Whether you're shopping for a stressed-out college grad that needs to unwind after an exam, or a hard-working dad looking for a little distraction from the daily grind, portable music players offer a refuge from the burden of constant work. If your dad or grad already has a favorite MP3 player, consider an upgrade with some new headphones--he or she will surely appreciate it.
The bottom line: We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features.
Price:
$140.50 - $319.20
The bottom line: The Creative Zen V Plus is a superb choice for anyone looking for a compact and feature-filled flash MP3 player with great sound quality. If you're looking for a more sophisticated design (or have large thumbs), look elsewhere.
Price:
$84.99 - $89.99
The bottom line: The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out, but prepare yourself for sticker shock.
Price:
$344.95 - $379.99
The bottom line: The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative.
Price:
$229.99 - $549.99
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value--a slim design, simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag.
Price:
$89.99 - $130.28
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Clip is an incredible value that's set to edge out the competition with a user-friendly interface, gym-worthy design, and great sound quality.
Price:
$29.99 - $64.99
The bottom line: The Sony NWZ-A720 is the best-sounding, best-looking Walkman series yet, and the inclusion of premium earphones adds real value.
Price:
$159.95 - $199.99
The bottom line: The sum of the NWZ-S710F's audio enhancement and noise-canceling features adds up to one of the most pleasant and private music experiences you can have for less than $200.
Price:
$129.99 - $149.95
The bottom line: The Samsung S5 is an MP3 player with a fun interface and excellent sound quality; the screen is a bit small, but this player is still a great choice if you want to share your tunes at the drop of a dime.
Price:
$156.55 - $219.99
The bottom line: The Archos 605 WiFi portable video player is one of the best mobile distractions money can buy.
Price:
$299.99 - $451.53
The bottom line: Compared to the range of options out there for Bluetooth MP3 player headphones, the Logitech FreePulse Wireless Headphones offer exceptional design and value.
Price:
$54.39 - $99.99
The bottom line: The Sony MDR-AS50G Active Headphones offer an affordable price tag, a secure fit, and good sound quality--they're a fantastic option for gym addicts.
Price:
$30.90 - $49.99
The bottom line: The pricey Klipsch Image in-ear headphones combine rich sound with superior comfort.
Price:
$211.99 - $349.99