For mp3 players with fm radio, is the headphones always the antenna?

Question

My mp3 player that i bought a week ago has pretty bad reception on the stations that i like...i was wondering if buying new headphones would improve the reception or just return it to buy a better one...i bought the sansa sandisk m240...it was either that or the creative zen nano plus or sony NW-E003.

Answer 1

I never thought about it, but you might be right about the headphones being the antenna. If this is true, then headphones with a longer cord might bring in more signal. (FM stations come in best if the antenna is a long, straight wire.) You don't necessarily have to buy new headphones to try this out; just borrow from a friend who has headphones whose cord is longer than yours.

Answer 2

In most MP3 players with built in radio there is an internal antenna which pulls in the stations, some MP3 players circutry allows for certain headphones to pull in stations as well. The ipod 5G 5.5G and Nanos have radio built in but can only be accessed with the "ipod radio remote" a $49 device which has a great antenna and detachable headphones. Unless you are outside it is a crap shoot as to which player is going to give you the best radio reception.

Answer 3

Some use special headphones with an antenna wire built into the cord. You want to avoid those players. The headphones aren't cheap.
Usually, there's a strip of foil built onto the circuit board which serves as the FM antenna. The reception on our players usually is bad at their best.

Answer 4

for some mp3 players yes but for some they have antenna thats is built in

Answer 5

I think it may depend on how far away you are from the radio station.