What's the modern day equivalent of a Walkman ?

[Daffy D]

 

I'm looking for a MP3 player something like the Walkman used to be. Hope I'm not the only one that remembers those 

 

Anyway don't want an Apple product, too expensive and don't need a phone with all it's gizmos.

 

Just a simple player with headphones that will play MP3 music or an audio book, and drown out all the village noises while I'm relaxing in the shade in the hammock in the afternoons would do just fine. 

 

Cheers  

[OneMoreFarang]

I just google SONY. You can still by something like a Walkman

https://www.sony.co.th/en/electronics/walkman-digital-music-players/t/walkman

 

 

 

[Crossy]

Any reason not to just use your phone?

 

[Daffy D]

19 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I just google SONY. You can still by something like a Walkman

https://www.sony.co.th/en/electronics/walkman-digital-music-players/t/walkman

 

 

 

Ah! the Walkman name is still alive but those eye watering are a bit too rich for me 

[Daffy D]

15 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Any reason not to just use your phone?

 

Well Err! ------- I don't have one.    

[Crossy]

1 minute ago, Daffy D said:

Well Err! ------- I don't have one.    

Just buy one, they are silly cheap, don't give it a SIM or WiFi and you have what you want.

[Daffy D]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Just buy one, they are silly cheap, don't give it a SIM or WiFi and you have what you want.

Didn't know you could do that 

 

Will it play MP3 ? 

[Dumbastheycome]

1 hour ago, Daffy D said:

Didn't know you could do that 

 

Will it play MP3 ? 

yes. direct or  via preloaded  card.

I am curious as to  yor question given you  make  it  via  the  internet  which  could  have provided  your answer

[Eindhoven]

1 hour ago, Daffy D said:

Didn't know you could do that 

 

Will it play MP3 ? 

 

It will be able to play anything, with a suitable player installed; such as VLC Player. I cannot listen to .mp3 music. Quality is too low. Usually use FLAC or .ape for storing and listening. Phone will also give you the option of viewing video if you feel like it.

 

[sanuk711]

I have been using these for the last 4 years..... no leads etc 2 GB , download from your computer, books / music last one cost 1,490 Baht -----Sony outlet 1 year Guarantee , all the controls ON/Off/Volume /skip to different files--music to learn Thai etc, one charge usually last 2-3 days.

• 

  Sony NWWS413LM 4GB Sports Wearable MP3 Player (Blue)

  3.9 out of 5 stars 489

  $98.00

[Daffy D]

29 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

I am curious as to  yor question given you  make  it  via  the  internet  which  could  have provided  your answer

 

Yes it would have been easy to Google for an answer, but questions keep forums alive and better still get feedback from actual users in your area. 

 

[Daffy D]

14 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

I have been using these for the last 4 years..... no leads etc 2 GB , download from your computer, books / music last one cost 1,490 Baht -----Sony outlet 1 year Guarantee , all the controls ON/Off/Volume /skip to different files--music to learn Thai etc, one charge usually last 2-3 days.

• 

  Sony NWWS413LM 4GB Sports Wearable MP3 Player (Blue)

  3.9 out of 5 stars 489

  $98.00

Looks interesting  

[Andy from Kent]

It's interesting how if we live long enough we can outlast a number of modern innovations.

 

I recall 45 RMP record player installed in cars.    Very cool at the time.

 

Followed by cassettes that gave way to CD's   Then mini DVD's VCR's,

 

and the list goes on and on... 

[Daffy D]

1 hour ago, Andy from Kent said:

I recall 45 RMP record player installed in cars.    Very cool at the time.

I had one of those, the internal disk playing unit was mounted on very soft springs so the needle wouldn't jump while driving.

 

I also remember having a 12v cassette player mounted under the dash. This was before there was the combined radio/cassette units that became the norm later. 

 

Now my kids don't know what a radio is and only know about CD's because I use/used some on the computer.

 

On the other hand, though back in the day I was a mobile phone engineer installing car phones and hand held's were the size of a brick, I am lost now with the smart phones that my kids managed to work even before they could talk or walk.

 

Progress I guess   

 

 

 

  

[VBF]

Well, I have some old 78 RPM records of my father's including this one which I've remastered to FLAC files, then down to MP3 to play on my phone

Now THAT'S a generation jump!

 

 

 

 

[BigStar]

8 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I just google SONY. You can still by something like a Walkman

https://www.sony.co.th/en/electronics/walkman-digital-music-players/t/walkman

 

 

These are great for what they are. Good sound & quality, very compact, long battery life, easy to load via USB. But simple: just .mp3, no .flac, no replay gain or anything fancy. Had one for years.

https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?_keyori=ss&from=input&page=1&q=Sony NWZ-B183F&sort=priceasc

 

 

[samsensam]

apple dont have a monopoly on devices that support music apps... so just download the relevant app to your smartphone. failing that sony have an mp3 device, but it's one more thing to carry round...

[Salerno]

  

1 minute ago, samsensam said:

so just download the relevant app to your smartphone.

 

10 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Well Err! ------- I don't have one.    

 

 

[Daffy D]

This has taken me way back to my first car and first girl friend:-

[richard_smith237]

The Modern equivalent to Carrying a Walkman and Tapes (or CD’s) is an MP3 Player - however, you’ll still need to interface the MP3 player to a computer to load Music and Podcasts. 

 

By far the best option depends on your proximity to a Wifi Signal while you are outside chilling in your hammock. 

 

IF within Wifi range the best suggestion is the Smartphone (without a Sim) - you can use Spotify and stream Podcasts and Music till your hearts content. 

 

IF outside of a Wifi range the best suggestion remains a Smartphone (with a Sim) and use Spotify. 

 

 

In limiting yourself to a ‘modern day walkman equivalent’ that isn’t a Smart phone you removing the flexibility and live streaming capability, the multitude of potential apps that a smart phone offers. 

 

If you want flawless sounds there are apps which also deliver this: Such as Spotify paid membership and even TIDAL, which a lot of people will not have heard of, but streams lossless music.

[Daffy D]

Music and audio books is not a problem. I got lots on the computer, just need a unit that will play SD cards.

 

[giddyup]

20 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I just google SONY. You can still by something like a Walkman

https://www.sony.co.th/en/electronics/walkman-digital-music-players/t/walkman

 

 

Outrageously expensive for a MP3 player. Buy something like a Sandisk for around 1000 baht. Lazada has a couple of 4gb MP3 players for around 400 baht.

[pookett]

Sands Fuze+. 

Like an iPod but it's not Apple and isn't hamstrung by iTunes.

It takes micro SD cards, plays various music formats mp3, Flac etc. and if you don't like the UI you can change it to "Rockbox" which is much better to use and quite simple to install on the unit.

 

Sands Fuze+

 

Rockbox

[recom273]

There are plenty of Chi-fi DAP 

 

https://www.audiophileon.com/news/top-5-budget-hd-audio-players

 

 I don’t own one - but I hear they are good, not always cheap.

 

I removed my old hard drive from the ipod, bought Micro SD cards and adaptor, qstuck a new battery in it, a new shiny back - it’s good to go.

 

 

[BigStar]

2 hours ago, giddyup said:

Outrageously expensive for a MP3 player. Buy something like a Sandisk for around 1000 baht. Lazada has a couple of 4gb MP3 players for around 400 baht.

Agreed, it ain't cheap but with reason. I've tried a number of other cheaper players including a highly recommended Sandisk (not that model) and found the Sony overall superior for the combo of sound quality, reliability, firmware, battery life, and serious portability. And support--a Sony store can deal with problems.

 

I recognize of course the advantages of other solutions. When not preferring the Sony for the characteristics listed, I've been using an 8" tablet for reading eBooks besides all the rest. Using AIMP for music and radio, VLC for movies on that.

 

Aliexpress has some good quality MP3 players:

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20201107005749&SearchText=mp3+player+dac

 

[HarrySeaman]

Just go to any secondhand phone store and buy a cheap secondhand Android phone with working wi-fi and a slot for a micro SD card.  Make sure the phone can work with a 32 GB micro SD card and have one installed. 

 

The ear buds that sit in your ear but do not extend into the ear canal allow outside noise to destroy you music listening experience.  I strongly recommend getting ear buds with soft silicon rubber tubular fittings that go into your ear canal to block outside noise for a more pleasant listening experience.  These can be dirt cheap, or even free, but spend a bit more money on higher quality ones if you are a critical listener - Google for the best budget priced ones to avoid buying overpriced ones like those from Apple or Samsung.  I have good quality noise canceling headphones for air travel but for bus travel I use free ear buds from Jetstar that have soft silicon rubber extensions that extend into my ear canals.

 

Have the shop download and install VLC and Rocket Player for Android.  Both these applications are free.  The phone will probably come with a stripped down music player but I prefer Rocket Player over the one built into my phone.

 

VLC can play videos or music in MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, Ogg, FLAC, TS, M2TS, Wv and AAC formats.  They don't specifically list mp3 but VLC will play this format.

 

Rocket Player will play alac, tta, ape, mpc, wav, flac, wv, wma formats.    They don't specifically list mp3 but Rocket Player is my standard mp3 audio player.

 

With my home music system I use 160 to 320 kbps for mp3s and prefer Flac for the highest quality.  The mp3 bit level that is satisfactory depends on the noise level in your environment.  When traveling the noise of a bus, train, or airplane makes it impossible for me to tell the difference between 96 and 320 kilobits per second (Kbps) mp3s so I load up a micro SD card with 96 kbps mp3 music for the trip. 

[UncleMhee]

22 hours ago, Daffy D said:

Ah! the Walkman name is still alive but those eye watering are a bit too rich for me 

Surely you jest......Bht 1990

https://www.sony.co.th/en/electronics/walkman/nwz-b180-series

[OneMoreFarang]

3 hours ago, giddyup said:

Outrageously expensive for a MP3 player. Buy something like a Sandisk for around 1000 baht. Lazada has a couple of 4gb MP3 players for around 400 baht.

I payed for my last original Walkman about 300USD - back in 1986. ???? 

 

[BigStar]

5 minutes ago, HarrySeaman said:

spend a bit more money on higher quality ones if you are a critical listener - Google for the best budget priced ones to avoid buying overpriced ones like those from Apple or Samsung. 

Important advice, gotta have the best quality earbuds or earphones you can afford.

[xtrnuno41]

Talking about walkman's . Still have one, getting older brand new. Just bought it before mp3 came out, of course switched then and the walkman moved into 

the closet, but it is still there. Also a high tech Aiwa cassette player, getting older, brand new. Both bought on wrong moment.