Tune in: Six MP3 players with great FM radios
FM to the Internet: I ain't dead yet. The average person listens to 17 hours of terrestrial radio every week, and that's according to a Pandora executive.
Sure, you've loaded a fabulous collection of digital audio tracks onto your MP3 player, but what do you do when your tunes begin to sound just a bit too familiar? That's where an FM tuner comes in. In many places, FM radio still offers plenty of worthwhile content for your listening pleasure, and it can provide a refreshing break from your regular rotation. Plus, it's a great extra to have at the gym, allowing you to tune into the TVs and take your mind off that vigorous workout.
So, if you're not among the uberdiligent who always remember to sync up their players for fresh content, be sure to pick one with an FM tuner onboard. Unfortunately, although many players come with this nifty feature, not all of them deliver quite as advertised. In fact, we've come across a few that cut in and out even with strong signals. But don't fret. There are several players available with decent FM tuners; in fact, I easily found six with great-sounding radios. Not only that, but also each of the players offer an autoscan function and at least 10 preset slots, so you won't have to fumble around finding your favorite stations. If you already own an iPod, but crave an FM tuner, check out Apple's excellent iPod Radio Remote.
For more than five years, Jasmine France has covered a variety of tech products for CNET--from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices--but she's happiest where she is now: sitting atop a pile of MP3 players, "testing" every music service known to man, and jamming a variety of earbuds in every shape and color into her absurdly small ears. E-mail Jasmine.
I definitely agree that the Zune does have a great FM tuner though -- probably the best I've heard in any MP3 player I've owned.