Best portable MP3 players 2024: top hi-res music players tested by our experts

Best portable music players: quick menu

Modern-day smartphones are multi-tasking marvels, and one of the many tasks we use them for is listening to music (and podcasts) on the go. But there are plenty of us who still rely on a separate portable music player for dedicated listening.

Unlike a smartphone, a portable music player or DAP (digital audio player) won't get distracted by GPS tracking or phone calls, taking photos, checking the weather, or the millions of different jobs a smartphone has to juggle. Portable music players are designed only to store and play music, and this single focus means they sound far better than your average smartphone.

Whether you have a trove of downloaded hi-res tracks that deserve offline listening, want to listen to your tunes where there's no wi-fi or data connection, or are an avid audiophile with high standards for your portable system, a hi-res music player (that can play more than just MP3s) is worth considering.

Our team of experienced hi-fi reviewers have been testing portable music players since the heydays of the Walkman, the iPod Classic and MP3s, and have tested many players from Apple, Cowon, Fiio, Sony and more in recent years. The premium Astell & Kern models have been dominating our recommendation list thanks to their stunning audiophile-level sound quality and gorgeous portable design, but there are plenty of rival models that offer similar features.

You can find out more about our testing process and extensive advice on choosing the right portable music player for you, or simply scroll down to see our top picks.

Written by
About Us
Written by
Becky Roberts

I am What Hi-Fi's managing editor and have been testing audio products – including portable music players and hundreds of headphones – for over a decade. I do most of my listening when travelling or commuting, so a dedicated hi-res music player that holds all my CD-quality and hi-res music files is essential. A good music player should have a large enough storage to hold thousands of tracks/albums, have a long battery life (ideally over 10 hours to a full day), and deliver great sound quality. Plug in a great pair of wired headphones, and you'll be in your own personal music listening haven. I've tested and used every model recommended below and can guarantee they're the best players you can buy today.

The quick list

Best portable music player overall

What Hi-Fi? Award winner 2023. A wonderful hi-res player that really gets the most out of your music.

Specifications

Storage : 64GB (expandable via microSD)
Max file support : 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256, MQA
Headphone outputs : 3.5mm, 4.4mm, 2.5mm
Battery life: 20 hours
Dimensions (hwd): 10.8 x 6.4 x 1.6cm
Weight : 184g

Reasons to buy

+
New benchmark for sound quality 
+
Well-equipped functionality 
+
Smart, compact design  

Reasons to avoid

-
Battery life could be better 
-
Price no longer truly 'entry level'

The SR35 stretches the definition of ‘entry level’, sitting a rung or two up the ladder from the affordable Sony NW-A306 (below) and even pricier than the previous 'entry level' (and Award-winning) SR25 MKII it replaces. But there's no arguing with the astonishing level of performance you get from it, hence its current What Hi-Fi? Award win.

The excellent SR35 boasts many of the features that made its five-star, What Hi-Fi? Award-winning predecessor so successful – including three headphone outputs (3.5mm, 4.4mm and 2.5mm), native playback of MQA, DSD256 and PCM up to 32-bit/384kHz files, 64GB of built-in storage (expandable by up to 1TB via a microSD card), and the neat ability to use the player as a performance-enhancing DAC between your wired headphones and, say, laptop.

There's not a chance of the SR35 missing a beat with the music you send its way. The five-star player has the punch and rhythmic drive to keep you tapping along to upbeat tracks, and the insight to draw you into the details of those calmer ones. The presentation is hugely likeable, with a tonal balance slightly on the rich side, and a combination of power and finesse that feels very mature for a source at this level that most headphones will get along just fine with.

Read the full Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 review 

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Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 scores in depth
AttributeNotesRating
SoundA combination of power and finesse that feels very mature for a source★★★★★
DesignWe have always liked the player’s geometrically quirky aluminium casework and sleek, shiny finish★★★★★
FeaturesVast file support, 64GB storage (expandable) and integrated music services ★★★★☆

Best budget portable music player

An affordable player with excellent hi-res support and a mature, balanced performance.

Specifications

Storage : 32GB (expandable by 2TB via microSDXC)
Max file support : 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256, MQA
Headphone outputs : 3.5mm
Battery life: 32 hours approx
Dimensions (hwd): 9.8 x 5.7 x 1.2cm
Weight: 113g

Reasons to buy

+
Clear, detailed, composed sound
+
Pocketable size
+
Excellent hi-res audio support
+
Wi-fi and Bluetooth supported

Reasons to avoid

-
Android OS is cumbersome and space-hogging
-
Interface can be clunky
-
Internal music storage space is only half of what’s available

If it's portable and pocketable you want, the NW-A306 is the perfect-sized player for your needs. It's compact enough to fit in our palms and pockets comfortably, and we love the scalloped textured back that gives us a good grip without sacrificing style.

The NW-A306's connections are minimal, but that's no bad thing: the USB-C cable lets you charge, transfer files and use the Walkman as a DAC, while the 3.5mm headphone jack can be used with a variety of good-to-great headphones. The available onboard storage is rather small in comparison to other players, but it is possible to expand the storage thanks to the microSD slot.

Internally, NW-A306 is packed to the gills with features: the hi-res file support is extensive and excellent at this affordable price, the full Android OS means it effectively operates similarly to a smartphone (for better or worse) and lets you download your favourite music streaming app, and it even supports LDAC and aptX codecs over Bluetooth.

The Sony player is adept enough to turn its hand to various genres and can even discern the differences in file qualities, while all sounding comfortable to listen to for long periods. It's a pleasingly detailed and clean performance. In fact, there’s a familial throughline from the high-end NW-WM1ZM2 player to the A306 in terms of how mature and evenly balanced it sounds. It can also play at loud volumes without ever sounding harsh or confused. We'd like more dynamic punch and drive to songs that need it though; the Sony can sound a touch reserved when a song demands outright fun or aggression. 

However, this is a capable hi-res player worthy of your consideration if your budget doesn’t stretch to the more premium Astell & Kern SR35 player above.

Read the full Sony NW-A306 review

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Sony NW-A306 scores in depth
AttributeNotesRating
SoundClear, detailed, composed sound, if a little restrained★★★★☆
DesignFits the brief perfectly. The player is compact and fits in palms and pockets alike with no fuss. ★★★★★
FeaturesShort on memory (32GB) but very well featured elsewhere★★★★★

Best premium portable music player

Astell & Kern’s high-end player expertly delivers up excellent portable audio.

Specifications

Storage: 256GB (expandable by 1TB via microSD)
Max file support: 32-bit/384kHz, DSD256, MQA
Headphone outputs: 3.5mm, balanced 2.5mm, Pentaconn 4.4mm
Battery life : 10 hours
Dimensions: 13.7 x 7.7 x 2cm
Weight: 493g

Reasons to buy

+
Detailed, authoritative sound 
+
Well-equipped 
+
Terrific build 

Reasons to avoid

-
Heavy for a portable 
-
Operation can sometimes feel a little clunky 

The superb A&ultima SP3000 certainly isn't for the casual listener. With a multi-thousand-pound price tag that puts it out of the reach of many, we'd understand if you wanted to dismiss it right off the bat.

If you really do value quality on the go, though (and have the funds to spare), the flagship SP3000 has to be on your shortlist. The high-end player is packed with useful features and built to the highest standards, even if it's a bit chunkier than your standard portable device. Bluetooth is on the menu, so you can use wireless headphones without a problem, and given the no-compromise nature of this design it comes as no surprise to find aptX HD and LDAC codecs on the spec list.

There's certainly no issue with file compatibility. The SP3000 can handle high-resolution files up to 32-bit/768kHz, PCM and DSD512, as well as MQA, all of which is thanks to the use of Asahi Kasei’s new flagship DAC chip, the AK4499EX. Elsewhere, A&K's engineers have worked to reduce internal noise via separate analogue with the aim of optimising the player's sonic performance.

That all brings us to the SP3000's raison d'etre, and this is where the premium player really, really shines. Across the board the A&K player has so much to recommend it, bringing together a tangible sense of musical insight as it coveys dynamic contrasts and rhythmic patterns with skill and intuition. Detail is abundant, while the muscular, taut bass helps anchor everything to provide a cohesive, meaty soundscape. 

If you've got the money and you're passionate about sound quality (and have equally impressive headphones to partner it with), we'd wholeheartedly recommend the A&ultima SP3000. 

Read the full Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 review

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Astell & Kern A&futura SP3000 scores in depth
AttributeNotesRating
SoundA perfect balance of informing and entertaining. Exceptional.★★★★★
DesignNice to look at and use, if a bit heavy in the hand. ★★★★★
FeaturesBluetooth, extensive file compatibility, ample storage and plenty more besides.★★★★★

How to choose the best portable music player for you

Whatever your budget, you will be surprised at what you can get for your money these days. Every player here supports MP3 and AAC files of course, but we can all do better than that in 2024. All of the models above also support high-resolution audio files, from 24-bit FLAC and WAV files and even DSD. We would recommend checking each player's specifications to make sure it can play the file types you already own.

Are you a Tidal subscriber? Many players add native MQA playback to that compatibility list, so you can listen to hi-res Tidal Masters and playback downloaded MQA music in the best sound quality possible.

Have an extensive digital music collection? All digital audio players have microSD memory slots, so your assembled throng of tracks, albums and artists need never stop growing. Expandable memory also means you can store all of your music in the highest quality possible, without worrying about those large WAV/DSD file sizes taking up all of the internal storage space. 

You should always check the actual onboard storage of the player (sometimes the operating software takes up more space than what's advertised) to see if you'll need to invest in additional memory cards. For instance, 32GB of internal storage will be used up very quickly, so make sure the expandable memory can accommodate 1TB or more so you can carry more albums around with you.

There are even MP3 players here that can double up as a DAC to enhance the sound between your smartphone/laptop and headphones/speakers. Some have built-in access to music streaming services, too, while others have even more functionality that mirrors a smartphone's (for better or worse). You can turn off additional features you don't need so you can just concentrate on the music – it's your choice.

Many players also offer more than one choice of headphone socket. The standard 3.5mm headphone jack is always there (thankfully, since it's long gone from smartphones) but you might also see a 4.4mm balanced headphone output, which is compatible with certain headphones.

Most importantly, these MP3 or hi-res players should deliver excellent sound quality, and far beyond what your smartphone is capable of. We have found that going higher up the price rung delivers more audiophile-level sonic qualities – greater transparency, greater resolution, greater dynamics, and not to mention more advanced DAC features and digital filters. These high-end models also come in flashier, more luxurious designs – which means they are considerably heavy, too.

But the budget and mid-priced models recommended above deliver superb, enjoyable sound with ample detail and subtlety, too. And remember, no matter how good it looks, all portable players need to be easy to carry and comfortable to hold in your hand – it's one of its most important qualities beyond sound performance.

How we test portable music players

We test portable music players exactly as we would use them if we bought them ourselves. We load the player up with a variety of music files – CD-ripped WAV, hi-res FLAC downloads, DSD tracks and even some MP3s – and download any streaming platforms we're able to. 

After ensuring the music player is run in for a length of time and plugging in a pair of our favourite wired headphones, we listen to the player over the course of weeks. These music players are tested in our dedicated listening rooms in Reading and London, and are placed in our pockets and travel with us during the review period, so we can gauge how portable and easy to use on the fly they really are. 

We also test how easy the player's menus and functions are to use, how responsive the touchscreen display is (if it has one), if the player goes loud enough to drive headphones, and how long the battery life lasts. We listen to the player with different genres of music (and music file formats) and listen for how faithfully it reproduces the audio quality of the downloaded (or streamed) track. If the player has additional features – such as built-in streaming services, Bluetooth and DAC-performing abilities – we always test the claims made by its manufacturers.

Most important in our reviewing process is that each product is compared with the best in its price and class. What Hi-Fi? is all about comparative testing, so we keep our favourite five-star and Award-winning digital audio players nearby so we can benchmark the performance accordingly. 

As with all What Hi-Fi? reviews, the final verdict and star rating are agreed upon by the review team, to eliminate individual bias and ensure our advice is thorough and consistent. We are proud to have delivered honest, independent reviews for over 45 years, with no input from brands, PRs or commercial teams, so you can trust our advice and buying advice.

FAQ

Why do people still use MP3 players? Is an MP3/hi-res player worth buying?

Whether you're an avid audiophile or a music lover who simply wants to conserve your smartphone's memory and battery, a dedicated music player is worth considering. 

Despite the death of the iPod, old-school portable MP3 players that you can take everywhere with you are still alive and kicking. They're far more advanced than just storing and playing MP3 files these days, too. Today's pocketable music players fully support high-resolution audio formats such as WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AIFF and DSD files (which your smartphone can't convert), and pack in high-quality digital-to-analogue-converters, amplifiers and software whose main job is to ensure your music files are played in the best, lossless quality possible.

Many DAPs these days will let you download Tidal and Qobuz so you can stream your favourite playlists, and with many players now boasting a day's worth of battery, it means you can always carry your music library with you and listen without interruption even in the depths of the London Underground or up in the air. Most players will also have expandable memory storage, so you can carry thousands of albums with you.

In the end, it depends on your listening habits. If you want to keep music listening separate from your phone, are on the move a lot, or are interested in getting the best sound possible from a pocket-friendly device, a portable music player is a great option to consider.

Is MP3 quality as good as CD?

No, not even close. MP3 is one of the lowest resolution files around, while CD quality is far superior. 

MP3 is a very lossy, very compressed format with a small file size – a lot of information from the original recorded file is lost or discarded in the process of cramming it all into a small size, so sound quality is the poorest of all popular audio formats. The bit rate at which an MP3 is recorded affects the sound quality, too. MP3s encoded at 128kbps will lose more sound quality data than those encoded at 320kbps (kilobits per second, where each “bit” is essentially a “piece” of the song). 

WAV is the standard format in which all CDs are encoded. This format is uncompressed and lossless – hence the large file sizes. It crucially doesn't lose any information during the encoding process and so sounds far superior to MP3. CD quality is 16-bit/44.1kHz – or to compare numbers with MP3, CD quality is encoded at 1411kbps.

If you care about sound quality, ensuring your digital music files and portable player are at CD quality at a minimum is a must.

How many songs does an MP3 player hold?

This will depend on the format and size of your files. As a rough estimate: your average three-minute song in 128kbps MP3 quality has a file size of 3MB, while the same in WAV/CD quality is considerably larger at 30MB, with FLAC files falling in the middle at 15MB.

This means a player's standard onboard storage of 32GB will hold just over 10,000 MP3 files. You'll want a larger (at least 64GB) storage capacity if you want to store multiple albums in CD or hi-res quality, while investing in a 1TB memory card will help you expand that even further.

Just beware that the advertised storage won't be entirely for storing your music. A portion of that 32GB (or 64GB) onboard storage will be taken up by the player's system and software, so make sure to check the actual available storage in the settings.

Do MP3 players need wi-fi?

Not necessarily, but most modern portable music players have network access so that firmware or software updates can be easily done over wi-fi. Many players will have an extremely minimal version of an operating software (such as the Astell & Kerns) or come with a full-fat Android OS like any smartphone (such as Sony's NW-A306 does) – either way, a wi-fi connection is useful for keeping the player up to date. 

You will also need wi-fi to download streaming services like Tidal and Qobuz, and stream online songs. However, if you don't stream music and just want to play music files stored locally on your player for a truly offline experience, you can turn off wi-fi entirely. This will keep it clear of any connectivity issues, and save battery life, too.

Can you stream music on MP3 player?

If the player has wi-fi connectivity and you can download music streaming apps like Tidal, Qobuz and more, then yes. While you might buy MP3/hi-res players mainly to listen to music offline, any player with wi-fi capability can stream music. 

Many portable players these days also support Bluetooth streaming, such as the Sony NW-A306, which further supports the high-quality LDAC codec. So you can connect a pair of your best wireless earbuds and listen to your music wire-free.

Recent updates

  • March 2024: Updated testing process and added FAQ section to answer frequent questions and give advice on music players.
  • November 2023What Hi-Fi? Award winners labelled after the 2023 Awards Best Buys and Product of the Year announcements.
  • October 2023: Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 entry added following five-star review.

MORE:

Here are the best websites to download hi-res music tracks

Prefer streaming? Read our guide to the best music streaming services

Get clued up, stat: MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC: all the audio file formats explained

Becky Roberts

Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of Australian Hi-Fi magazine. During her 10 years in the hi-fi industry, she has been fortunate enough to travel the world to report on the biggest and most exciting brands in hi-fi and consumer tech (and has had the jetlag and hangovers to remember them by). In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.

With contributions from
  • Escudos999
    I definitely think either, or both, the Shanling M0 or new Q1 DAP/DACs should be on this list, great UI, flexibility, sound and prices £80 for M0 and around £110 for Q1. I love the 1950s retro style of the Q1.
    Reply
  • Blasterinn
    Where is the Fiio M15? The Ibasso players and Hiby too?
    And this astell & kern adoration is getting a bit tired, they are quality players but do not deserve all this adoration.
    How about Luxury Precision P6 R2R DAP?
    I just think this list is in desperate need of a rethink/refresh.
    Reply
  • Navanski
    I own an LG V30 smartphone. It cost me €150 new, open box. It has a quad DAC and can drive my 300ohm HD580s.
    Previous to getting this phone I bought a Fiio X3 mk II and a Fiio M6. The UI on the phone is many times better than either of the DAPs. In a blind test I doubt very much whether I would be able to distinguish the audio output of the phone against either DAP.
    Not only that but the V30 is really good phone despite it's age.
    I am selling both the DAPs if I can find some one who is willing to buy them, given the above. LG phones are just killing the DAP.
    Reply
  • crunchbangyou
    This is a freaking Astell & Kern list, needs a serious rethinking.

    @Navanski - Completely agree with you. LG phones with dacs are so much better for a great price. Apart from owning two FiiO players and a FiiO amp, I have a LG G7 which I use only for music. Also picked a brand new LG G7 One to stock till LG G7 gives away. The user experience is so much better and no compromise on SQ too.
    Reply
  • Navanski
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    You can listen to music on your phone of course, but if you want optimum sound quality, only a dedicated player will do.

    Best portable music players 2019: from budget to hi-res music : Read more
    I own an LG V30 smartphone. It cost me €150 new, open box. It has a quad DAC and can drive my 300ohm HD580s.
    Previous to getting this phone I bought a Fiio X3 mk II and a Fiio M6. The UI on the phone is many times better than either of the DAPs. In a blind test I doubt very much whether I would be able to distinguish the audio output of the phone against either DAP.
    Not only that but the V30 is really good phone despite it's age. This was a top spec flagship phone less than 4 years ago
    I am selling both the DAPs if I can find some one who is willing to buy them, given the above. LG phones are just killing the DAP.

    Disagree with this and John Darko's similar experience if you think you can.
    Reply
  • Navanski
    What Hi-Fi? said:
    You can listen to music on your phone of course, but if you want optimum sound quality, only a dedicated player will do.

    Best portable music players 2019: from budget to hi-res music : Read more
    You back that up with any evidence and I will gladly prove you wrong.
    Reply
  • Tanihifi1
    Gentlemen, I wonder why Fiio M17 is not on your list. As nmore people said above, you are A&K addicted, and that's not fair.
    There is not even a review of Fiio M17 on What Hi-Fi site. Is there any reason you didn't consider this? Thanks for a reply...if you read this comment.
    Reply
  • Navanski
    Tanihifi1 said:
    Gentlemen, I wonder why Fiio M17 is not on your list. As nmore people said above, you are A&K addicted, and that's not fair.
    There is not even a review of Fiio M17 on What Hi-Fi site. Is there any reason you didn't consider this? Thanks for a reply...if you read this comment.
    You are so right. I think there is a tendency to ignore Chi-fi together with a distinct bias towards certain brands. Someone with a less open mind might suggest brown envelopes were involved.
    Reply
  • davidnewbie
    Plenue D is worth a listen
    Reply
  • Jasonovich
    Love AK, love FiiO, love Shanling, Caylin, HiBy etc etc but take a breath, don't waste your money. There's a new kid on the block, very hi-spec Android DAP and these little solid metal wonders are less than £300 and blows the socks off FiiO M11s, not just musicality but also functionality. Top notch design, silky smooth touch screen, the name is TempoTec Variation V6. TeeTee VeeVee should roll off everybody's tongue!
    Please check the reviews on Youtube.
    Reply