Catching up on ten years of mp3 player technology.

March 25, 2008 1:29 PM

What simple, cheap, rechargeable equipment will let me play mp3s out loud?

I want to play music for yoga classes in a location without a plug. So I am looking for an MP3 player and external speaker combo (or alternative) that is somehow rechargeable. Obviously the speakers don't have to be *loud* but not tinny or gross.

I've been fine using a little 256 mb rio sport for plane rides up until now, but maybe I have to get an ipod for this project. I'd like to spend little money, maybe on ebay, and don't mind being a little out of date on technology (obviously!)

I also know nothing about ipods, external speakers, or alternatives to those things. I googled "ipod speakers" and some other phrases and became instantly and thoroughly boggled.

I'm looking for the simplest, easiest, cheapest way to play music outside, without a plug, making use of my existing mp3 player if possible. Thank you all! God bless Metafilter~

posted by letahl to Computers & Internet (5 answers total)

You're looking for battery powered speakers, often referred to as "travel speakers". You want something that uses a 3.5mm "headphone jack" connection, as opposed to an iPod connector, which requires the latter.

After reading some reviews, I suggest the Sony SRS-T77s, which are known for decent sound and longevity, and clock in at under $60 online according to CNET. I found them (without doing much comparison checking) for $50 at B&H Photo.
posted by ellF at 1:45 PM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've read good things about the Logitech Pure-Fi Anywhere. It has a remote, which might be handy during yoga class (though I think you'd need an iPod for the remote to work). It's designed primarily for iPods, but click the Specifications link and you'll see it also has a 3.5 mm jack for other players. There are several reviews and a good price ($85) at Amazon.
posted by PatoPata at 2:03 PM on March 25, 2008

Best answer: I have the Audio Source DB5 speakers. It's cheap, sounds reasonably good, and takes AA batteries (so you can use rechargeable NiMH batteries, if you already have those). It has a 3.5mm jack so can plug into any mp3 player.
posted by jaimev at 2:32 PM on March 25, 2008 [1 favorite]

Get an iHome.
posted by Navelgazer at 4:19 PM on March 25, 2008

If you decide on a solution built around the iPod, check out the refurbished units on Apple's site. They're cheaper than regular retail and come with the full warranty. Selection varies from time to time, depending on what they've got. I've got a refurb 3g that still works great and just got a 1gb Shuffle refurb.
posted by altcountryman at 7:01 AM on March 26, 2008