cord to adapt to headphones (has a mic built in to answer calls)
Make sure you carry a seperatly charged battery.
I carry a smartphone in the woods, but I ultimately opted to carry a separate, dedicated MP3 player anyway --- a Creative Muvo V100, though I think those might be getting hard to find (single AAA battery, solid state, 2 GB, light weight). I carried a separate device partly to not have to balance battery uses between the various smartphone functionality, and partly because of DRM (digital rights management) which allowed me to purchase audio books for my MP3 player but not for my smartphone. Also, the UI (user interface) is a little easier on the MP3 player, with of course some (albeit limited) external controls dedicated to use as a music player.
Slo-go'en
02-17-2009, 14:17
I like the RCA pearl, It takes a AAA battery and has expandable storage(SD CARD). However, It doesn't have a radio...
It has a FM radio, but doesn't work all that well. I need to replace mine, it died the other day. Sitting in a puddle of water over night in the bottom of my pack last summer finally did it in.
Strategic
02-17-2009, 14:30
Like Sly, I use a SanDisK Sansa (mine's a m240, the 1gb size) and it's a great fit for what you're looking for. Lots of storage space, easy to use, robust as it can be, uses a single AAA and it packs an FM radio too.
Nightwalker
02-17-2009, 15:38
I like the RCA pearl, It takes a AAA battery and has expandable storage(SD CARD). However, It doesn't have a radio...
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P6LA3K?smid=A3H89ADJHTH9SN&tag=cnet-ce-20&linkCode=asnI think that my Pearl does have a radio. I may be wrong, however. Mine is, I think, the 4 gig model, plus I put a 2 gig MicroSD card in it. It carries almost my entire CD collection on 96k WMA. I hardly ever use it. It's just nice to have when I'm in the mood, and it weighs very little.
I picked up a couple on e-bay for like $25 each. They are 1 or 2 gig and are just larger than a memory stick or slightly larger than a AA battery. They take a AAA battery, have FM and will record voice. The best part is the USB is on the end (under a cover) and you dont need a cable to put music on it, just plug into any USB on any computer. I cant remember the name but have seen several like it since. I bought one for my brother when he did his thru in 06 and then bought one for myself. He had no problems and when he got sick of the songs on it i would send him mine and when he got it he would send me his, I kept this up and constantly changed and updated the songs on it. The only thing is you can only pick up FM with headphones, wont pick up much signal with external speaker hooked up, I guess it uses the headphone wire as an antenna.
MintakaCat
02-17-2009, 18:22
Why not us a standard IPOD and use this USB battery supply to recharge the IPOD?
http://www.bixnet.com/usbbaboxc4aa.html
Would this not work or am I missing something?
Blissful
02-17-2009, 19:22
Sansa is a great player - we have two. My hubby got my an RCA one for Christmas but I like the Sansa much better.
Nightwalker
02-17-2009, 19:27
Why not us a standard IPOD and use this USB battery supply to recharge the IPOD?
http://www.bixnet.com/usbbaboxc4aa.html
Would this not work or am I missing something?
Weight. Those things weigh a good bit.
jersey joe
02-17-2009, 19:38
I think that my Pearl does have a radio. I may be wrong, however. Mine is, I think, the 4 gig model, plus I put a 2 gig MicroSD card in it. It carries almost my entire CD collection on 96k WMA. I hardly ever use it. It's just nice to have when I'm in the mood, and it weighs very little.
Yes, the newer models do have radio funtionallity. Mine is old.
SGT Rock
02-17-2009, 19:41
Hi All
I'm looking for an MP3 player with the following things:
*takes AA or AAA batteries so I don't have to find a computer or wall outlet to recharge, and I'm just not a fan of the solar recharger things.
*has an FM tuner so I can get a weather report
*isn't super heavy
I mostly listen to music at camp because I like to hear the birds, people coming up behind me, etc, but it does help to have music on a tough climb.
Anybody know of such a contraption? Brand name/price/where can I find it?
I use a Tekstor I beat http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1T4DKUS_enUS212US212&ei=B0ubSeiDG9CCtwfp1N2pCw&resnum=0&q=trekstor+i+beat&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=9296029677192265545#ps-sellers
MintakaCat
02-17-2009, 20:01
Weight. Those things weigh a good bit.
Do what I do. Take it without the batteries. Then when you need to charge your ipod, steal the batteries from other devices. The ipod doesn't need that much power and when you're done the batteries go back to their devices. Without the batteries the thing weighs next to nothing.
SGT Rock
02-17-2009, 20:30
I think my trekstor is a 4mb version. I also use the sync feature of WMP to reduce the MP3s so I get more tunes per MB.
Thanks for the feedback! I think the Sandisk and the Creative are both a pretty good fit. I'll see if I can find a deal...
SGT Rock
02-17-2009, 23:01
Good plan. Stay away from anything with Emerson on it.
while it wouldn't fit the bill of your battery needs, i must give a plug for creative as well. i use a zen V for the gym/training and absolutely love it. no problems, drag and drop songs (don't need any software or to pay for music - ipod = biggest ripoff ever) + has fm transmitter. it's good for about 10 hours of music on a charge. which is good enough for me for a weekend+
creative started out making sound cards for computers (probably the best ones in the business) and have grown since. they know what they're doing
**i don't work for them
I have an old Sansa e140. 1GB with expandable memory. Pretty light weight and has an FM tuner. You may have difficulty finding it though.
volleypc
02-20-2009, 10:01
I just bought a sony walkman 4gb. With the right settings, the battery is supposed to last 40-45 hours. While I have not tested that out yet, I have yet to recharge it in the week I have been using it. It does not have the AA batteries, but what I did was by the I-Go batter pack that takes 2 AA batteries use it to charge the device.
This battery pack sounds interesting...where did you get it? What kind of connection does it use to charge? I already have an Ipod (both a shuffle and a regular one), so I'm wondering if I can charge it with this. It's very annoying to be out in the woods nowhere near a wall outlet or USB port and have you music die mid-song. From what I understand, the solar chargers don't give a whole lot of charge. Anyone have one of those solar chargers, and can give me a review on it?
Calmwater
02-20-2009, 12:46
I used one of these, the battery life was a plus. It doesn't have a radio.
Calmwater
02-20-2009, 12:47
ooops heres the link...
http://http://www.google.com/products/catalog?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1ACGW_ENUS311&q=sony+network+walkman&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=13023075833677227100#ps-sellers
Calmwater
02-20-2009, 12:49
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1ACGW_ENUS311&q=sony+network+walkman&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=13023075833677227100#ps-sellers
Ramble~On
02-20-2009, 16:51
Why not us a standard IPOD and use this USB battery supply to recharge the IPOD?
http://www.bixnet.com/usbbaboxc4aa.html
Would this not work or am I missing something?
I do. What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger. Yes, an iPod is heavier than most players and it doesn't have radio or AAA or AA.
I love music and an 80 gig iPod holds more than enough for me..plus photographs, movies, videos, podcasts.etc. It's heavier yes, but for what I get out of it and how much I enjoy it...it's worth the weight.
Energizer makes a 2 AA recharger that's good for about 2 charges.
- Apple screwed themselves by limiting the iPhone to At&t.
If other carriers had the iPhone I truly would be a "happy camper"
70 hours! Wow! I'll add that one to the list of contenders. I wish it had an FM tuner though....I don't know why I'm so set on that...I guess it's because there have been so many times I've really, really wanted a weather report.