12 MP3 Players Everyone Had Before iPods Took Over
Here's a nostalgic look at the most memorable MP3 players that paved the way for digital music before the iPod became king.
- Alyana Aguja
- 4 min read
Before the iPod revolutionized digital music, a wide range of MP3 players competed for listeners’ attention. From the groundbreaking Diamond Rio and Creative Nomad Jukebox to quirky devices like the RCA Lyra and Intel Pocket Concert, these gadgets defined an era of experimentation. While many were bulky, limited in storage, or reliant on odd formats, they set the foundation for the portable music culture that Apple would later perfect.
1. Diamond Rio PMP300
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The Diamond Rio PMP300, released in 1998, is widely regarded as the first commercially successful MP3 player. It held just 32MB of storage, which was enough for about a dozen songs, yet it introduced people to the idea of carrying digital music. Despite lawsuits from the music industry, the Rio became a symbol of the digital revolution.
2. Creative Nomad Jukebox
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Creative’s Nomad Jukebox, launched in 2000, looked more like a portable CD player than an MP3 device. With a massive 6GB hard drive, it could hold thousands of songs, making it a true alternative to CD collections. It was bulky, but for its time, it was unmatched in storage.
3. Archos Jukebox 6000
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The Archos Jukebox 6000, introduced in 2000, was another hard drive-based MP3 player that offered serious capacity. It could store 1,500 songs and allowed users to directly connect via USB for easy transfers. While clunky in design, it was embraced by tech enthusiasts who valued functionality over looks.
4. RCA Lyra RD2201
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The RCA Lyra was an early MP3 player that tried to blend digital convenience with old-school media. It used CompactFlash cards for storage, meaning users had to swap cards if they wanted more music. Despite the hassle, it was affordable and helped mainstream MP3 playback.
5. Intel Pocket Concert
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Intel briefly stepped into consumer electronics with the Pocket Concert in 2001. This player held 128MB of music and had FM radio, making it a versatile device. Though short-lived, it was praised for sound quality and durability.
6. Samsung Yepp YP-E64
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The Samsung Yepp series was one of the first big pushes by a major electronics brand into digital music. The YP-E64 was small, stylish, and came with 64MB of flash memory. It became especially popular in Asia and hinted at Samsung’s future dominance in consumer gadgets.
7. Compaq iPAQ Personal Audio Player
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Better known for its handheld computers, Compaq also made an MP3 player around 2001. The iPAQ Personal Audio Player offered 128MB of storage and looked sleek compared to bulkier rivals. It never achieved mainstream popularity, but it showcased how many tech giants were experimenting with digital audio.
8. Creative MuVo
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The Creative MuVo line was simple, portable, and user-friendly. These tiny flash-based players doubled as USB drives, letting users drag and drop files with ease. Their small size and affordability made them especially popular among students.
9. Philips eXpanium
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Philips tried a different approach with the eXpanium line, which played MP3 files burned onto CDs. This gave listeners access to 150 songs on one disc without needing a hard drive player. It was a clever bridge between the CD era and the digital future.
10. Sony Network Walkman (NW-MS7)
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Sony, once dominant with cassette and CD Walkmans, entered the MP3 space with the Network Walkman. The NW-MS7, released in 2000, used Memory Stick storage and emphasized style. Unfortunately, Sony’s reliance on proprietary formats like ATRAC limited its success.
11. iRiver iFP-100 Series
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The iRiver iFP-100 series gained fans for its strong audio quality and sturdy build. These players offered FM radio recording and voice recording, which set them apart from rivals. With up to 256MB of flash storage, they became a favorite among audiophiles before the iPod boom.
12. Panasonic SV-SD75
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Panasonic entered the MP3 market with SD card–based players like the SV-SD75. This tiny device looked futuristic but required users to invest in expensive SD cards for storage. While not as popular as others, it demonstrated how companies were experimenting with different formats.