$200 - $300 MP3 players

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 is a great video player, but it disappoints as a premium Android Internet tablet and GPS unit.

Specs: Portable media center, 5.6 in x 0.4 in x 3.1 in, LCD 4.8 in, MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, PCM, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MPEG-4, MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, Motion JPEG, 6.4 oz

The Bottom Line: The Zune HD delivers one of the best portable music and video experiences money can buy. At a time when many people have shifted their focus to games and applications, providing a killer media experience may not be enough for potential Zune buyers.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, WMAPro, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

The Bottom Line: Though the updates are subtle, the third-generation iPod Touch leaves its competitors in the dust.

Specs: Digital player, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

The Bottom Line: The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface.

Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 160 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

The Bottom Line: The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface.

Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 160 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

The Bottom Line: The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.

Specs: Digital player / radio, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery

The Bottom Line: The Cowon S9 is a sexy-looking gadget with exceptional audio and video quality, but its construction quality and user interface pale in comparison to the competition.

Specs: Digital AV player, 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 4.2 in, AMOLED 3.3 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, APE (Monkey's Audio), AVI, WMV, XviD, 2.7 oz

The Bottom Line: The iPod Classic refines the formula that put the iPod on the map. Few can match its combination of storage capacity, battery life, and intuitive user interface.

Specs: Digital player, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, 120 GB, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated

The Bottom Line: The Archos 5 boasts an improved screen size, image resolution, and sound quality over its predecessor, but its Web browser and Flash media playback are disappointing for a product marketed on the strength of its Internet media capabilities.

Specs: Digital AV player, 5 in x 0.5 in x 3.1 in, TFT 4.8 in - Color, MP3, PCM, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Protected WMA (DRM), WMV, MPEG-4, Motion JPEG, 8.8 oz

The Bottom Line: The second-generation iPod Touch includes features that are light-years ahead of the competition, its design has improved, and its price has finally come down to earth.

Specs: Digital player, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WAV, AIFF, Audible, Apple Lossless, Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated