The DP-X1A looks a little bit like a phone, but much thicker with two audio ports – one headphone jack and one balanced output for those interested in a cleaner and overall better quality sound. The Onkyo DP-X1A isn't the most compact device on this list, but we think it's the best MP3 player you can buy, offering lots of customizability, an intuitive interface, and fantastic sound. Thanks to new innovations in audio engineering, they’re always improving on sound, with features like hi-res audio support and built-in DACs (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) becoming commonplace.Ī little chunky compared to the competition They’ve also had a big design upgrade, which means added durability and sleeker styles to slip in your pocket. Pair one of these with great-sounding headphones or earbuds and you’ve got high-quality music that travels with you wherever you go. Whatever the reason, today's best MP3 players are capable of storing your music library at a much higher bitrate than your 2009 iPod Shuffle ever could. Or you might want to save your precious mobile data and battery while you’re out and about. Maybe you don’t want to be tethered to your phone all the time. Even so, MP3 players are not obsolete and a great choice for some people.
Music streaming services have made listening to music on-the-go easier than ever and our smartphones can now hold huge amounts of tracks, albums and podcasts. Of course, MP3 players aren’t as popular as they used to be.