AAA MP3 Player that isn’t junk?

http://www.amazon.com/iRiver-T10-GB-MP3-Player/dp/B0009ORXE8

Iriver T10 mp3 player, I own one that I use on the trail. Much better interface than the Creative Nano or Creative Muvo. I prefer the Ipod Nano in town. I am addicted to audiobooks which I listen to while I hike.

Here is a link to a 2gb player, the first above was 1gb

http://www.pmelectronix.com/product_info.php?products_id=18675

Both are Iriver T10 players. They use 1 AA battery.

Hi Chris,

I have the iRiver T60 which takes 1 AAA battery.

Likes
– radio
– great sound quality
– drag and drop interface (simple, works anywhere)
Dislikes
– does not run off USB power (so you can pretty much drain most of a battery while you are uploading songs on to it from the computer)
– slightly awkward interface (but still usable)
– not ultra light (I haven't weighed it, but I'd guess it is at least 3 ounces with battery)

I probably wouldn't buy one again, purely because of the fact that it can't run off USB. It really annoys me that the battery drains away whilst I'm uploading songs.

In any case, I'd recommend getting a AA player which will give you much longer play time. iRiver gives great quality sound.

You could get a low-power consumption lightweight mp3 player like the sandisk sansa e260 or clip, then run it off a cheap AA extender like this one:
el cheapo AA battery extender

Nice thing about the e series is you can put Rockbox on them to extend their capabilities. Plus, they take microsdhc cards for cheap expansion.

you can buy a charger for an iPod that uses AA's. not sure where though.

I have a Sansa E130. It is 512K with a SD slot so you can add 2GB cards (does not have SDHC), runs off AAA, FM tuner. It is an older model but you can still find them with froogle. The Sansa E140 is the 1GB model.

See if you can find a Sandisk Sansa M240. I think Haroldson has one too. I got lucky and was given one. Mine weighs 1.4 oz including the AAA alkaline battery (not including headphones).

1 gig memory
Supports searches by artist, album and playlists
Long battery life (one AAA)
Voice recorder
FM tuner

Chris,

Most of them will drag and drop with a Mac, but you need to ensure you save the files/songs as MP3s, not the Mac AAC standard. (This is an option in iTunes Preferences)

external power is out, sorry guys but it's not an option.

Those iRivers look okay but they're unavailable on Amazon which usually means they're no longer made/generally available.

There has got to be something that's still made that will work isn't is a piece of junk like the dealextreme ones?

What about a coby mp300? They aren't ipods, but it could fit the bill…www.cobyusa.com

It has been mentioned before but the Sansa e260 is a great option. It's very light and, with Rockbox on it, I get close to a day (24h) without recharging. In fact, I turn it on in the morning when I leave the house for University and turn it off when I come home, there's really no point in turning it off.

Performance with the stock Sansa firmware is not as nice though. :)

Actually this could work and it doesn't have a huge list of negative reviews on Amazon! I could care less what it looks like or if it's not the worlds easiest to navigate so long as it takes a AAA and plays music off my playlist :D

Overstock.com sells a ton of AAA players.

http://www.overstock.com/search?keywords=mp3&taxonomy=&SearchType=HP_Header

http://iriverinc.com/prod/t60/t60_4.aspx

They have two cheaper models, 2gb and 1gb.

Iriver's mp3 player is far above that of Sandisk and Creative, more intuitive, easier to use in bright daylight.

Tough to buy but best price is at ebay, 4gb model only.

http://tinyurl.com/d9t97a

Great review here:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/mp3/review/2007/06/27/iRiver-T60-4GB-/p1

This unit only weighs .85 oz too.
http://www.pocketables.net/2007/05/review_iriver_t.html

ps, I own both the Sandisk recommended and a Iriver T10 and the Iriver is much better for use on the trail. Personally, nothing beats the Ipod Nano but since you want AA or AAA battery, the next best thing is the Iriver T10.

…

The Sandisk 250 is fine for music and it certainly is more affordable than the Iriver T60. I listen to audiobooks a lot where an intuitive interface for backing up the file is important and I found the Iriver better at backing up the file. So if it's music, go with the Sandisk 250, if it's audiobooks or both, consider the Iriver T60.

If you do consider the T60, because I never used this model, only the T10, read this review, which includes comment by a backpacker:

http://astore.amazon.com/epizenternet-20/detail/B000TRKB7Q

Remember, Amazon does not sell this unit, the only place is Ebay. Because the Sandisk unit is so common and inexpensive, you might want to try that unit out first. It also comes in a 4gb model (which I have too). If you end up liking the Sandisk, your hunt is over with.

I have a Sansa m250 also — AAA battery / 2GB capacity. Given your requirements — this inexpensive unit fits the bill.

…

Not made anymore but available on eBay. This player uses a AAA and works fine. Mine's lasted many backpacking trips and still does fine.

Perfect? No.

I have the Zen Nano also and can say it's a fine little player. Mine is 3 or so years old and still gets regular use. Battery life is quite good.

I like the 2GB magnavox. i bought 2 at a pawn shop for $15–one music and one podcasts. the internet showed walmart for 32 bucks.

The Creative Zen Nano, Creative Muvo, or Creative Nano–any of them that use AAA or AA batteries, are great for music. The interface for audiobooks is okay but not as good as the Iriver T10 — but nothing beats the Ipod Nano for audiobooks, because the backup a paragraph or backup a page capability of the Ipod Nano is the easiest to use.

I've decided this summer I will take an Ipod Nano with me on the JMT, with a 1.1 oz external pocket charger by Duracell (which of course requires AA batteries, I will use Lithium disposables).