Advice on Audio Player for Old Folks, Digital Playback - How much do devices vary? Options

[carpman]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a budget device to play audio mainly from USB memory stick (or possibly USB External Drive)

Was looking for an all in one solution and that led to looking at Portable DVD players (thus could play MP3s burnt to DVD, CDs, and MP3s from USB), but the problem having tried a couple is the interface is simply not designed to deal with a large number of audio files and one ends up navigating a clunky tree / directory system with buttons not designed to be pressed that often.

So, since my folks have a decent CD player already, I'm starting to think more along the lines of a straight MP3 player or e-Reader but it must have a decent sized screen and navigable interface.

Here's what I'm considering:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006LZW...me=&seller=

But this leads me to my second question:
How much do digital playback devices vary in regards quality. I'm assuming nowadays a DAC is a DAC, but is this true?
Afterall, it's just pumping ones and zeros out to an amp; can it vary that much?

The Mebook can play AAC, MP3, FLAC and WAV so its appealing. Plus it's very simple to navigate.

Anyone have any alternatives (I looked at Sansa players but none has a large enough screen for old folks - at least not these ones).

Any help greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

C.

[Arnold B. Kruege...]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a budget device to play audio mainly from USB memory stick (or possibly USB External Drive)

Was looking for an all in one solution and that led to looking at Portable DVD players (thus could play MP3s burnt to DVD, CDs, and MP3s from USB), but the problem having tried a couple is the interface is simply not designed to deal with a large number of audio files and one ends up navigating a clunky tree / directory system with buttons not designed to be pressed that often.

So, since my folks have a decent CD player already, I'm starting to think more along the lines of a straight MP3 player or e-Reader but it must have a decent sized screen and navigable interface.

Here's what I'm considering:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006LZW...me=&seller=

First point - looks to me like the USB port on this device is not a socket for USB flash drives but a port that looks like a USB flash drive to the host computer. Ordinarily USB ports aren't bi-directional in this sense, they either expose a mass storage interface, or they accept one. The only flash storage port appears to be micro-USB.

But this leads me to my second question:
How much do digital playback devices vary in regards quality. I'm assuming nowadays a DAC is a DAC, but is this true?
Afterall, it's just pumping ones and zeros out to an amp; can it vary that much?

DACs on portable devices can be all over the map, but these days they are way good enough for the type of application you seem to be describing.

The Mebook can play AAC, MP3, FLAC and WAV so its appealing. Plus it's very simple to navigate.

I see the prospect of a large clear display for navigating music folders to be a big plus, if it exists. The screen to do it is there.

Anyone have any alternatives (I looked at Sansa players but none has a large enough screen for old folks - at least not these ones).

Good point. The Sansa UI is also a little opaque for people who aren't used to portable device UIs. On balance a friend in her 70s did well with a Flash I lent her, but her daily dialer is a high-function phone.

What I learned from your post is that you don't have to pay Kindle prices to get a potentially decent looking reader.