It was just recently that I got a six-month trial for Apple Music. So I have always preferred carrying my MP3 player with me, knowing that I will have my music with me even if there is no cellular service around. Most digital streaming services offer compressed audio and for the longest time, I never had a premium subscription to any of them.

Most of the music I listen to are cinematic in nature, so I prefer listening to lossless digital music formats such as FLAC and AAC. So I am a self-confessed music snob and a bit of an audiophile. Prashanth’s old iPod Touch, with a touchscreen that only partially works. It’s really nice to have a tactile experience with everything moving to touchscreens. The FiiO M7 I have has a metal body with a nice heft to it, nicely defined button controls on the side for skipping tracks or pausing, and-my personal favorite touch-an actual wheel that clicks to control the volume. That said, a lot of the digital audio players do consider aesthetics, which I really appreciate. I’m old enough that an MP3 player isn’t really nostalgic for me. So for me, it really is largely practical. I’d much rather run the risk of my player dying on me than my phone. Plus, it’s handy for exercising because I don’t have to use data to stream or only have part of my music collection clogging my phone storage.

At home, I like to use one so my music doesn’t get interrupted by notifications or calls.

My current employer allows us to listen to music with headphones, but forbids phones (and anything with a camera) on the production floor, so having a non-iPod, non-phone was essential.

Spotify mp3 player