Audio Systems: mp3 player queries, mp3 player battery, home hi fi

Question
QUESTION: Hello cleggsan,

I am thinking of buying a mp3 player but am totally unfamiliar with these gadgets. What do I want it to do for me ?

Play an mp3 over and over again and be able to get it hooked up to an old music system which only has phono sockets, so that I can hear the music through loudspeakers if I am at home.

1. Will mp3 players normally let you play one mp3 file play over and over again automatically ?
2. Can I connect mp3 players to the back of a hifi via the phono sockets or a couple of computer speakers ? What cable will I need ?
I know that mp3 players have rechargeable batteries but if I connect a mp3 player to a hifi, can I keep the battery at maximum peak if I connect the mp3 player battery to mains electricity ? I would only want to use up the battery when I am outdoors.

3. Do mp3 players come with an installation CD so that I can upload mp3 files on to them ?
4. Can I connect it to the headphone socket of a tape recorder and record music as it is playing ? What cable will I need ?
5. Do mp3 players allow me to record my own voice and make notes by pressing a record button ? Will the files created be mp3 or wav files ?

I may decide to buy an mp4 player so I will want to check that the sockets needed in the mp3 player for the jobs that I have in mind will be available on the mp4 player as well.

Thank you.



ANSWER: Yes, there are players that will do all that you listed, but finding a specific one that will do it all in one unit may be difficult.

MP3 devices are generally intended to be used with your PC and connect for downloading via a USB port.  Many of them come equipped with cable to connect to the input of car radio or home hi-fi of one kind or another. Since you are in the UK I don't know if they are available with scart adapters or not.

For recording it is usually done on your PC and then ripped over to mp3 and stored for downloading to your portable unit.

Best for you to do is google or bing around checking the specs on a few units that you think might do the job.  After checking out the specs and narrowing down your choice stop in at the shop and take a look at your choices and talk with a knowledgeable sales person.  Make your purchase where you have the rights of return without big restocking fee so you can switch over to another model if your first choice does not work out.

Cheers.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you Cleggsan.

I know that mp3 players have rechargeable batteries but if I connect a mp3 player to a hifi, can I keep the battery at maximum peak if I connect the mp3 player battery to mains electricity ? I would only want to use up the battery when I am outdoors.

You wrote that many mp3 players come equipped with cable to connect to the input of home hi-fi of one kind or another. What kind of cable is this ? Is it a USB plug at one end and a pair of phono plugs at the other ? Just tell me what is supplied in your part of the world.

Thank you.


Answer
Most mp3 players come with power pod charger; but some have only charger via a usb connection to the PC. So, you must check the specifications for each model you are considering.  But most will charge when playing.  I don't see the need for your worrying as the batteries usually play for many hours and they are rechargeable hundreds of times without expiring their life span.  So, you can use it to play via the hi-fi and charge as needed with no economic hardship; just the nuisance of doing so.

The cable that comes with them is dependent entirely upon the model.  Most, at least in USA, will be a cable that connects to the headphone output and a plug on the other end that plugs into a mini plug such as that used with most of the automobiles and small docking units in use throughout the kingdom of America.  I don't know for sure what is going on in the UK.....   

Hope this helps.