The MPEG Layer-3, more known under the name of MP3, is a format of data compression which makes it possible to divide by twelve the weight of the initial audio file without losing the sound quality of CD. The MP3 is the most current of the algorithms of compression, but there are other ones, like the MP3 Pro, the AAC, the WMA or the ATRAC3, respectively created by Thomson, Dolby, Microsoft or Sony who increase the compression ratio, without generating loss of quality, an obvious benefit for the user music lover.

There are three categories of MP3 walkmans:

1) Discmans which make it possible to read CD engraved with this format. They are the most widespread players and the less expansive. This technology remains rather bulky and badly adapted to the chaotic movements of a jogging, for example.

2) Walkmans provided with a true hard disk which make it possible to have hundreds of hours of music. Their size and their weight are still significant. They still remain very expensive

3) Walkmans which store the music on a memory card. Of tiny size, they slip into a pocket of shirt. Their prices tend to decrease and the capacity of these memory cards does not cease increasing.

Here thus important points concerning the purchase of a MP3 walkman:

The memory size : It is the first criterion studying to choose a MP3 walkman. Today the majority of the walkmans are sold with 32 and 64 Mb of memory, which ensures between 30 minutes and 2 hours of music quality CD. It is necessary to distinguish two types of memory: internal memory and external memory.
A good walkman must thus have, in addition to the internal memory, at least a site intended to receive an additional memory card. You will be able to thus increase the memory size of your walkman.

The transfer of the files : It is necessary to privilege the USB, which has a speed of transfer between 500 and 1000 KB, unlike the parallel port, however more spread, for which the transfer is longer (100 Ko/s). Moreover with the USB, the computer recognizes immediately the system and the installation of the pilots is final, which is not the case of the parallel ports. It is necessary as far as possible to avoid the connections on the port serie, really too slow.

Supported formats : The best walkmans are those which support several formats like the MP3 but also the WMA (format of Microsoft very interesting for speed transmissions < 128 kbps), the AAC, the WAV… The ideal is to acquire an evolutionary walkman with the future formats, thus via an update of the manufacturer your walkman will be able to read the last formats in fashion.

The battery : For this characteristic, it is necessary to find a compromise between: the walkmans which use the 1.5V standard batteries type AA or AAA and which have an endurance of more than 10 hours and the walkmans which have a refillable internal battery type NiMh but which has an autonomy from of about 3 or 4 hours. These systems seem more economic and powerful than the traditional batteries.

The LCD screen and ID3 tags : A good MP3 walkman must have a broad backlighted screen LCD and support ID3Tags. Indeed each file MP3 contains information on the title, the author, the year and the musical kind. If the walkman supports ID3tags, it is then able to display on screen LCD these various informations. It is much more pleasant to naviguate in the memory through titles rather than with simple numbers.

Sound quality : It is difficult to evaluate the sound quality of a walkman without testing it personally. You can already make you an idea of the quality of the sound with the RSB: Signal report on Noise. This report, expressed in decibel, should not be lower than 90 dB. Inform you as well about the bitrate (in Kbps) maximum supported by the walkman: for a compression with 128 Kbps, sound quality is already very good.

Stability :
Walkmans MP3 do not have a any mechanical part. They are thus not subjected to the shocks, which enables you to carry them everywhere without the music jumping.

Ergonomics and size : as far as ergonomics is concerned, your walkman must have a good catch in hand and not make "plastic too much". Certain walkmans integrate a software application making it possible to manage one’s titles and offering interesting additional functionalities.
For the size, nobody wishes to have a large and heavy walkman in his pocket. Your walkman must be the less cumbersome as possible with a weight not exceeding 100 G.

The price : The difference is done often here. The arrival of Smartphones on the market modifies the deal. For a price, sometimes very interesting (launching offers, offers changing of mobile), you can get a mobile phone acting as MP3 walkman and much more, or a MP3 walkman acting as a mobile: you have the choice!