JP1 Remotes

My WDTV Live media player is showing signs of age. (I use it as an MP3 player into an FM transmitter.)
I am interested in buying an off-the-shelf replacement and would like to hear recommendations about which models give more "bang for one's buck" and is not too expensive. And has an IR remote.

What are your requirements? Except for "not too expensive" and IR support?

There are tons of media player comparisons on the Internet, in particular Youtube.

IR support appears to be less and less supported, but often either FLIRC (emulates a USB keybord) or a MCE USB receiver offers a solution.

My Roku TV media player can already handle video files. So the device in question does not need to support 4K.

I am looking for, minimally, an audio file (MP3 & WMA*) device that has SHUFFLE rather than RANDOM.
I would be interested in in any other important features that I should consider.

*WAV would be a bonus but not necessary.

Hmm, can't you play the audio files on Roku? Googling for "play mp3 on Roku" gives tons of hits. Ideally, you would like to install VLC or Kodi, but that appears to be (at least formally) not possible.

You can play audio files on Roku, but I have this playing into an FM transmitter all day while the someone else is watching our Roku.

It looks like a DVD player that has a USB port might be the way to go.

Also, I did a partial factory reset and turned off the firmware AUTO-UPDATE feature of my current unit to see if that is why it was crashing more often.

My WDTV died for good a couple of years ago. Never found a matching device for mp3 playback. I feed a modulator that combines with antennas to run to any TV in the house, besides the stereo. I settled with a DVD player that still has analog outputs with a usb jack and a thumb drive. The DVD player doesn't even need to read disks. (unless you want to burn your files to a disk). Newer players have dropped the analog outputs but could still work with an HDMI splitter and an HDMI to A/V converter box.

Good to know.

Would something like this work it has usb and sd card reader analog line out too

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FPQPBYYQ?re ... i_atc&th=1

I am looking at something like https://www.gcz.online/index.php?route= ... duct_id=64
I just have to confirm that it has SHUFFLE rather than RANDOM for its audio files.

The DVD feature would be extraneous, but it has an IR remote and seems like a lesser expensive option.

SysTech_Larry wrote: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:31 am I am looking at something like https://www.gcz.online/index.php?route= ... duct_id=64
I just have to confirm that it has SHUFFLE rather than RANDOM for its audio files.

The DVD feature would be extraneous, but it has an IR remote and seems like a lesser expensive option.

The page you referred to wont load "Secure Connection Failed"

Try this one, https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/5085260385

SysTech_Larry wrote: Thu Feb 26, 2026 8:59 am Try this one, https://www.walmart.com/ip/seort/5085260385

That Link Works

I was able to track down some of those DVD player user manuals. The no-name ones only promised RANDOM play.

Some of the Sony DVD players had USB ports and promised true SHUFFLE play.
I already have a Sony player (w/o USB) and it has true SHUFFLE for CDs. It looks like it takes the same remote.