Nokia 5530 XpressMusic Unlocked Phone with Touchscreen--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a late adapter when it comes to cell phones. So refrained from Iphones and vu/touch phones as one was mostly tied to a provider data plan or had to pay a premium for the phone itself.
If you dont care about 3g (read data plan 29.99 a month) or GPS there cannot be a better phone at this price range. Solidly built, some reviews complained about back cover. I do see an issue there as it get on the phone with little notches on all sides. But how may times you open that. Specially when SIM/SDHC is accessible from outside. The only time you need to open the back cover is when you install a battery.
What I love about this phone in order of preference.Form Factor (It looks like a phone and not a PDA)
Not tied to a provider or unlocked so you dont have to be geeky searching for unlocking/jail breaking articles.
Wifi 54G (email is good on the run)
Quad Band GSM World Phone
Media/Music playback is excellent.
Can go upto 16GB Micro SDHC (plenty of music or videos) comes with 4Gig.
Speaker phone and in general call quality for me increasd 3-5 times. (I used Razr before).
Clear brilliant screen
Touch pad responsive enough
Picture quality @3.2MP is good in daylight and flash comes in handy for pictures in lowlight (subject @2-4 ft).
What I will look for in future revisions.
USB Charging capability
A little thinner (Not that is fat right now) but it would make it sweeter.
Total Alloy body including back cover for a more solid feel.
Maybe a more rugged look/feel (non piano black or non shiny finish for e.g Zune kind of finish or finish with more friction), I always get a feeling I am going to drop it.

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The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic unlocked phone keeps you moving to your favorite music while on the go as well as helps you stay connected to all of your mobile communication--from voice and messaging to social networking and web browsing. The sleek 5530 features a stainless steel body, tempered glass 2.9-inch touchscreen and built-in audio speakers, and it provides quad-band GSM connectivity for global roaming and EDGE data connectivity for accessing your favorite web sites. Additionally, it's Wi-Fi-enabled for accessing wireless networks at home, at the office, and at hotspots wherever you roam--from airports to coffee shops.
The 5530 XpressMusic provides up to 27 hours of music playback time, and it comes with a 4 GB microSD memory card for storing music, video and photos. You can easily manage and synchronize your music collection on your PC using the included Nokia Music for PC application. The phone also includes a 3.2-megapixel camera with an LED flash and video capture capabilities. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free devices and stereo music streaming, microSD expansion up to 16 GB, Symbian S60 5.0 operating system, access to personal email, and nearly 5 hours of talk time.
Unlocked Phone This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider.
Phone Features Among the highest screen resolutions available on a mobile phone, the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic's 2.9-inch widescreen display brings photos, video clips and web content to life in vibrant color and true clarity. It has a 640 x 360-pixel resolution and support for up to 16 million colors, and it includes an accelerometer that automatically rotates the display based on the orientation of the phone. It offers a variety of input methods, including a virtual alphanumeric keypad and a virtual computer-style QWERTY keyboard.
The phone has an internal 70 MB user-accessible memory that's expandable via optional microSD memory cards up to 16 GB in size (a 4 GB microSD card is included in this package). The internal phonebook is virtually limitless in the amount of entries you can store (bound only by available memory), and it offers multiple number and email details per contact as well as the ability to associate images with contacts. Other phone features include voice command capabilities, real-music and video ringtones, and vibrating alert.
The 5530's innovative "people carousel" features thumbnail images of up to 20 close friends and provides easy access to them and their communications history including emails, phone calls, photos or other social media updates. It also features the pop-up Media Bar so music, photos, videos, Internet and on-line sharing applications such as Ovi Share, Flickr and VOX are just a touch away.
At the core of the 5530 XpressMusic is its music and entertainment experience. In true XpressMusic form, the Nokia 5530 XpressMusic is a great music player with 27 hours of playback time, excellent audio quality with an 8-band equalizer, and 3D surround sound stereo speakers. New music can be purchased through the Nokia Music Store, either directly on the phone or through a PC. The music player supports playlists, shuffle, stereo widening and bass boost, and it's compatible with MP3, WMA, and AAC/AAC+/eAAC+ file formats. The phone includes dedicated volume keys as well as dedicated touch music keys on the Home screen. You can also listen to your favorite radio broadcasts with the integrated FM radio (included headset is required).
Hands-free communication is easy thanks to the integrated speakerphone. This phone also provides Bluetooth wireless connectivity (version 2.0), and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, and file transfer. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can connect your laptop (either via Bluetooth or wired USB) and enjoy dial-up networking--surf the Internet, send email, and access files from a server (additional charges or subscription applicable). It also includes integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11b/g) for accessing open networks at work, at home, and on the road from a variety of wireless hotspots.
The 3.2-megapixel auto focus camera includes a dedicated camera key, LED flash for low-light conditions, and a 4x digital zoom, and you can edit images directly on the phone with photo editor application. Other features include center weighted auto exposure, white balance adjustments, multiple scene modes (including sports, night and portrait), and light sensitivity modes. Additionally, you can capture video clips up to 176 x 220 pixels (QCIF) and up to 15 fps (frames per second) as well as zero in on your subject with up to a 4x digital zoom. Other video features include white balance modes and scene modes (automatic, low light mode, night). You can record up to 90 minutes of video. The video player is compatible with .3GP, .MP4, and RealPlayer formats.
The 5530 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging. Support is built in for sending and receiving text, video, graphics and sound via messages. It also enables you to check your email on the go (supporting POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP protocols).
Other features include:
Automatically switch between keypad and QWERTY keyboard when the device is rotated
Symbian S60 5.0 operating system
Email: support for IMAP, POP, SMTP protocols and email attachments
Messaging: SMS text (with multiple SMS deletion); MMS picture video (up to 600 kb with automatic resizing of images)
Organizer tools: Calendar with week and month view, reminders, alarm clock, written notes, voice notes, clock (digital, analog, world clock)
HTML web browser
Micro-USB connector
3.5mm stereo headphone plug
Text-to-speech capabilities
Applications include Flash Lite 2.0, Java MIDP 2.0,, Online Share 4.3, and Ovi Share

Vital Statistics The Nokia 5530 XpressMusic weighs 3.77 ounces and measures 4.09 x 1.92 x 0.51 inches. Its 1000 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.9 hours of talk time, and up to 350 hours (14.5 days) of standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies.

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Bose SoundDock digital music system for iPod (White) Review

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(More customer reviews)Between my wife and myself we own a JBL On stage, an InMotion IM3 and this Bose SoundDock. They each have their advantages and purposes:
The Bose SoundDock has, by far, the best sound of all three: Absolutely beautiful, clear and rich, with powerful base. Note that it's too big to easily throw in your suitcase for a 2 week vacation, but is small enough to easily move between rooms. If you want great sound, are OK with generally leaving this home, and are OK with the price, this is the one to get. IMO the remote is just the best for these kinds of systems: It has an instant off button that will turn off your iPod backlight and screen while it continues to charge (this issue is a bit of a hassle on the other systems), as well as buttons for next/previous track (or scan within track) and volume control.
The InMotion IM3 is the only one I have which will play on batteries, is extremely portable and includes a decent remote. It's the most cost effective and portable of the three, and it has really decent sound.
The JBL On Stage is a nice compromise. The sound is quite noticeably better than the InMotion, most significantly in the low end. For a very small room, this unit is so good that you might not miss the Bose. It's small and light, so it's very portable, but unfortunately does NOT play on batteries, and has no remote. Note, we did have a problem with this unit as others have described (don't put your iPod in its cradle while the sound-stage is powered on.) It went bonkers, and the nice people at the apple store replaced it on the spot. No problems since. If you want this kind of portability and sound but feel you need a remote, you can buy the $50 navipod remote, which works with the on-stage for switching tracks. (It works with volume too but not if you put your ipod in the dock cradle, instead you'd need to use the on-stage's separate audio cable.) I think one could be happy with any of these, depending on their usage and need for portability.
Pete


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The Bose?? SoundDock?? digital music system was specifically designed to expand and enhance your enjoyment of the music stored on your iPod. Just slip it into the docking cradle for the sound quality your favorite songs deserve. The iPod charges as it plays, so you enjoy music without interruption. Its sleek, slender design, in White or Black, fits almost any room's d??cor. And the included remote lets you control the SoundDock system from across the room. Enjoy the songs on your iPod like never before. The SoundDock system is designed to play your favorite tracks with crisp clarity, allowing you to discover subtleties in your music that used to simmer beneath the surface. A host of proprietary technologies adds vitality and realism to your tracks. With Bose proprietary acoustic design, you enjoy a full, rich sound that's greater than you'd expect from a system this small. The SoundDock system is easy to operate. Just plug it in, pop in your iPod and play. Your iPod works as long as it has a dock connector on the bottom. There are no extra wires or adapters. The remote allows you to control your music at the push of a button. And a stylish, sophisticated look means it can be the center of attention or blend in wherever you place it. The SoundDock system and your iPod share a commitment to simplicity, quality and above all, music. Now just introduce them and watch this pair become best friends.

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Beyerdynamic DT 250 - Headphones ( ear-cup ) Review

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(More customer reviews)Excellent quality of manufacturing, outstanding sounding. I use these headphones with my Creative X-Fi ElitePro sound card, and this is the best sound I've ever heard.

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MP3 Shower Radio Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Before you buy this just know that it's cheap. It is made of cheap plastic, and under no circumstances trust your iPod in it not to get wet and get ruined. Also be aware that it DOES NOT FIT ALL iPods!!!! I have a 30 gig iPod and I cannot get it in there all the way because the wire that connects into the head set plug stops it from setting in correctly, which in turn stops me from putting in the bottom cover. Those little lights are a joke also. All in all I would have rather paid a little more money for a better built one. Also you can not navigate through your songs once you have put it in the radio. This thing is just all around CRAP!!!


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Eco Extreme Waterproof Case with Built-In Speaker for iPod, iPhone and MP3 Players (Black gdi-aqcse101) by Grace Digital Review

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(More customer reviews)I wasn't expecting much sound from one little speaker, but I'm impressed. It's no Bose of course, but it will be perfect out on my kayak! I'll take great comfort knowing my Zune is so well protected.
After using it several times out on the water, I still give it 5 stars. When the batteries get low, it sounds like the speaker has blown. Put fresh batteries in and sounding good again. I use rechargable to save money and better performance. I can't tell you how many have stopped me on the river asking how I have tunes on my kayak!

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D-Link DSM-320 Wireless Media Player, Audio/Photo/Video, 802.11g Review

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(More customer reviews)My expectations were fairly low after having read all the other reviews, but I really liked the option that you get from adding a home media drive from D-Link to this set-up (DSM 602H/4H). I've been waiting for a media server that doesn't require me to keep my PC running in my bedroom 24/7. The network drive from D-Link and this media server looked like an awesome combination.
In an effort not to repeat everything that's already been said ... here are the things I believe haven't been mentioned yet ... first and foremost, don't expect to spend any less than a solid weekend getting this up and running .. and even after you do I expect multiple hours will be spent updating firmware etc. over the next few months (at least I hope there are firmware updates coming)
The physical connection was easy and intuitive, but getting the player up and running and connected to my wireless network was a royal pain. I tried to use my media drive as it is advertised by D-link, but apparantly that's not possible without a firmware update. Of course, that firmware update is still in beta release ... do I need to say more. It actually royally p*sses me off that D-Link advertise the combination of the media home drive and the media server, before they can actually deliver that option. I wrote a glowing review of the home media drive, but that was before I updated the firmware to enable use with the media server ... after the firmware was updated, I can't access the management interface for the drive for more than one or two pages before the device has to be restarted (read pull power plug and re-insert) .. the drive doesn't seem to stream the media evenly, so every single song comes across with large gaps where nothing is playing ... pictures don't come across in the right format and shows up on the screen in some oddly twisted aspect ratio ... the media server software that's resident in the media drive firmware update apparantly doesn't read ID3 tags correctly either; it doesn't pick up genres, and artist and album data isn't alphabitized
On a slight possitive note, the media server software running off my PC works much better. It streams evenly, ID3 tags seem correct and pictures are correctly formatted. I still haven't been able to stream a single movie across the media server, but that's personally less of an issue for me personally.
Oh, and although I didn't want to repeat other reviewers .. I have to say this ... THE REMOTE CONTROL ABSOLUTELY STINKS ... worst piece of hardware I've ever held in my hand ... period ... and that includes all those awefull Sony-Ericson phones I've tried over the years ;-)

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D-Link's DSM-320 Wireless Media Adapter is a next generation multimedia product that streams all your favorite media files to your home entertainment center.It supports 802.11g wireless standards with transfer speeds up to 54Mbps. The DSM-320 supports all popular media formats including MP3, WAV, and WMA for audio files, MPEG1/2/4, AVI, and DivX4/5 for video, and JPEG, GIF, BMP, and PNG for images. Plug the DSM-320 directly into your TV to easily access all your media content through the user-friendly TV interface with the included remote control.Experience your digital media like never before with the DSM-320 Wireless Media Adapter.

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Latte Ice 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In FM Transmitter (Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It is acceptable and works well enough. The battery charges through plugin adapter or usb cable, so there are options. The mounts as a removable storage device so drag and drop of your music, videos, pictures, text documents is easy. The SD card slot is a nice feature that works with out any issues so far. And the sound quality is good as well. Overall it is a decent product that does the main functions well enough.
The good.
-MP3 performance is good.
-Movie playback is decent for the screen size.
-Battery is easy to charge and has long life.
The Neutral
-The buttons are ok, they don't feel cheap but they are stiff and have a clear click. Probably a trade off of being too easy to press to avoid accidents.
-The FM Radio is nice to have, but at least with the supplied headphones it only comes out of one side. This may be related to a stereo setting under the system setting for radio, but even if that is the case, a device like this should be able to put a mono signal out both sides.
-The headphone jack is tight. Make sure it is pushed in all the way or you will get the above indication of only one side working.
-As with most of these devices video must be converted to play on it. Software is included to run on windows to do this for you. The documentation didn't list the video requirements so us non-windows users would be able to recreate our videos to what it needs. I probably should have waited till I got home to evaluate the output file to write this review, but that being said if you have access to a windows system you can run the converter on you can evaluate that output file to create your own on the OS of your choice.
The Bad
-While it has several options on how to sort your music or video it does not have a playlist function. This can be worked around by setting up folders that have what you want in them and then telling the device to play in sequence the folder or randomize it as you would a playlist. I consider this a negative because it feels very mechanical design, it works but in the digital age is a playlist that hard to include?
-The "ebook" support is for text only, no PDFs. Since all of my "ebooks" are PDF or html text based seems a bit of a wasted feature.
-You can view pictures but it does not have a zoom or rotate function. Again not something that is a must have, but if you are going to let it display pictures is it that hard to let you zoom in on them?
The main reason I wanted this was for an MP3 player, with the option to play some videos. For that purpose this does do the job and I haven't ran into any great quality concerns. The headphones are suspect but I don't expect included headphones to be worth much anyway. The FM radio was a big plus for me giving this a try and besides the annoyance of 1 speaker, it is acceptable.
For the cost of this I would recommend it. There are better devices if you want to spend more, but this isn't a rip off if this is the price range you are looking at.

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Indulge in your media library with the Latte Ice. This 8 GB personal media player boasts a crystal-clear 2.8-inch QVGA display with a 320 x 240 resolution, a built-in speaker, a built-in FM transmitter, an FM radio, and a microSD slot for memory expansion. Stay entertained no matter how far you stray.
MP3 Player The Ice supports MP3, APE, FLAC, AAC, and WMA audio files, and gives you up to 8 hours of uninterrupted playback on a single charge. Dial in a custom EQ setting or use one of the seven equalization presets (Normal, 3D, Rock, Pop, Classic, Bass, Jazz). If you want to change things up a bit, or tune into the FM TV broadcast at the gym, just call up one of the 30 FM radio presets.

Video Player Always have access to your favorite shows, movies, and pictures. The Ice supports direct play without conversion with AVI, WMV, FLV, RM, RMVB files, and you can enjoy up to 4 hours of video on a single charge. The 2.8-inch screen is also a great way to share your photos, and makes navigating your files a breeze.

FM Transmitter You've seen it: the clunky FM transmitter in your buddy's car, allowing him to tune into his MP3 player. Latte saw it too, and decided to make it part of the package. No need for external transmitters here--the Ice can transmit an FM signal anywhere, anytime, allowing you to tune in your car or home stereo to your favorite songs on the Ice.

Voice Recording Keep track of random great ideas, grab lectures and meetings for later reference, or record whatever tickles your fancy with the included voice recorder. Capture audio through the built-in microphone in WAV format.

External Expandable Memory If you fill up your 8 Gigs too quickly, the Ice includes a microSD memory card (up to 16 GB) slot. Keep media on separate cards and pop them in on the fly for endless options.

What's in the Box Latte Communications Ice 8 GB Video MP3 Player, stereo earphones, USB cable, manual, warranty card.

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Creative Labs Xmod Wireless Music System with X-Fi Technology Review

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(More customer reviews)The Xmod Wireless comes in 2 parts, a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter connects very simply to your PC via USB and it functions as a USB soundcard, applying X-Fi sound enhancement to any sound or music that is passed through it. Compressed audio like AAC, WMA and MP3 files are upscaled to 24 bit quality and surround sound effects can be added.
You have to experience this to appreciate it. It really does make your music sound better. Sometimes the improvement is more subtle than at other times, but the quality X-Fi provides really shines when you connect the receiver end of the Xmod Wireless to a good set of speakers that you might have in your theater or family room.
So, on to part 2 of the package. The wireless receiver. This enables you to control and listen to your music anywhere you place the receiver in your house. Your PC music collection is streamed around the house with top notch quality and fidelity. I have my receiver connected to my theater setup and the sound is fantastic. You can purchase additional receivers if you'd like to play your music in multiple rooms.
Cool things about the package overall. The range is great and there is no lag. Plus, it just works. You don't need to have your own network or anything running already. Just turn on the receiver and transmitter and away you go, nothing to fuss with. If you do have a network running, this won't interfere with it at all. I think both units are stylish as well. They fit right in with high end equipment and they are pretty small.
You also get a remote for each side and there are inputs so that you can connect an MP3 player. With the remotes, you can skip tracks, pause tracks, turn on and off the X-Fi features, etc.
I don't really have any negatives other than the price, but I still think it's worth it. Sonos has products with similar features that cost up to $1000. Xmod Wireless gives you what you need with better audio technology for a lot less. It would also be nice to have a small display on the receiver unit so you can see what you are browsing.
Overall, Xmod Wireless is highly recommended. The unique combination of a driverless and simple to use USB soundcard with a high quality streaming device is an excellent way to introduce your PC to your home theater setup or to any room of your house.


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Play music from your PC wirelessly in any room, Make your MP3s sound better than CDs, Connect in seconds - no configuration needed.

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SanDisk Sansa c250 2 GB MP3 Player (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I did quite a bit of research to get this one. and here are the reasons, I arrived at this decision:
Pro:
Size: It is pretty small yet not hard to use the controls
FM Radio: That's pretty nice in such a small MP3 player. Top that iPod
Expansion slot: The micro SD card makes this player future proof. Have more music to upload? get a card and you are done. iPod doesn't have it.
Voice recorder: was not on my wish list, but nice to have.
changable battery: battery goes bad, you can change it. iPod can't do this.
If you hit a button by accident while listening to the music, the button just wakes up the device then you can tell it what to do. Small feature but saves a LOT of annoying moments.
Sound is pretty good, unlike some reviews I have read. It is pretty much in par with other MP3 players especially iPod which is the benchmark these days.
Price: half of iPod Nano.
Con:
The package only comes with a USB charger. I have seen some plugs that have a USB output, or you can get their optional AC adapter.
Memory slot although nice, but there is no dummy card in it to avoid things getting stuck in it, so I just put a cheapy micro SD to fill the hole.
The screen could use some more contrast or better color scheme to display the menu better. You get used to it right away, but I am being super crtitcal here.


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The latest in SanDisk's audio line, the Sansa c250 2GB MP3 Player provides everything you need to play music, enjoy photos, and listen to FM radio. This affordable device also includes a bright color screen, on-the-fly voice and radio recording, a microSD slot for memory expansion, and an intuitive, easy-to-use interface.

Full-Featured MP3 Player The SanDisk Sansa c250 will play MP3, WMA, WAV, and protected WMA DRM (digital rights management) music files. Enjoy the album art on the compact color screen, along with track information via ID3 tag support. The Sansa c250 MP3 player has two gigabytes of built-in flash memory, which allows you to store up to 500 songs (32 hours of playback) in 128 kpbs MP3 format, or up to 1,000 songs (64 hours of playback) in 64 kbps WMA format. Additional capacity can be added via the microSD slot. It also supports subscription music stores, for easy purchase and downloading of new music to your player. Finally, you can adjust the sound to your preference using the digital equalizer's five presets: normal, rock, jazz, classic, pop, and one customizable user setting.
Take Your Photos With You Use the c250's color screen to share slideshows ofphoto thumbnails with your friends. The device supports JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, and GIF files, which are easily converted using the included Sansa Media Converter software.
Portable FM Radio Enjoy programming in a more traditional way with the built-in digital FM radio. Keep your favorite stations stored in the twenty programmable presets, and cycle between them with ease. Record FM radio on the fly, saving your favorite programs for later.
Voice Recording Have a thought you need to get down before it evades you? Use the built-in microphone to record voice memos. Capture interviews, classes, presentations, short notes to yourself, or anything else you might feel inspired to record for later listening.
Easy Transfer The c250 uses a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for fast file transfers from your computer. Once connected to your computer, the device is detected by your operating system and appears as additional drive. Simply drag and drop your music files to the device and you're ready to go. Alternately, you may use Windows Media Player or other music software to manage your files. Requires Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10 or later.
Time to Play The included rechargeable lithium-ion battery allows for hours of music before needing a recharge, and is removable--buy a spare for a long road trip or other situation away from power outlets.
What's in the Box Sansa c250 digital audio player, Earphones, USB Cable, Quick Start Guide, Lanyard, and 1 lithium ion battery.

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Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)First, an introduction: Recently I've owned and used and liked an iPod 4th gen 80gb, zune 80, iPod 5th gen 80gb, creative zen vision: m 30gb AND 60gb versions (the holy grail to so many mp3 player fans), and I am a power user with a music library of 35gb, all tagged using the free Media Monkey software. I know what I'm talking about. (If you're curious, the two ipods were returned, the ZVM30 was given to my cousin when I got the 60, the ZVM60 was destroyed in iraq and so was the Zune80)
Looks extremely sexy, definitely on the iPod and Zune level of sexiness.
It's ridiculously lightweight and weighs just a bit more than a nano and about half as much as a harddrive bearing zune or ipod.
Video transfer/conversion does not apply to me, so I will not be reviewing it.
IM chat gimmick is worthless, move along.
wifi connect works and is easy to set up, but there is no link to shoutcast or icecast directories. Instead, creative "media box" will show up with internet access, but has a very limited selection of podcast streams, and almost no streaming music.
Streaming music from a local wireless network is very cool, but chews up the otherwise good battery life, limiting its usefulness.
SD card support is hardly seamless, and has a limited set of browsing functions, but this may be nitpicking as most players don't bother to include ANY expandable memory.
x-fi sounds "different" but not unanimously "better", and uses more battery, not really a selling feature then
The headphones are awesome and while they're compared as worse than the zune 80's included headphones, the zen's fit more comfortably (to me) and sound just as good.
The built in speaker is very cool and sounds surprisingly good for its size, there is never any distortion even at maximum volume (distortion is what makes speakerphones and other bad+loud audio sources sound so horrible). It is perfect for showing a song to a friend or friends or playing a little background music in a quiet room.
No line out, but using the headphone jack at full volume sounds just fine on my car stereo and home stereo, with no distortion.Software:
A lot of people complain about the Creative software but you really never need to use it except for video transfer. I use Media Monkey to sync my music and it works flawlessly. Everyone has Windows Media Player and that syncs just fine with the player. It's an MTP device and that means that a lot of different programs can sync with it. So except for video issues, you really have no reason in the world to complain about the creative software.Buttons:
The nine button grid is 4 directions and a center "select" button, and on many menus and lists the diagonal four buttons act as home/end and pageup/down, but on many screens they are useless. If they were customizable they could be very powerful! Faster seeking, view toggles, many possibilities, if they were customizable. Firmware update maybe?
I have long fingers and big hands and the player is comfortable to hold, but the buttons are small and indistinct, you have to concentrate a little to be sure you press the correct one if you are fishing for the next/prev track or the volume up/down buttons in your pocket. The pause button is unmissable though, and that is most important.
The zen vision:m's vertical slider with side to side rocking and touchpad tap for select was really perfect for an audio player, and I find myself missing it a lot (but I don't miss that player's poor battery life, large size or ogreish looks)
A disappointment: On no screen are the grid buttons used to refer to a specific function on a grid on the screen (which would have opened some very quick and intuitive menu options), they are ALWAYS arrow buttons with a center select, and sometimes other use diagonal buttons.
Creative have dropped the ball a little by adding four new buttons and not using them to their full potential. The most notable example is that the IM chat function could have used a cell-phone style text entry, but instead uses a very obtuse method that keeps the buttons as arrow keys. Once you've moved past the chat function and removed it from the main menu, you'll then notice that on the 'now playing' screen, the most common and important screen, the four diagonal buttons don't do anything at all. :(
The customizable shortcut button is still here and still awesome, easily settable by simply holding it down. It comes preset to the x-fi settings screen, which should have been integrated into the EQ screen anyway. Mine is set to jump to 'now playing', perfect for changing volume or next/prev track quickly from any menu, and then you can press back to return to wherever you were.
The menu button (or "right click" button as I call it) shows the list of options for most screens, but the list sometimes runs off the top and bottom by just a few lines and could have been scaled down to fit them all. Would have been nice to enable the 'diagonal' buttons to be shortcuts for some of the common menu items, while the menu is open.The Interface (the most important part of any mp3 player):
It may sound like I'm pointing out a lot of flaws in the device's usability, but let me assure you it really is fantastic to use. The device interface is the same as the venerable ZVM, and is powerful, attractive, and simple. The 'right click' menus offer a lot of functionality while being intuitive to any computer user; rather than hide a cluttered pile of settings in the main menu settings screen, many settings are accessed from the screen they're related to. I'm a big fan of the ZVM interface and am glad they didn't change it. On the Zen the graphics have been given quite a boost since the ZVM days, and the gui really is pretty.Useful things the Zen players do that ipod and zune do NOT under any circumstances support:
- [zune] sync with 3rd party software
- 'now playing' playlist access
- creation/saving of playlists on the fly
- ability to add a track to the 'now playing' list allows you to build a playlist and not interrupt currently playing track, great for playing music for others
- bookmark track positions (great for podcasts, audiobooks, long music mixes)
- switch between view of albums, artists, or track in the music menus
- rearrange items when you customize the main menu
- "dj" menu with options like "play popular" and "play highly rated"
- delete actual tracks from within the player
- record voice
- hide photos/video easily, obviously to hide porn when showing off your player to your mom
- actual usb port, no proprietary connector
- built in speaker
- wifi network access
I see this player is squaring off against the ipod and zune, and is already going above and beyond them both, feature by feature.PS:
Nitpicks:
- no rapid way to seek in a track
- no "go to album" or "go to genre" for a track, only "go to artist"
- pageup/down buttons stop working when you move "right" to the list of letter shortcuts on a long list, and they don't work on the 'right click' menu
- speaker should have been put on the left side, your hand ends up covering it up sometimes, when you hold it right handedly

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver)

Experience your MP3 music as the artist originally intended with the Creative ZEN X-Fi--the first player to restore the quality of compressed music with award-winning X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology. Indulge in rich, crystal-clear audio when you listen to your music, as the detail that's lost during file compression is now beautifully restored and played through premium-quality, noise-isolating EP-830 earphones.

Sleek Beauty A pocket-sized player that weighs a mere 2.4 ounces, the ZEN X-Fi sports attractive curves with a graceful finish. Immerse yourself in the brilliant 2.5-inch TFT screen with 16.7 million colors as you watch your movies and view your pictures. Built with X-Fi Xtreme Fidelity Audio technology, the player lets you experience the very essence of music perfection as you listen to audio in crystal-clear clarity. Hear your music the way it was always meant to be heard. Plus, the included EP-830 earphones provide optimum comfort with excellent noise-isolation capability. Or, be the life of the party as you share your music out loud with the powerful built-in speaker.
More Content, Endless Enjoyment Listen to your music in multiple supported formats such as MP3, WMA, and (non-protected) AAC (m4a) from iTunes Plus. Download Creative Centrale to rip, transfer, and manage your media content easily. Enjoy the ultimate collection of free video and audio podcast channels on www.zencast.com. Manage all of your favorite subscriptions with ZENcast Organizer, and experience the best of the free-to-share formats available. Tired of your own music? Switch to the FM radio. The 32 station presets let you switch stations with ease. Increase the size of your portable media library with an SD or SDHC card. Transfer your files easily to enjoy more videos, music, and photos on your player.
Packed with Features Record your important meetings or personal audio memos with the integrated voice recorder. Set audio effects to enhance your overall music-listening experience. Choose from eight EQ presets or customize your own EQ, and enhance it all with bass-boost and smart-volume controls. Start the day on the right note with your very own alarm tone. You can even set the alarm for any day of the week.
What's in the Box Creative ZEN X-Fi 8 GB, installation CD, quick start guide, EP-830 noise-isolating earbuds, and USB 2.0 cable.

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E-MU Xmidi 1x1 - MIDI adapter - USB Review

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(More customer reviews)I got this for my new iMac with an Intel processor and it is completely plug and play. I didn't have to download anything, my computer recognized what it was and identified it by name automatically. The only little thing is the cable marked MIDI IN goes to the keyboard's MIDI OUT and the cable marked MIDI OUT plugs into MIDI IN on the keyboard. Slightly confusing but it makes sense after you think about it.

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Creative GigaWorks T3 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System Review

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(More customer reviews)These speakers exceeded my expectations! My previous speaker system was a $100 5.1 Cyber Acoustics set, but the subwoofer in this T3 system is much better! I did a side-by-side comparison and the Creative speakers were definitely better.
I was about to purchase the Bose companion 2.1 system, but these were cheaper and newer.
The release date on the Bose was September 24, 2006
The release date on the Creative was February 9, 2009
So I went ahead and bought the Creative speakers because I figured the technology was newer.
I have a pair of Bose on-ear headphones and they are amazing, so I respect the Bose brand. However, I know Bose products are rarely on sale and there is a considerable mark up on their products. So I thought I'd get a better value with the Creative speakers.
The cool thing about the subwoofer is that it has a three driver configuration so the subwoofer looks like it's three sided. They call it SLAM technology, but that's just silly marketing stuff...
The satellite speakers look great and have a very small footprint.
Creative markets this as having audiophile grade drivers. I'm not an expert, but they sound noticeably better than $100 sets.


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The Creative GigaWorks T3 2.1 Multimedia Speaker System adds superior sound and style to any entertainment system, game console, or computer. The stereo speakers have a small footprint while delivering stunning clarity, with crisp highs and a full midrange. A compact subwoofer handles the low notes and utilizes SLAM technology for tight, responsive bass and maximum efficiency. The volume control center houses an integrated headphone jack and an auxiliary input for any MP3 player or audio device.
Speakers Designed for Appearance and Performance These speakers have more than just good looks; they were built to produce a rich sound with enough presence to fill any room. Each satellite speaker has an audiophile-quality driver surrounded by a stylish chrome trim ring.
The subwoofer features three individual drivers and the type of deep bass you'd expect from a much larger unit. Stick it anywhere in the room to feel the explosions in your soundtracks or the drumbeats and bass riffs in your music.
Control and Connections at Your Fingertips Volume is controlled from a stand-alone pod, so you can choose where it goes for convenience and easy access. The pod also has an integrated auxiliary input--no more crawling around behind your equipment to find a place to plug in your MP3 player. The large, easy-grip dial lets you set the perfect volume level, and you can easily plug your headphones into the built-in jack for private listening.
Power-Saving Technology When you're not enjoying the GigaWorks T3, the system's power-save mode consumes far less energy than a standard speaker system. Each GigaWorks T3 satellite speaker measures 3.7 x 5.9 x 3 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 0.8 pounds. The subwoofer measures 9.3 x 8.4 x 11.3 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 13 pounds.
What's in the Box GigaWorks T3 speakers (left, right), SLAM subwoofer, volume control pad, stereo to dual RCA cable, Quick Start leaflet.

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SteelSeries 7H USB Gaming Headset with Virtual Surround 7.1 Sound (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Short Summary - This is the BEST Gaming/Music headset that you can get at this price! You cant get wrong with it.
Detailed Summary -
First of all let me tell you a little about myself. I am a gamer and I also used to compete back in the school days in FPS games (counter strike). So I very well understand what is the importance of sounds in game. I used to be one of the top 200 CS players in US.
I am also a person now days who listens to music literally all day. So I also have good sense of music and I can very easily differentiate between good and a bad headset.
I also have used many headsets in the past and so I think I can provide a very good opinion.
So here we go -
Why are these headsets good -
1) Amazing sound quality for both gaming and music. Bass is strong, you will literally lose your self while listening to your favorite music on these headsets. All instruments are clear and music becomes a joy to listen to and you will enjoy every moment of it.
For gaming this is a great headset. You will be able to clearly hear the foot steps from different directions very clearly and will be able to make proper decisions. Also this will give you a very clear and diff sounds for guns and you will be able to know what kind of shot was fired where. This headset is like a hack for people who have never used sound in their gameplay. Your game will be elevated at a new higher level if you havent used a decent headset in past.
2) Build Quality - I have to say that quality is very solid and top notch. I have used Steelseries 5H V2 in the past and loved them. These are definite upgrade from previous version. Built is solid and they look well made and of good material. They feel way way better than G35 logitech headsets (used in past also).
3) Mic - Mic sounds great. Sound is very clear and no issues at all. One thing I love about mic is that it is retractable and this is one hell of a unique feature that most of people tend to ignore. One doesnt need a mic hanging out all times, specially when you are listening to music or traveling. In fact it becomes a trouble when you want to pact or also looks kinda bad when you are using it to listen music from your music player. With this headset, mic is almost invisible and only comes out when you pull it out. I really love this feature. And due to the same reason mic is also protected from any kind of accidental damage.
4) Design - This is another feature why this headset wins. You can break this headset into 4 different pieces and can pack it in any bag without hesitation. Nothing happens to the headset, just assemble all parts and use it again. This helps me a lot while traveling. After listening to music in plane, i just put them in bags and sit comfortably and not worry about damaging my headsets.
5) Comfort - these are probably one of the most comfortable headsets I have ever used. the only thing that beats the comfort is Bose and they are twice the price. they come with 2 different kind of ear cups, leather and cloth. Use cloth in a place where there isnt a lot of noise like your home. Use leather when you want some kind of noise cancellation like a plane, LAN party, crowed place like public transport. I have to say that they are much more comfortable than G35 (G35 imo are very tight on your ears and you sweat a lot. I also feel that as if I am sitting in a closed room while using G35s. I dont like that feeling).
6) Connections - this is one another strong point. If you buy G35, you will only be able to use them for gaming. you cant use them to listen to music on your mp3 player but these headsets can be used with anything. It also comes with extra cord which is always handy when you want to sit at a distance while playing.
Summary - As mentioned above, no other headset can come close to these headsets in this price range. This is a quality product which you will love whenever you will use it.
*****
Update after using it for many months -
No issues so far. Quality is great and I have even tested these bad boys on my long trip to US -> India -> Thailand -> Back to India -> Travel in India -> back to US
I never travel without them and never play games without them.
Btw I use them everyday for Skype and ventrilo (literally everyday) and mic is great. No complaints at all.


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Apple iPod 5 GB M8513LLA White (1st Generation) OLD MODEL Review

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(More customer reviews)Sometimes, when I'm walking around and I see people with CD players, I just have to wonder how they manage.
The most amazing thing about this device is the size. Not just the size of the iPod itself, which is a lot less than half the size of other MP3 players that hold the same amount, but the amount of space it saves you in terms of CDs. Have you ever seen one of those CD towers with around 60-70 CDs in them? You know, the ones that are as tall as a bookshelf? How would you like to carry that around in your backpack at school or in your pocket on the street? I think carrying this thing around, which happens to be the size of a deck of cards and holds even more than those CD towers, is slightly preferrable.
The next best thing about the iPod is the batteries. This thing goes for 8-10 hours without quitting. That is the same amount of time as a CD player, and twice as long as other multi-GB mp3 players. In addition to that, you never need to buy batteries again. Just plug the iPod into the wall at night and you've got another 10 hours of music when you wake up. That'll work even if you only sleep for 3 hours a night like me! So this thing is saving both space and money (batteries)!
The third thing about this is how well it turns heads. Sometimes I try to hide this thing when I take it out, because strangers will literally come up to me and ask me "is that an iPod?" and want to play with the buttons and stuff. Sometimes, it gets a little annoying. In these cases, the size comes in handy because its very easy to hide while you are using it. But if your in the mood to turn some heads, just put this thing on your lap and play.
There are tons of other great things about this. The interface is beautiful... sometimes, I just stare at the screen while a song is playing, or turn on the backlight for fun. It takes 10 minutes to fill the entire thing, meaning that if you ever get tired of the songs you put on it, you can have them replaced in the snap of a finger.
But it all comes down to this; when you buy this, you will never need another music player again. If you have a Mac, go buy this. The money you save on batteries and future music players will more than make up for the ... price tag.

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Special note to customers: An iPod software update (version 1.1) is available on the Apple site. It adds a contacts menu to store your address book and a new equalizer with more than 20 presets and independent settings for each song.
Packing 1,000 songs and a 10-hour battery into a stunning 6.5-ounce package, the Apple iPod is the smallest hard drive-based MP3 player available, about the size of a deck of cards. Just plug it into your Mac and all your iTunes songs and playlists are automatically downloaded into iPod at blazing FireWire speed.
The 5 GB hard drive stores up to 1,000 MP3 song files (at 160 Kbps encoding rate) and also doubles as disk storage for applications and other files. A high-output (60-mW) amplifier provides CD-quality sound with a wide dynamic range, from deep, pulse-pounding bass to sharp, crystal-clear highs.
In addition to its 5 GB hard drive, iPod has a 32MB memory cache. The cache is made up of solid-state memory, meaning that it has no moving parts, so it's not affected by movement of the device. Skip protection on the iPod works by continually preloading up to 20 minutes of music into the cache.
The iPod has a large, high-quality liquid crystal display (LCD) for viewing up to six lines of text. And the LCD features a white-light-emitting diode (LED) backlight for clear visibility in low-light situations--indoors or outdoors. Pocket-sized and just 6.5 ounces, it weighs appreciably less than the stack of CDs it can store music from.
Featuring Apple's award-winning iTunes 2 software, the iPod can synchronize with newly added music files and playlists. Simply plug the iPod back into your Mac and the changes are automatically updated in seconds. And with iTunes 2, you can rip MP3s, create playlists, and burn custom CDs all from one simple interface.
Its rechargeable lithium battery is charged using the FireWire cable when connected to your Mac. You can also recharge the iPod using the included FireWire cable and AC adapter when you're on the go.
The iPod supports MP3 (up to 320 Kbps), MP3 Variable Bit Rate (VBR), WAV, and AIFF files, and is firmware upgradable. To use the iPod with your Mac, you'll need a FireWire port and you must be running either Mac OS 9.2.1 (or later) or Mac OS X v10.1 (or later). The iPod is not compatible with Windows operating systems.
It comes with earbud-style headphones, a FireWire cable, power adapter, and CD-ROM with iTunes 2. It's backed by a 90-day limited warranty.

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Tascam DP-02CF Portastudio Compact Flash Multitrack Recorder Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased the DP-02CF expecting a Multi-Track Recorder, much like the 10 or so Recorders I've owned over the past 25 years past from Tascam. However, even though the new Digital technology is wonderful, things here are not quite what they appear to be in this case...
First, even though you are using a CF Card and you can use up to an 8 gig card [which is great] you are limited to .wav format in FAT 32 which burns 1/2 a gig of space off the top, and limits the length/size of your files per song. Plus the usual FAT 32 file corruption issues which can sneak up on you in a hurry, trust me. Also, be careful, very very careful when buying a card for this deck. The approved media list has a big list of cards that made me cringe, several of the 8 gig options cost lest than $30 on Amazon, Gasp! I mean, you get what you pay for and if you're using ANYTHING less than a Sandisk Extreme 3, you're going to end up cussing out the unit and tascam within 2 weeks! Trust me on this one...
Second, where do I begin?
When you setup a recording and start adding tracks, each time you playback and listen to what you recorded, you are required to go back and reassign everything from scratch, including track sends! Nice huh... This doesn't sound like much at first, but after you use the unit for a while it becomes a time consuming adventure in frustration.
Next, the Deal Killer...
This unit should be described as a very limited Mixer, with a 2 track recorder with bounce down capabilities slapped on the top. This is not a multi-track recorder like any I've ever owned before or even a decent mixer, since NO EFFECT SEND is available during recording! You heard me right, you can't even add compression to a vocal as you record, but more on this later.
So, I was expecting PRE and POST eq [as almost every other deck I've owned from Tascam in the past] but alas even though there is nice eq, effect sends and controls, they are all POST. In fact in Record mode you only have 2 tracks, dry to the card that's it. Only in POST final mix-down to a DVD, or whatever you make your master on [No bounce-down eq/effect capabilities either since EVERYTHING IS POST HERE!] Like I said, this makes this unit a mixer with a recorder slapped on, not a full featured recorder as it appears to be. I mean if your 15 and this is your first recorder for band demos, great! Otherwise you will be sadly disappointed.
This means if you plan on using the eq, and effecting your signals during bouncing down, NONE of the adjustments you make during mixdown will record to the track, it's just a mixer kids! So, if your vocal stack of 4 tracks needs a little hi end added during bounce, or if the bass guitar/guitar/keyboard mixdown needs a little extra push, or you need to do anything during the mix-down process getting to your final 8 tracks, tough luck! Only in the final mixdown to another device, can you use any of the eq/effects. This is why the unit is so inexpensive, and why it's useless for anything other than live 2 track demos and practicing bounce down, so that later when you buy a real recorder you'll know what to do.
This is the reason why I was in shock when my unit arrived. Just remember when looking for a multi-track, always ask up front if your deck has PRE and POST options for eq/effects. I should have asked, oh well...
Here's another example of the frustration.... Let's say your recording live and you want to add in some compression to the vocal track as it's live going into the deck. Tough luck! You can't use the effect send to add your $1000 compresser/limiter and Exciter. How about adding a little eq to the bass guitar from the line in, same deal tough luck! NOTHING can be added to the instruments as they go in, or as they are bounced down, it is ONLY during final mix-down TO ANOTHER DEVICE that you can you add anything!
One last time, everything on this mixer [aka multi-track] is post. You might as well buy a nice mixer, and a zoom, you'll have more options and a better final mix. Plus, you won't have to worry about your CF card corrupting from the Fat32 formatting after spending 3 days recording and bouncing down tracks.
If they had only been honest in the description of this unit [and it's NOT Amazon's fault, they just list the factory description which is totally misleading] then I could have avoided wasting a week trying to find out why I couldn't save any of my mixdown settings.

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Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Internal Sound Card Review

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(More customer reviews)This is going to be a long review because I just purchased this and I want to answer some questions that I couldn't find answers to before I purchased it. If you want the 1 word summary, it's "INCREADIBLE"!!
I was upgrading from a Fortissimo 1 sound card. I understand that this is not a great card, however I was using the optical out to connect to a DTS receiver. Essentially the sound card was doing nothing but transferring data and my nice receiver was doing all of the work. This made me apprehensive about upgrading to the Audigy 2 because I wasn't sure if I would notice a difference from my optical card. (pause for a quick side note) You can NOT hook this card up digitally to a receiver. I LOVE this card, but I feel this is important for customers to understand this fact, and very deceiving from Creative. The digital output on the card uses a proprietary digital signal. For the techs out there, a normal (electrical not optical) digital signal is a sine wave. The crest of the wave registers as "on" and the bottom of the wave registers as "off". The creative digital-out uses 8 points on the sine wave to create the signal. 1 point for each audio channel. This will only work with computer speaker sets designed for this type of proprietary signal. It will not work with home theatre receivers because it is not a standard digital signal. (now back to my review) With the Audigy 2 ZS I would need to hook everything up using analog THX certified monster cables. Essentially it boils down to weather my receiver will sound better decoding the digital signal (old card), or if the Audigy 2 ZS will sound better decoding the signal and then passing it to the receiver for amplification. I honestly could not be happier with the results. The Audigy 2 ZS sounds 10 times better than my old setup. Everything is MUCH more crisp and well defined, and the low end sounds AMAZING. I'm not talking loud bass, I'm just talking really really tight and smooth. I could not recommend this card more. It is THE BEST upgrade I have made to my PC in years.
I also wanted to touch a bit on the setup, because I couldn't find any reviews anywhere that explained how to hook up the analog outs to a home theatre receiver, and Creative made it a little tricky. First, the 8 channels use only 3 mini plugs as connectors. How you ask? The first connector is an easy to find cable. It's a mini -> 2 RCA. This is the same cable you use to hook a Discman up to your receiver. The other 2 are weird. They are mini -> 3 RCA. The only use I've ever seen for a cable like this is hooking up a DV camcorder to a TV. If you are using monster it is called a CAMAV cable. The first plug feeds your front right and front left speakers. The second plug feeds you rear left, rear right, and side left speakers. The third plug feeds your side right, center, and sub speakers. I could not find that info anywhere before buying and experimenting. I use a double receiver setup with two 5.1 receivers. The second receiver has some unused channels, so later I can expand as far as 10.2. I highly recommend this setup.
I also HIGHLY recommend this card. Like I said before, I am blown away by the sound quality. I've never heard a computer sound so good.

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The THX certified Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS delivers 24-bit ADVANCED HD? audio, 108dB SNR clarity across 8 channels.

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Micca MPLAY-HD 1080p Full-HD Digital Media Player For USB Drives and SD/SDHC/MS Flash Review

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(More customer reviews)I chose this little box over the NBox and other comparable media players, mainly because it has a wider array of audio/video ports, and it pretty much splits the difference price-wise. I am using the HDMI port for my plasma screen, and the digital coaxial port for my receiver. I am beholden to Western Digital My Passport Essential USB drives, and I couldn't be happier with the results. The HD picture looks fantastic, and the booming 5.1 surround sound far exceeds what I could get out of my laptop. It browses reasonably fast through your files, folders, and sub-folders, and it offers continuous playback of your media. It played AVI, MPG, MP4, VOB, MKV, and pictures with no problems. The box is packed with composite cables and a short component video cable. It has two USB ports, and you can supposedly copy/paste/delete between the two, and apparently you can play a photo slideshow and music simultaneously, neither of which I have tried yet.
However, it does have it's shortcomings. Like most remotes, this one is a little user un-friendly, and doesn't seem to work when you're more than 10 feet away. The manual is scrawny and somewhat disorganized, so read it carefully. It wouldn't cooperate with one of my drives for some reason, and it also wouldn't play any of my Flash videos, not that I ever save them anyway. I put a movie on pause for a few minutes; when I resumed play the audio became out of sync, and I had to cue backwards to align it again. Still, the pros far outweigh the cons--I doubt I'll burn a DVD ever again.
Some tips: if you hook this up and turn it on and get no picture, repeatedly push the "TV Out" button on your remote first, the menu should soon come up in sharp full-color form. I recommend powering down the unit using the on/off switch on the back, rather than using the remote. It's supposed to go into "standby", but it seems to me that it still uses too much power for being inactive, and I'm more comfortable shutting the player down completely before I remove the USB cable. If your movie file is encoded with AC3 audio and you're using a hi-fi, set the digital out to "RAW" so your receiver can decode the Dolby Digital/DTS soundtrack, otherwise you'll just get 2-channel stereo.
All in all, a remarkably versatile little gadget that should round out any home theater, whether you're running out of storage space for your DVDs and CDs, or if you want a convenient way to move your PC experience to the living room. I just hope it's as durable as it performs.

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