Philips SA23 2 GB Flash Audio Player (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this device Friday, and it is working pretty well so far.I have never owned an I-Pod; and I wanted a cheap MP3 player, with a radio, and powered by a battery, for traveling.My friends' I-Pods often seem to run out of power at the most inopportune times, so I wanted something I don't have to recharge, or send back to the manufacturer when the battery wears out.

On Saturday, my running partner's I-Pod battery crapped out, so I lent her my Philips SA2323/37 for our 9-mile beach run.There doesn't seem to be a case or belt (bikini, for her) clip available for the SA2323/37, so we used her I-Pod case/clip/holder.A little tight fit, but I locked the device so the buttons wouldn't be triggered, and it worked fine.Poor woman had to listen to a whole Grateful Dead '88 show during the run, which can be tough for a non-Deadhead...No complaints though...

It would be nice if there was a case/clip available so this can be worn while running or otherwise working out.It's small enough to be carried in my shorts pocket, but during a 9-mile beach run my shorts get sweaty.I looped a shoe-string through it to wear it around my neck, but it would bounce around too much during a run, which is annoying.

Anyone who buys this device really needs to download the firmware update from the Philips website: it improves the sound quality appreciably.The software included on the CD ROM makes updating the firmware via the Internet quick and easy.

The sound quality still isn't great; but this is my first pocket MP3 player, so I don't have the experience to compare it to other players.I bought it to have music when traveling on airlines, so it doesn't bother me when the recordings buzz during quiet musical passages.The ambient noise on a commercial jet covers up this buzzing anyway.Louder passages sound fine through my Panasonic sound-isolating earphones.

The radio works pretty well too, and it doesn't have the buzzing that stored MP3s exhibit.I like the fact that the radio has presets (a little tricky, at first, but you'll figure it out), automatic and manual tuning.Most digital tuning radios are fussy about tuning into weak and distant stations; the manual tuning option on the SA2323/37 let's you lock into these stations, and even store them as presets.For me, this is really great: best I've used.

A little unnerving was when I put some more CDs on the device yesterday, and when I subsequently turned it on, it could find no folders or music.The display said "No Folders".A search through the .pdf manual for "No Folders" yielded zero results.Now, why would Philips put a message on the display "No Folders" then not have that message anywhere in the manual?Philips can be annoying, discussed below.I re-connected the SA2323/37 to the computer and looked at it through Windows Explorer; indeed, all of the music and folders were there.Upon disconnection from the computer, it worked fine again.I don't know why it hiccuped like that.

Documentation is only available as a .pdf on the CD ROM or via Philips website.I would have preferred the manual on paper - there certainly is plenty of useless written material included in the package, in many different languages.One English manual, and none of the other junk, would have been much better.The manual would be handy because the user interface has a bit of a learning curve, and the device doesn't give the user much time to contemplate options before selecting them.By default, it quickly reverts to current settings/functions if the user doesn't make a selection of new ones fast.

Also, the start-up screen upon power-up is very long and tedious.It's probably only 20 seconds, but it seems to take forever in use.Somebody at Philips doesn't realize that it doesn't leave a good branding impression to have the owner/user have to wait for the device to start functioning.Philips does some very strange and annoying product changes, as anyone who owns a Sonicare electric toothbrush can tell you.

In conclusion, this device is very convenient, works pretty well so far, and seems like a good value for the money.There are some annoying aspects to it, but I feel like I have gotten what I paid for, so far...

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Product Description:
Designed as an ideal solution for taking your favorite music everywhere you go, the Philips SA2323 packs in 2 GB of reliable flash memory for ample music file storage capacity. That's enough memory to store up to 930 WMA file music tracks. With the SA2323 in hand, you can enjoy your MP3, WAV, and WMA music files on the move in a sleek form factor with a stylish, pearl white finish.

Enjoy your MP3 and WMA music on the move. View larger.

Simple and sleek earbud headphones are included. The unit offers direct USB connectivity for fast and easy file transfers--no cables or software are needed to successfully load the SA2323 with music. Simply connect the SA2323 directly to a PC, and start dragging files onto the device. The player supports USB 2.0 connectivity for speedy file transfers.
An easy-to-read backlit LCD and built-in ID3 tag support help keep tabs on must-have playback information, such as track titles and artist names. The SA2323's screen also can display a folder view that lets you find favorite songs fast. You can use the four built-in equalizer settings to customize audio playback for an optimized sound that suits your music tastes.
For added versatility, the SA2323 comes with a built-in FM radio with 10 programmable station presets and voice-recording features. The FM radio is a great feature for catching up on breaking news or weather highlights, and the voice-recording mode can be a handy tool for students and business users.
Powered by one AAA battery, the SA2323 provides up to 10 hours of nonstop music playback. Compatible with Windows 2000, ME, and XP operating systems, the SA2323 measures a portable 3.01 x 1.24 x .90 inches.

Record notes via the built-in microphone

Philips Device Manager enables you to update the firmware

Enjoy MP3 and WMA playback

What's in the Box
SA2323/37 MP3 player, headphones, USB cable, one AAA battery, quick start guide, and CD-ROM (Philips Device Manager, user's manual, and frequently asked questions).