What is "signal to noise ratio on a MP3 player and how much does it really matter,espically if I use it at hm?

Answer 1

Electronics equipment generates electrical "noise". You can sometimes hear it by turning the volume control fully up when there is no singal. It sounds like a hiss.

The less noise the better.

The signal to noise ratio of an equipment is the ratio of the output amplitude (volume) when the equipment is driven with a specific signal, to the output amplitude (volume) of the noise when no signal is applied, and is invariably expressed in dB (which is one way of expressing a ratio.)

The larger the figure, the better the equipment.