Audiobooks discussion
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Need a new MP3 player
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Someone here suggested getting a Tracphone - sp? - and not connecting it to a service, but using it as an audio player. It sounded like a neat idea. Plus it is cheap.
I have a Sansa Clip Zip that I bought last year and use exclusively for audio books. I love it - it's tiny and lightweight and easy to use. I bought mine for around $60 last summer, but now it looks like the lowest price I see is around $110. You might also want to take a look at the Clip Plus and the Clip Sport, they are all slightly different but it looks like those two are cheaper. My friend has a Clip Sport that she also uses for audio books.
I have a Sansa Clip too that I love but they have gotten pricey. My daughter loves her Lonve Music Player which you can get for about $20. Its pretty basic but does the job!.
Yeah, I'm worried about the day when mine finally dies because I like it so much. I don't think I would want to pay $110 for it now. Good to know about the Lonve Music Player as a cheaper alternative, Jan.
I have a sansa clip as well (actually we have 2 or 3) . A lot of times you can get a refurbished one for cheap on Amazon otherwise I think they cost $30-$40 now
I have been using Sansa Clips for a couple of years. I tried Eclipse player but liked the Sansa players more. I have a smartphone but the mp3 players pause much more easily and I can save the change on my phone by listening to books, audio drama, and other podcasts on the mp3 player.
If you are looking for something that's no longer made new, you can probably find it on eBay. I used to get Walkman cassette players that way and if my iPod nano ever dies, I'l probably replace it that way. No guarantee how long those used items will last but the price is probably low, especially if you don't care if it's a bit scratched.
Thanks Robin...I appreciate your feedbackEileen
Kathleen wrote: "Someone here suggested getting a Tracphone - sp? - and not connecting it to a service, but using it as an audio player. It sounded like a neat idea. Plus it is cheap."I use no-contract Android phones ($10~$30) all the time as audio players and shirt-pocket tablets. You're not obligated to pay for phone service, so this option is far cheaper than getting an iPod touch ($200).
I have several Sansa Clips (Zip & Plus) that I use for audiobooks, music, and FM radio. I always have one in my pocket.The reason these two models are priced so high is because SanDisk discontinued both of them. Personally, I find it unconscionable that people are selling them for such high prices. When they were still being produced, they were selling for $25~$40.
The current Clips are the Sport ($40~$50) and the Jam ($40). These models have fewer features than the Zip & Plus. SanDisk has been dumbing down the line since the Zip.
tubemonkey wrote: "I have several Sansa Clips (Zip & Plus) that I use for audiobooks, music, and FM radio. I always have one in my pocket.The reason these two models are priced so high is because SanDisk discontinu..."
I'm a huge fan of Clip Plus models, and I have a couple of backups to the 2 I'm using, but I'm beginning to wonder how long their batteries will hold out.
The fact that Sansa doesn't come out with a new model, essentially similar to the Plus (when it's so popular as a discontinued model), makes no sense to me
Hey Eileen,I currently use a Sansa Clip+ with a 2GB SD card (total 6GB memory). It's OK for my purposes.
In terms of ease of use, I actually prefer the old Sansa Fuze with the larger display and mechanical navigation wheel.
Unfortunately, the two Fuze models I've owned haven't held up over time. The first one developed response problems with the wheel. I got a new replacement via an Amazon marketplace seller (Sansa had already discontinued the model by then).
Now the second Fuze has developed intermittent problems with the data connection, so I can't reliably transfer audiobooks on and off the device.
I do have an Android smartphone with a few free MP3 player apps, but it's just for backup in case the Clip+ craps out for some reason. If you're like me and in the habit of doing a lot of FF/RW navigation, a big smartphone is just not as convenient to use as a little Clip+ in a shirt pocket or athletic wrist band.
Bottom line:
Fuze - easy to operate but not very durable
Clip+ - a bit more difficult to operate but far more durable than the Fuze.
Happy listening,
Alan Mintaka
I have a Sansa Clip but I actually prefer listening on my iPhone. I think it depends on where you're getting your audiobooks. The apps for Audible and Overdrive are so outstanding that they've become my preferred ways to listen.
Janet wrote: "... The apps for Audible and Overdrive are so outstanding that they've become my preferred ways to listen..."I'm sure they are outstanding, but for my uses they're not very portable. I listen to a combination of MP3 players like the Clip+, and MP3 CD players in my cars. The formula for success with that kind of arrangement is to render everything in generic MP3 files which can be played on the Clip+ and burned to MP3 CD for playing in the cars. The Audible and Overdrive apps don't do me much good in that kind of scenario.
I suppose that when I'm finally able to afford a makeover of my MP3 players and car CD players, I can find a way to forego the extra step of transcribing audiobooks to MP3 files and CDs. Then I could use those apps in either environment.
That's still a ways in the future, unfortunately - so for now, it's the Clip+ and my car CD players for both ease of use and portability.
Happy Listening,
Alan Mintaka
I use all sorts of devices for audio book listening but my tried and true method is using the Sansa Fuze (not the Fuze+) for my daily commute. My first one lasted for several years until it was stolen. Fortunately, I had a backup - I bought my husband the same model as a Christmas gift a year after he bought it for me. He never used his Fuze so I was happy to acquire it to listen to audiobooks again. I then purchased another brand new Sansa Fuze from ebay for a relatively good price. So I have a backup to my backup. LOL I also have the Sansa Fuze+ but it does not even come close to the regular Fuze. It's awkward for menu navigation and there are no raised buttons to indicate what you are pressing when you cannot actually look at the device. I have tried using my Android phone during my commute but I prefer the Fuze. Like Alan mentioned, it has the navigational wheel and I can feel it to rewind back without having to look at the device. On the Android phone, it is nearly impossible to see the screen during sunny days with my sunglasses on (and my poor vision that requires reading glasses to see the screen). I will use my Android phone in a pinch if I discover I forgot to transfer an audiobook on the Fuze.
I will stick with my Fuze until they all die on me. The battery life lasts my entire week of 10-12 hours of commute time and then I recharge it on the weekend.
Julesy wrote: "I use all sorts of devices for audio book listening but my tried and true method is using the Sansa Fuze (not the Fuze+) ..."I'm glad you're getting more mileage out of your Fuze than I did. I too tried the Fuze+ but only lasted a few days before I brought it back to the store. I had one of the early models with firmware that just plain didn't work. The interface was horrible.
Now, you've gotten me tempted to try another new Fuze if I can find one. I really do like that large navigation wheel compared to the little Clip+ 4-way switch, and the bigger display is a bonus for me as my eyes begin to do the usual things they do for old geezers.
First I'll try a few more things to get the data interface on the current Fuze working again. If that fails I'm going to go shopping!
May I have some money?
Well, I had to try.
Happy listening,
Alan Mintaka
I have a new ECHO and love it for home. I say Alexa play / read and it locates and starts then I can say pause and resume...I love it. The text to speech is much improved on ECHO.
My kindle with blue tooth earphones are for the bus and shopping trips. 2 - 3 hours of listening every time.
I use my iPhone in the car. The only problem I've had is it's not loud enough to hear over the road/traffic noise but in Arizona we're allowed to wear headphones so....problem solved. I also use CD's in the car if what I want to read is readily available that way.
That's funny, I had totally forgotten that I could listen to CDs in my car (or the radio!) I never listen to anything but books on my iPod. I don't even remember how to change the input to something else. My previous car still had a cassette player and I had an adapter for the iPod, but once I saw this one had the USB port, I started using it on the way home from buying the car.I really dislike CDs for audiobooks because you can't take them from car to house and keep your place. And the CD Walkman (back in the day) was considerably bulkier than the cassette one. Except for a few trials of CDs, I basically went straight from cassette to digital. I think the digital revolution is what rocketed audiobooks from being a niche product to being a huge market.
These are great recommendations. I have an old ipod touch that I use in my car for audiobooks, but I have always disliked (meaning "hated") apple products. I find them completely counter-intuitive to use, and I usually have no problem with technology. Thanks for the alternative ideas. I wanted to mention that if you have a kindle, you can listen to the books you load on it as an alternative to reading them.
Shirley wrote: "I have a new ECHO and love it for home. I say Alexa play / read and it locates and starts then I can say pause and resume...I love it. The text to speech is much improved on ECHO."
I use my Echo for Audible books and love it. I tried TTS, but didn't like it that much; so I doubt I'll ever do it again.
tubemonkey wrote: "Shirley wrote: "I have a new ECHO and love it for home. I say Alexa play / read and it locates and starts then I can say pause and resume...I love it. The text to speech is much improved on ECHO."..."
TTS was awful on the kindle but isn't bad on the ECHO.
Shirley wrote: "TTS was awful on the kindle but isn't bad on the ECHO."I didn't like Alexa's voice reading to me. If Amazon would add more voices and allow us to choose the voice we want, then I'd give it another shot. Sometimes I want a male voice and other times I want a female voice.
Robin wrote: "I really dislike CDs for audiobooks because you can't take them from car to house and keep your place...."I don't take my MP3 CD's out of the car. Once I get where I'm going, I look at the car player's readout and advance my Clip+ player to the same position. Then I continue listening with the Clip+.
When I'm going to drive somewhere, I advance the car's player to the same position as the Clip+ and listen to the MP3 CD while I drive.
It's not a hassle to keep track of where I am in an audiobook this way. The bonus is that when I'm listening in the car, the player's audio can be cranked high enough to hear the book over the traffic noise. I don't have the problem of low iPhone volume described by Janet and don't have to use headphones to compensate.
When I'm through listening to an MP3 CD for the first time, I place it a Ziplock in a fire-safe filing cabinet in the basement. I consider the cabinet as "offsite storage" backup in case something fries my PCs (around here the "frier" is lightning).
Of course the ultimate goal is that the MP3 files on the Clip+ and the MP3 CD's are very portable. Essentially I can listen to my audiobooks anywhere I want, on any device I want.
Happy Listening,
Alan Mintaka
AGPtEK® B03 8GB & 70 Hours Playback MP3 Lossless Sound Music Player (Supports up to 64GB) by AGPtEKLink: http://amzn.com/B00SD18E60
My husband bought one of these for me recently and it's great for listening to music, podcasts and audiobooks! Really great audio quality and you can find them for pretty cheap.
Alan wrote: "Robin wrote: "I really dislike CDs for audiobooks because you can't take them from car to house and keep your place...."I don't take my MP3 CD's out of the car. Once I get where I'm going, I look..."
I didn't realize how modern technology would make this so much easier!
I think I've posted this before, but if you have a car with no Bluetooth or aux-in socket, you can use the GoGroove X2 to listen to music via your car FM radio:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003PPGOC0/...
If you have a Bluetooth capable player, the X2 will connect to your player like a Bluetooth speaker, and transmit on an FM frequency that you can pick up on your car radio. If you don't have Bluetooth, you can connect your player to the X2 via a standard 3.5mm audio cable, and again, listen via your fm radio.
Why bother? Well, it means you're able to listen in the car without headphones, and you're always using your player so you never need to find your place when going to/from the car.
I use this all the time. And no, I get no kickbacks from the company for plugging their product :).
Charmaine wrote: "AGPtEK® B03 8GB & 70 Hours Playback MP3 Lossless Sound Music Player (Supports up to 64GB) by AGPtEKLink: http://amzn.com/B00SD18E60
My husband bought one of these for me recently and it's great ..."
I have one of these http://www.amazon.com/AGPtEK%C2%AE-Bl....
I really like it! The firmware is a little fiddlie, but once you get the hang of it it's not too bad. Honestly, if they would improve the firmware it could be a Sansa replacement. Maybe not the Clip+, but definitely as good as the Fuze. And the bluetooth works great, though it does lower the battery life some. But for the price, it's not bad!
I just saw this: http://www.amazon.com/AGPtEK-A12-Port...Wow, really looks like a Sansa. I'll be a guinea pig and order one and let everyone know how it is.
S
tubemonkey wrote: "I use no-contract Android phones ($10~$30) all the time as audio players and shirt-pocket tablets. You're not obligated to pay for phone service, so this option is far cheaper than getting an iPod touch ($200)."Can you expand on this a little, are there any brands/models you suggest? Any drawbacks to this over a dedicated mp3 player? I'm thinking of replacing an ancient iPod and I'd like something that isn't an apple product, this sounds like an interesting option but I'm not a phone person at all so I'm a little lost on what to look for.
Silver wrote: "I just saw this: http://www.amazon.com/AGPtEK-A12-Port...Wow, really looks like a Sansa. I'll be a guinea pig and order one and let everyone know how it is. "
Anxious to hear what you think Silver! I love my Sansa and it would be nice to know there is something out there to replace it.
Just real quick, I'm at my parent's house for a week. 1. The clip feels much more substantial than the clip on the Sansa Clip+ or the Zip. Those are the only two models I have owned. I think all but one of the clips on those has broken off, and I am VERY careful with my electronics.
2. I have only listened to audio books so far. Sounds just as good at the Clip +. I use cheapy headphones, but I am very sensitive to hiss/clip/tinny sounds. So far so good!
3. No Rockbox. Bummer, but not deal breaker for me. The firmware is pretty good, there is a separate volume button which is great.
4. Battery life is great. I think they say 35 hours? I'm not great at timing it, but I think it is lasting longer than that.
5. Micro SD card sits flush to the case. On the Clip+ it always stuck out a bit, but it did sit flush on the Zip.
6. Folders!! :) The Clip + had them, the Zip did not. They may not be useful to anyone else, but for me, for my audio books, they are invaluable! If I buy a book from Audible, convert it to an mp3, split it into pieces, then even though I do tag it with mp3Tag there are times it just doesn't always work. Probably user error!! But with folders I don't have to worry about this! Silly as it sounds, this is one of my favorite features of this little player!
Only cons I can come up with:
1. Not thrilled with the feel of the texture of the case. I really really like the feel of the A06, guess that spoiled me. But really, this is no big deal.
2. Yes, I read the instructions. And I'm not really sure what it is I don't find intuitive, but I don't like the way the Mode selection area works. This would be the repeat/repeat all/shuffle etc. I'll have to get out my Clip+ and compare the two. Frankly, this could just be user error.. And again, this is not a deal breaker.
Well dang, this got longer than I planned! Can you tell II really like this little player? I really hope it lasts as many years as my Clip+s have. I think it's a great value for the price. I know some people really love Rockbox. Maybe on a future model it could be made Rockbox compatible. I'm sure that would increase sales.
Ok, that's it for now.
S
Wow Silver! Appreciate the information! It sounds like it may be a great replacement player for me. I haven't broken my clip on mine yet but it is a really important feature for me. And I really only use my player for Audio Books so it sounds like it will do the trick.Thanks again!!!
Aerulan wrote: "Can you expand on this a little, are there any brands/models you suggest? Any drawbacks to this over a dedicated mp3 player? I'm thinking of replacing an ancient iPod and I'd like something that isn't an apple product, this sounds like an interesting option but I'm not a phone person at all so I'm a little lost on what to look for. "Generally, the low prices I quoted only occur during Black Friday. Last BF, I paid $10 for a Moto E 2nd Gen and the year before, I paid $30 for an LG Volt. I only research these phones once a year during the holiday shopping season (Nov~Dec). At these prices, I get several. They make great gifts and you can scatter them about the house.
I have no idea what's currently available and what they're selling for. If you can wait 5 months, you'll get the best deals and I'd gladly share my research with you.
Essentially, these no-contract phones (NCPs) are 4"~5" Android tablets and operate exactly like the tablets do. Unfortunately, they will come with bloatware from the manufacturer and/or cell phone carrier they were designed for and you can't delete it. That eats into the onboard storage available to you and can have a major impact on the number of apps you can download. Keep in mind that not all apps can transfer to a mSD card. At a minimum, I wouldn't get anything with less than a quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM, and 8GB of onboard storage.
What I did with my Moto E was to dedicate its use for audiobooks and music. I then downloaded the major apps in these categories and installed a 32GB mSD card. Then I downloaded some audiobooks and music to the mSD card. I also ordered a cheap (less than $10) OtterBox-type case for it.
Also, most of these NCPs come with a built-in FM radio that's actually activated. Some times, the cell carrier will have the manufacturer deactivate the FM radio. Kinda dumb if you ask me. Anyway, the nice thing about having an FM radio is that you don't need an internet connection to play it.
Drawbacks: size, weight, and distraction. Obviously, these phones are quite a bit larger and heavier than the typical MP3 player (ie, Sansa Clip). Additionally, it's easy to get distracted if you have games or videos downloaded or you decide to go online and surf the net. Meanwhile, your poor audiobook is being neglected.
Around the house, I use my NCPs (Moto E & LG Volt); frequently paired to a bluetooth speaker. On the go, I use my Sansa Clips (Plus & Zip).
Sorry I couldn't give you recommendations for current phones, but I will be researching these again in Nov. Let me know if you have any further questions.
Silver wrote: "Just real quick, I'm at my parent's house for a week. 1. The clip feels much more substantial than the clip on the Sansa Clip+ or the Zip. Those are the only two models I have owned. I think all ..."
Do you still like this one? I was reading some of the Q&A on Amazon, looks like it doesn't have a bookmark feature? How have you found it after a year of using it?
FYI there are some Zens still available on ebay. That's where I got mine, still working for me. I might still get one as a backup.
I have used my Android phone for hoopla audios or soemtimes Audible audios and I do like the apps. However, I still like my SanDisk Sansa Fuse the best. The original Fuse not Fuse+, which I also have and hate it. I should have sold it eons ago. I have a backup Fuse in case this Fuse should ever die. My very first Fuse was stolen from my car. I bought my husband a Fuse at the same time I got my first Fuse but he never used it so I acquired it. Then I purchased a backup Fuse on ebay ... just in case. ;-)
Years later, the Fuse is still doing a great job. It automatically bookmarks where you've left off, even for multiple audios. The Fuse is definitely much easier to see than a phone on a sunny bright day. I can easily rewind or FF without having to glance at the device, unlike my phone where I must take my eyes off the road to find the rewind button.
My Creative Zen is beginning to wear out and I need a replacement MP3 player. It should be simple and it doesn't have to have bells and whistles. I'm only going to use this to listen to books. Does anyone have a suggestion?
thanks
Eileen