5 Questions to Ask Before You Get a MP3 Player

Before investing in an expensive piece of audio equipment you'll want to ask yourself a handful of questions to determine if digital music technology is right for you.

A digital audio player (DAP) is a device that stores, organizes and plays digital music files. It is more commonly referred to as a MP3 player but it can play other formats such as Windows Media Audio (WMA), and Advanced Audio Codec (AAC). Be sure you find out if the player you are interested in buying is compatible with the formats that you will be using.

1. Which model is the right one for me? To answer this question you will need to determine how much music you have now and how much you plan to acquire in the future. If you plan to digitize your large CD collection then you might want to invest in a 30-60 GB model. Just to give you a general idea, 30 GB will hold approximately 7500. If you plan to download selected favorite songs then a shuffle or nano is better for you.

2. How much can I afford to spend? Be honest with yourself about how much you are willing to spend on a MP3 player. They can range in price from $69 for a shuffle to $399 for a 60 GB iPod. If you know that you won't be using it daily or that you don't have a lot of music to add to it, go with the less expensive models. However, if you know that you have an extensive music collection you should invest in the model with more gigs than tend to be more expensive than shuffles and nanos. Sometimes you can cut the costs by taking advantage of student and educator discounts by some manufactors. Ask before you buy what discounts are available. Remember to consider the cost of accessories in the final cost. More than likely you will want to add a protective cover or external speakers to your product.