iAudio X5L 30 GB Multimedia Player Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've swore to myself that I wouldn't buy an mp3 player until it met my entire list of expecations and I finally gave in and bought this one because it was so close. There are only two things keeping this player from being perfect. First, it organizes music by directory rather than ID tags. This isn't a big deal for me because all my music is already organized by folder, but I'd rather be able to sort by year, genre, track number. Second, the thumbstick interface takes a while to get used to, but its doable, I just wish there were more buttons on the unit.

Other than that this is the perfect digital audio player. It really is the best you can get right now. The USB host feature is incredible, I can snap 30G worth of digital pictures with my minolta dimage 5 before I have to find a computer to hook it up to. The radio reception is really good and way better than I expected. Sound quality is second to only the new sony units which are lacking in many other respects. Believe it or not, you really can tell the difference in sound quality with a decent set of headphones, and it is better than Creative players. iPOD sound quality is actually fairly poor when compared with better DAPs.

Yes I realize that mp3 quality is not exactly HiFi anyway, but I can definitely tell the difference. Plus, this unit supports FLAC (free lossless audio codec) from vorbis as well as OGG. So you really can get some pretty good sound out of it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iAudio X5L 30 GB Multimedia Player Black

Product Description:
The iAudio X5L 30 GB Multimedia Player Black combines an MP3 player, video player, FM radio, voice recorder, and digital photo album in one tidy package with a smooth aluminum finish. With its capacity for up to 7,500 songs, 3,000 folders, or 15,000 files, and a lithium-ion battery that provided up to 35 continuous hours of play, the iAudio X5 is the ideal way to take your digital music, music videos, and digital pictures on the road with you.
The iAudio X5L supports blazing fast USB 2.0 download speeds of up to 480 Mbps, obliterating the need to wait for your files to transfer from your computer. The 260,000 color TFT-LCD screen displays both text and image files, with text files viewable even as you're listening to your music. A built-in, high-fidelity microphone lets you record voice at the same quality level as dedicated voice recorders. Listen to FM radio and record it onto the iAudio X5L just by pressing a button, and use the preset feature to save your preferred radio stations. The iAudio X5's direct encoding technology lets you digitally record input from audio devices such as a Walkmans, mini disk, record, or TV.
The iAudio X5L's JetShell software enables the creation and editing of playlists directly on the player, as well as CD ripping and file transfers. You can save non-music files to the iAudio X5L and say goodbye to clumsy floppy disks and data CDs, and the JetAudio software enables simple video conversion onto the iAudio X5. If you're on the road and need a wake-up call, just use the built-in clock's alarm function.
The iAudio X5L is compatible with Windows and both Linux and the Mac OS, and comes with superb Cresyn headphones, giving you superior sound reproduction with a balanced tone. It supports MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV files, as well as the FLAC format, which compresses files without quality loss. Up to 12 minutes of anti-shock protection ensures that you'll enjoy your music no matter how bumpy the road, and the custom-made protective leather case fits perfectly to your iAudio X5L.
What's in the Box
X5L-30BL digital music player, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, audio cable, USB host cable, earphones, subpack, installation CD-ROM, and user's guide.

Want to buy iAudio X5L 30 GB Multimedia Player Black at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've had my iAudio X5L for several weeks now -- it's been with me through two road trips (on just ONE battery charge!) and many commutes to work.I am even *happier* with this purchase then I expected to be!Highly recommended as an incredible gift to yourself or someone you know.This is THE digital music player and then some.I'm thrilled with mine.

First off, I must confess that I was also debating between an iPod or other media players.After reading the reviews at Cnet.com, PCmagazine, and here at Amazon, I went with a 30gb X5L from iAudio.Here's what you get with iAudio that you won't get on the iPod:

- listen to radio AND record from radio
- 24 radio station presets (FM only)
- a built-in mic to record lectures, poetry readings, dinner conversations (you have to be close to the speaker, though, I'm going to expirment with the line-in and see if an external mike can be plugged into that)
- a line-in jack so you can record from old cassettes, records, minidiscs, you name it ... from anything with a headphone jack
- looong battery life, it really does give 35 hours
- much stronger case, a beautiful black finish with a texture that won't scratch and show fingerprints like the iPods; I don't even have a cover over mine, I just keep it in my pocket and it does fine
- oh yeah... and you can watch videos, but I use my X5L while walking or driving so this feature doesn't even matter to me

There are some good tips to know about your iAudio:

-almost all questions can be answered at www.iaudiophile.com/forums... a fantastic resource for all iAudio users
- sure, it doesn't have the sort-by-tag software of the iPods, but I haven't even found that I miss that. I keep my files organized in folders by Artist\Album\songs and I'm a playlist junkie ... iTunes never does auto-create a playlist that I like anyway.You don't even need to install the software that comes with the iAudio.I use MediaMonkey to organize my music, but I just use Windowns Explorer to drag 'n' drop files into my iAudio's music folder. The Shuffle mode keeps me very happy, and having my favorite radio stations just a couple clicks away is WONDERFUL.
- When you first receive your X5L, you'll have to charge it for 6 hours. Hey, long battery life requires some serious power to start with.But once it's charged, you'll find that you already have a sample song and some sample videos so you can show off your toy right away.(They're basically iAudio commercials, but they are good for showing how good this treasure sounds and looks.)
- using the little button control is pretty simple when you get the hang of it ... press it down briefly in order to see a list for your current mode (ie. list of presets for Radio, list of songs for Music, list of movies for Video...) or hold down the button for a couple seconds in order to get to the main menu.Some people didn't get that, but it really is easy.
- the power, line-in, and USB ports for the X5L are on a little supback that you plug into the bottom of the X5L; it also comes with a line-in cable that you can plug into the headphone (or line-out) jack of any other equipment.Some people complain about having these little "things" to keep with the X5L.I got the Universal MP3 Player Travel Kit from CaseLogic and it has perfect little compartments for the iAudio accessories plus a pocket for the player itself.Or you might try a digital camera case with a couple external pockets - the iAudio X5L would fit in that very nicely, too.That's what I used before my CaseLogic order arrived.
- the only problem I had was actually with my music files, not with the X5L; my songs had been ripped with a mix of id3v1 and id3v2 tags, which meant that some albums would only show on the X5L with the filename instead of the tag info while playing.I used MediaMonkey to clean off the id3v1 tags and that worked very well.Voila - tag information would show on my X5L.

So all in all - the iAudio X5L has performed beautifully. I only wish I had waited and gotten the 60gb.Being able to record from radio and old media has filled up my memory more than I anticipated.
If you're still not sure about getting any digital music player in the first place, let me give this example ... I have 500 CDs, but I was only listening to maybe 30 of them regularly because so many just weren't the kind of albums that would be listened to in one sitting.Now I've culled the best tracks from those CDs and they come up on my X5L's shuffle as a nice surprise from the past.I'm remembering just how much I like this music or that artist.It's a wonderful rediscovery of my own collection!And when I don't recognize what I'm listening to, I just look down and all the info is right there for me.I'm finally starting to tell the difference between my Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus albums (jazz fans, forgive me) but I'm also hearing nuances that I never noticed before from my Erasure and Hotel Costes albums.In some ways, this is like hearing your music for the first time all over again.

Click Here to see more reviews about: iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black

Product Description:
The iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black combines an MP3 player, video player, FM radio, voice recorder, and digital photo album in one tidy package with a smooth aluminum finish. With its capacity for up to 5,000 songs, 2,000 folders, or 10,000 files, and a lithium-ion battery that provided up to 35 continuous hours of play, the iAudio X5 is the ideal way to take your digital music, music videos, and digital pictures on the road with you.
The iAudio X5 supports blazing fast USB 2.0 download speeds of up to 480 Mbps, obliterating the need to wait for your files to transfer from your computer. The 260,000 color TFT-LCD screen displays both text and image files, with text files viewable even as you're listening to your music. A built-in, high-fidelity microphone lets you record voice at the same quality level as dedicated voice recorders. Listen to FM radio and record it onto the iAudio X5 just by pressing a button, and use the preset feature to save your preferred radio stations. The iAudio X5's direct encoding technology lets you digitally record input from audio devices such as a Walkmans, mini disk, record, or TV.
The iAudio G3's JetShell software enables the creation and editing of playlists directly on the player, as well as CD ripping and file transfers. You can save non-music files to the iAudio X5 and say goodbye to clumsy floppy disks and data CDs, and the JetAudio software enables simple video conversion onto the iAudio X5. If you're on the road and need a wake-up call, just use the built-in clock's alarm function.
The iAudio G3 is compatible with Windows and both Linux and the Mac OS, and comes with superb Cresyn headphones, giving you superior sound reproduction with a balanced tone. It supports MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV files, as well as the FLAC format, which compresses files without quality loss. Up to 12 minutes of anti-shock protection ensures that you'll enjoy your music no matter how bumpy the road, and the custom-made protective leather case fits perfectly to your iAudio X5.
What's in the Box
X5L-20BL digital music player, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, audio cable, USB host cable, earphones, subpack, installation CD-ROM, and user's guide.

Want to buy iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Creative Zen Stone Plus 2GB doubles the size of the iPod Shuffle and adds a monochrome screen for viewing track names and settings.Add in the functionality of a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder at $65 and you have a great value.

Pros -
+ good stereo sound
+ nice capacity for a decent price
+ light-weight
+ FM tuner with 32 presets ( though it's just average )
+ voice recording
+ simple design (no more click wheel!) with more color options
+ great navigation and sorting features
+ Nice format compatibility (MP3, WAV, WMA, Audible)
+ USB 1.1 and 2.0 connectivity
+ Can be used as a USB drive / mass storage
+ Can sync music with drag & drop or via Creative software
+ Nice extras like stopwatch function

Cons
- average battery life of 10 hours (OLED screen sucks the battery)
- mediocre backlight ( but it can be disabled )
- some DRM song transfer issues with some firmware versions
- not expandable - few size options 1GB and 2GB
- Creative software is buggy
- larger than the 2nd and 3rd generation iPod shuffles

Creative's Zen Stone line was meant to be the upgrade to the Zen nano, aka Muvo mini.Unfortunately, the 1GB Zen Stone had some quality issues.With the new 2GB Zen Stone Plus, Creative has tried to improve on previous models and compete with the Sandisk Sansas.

I love the new Sandisk Sansa's.The Sansa Express has the advantage that you can plug it directly into your USB port without a cable.SanDisk Sansa Express 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)Still, theCreative Zen Stone feels nicer in the hand. It's not as sleek as the Sansa Express and doesn't have all the cool cache' of an iPod shuffle or iPod nano.But it is priced very attractively and has some NICE features.It's good for a starter, workout unit, or gift for a kid.

The Creative Zen Stone Plus is lighter than the competition, but is still larger than the new iPod Shuffle 2nd and 3rd generations. Unlike the shuffle, you can actually see your track names! The OLED screen is perfect for a player this size but does suck more power and shorten the battery life.

The controls are an improvement from the Zen nano days.While I didn't mind the toggle wheel, it has been replaced by intuitive buttons for the standard functions (select, up, down, play, pause, forward or reverse).There's a headphone jack, microphone hole, and a USB port.

Another change from the Zen nano days is the Lithium Ion battery, which gives you about 10 hours if your lucky.This is less versatile than the old battery operated unit, but more convenient.

What about sound? The sound is great, and it comes through in pure stereo. As usual, you will hear complaints about the earbuds. Most people replace their standard earbuds so I won't hold that against Creative.

The Zen Stone doesn't have larger storage options. For those needing more space, you will have to explore the Creative Zen, Sandisk Sansa or new iPod Nano.All of those units have higher price tags.
Creative Zen 4 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 8 GB (Black)
Creative Zen 16 GB (Black)
Sandisk SDMX4-4096 Sansa e260 4 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot
SanDisk SDMX4-8192 Sansa e280 8 GB MP3 Player (Black)
Apple 4 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Silver (3rd Generation)
Apple 8 GB iPod nano AAC/MP3 Player Black (3rd Generation)

This unit is ideal as a player and not for those who primarily want to use it for recording. The built-in microphone is nice for short reminders.

The price isn't a give-away, and the plastic case could be more durable.Still, this is a nice starter unit that can last you a while. Check it out.Enjoy!!!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red)

Product Description:
The ZEN Stone Plus is a tiny 2GB MP3 player available in six fun colors. It may fit in your pocket, but it's packed with features: built-in FM radio with 32 presets, stopwatch, countdown timer, clock, and even a voice recorder. All this and 500 of your favorite songs for you to take anywhere.


Fill this tiny, action-packed 2GB MP3 Player with up to 500 of your favorite songs and take it with you everywhere.

View 360 demo
Six hot colors!
Ultra-Portable MP3 Player
The ZEN Stone Plus weights less than an ounce, which means you can truly take it anywhere, in any pocket. It features 2 GB of flash memory, so you can put up to 500 of your favorite songs on the device. The Stone Plus supports MP3, WMA and Audible file formats, and its rechargeable Li-ion Polymer battery will give you up to 9.5 hours of playback. In a hurry? A 15-minute quick charge will give you 2 hours.
Songs Your Way
Pull out your CD collection and rip your albums. You can download Creative Media Lite to rip CDs, manage folders, transfer files and access other essential functions.
The Stone Plus is compatible with most online music stores. Log onto the Internet and browse different music services for the songs you don't have. Download your favorite songs without paying for the whole album.
Built-In FM Radio
When in the mood for something different, simply use the built-in FM radio. Set up to 32 station presets so you can catch up on the latest sports results or listen to your favorite talk show.
Keep Track of Time
The built-in stopwatch, countdown timer and clock give you everything you need for your workout.
Voice Recorder
Capture that thought when it hits you, or record lectures or meetings with the built-in microphone and voice recorder.
Protect Your Investment
Every Zen MP3 player includes a 1-year parts / 90-day labor warranty and 60 days of complimentary telephone support. By purchasing a Creative Care Protection Plan within the first 90 days of ownership, you can protect your investment by extending the hardware coverage and telephone support of your product to 2 years from your original purchase date.
What's in the Box?
ZEN Stone Plus, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Start guide.

Want to buy Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red) at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Centon 1GB USB 2.0 Digital MP3 WMA Player Voice Recorder Flash Drive Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This thing is awesomely loaded ... fm radio, voice recorder, mp3 playback, lyric display with .lrc files, multilanguage menus (including Trad and Simp Chinese, which is not on some of the other models? or was added to this model later?), multispeed playback (e.g. stretch an 1 min mp3 to 2 minutes or speed through in 30 secs) **BUT** operating it is not very intuitive and the documentation that comes with it is terrible.Centon has an on-line forum to ask questions, but I was not able to register in 3 attempts.Battery life is okay, at least 5 hrs on a rechargable AAA, I usually recharge before the indicator gets half empty.There is an annoying pause with a 'Please wait' message when you first start it up.Not sure how/if you can get the unit to play items in sorted by filename.There is a menu item for a Playlist, which uses A3L format files.I have no idea what that is but it is not plain text like .m3u.

If they would have thrown me a bone with the documentation (fix the forum or include a decent manual) or if it had an SD slot (it doesn't) I would have given it a 5 despite the boondongle operating procedures.

Oh yeah, the thing has a USB connector built-in (like a thumb drive), the cover comes off complete and is easily misplaced.You need to remove the USB cover and another cover to replace the battery, but meh no big deal.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Centon 1GB USB 2.0 Digital MP3 WMA Player Voice Recorder Flash Drive

Product Description:
CENTON MOVEX MP3 PMP 1GB (GREY) : 1GBMP3-001

Get 25% OFF

Want to buy Centon 1GB USB 2.0 Digital MP3 WMA Player Voice Recorder Flash Drive at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below:

Sony NWZB105FBLK 2GB Walkman MP3 Player (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am a complete novice to MP3 players, and only a little computer savvy. I have resisted the MP3 craze for a long time now because I am an old school audiophile and prefer "albums" to "tunes". But when my FM headphone unit I used for workouts at the gym crapped out on me, I decided to take the plunge, assuming they could be had with FM capability for the option of watching the TVs at the gym.

I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at how easy this Sony is to use, and how good it sounds. I did have to download an updated version of Windows Media Player, but once I did that even a tech dummy like me easily ripped my favorite CDs to my computer, and "sync-ed" the songs to the MP3 player.

And the sound is pretty good for a relatively cheap set of earbuds, with actual bass and good clarity. I'm not going to give up my multi-thousand dollar stereo anytime soon, but for car and gym use, it will do very well.

My only problem is finding an armband for it, seems any elastic armband with a small sleeve would work but I'm haven't found one yet.

[EDIT]I did find a cheap armband that looks promising, a Nextar MA-ASAB01. The Sony fits pretty snugly and is still accessible due to the clear plastic pouch of the Nextar.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sony NWZB105FBLK 2GB Walkman MP3 Player (Black)

Product Description:
The NWZ-B105FBLK Walkman MP3 player may be a featherweight, but it's packed with clever features that make it easy to manage and enjoy your music. An integrated USB plug lets you quickly fill the player's 2GB storage capacity with up to 950 MP3 or WMA music files, including music from Windows Media PlaysForSure subscription services. A built-in FM tuner lets you listen to your favorite radio stations, and the on-board microphone allows the player to double as a handy voice recorder. And as you expect from Sony, audio quality is superbly crisp, clear, and dynamic. Also available in white.2GB Built-in Memory
Store up to 950 songs on your Walkman MP3 Player and never be without your music again.
USB Direct Connect
Connect your Walkman player directly to your PC and easily transfer your music and charge your device without the need for additional cables.
MP3 and WMA Audio Codec Support
Supports playback of MP3 and WMA Audio files downloaded from multiple sources giving you options for downloading music the way you want.
Compatible with Secure Windows Media Audio
Compatible with Windows Media PlaysForSure music services, ensuring playback of digital music you purchase from a wide variety of sources.
3-Line Color LCD Display
Shows track, artist and album information.
FM Tuner with Record Function and 30 Station Presets
Record your favorite radio broadcasts using the built-in FM tuner with record function. Preset and listen to your favorite radio stations while on the go.
Voice Recording Function
The on-board microphone with voice recorder function lets you record personal notes and memos.
Up to 12 Hours of Battery Life
Gives you all-day enjoyment from your favorite music.
What's in the Box
NWZ-B105FBLK Walkman MP3 player, MDR-E804LP Headphones, MP3 Conversion Tool.

Want to buy Sony NWZB105FBLK 2GB Walkman MP3 Player (Black) at other amazon sites? Click the corresponding icon below: