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  • alex

    Dec. 1, 2010 6:05 p.m. alex SuperDork

    The stock radio in my work truck has never worked, and I'm looking to get tunes on the cheap. I'm thinking of just wiring up a cheap amp to the existing speakers (assuming they work...) and running an MP3 player into the RCA inputs. Easy enough, right?

    But we actually have a couple over-the-air radio stations worth listening to here, and I'd like to be able to catch 'em when I'm in the mood.

    Can anybody recommend a decent MP3 player with an OK FM/AM receiver that I can find reasonably easily on the used market? I was born into the Cult of Apple, so my MP3 player knowledge begins and ends with the iPod, which obviously won't suit my needs in this case.

  • TJ

    Dec. 1, 2010 6:14 p.m. TJ SuperDork

    The new Ipod Nano has a built in FM radio. No AM. It's about the size of the last shuffle.

  • alex

    Dec. 1, 2010 6:21 p.m. alex SuperDork

    Ooh. Did not know that. Any experience with the reception?

    I can live without AM, actually. The best classic country station switched formats about a year ago.

  • oldopelguy

    Dec. 1, 2010 6:31 p.m. oldopelguy Dork

    Sansa Fuze. Bought a referb last night at CompUSA for $30 because I needed a cord to charge mine up for the flight home. Would have been fine but the 4 hr drive to the airport plus the 3 hr flight had it down to 1/3rd charge and I'm in the middle of a good audiobook.

    Purely awesome piece of hardware.

  • alex

    Dec. 1, 2010 6:50 p.m. alex SuperDork

    Monster capacity would be cool, too. I have 30GB of tunes at the moment - always expanding - and I relish the novelty of carrying it all around with me. (I like to come home and put my MP3 player on my record shelf - I like thinking they give each other weird looks, like teenagers and old folks.)

  • Keith

    Dec. 1, 2010 9:36 p.m. Keith SuperDork

    I've got one of the new Nanos. Haven't tried the FM on it yet, I'll try to give it a shot soon and report back. It's wired in to the BMW as the on-board music box.

  • rob_lewis

    Dec. 1, 2010 10:09 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

    Walmart has one that just plays iPods and has a radio. No CD or tape:

    http://www.walmart.com/ip/Fusion-iPod-Car-Stereo/14575716#Specifications

    For under $50 and having iPod controls, seems like it'd be the way to go.....

    -Rob

  • alex

    Dec. 1, 2010 10:36 p.m. alex SuperDork

    I plan to wire in a hidden amp and leave the stock headunit in place. In my 'hood, aftermarket stereos of any kind are an invitation to a break-in.

  • ultraclyde

    Dec. 3, 2010 9:08 p.m. ultraclyde Reader

    I've got a 5th gen Nano (last one before the tiny shuffle-sized one) that has the built in reciever. It uses the headphone wire as antenna (or whatever's plugged in the headphone jack.) The reception on it for FM is frighteningly good. Better than any car stereo I've had. the only down side is that the controls are a little awkward for the radio. Well, that and you have to use iTunes.

  • noodle

    Dec. 3, 2010 9:12 p.m. noodle New Reader

    Sansa................I hate Itunes

  • mrhappy

    Dec. 3, 2010 9:19 p.m. mrhappy Reader

    You can get a new sansa clip. Its cheap mas a min sd card slot to ad more memory and it has fm tuner.

  • gamby

    Dec. 3, 2010 11:13 p.m. gamby SuperDork

    noodle wrote:

    Sansa................I hate Itunes

    Creative Zen V+.............I hate iTunes

    I don't think they make them anymore, I found a re-furbed one on ebay last year. Really stout players--my first one survived a trip through the washer and dryer.

    FM receiver, no AM, though. Great battery life, too.

  • Luke

    Dec. 5, 2010 8:46 a.m. Luke SuperDork

    Yeah, berkeley iTunes.

    I recently picked up a refurbed Philips GoGear on eBay, and it's a great little device so far. ~$40, 8gig, FM receiver, intuitive menu, just drag and drop files into it - no software needed.

  • rebelgtp

    Dec. 5, 2010 1:06 p.m. rebelgtp SuperDork

    Hey guys I'm looking for a new mp3/media player. I currently have a Sansa which is good an all but it is fairly limited for video playback compatibility. I use to have a Creatvie Zen M 30 gig but it got crushed in a truck door, I loved it because it would play just about any video I tossed on there.

    Are there any decent (non ipod or zune) players out there that play a wide range of video and audio files? If its under 16 gig I would prefer something with an expansion microSD slot.

 
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