Classical Music - CD player or ipod or mp3 player?

I could never get on with iPods. No matter what, the sound quality from a compressed file, whatever the format, is never as good as a CD. I don't have a single music file on my computer - I don't see the point if I'm not going to sit at my desk to listen to inferior-sounding versions of my beloved recordings. I Have a CD discman and some Sennheiser headphones for those rare occasions I need anything like that (if I'm out I'm usually in the car with its own decent CD player and radio).

If you are the audiophile you claim, stay away from compressed file formats (and the hours and hours it must take to upload your collection onto an iPod - which will only die on you eventually) and stick to the 'real thing'.

I used to tote my laptop around to listen to music, and it just got too heavy after a while. You will benefit more from an mp3 player. You can use an Ipod if you wish, to each his own preference. I do not recommend a CD player, because CDs can only hold so many songs, and there is always a chance of CDs getting lost, stolen, or worse...scratched. Mp3 players can hold hundreds of songs depending on the size. I do not recommend a shuffle, because you can't directly control which song to listen to. I do recommend a normal mp3 player, about 1 gig in size. It runs about a hundred, but it is sooo worth it.

My Sony bean, no longer in production, has an internal battery with USB port--meaning I plug it into a computer and it charges...highly convenient and saves money.

Good luck and happy listening!

I would get an ipod. I have an ipod and i use it all the time! Its really great and convenient when you are away from your laptop or CD player. The ipod is way better then a regular mp3 or a portable CD player. You should really get an ipod...they are well worth the money! I hope you find something you can use!

I'd definitely go for an iPod or Zune. Classical music takes up a lot of storage because pieces have many movements. A portable CD player is annoying because you then also have to tote around all the CDs you want to listen to.

I am on my second iPod (the first one died) and I have my entire collection on it. I upgraded to Bose headphones (couldn't stand those Apple "buds" which kept falling out of my ears. I don't recommend downloading music. I buy the CD's, put the music on the iPod and use the CD as archive.

I'm iPod person myself - my favourite music has been put onto my computer and then onto the iPod. But I also go along with the suggestion to get different headphones - the Apple 'buds' are really awful. I think my ears are the wrong shape!

MP3 is lousy for classical music . I use CD's ; only a CD has the necessary sound quality for classical music.

Listen to solo guitar and piano and you will see what I mean.

1. Vivaldi: Bassoon concertos, played by Klaus Thunemann. I'm totally obsessed with these! 2. Handel: all of his concerti grossi (well, actually, this constitutes 4 albums...does this count? If not, then I'll settle for the opus 3 album.) 3. Gabrieli: Sacrae Symphoniae These are my three favourites, I will never erase them! Hafwen x

It depends what budget you one, an ipod would pro ably be best, however if your on a tight budget you can get some good mp3 players for low prices :)

I agree with the Ipod guy. It's very easy to navigate through, and now with the 80g ones, you will NEVER run out of space. EVER! Unless you have a billion dollars to spend on CDs.