Headphones with an MP3 player are devices that do not require a connection to a smartphone or other sound sources to operate. Such gadgets have their own Micro SD card on which music is stored. But what are they for? Read more about where headphones with a player are used, and which models deserve attention.
Criteria for choosing headsets with an MP3 player and built-in memory
When choosing headphones with a player, a number of criteria for these devices are taken into account:
- Construction type. Depending on the type of design, headphones can be in-ear, in-ear, or on-ear. The first two options are compact; depending on the model, they can be used for listening to music while walking or for sports. Overheads are more suitable for use at home.
- Memory size. Headphones with a player come with built-in memory or with a slot into which flash cards can be installed. The first models are more convenient, because do not require the purchase of SD cards. On the other hand, the built-in memory of headphones is often limited to 1-4 GB.
- Moisture protection. If the headphones are to be suitable for swimming in the pool, you need a model with a waterproof casing. Moreover, the moisture protection class should not be low, but high (example: IPX67).
The best headphones with a built-in player
Let's now take a look at our top eight. It includes headphones of different designs and parameters, but they are all well-built, reliable and have earned positive customer reviews:
- Sony NW-WS 625;
- Nobby Expert L-950;
- Bluedio R + Legend;
- Alcom WP-800;
- Bluedio T2+;
- Sven AP-B480MV;
- Defender FreeMotion B525;
- CaseCuru CGpogs pro.
Sony NW-WS 625
High-quality and compact, these headphones are simply designed for sports people. Their high moisture protection and in-channel design allows you to use the model without any problems even when exercising in the pool. The headphones are very light and comfortable, and at the same time have excellent characteristics: 16 GB of built-in memory, different types of connections, including wired to a PC, support for all common audio formats. There is a fast charging function. The headphones have a specific design that allows them to hold firmly and not fall during use, even with active movements.
| Memory card | 16 GB built-in |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Availability of radio | No |
| Operating time without recharging | 10-20 hours |
Price: from 11,990 rub.
pros
- Sporty design;
- Waterproof, can be used in a swimming pool;
- Additional remote control for finger;
- Large memory capacity;
- Volume control.
Minuses
- No radio;
- Not very convenient controls;
- High price.
Ivan F.: “Good quality headphones, very comfortable to fit, but the most important function for me is the ability to take them to swimming training. I've been using it for almost a year, no complaints at all. It’s great that there’s a finger remote control, it’s convenient. The memory capacity is great, any playlist can fit. I recommend them to anyone who plays sports, these headphones are ideal for sports.”
headphones with built-in player Sony NW-WS 625
Nobby Expert L-950
Inexpensive, but functional headphones will delight their users with good functionality. Among the main ones are the ability to use them as a telephone headset, support for a flash drive, an operation indicator, and the presence of FM radio. Sufficiently comfortable and wide pads and light weight of the headphones will ensure ease of use. The design is foldable, connection occurs using Bluetooth technology. In addition to the headphones, you get two cables in the kit: one for charging, the other for AUX and a case.
The best headphones with only one player
Manufacturers produce a stand-alone headset with a radio tuner and a player, or only the latter. Having only one MP3 allows you to install larger speakers in a spacious cabinet for improved sound quality. This is a technological solution for true music lovers.
Zealot B5 – for enjoying music at home
The best-seller with a built-in MP3 player is distinguished by a smooth head framed with soft leatherette. There are three color options: black-red, silver-brown and completely black. The micro CD card slot is located at the bottom of the speaker housing. There is also an omnidirectional microphone, a USB connector for charging and volume control. The call answer key is located on the end panel.
Pros:
- small but soft head, thanks to dermantine lining;
- strong hold on the head due to the metal frame of the bow;
- adjustment of the position of the linings along the horizontal and vertical axes, as well as the seating depth;
- powerful arms along the edges of the speaker make the structure strong and able to resist accidental pressure and shock;
- very deep ear pads completely cover the ears, eliminating external sounds;
- there are no sharp changes on the body that could cause hair to catch;
- Supports memory cards up to 32 GB;
- you can listen to music and at the same time be waiting for a call to a phone paired via Bluetooth;
- speaker diameter 40 mm;
- Battery life up to 10 hours in active mode.
Minuses:
- the omnidirectional microphone picks up a lot of unnecessary sounds during a conversation;
- no noise reduction system;
- Ears fog up when listening for a long time;
- Scrolling through songs is done with a wheel, so you can jump through several tracks;
- The speakers' sensitivity of 80 dB allows them to be used at home for high-quality sound (on a noisy street there may not be enough volume and the music will be heard in average quality).
What types of wireless headphones-player are there?
Depending on the design, player headphones are divided into full-size or closed-type (left) and sports (right).
In sports headphones, the emphasis is on compactness. They weigh like a feather, but sound rather mediocre. A person who is accustomed to the sound of full-size headphones will listen to sports headphones through pain. Note that sports headphones are not independent - they operate on a battery for 7-8 hours.
Full-size headphones usually have a phenomenal frequency range. Sony Walkman models, for example, transmit frequencies from 5 Hz to 25,000 Hz - and this despite the fact that a person hears a range of 16-20,000 Hz. You can run in closed-type headphones; their weight does not cause much discomfort when they are on your head. But if you want to take a break and listen to the sounds of the street while jogging, then hang them around your neck - then the cups will hit your chest unpleasantly.
Closed-back player headphones are a rather fragile thing. We recommend that you protect your gadget from falls and impacts in every possible way. Sports headphones, on the other hand, are durable.
Player headphones are also classified according to the presence of FM radio, Bluetooth support, and degree of protection from water. However, these functions are perhaps self-explanatory.
Advantages and disadvantages
Here are a number of reasons why users love headphones with a built-in player:
- Long working time. For some reason, people are amazed when you tell them that the player headphones need to be charged once every 2 weeks. But this is actually true. If you charge the ears before the trip, you don’t have to take the power cable with you. On average, one charge lasts for 12 hours of music playback.
- No wires. Listening to headphones while jogging is pure pleasure. Running with a heavy 6-inch smartphone dangling in your shorts pocket is such a pastime.
- There is a radio. If you're tired of your playlist, you can switch to a trendy radio station and get acquainted with the latest music. However, not all players are equipped with an FM radio function.
Headphones with a player have features that manufacturers should think through more carefully:
- Track navigation. Finding the track you want to listen to in a playlist on your smartphone is as easy as shelling pears. But with headphones-player the situation is different. Using the switch you can go to the next/previous song or next/previous album. If there are 40 more tracks between the song you just listened to and the song you want to listen to next, you will have to press the switch 40 times.
- Weight. Player headphones are heavier than regular ones because they have a “filling” - a microprocessor, a flash drive, and a battery. On average, the weight is about 250-300 grams.
- Maintainability. Alas, for many models - including the Sony Walkman WH505 headphones, which the author absolutely adores - the flash drive cannot be removed. So, if the gadget suddenly fails, you will have to contact a service center for diagnostics. Although, perhaps, such a banal operation as replacing a memory card would allow the user to return the player to a working state without extra costs.
What are headphones-player?
Headphone-player is a predominantly closed-type gadget with a slot for a flash card. The ability to replace the memory card depends on the design features of the headphones. On some models it cannot be replaced without completely disassembling the gadget. In this case, you can only download new tracks and delete boring ones via a USB cable.
Tracks are controlled through keys and toggle switches located on the earcups. For example, after a short press on the toggle switch, the next song in the list starts playing, and after a long press, the next album in the list starts playing. You can also adjust the volume, activate another equalizer preset or Shuffle mode - play tracks in a random order.
Despite the fact that some users on the Internet claim that the player headphones sound bad, this is not the case. This “rumor” is the product of a “damaged phone”, and it is most actively spread by those who have had nothing to do with headphones with built-in players at all. In any case, the player headphones have a 3.5 mm jack, so you can connect them to your phone via an AUX cable.
How to choose headphones with a player?
A person who is not demanding on sound quality and who, for example, listens to music to concentrate on work, can afford to choose headphones based on their appearance. But a music lover needs to understand the technical characteristics and choose headphones based on them. Otherwise, an expensive purchase may result in disappointment.
What you should definitely look for:
- Sensitivity. Contrary to popular belief, it is sensitivity that determines the volume of headphones, not power. The norm is a “corridor” of 90-120 dB.
- Impedance. Impedance (resistance) is the inverse parameter of sensitivity. For headphones, the norm is 16-40 dB, the average value is 32 dB.
- Power. The power value is not the most important thing now, because modern headphones have amplifiers. Thanks to amplifiers, even with minimal power you can get decent sound. Here we recommend focusing on a wide “corridor” of values – 50-100 mW.
- Frequency range. The frequency range of 20-20000 Hz is sufficient. A person hears lower frequencies only under ideal conditions and up to a certain age.
- Memory size. You can ignore this parameter if the headphone player has the ability to replace a flash drive. If not, it’s better to go with 16 GB. However, your music lover author failed to fill this volume even halfway.
- Autonomy. The operating time of the models is very different: some work 40 hours without recharging, others only 7. It’s difficult to advise anything here, because it’s important to imagine how often and for how long a music lover listens to music. Autonomy of 20 hours is more than a decent indicator. You can listen to headphones for an hour a day for 3 weeks. By the way, when turned off, they almost do not lose charge.
- Weight. Closed-back headphones should weigh up to 300 grams so that you can use them without discomfort. Sports headphones typically weigh about 30 grams.
Design is also important. It was love at first sight for the author of this article with the Walkman WH505 model - it was impossible not to fall in love with the headphones placed on a special Sony branded stand with backlight. For its excellent design, the Japanese player would have to forgive shortcomings in sound - if they existed, of course.
