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CNET editors' buying advice
We have not reviewed this product but here is CNET's buying advice on MP3 players. This content was chosen based on the features included with this model of mp3 player.
Audio formats
The first format or codec to gain widespread acceptance was MP3, but there are now a variety of players on the market that support AAC, WMA, OGG, and other formats. This table will help you sort out the alphabet soup and determine which codecs you need in an MP3 player.
| AA | Audible, the format used by Audible.com, is designed for spoken audio content such as audiobooks and talk radio programs, including NPR. Many portable music players support AA. |
| AAC | Advanced Audio Coding, developed by Dolby Laboratories and best known as the format used in iPods. Apple and Real use their own DRM (digital rights management) technology to secure AAC downloads for iTunes and Real Rhapsody. The iPod is the solitary player that accepts copy-protected AAC files and only those from iTunes Music Store. |
| ATRAC3 | ATRAC3 and ATRAC3plus are lossy compression formats used by Sony and its squadron of Network Walkman MP3 and MiniDisc players. It is an efficient format that sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rates. This format is akin to WMA and AAC but is generally known as a dark horse, as it is used by only Sony-branded players. Music downloaded or streamed from Sony's Connect music store are ATRAC3 files. |
| FLAC | Free Lossless Audio Codec, an open-source format that uses a clever algorithm to preserve every 1 and 0 found in the uncompressed file. Though not widely implemented, lossless formats such as FLAC are popular with audiophiles who disdain "lossy" formats (MP3, WMA, and so on) that further compress files. |
| MP3 | Motion Pictures Experts Group Layer 3 is such a mouthful, it's no wonder the abbreviation has taken over. In fact, MP3 is the Kleenex of digital music--so common, it's become shorthand for all portable players whether they use this format, though nearly all do. The eMusic online music store and most file-sharing networks use MP3 |
| MP3Pro | The latest from Thomson/RCA (the company that licenses MP3 to manufacturers and developers), MP3Pro sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. However, it hasn't been widely adopted by manufacturers other than RCA |
| OGG | Ogg Vorbis is the underdog of this group. It sounds great, and because it is open source, there are no licensing fees when it's used to encode or play music--a fact that probably makes developers of other codecs a bit nervous. Although it's not as widespread as AAC, MP3, or WMA in players or online music services, OGG could gain traction as consumers grow more sophisticated in their digital audio usage and developers look for ways to cut down on licensing costs. |
| WAV/AIFF | This is uncompressed audio, like what you'd find on a standard audio CD. For the most part, WAVs are found on Windows machines, while AIFFs live on Macs. |
| WMA | Windows Media Audio, Microsoft's format, sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. Some WMA files include copy protection, but others do not (if you left the "Copy protect music" box checked under the Options menu in Windows Media Player you've been ripping copy-protected WMAs). Most players support WMA, and online music stores such as Napster, Yahoo Music, and Wal-Mart use secure WMA. |
Battery life
Our Personal Tech Radar survey found that our users view battery life as a critical factor. Most hard-drive-based players come with non-removable lithium ion batteries, which typically last two to four years. Many manufacturers have some sort of return/repair plan, so check the warranty policy before you buy (the typical replacement cost is about $100).
Flash and MP3 CD players are split between those using AA or AAA batteries and those with an internal rechargeable cell. Since flash players need to be synced more often and it's easy to recharge as you sync, flash players with rechargeable batteries are usually preferable. Generally speaking, the larger the player, the longer the battery life; but this isn't always the case, so be sure to read the battery-test results in our reviews before you pull out your wallet.
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WMA format
Windows Media Audio, Microsoft's format, sounds better than MP3 at the same bit rate. Some WMA files include copy protection, but others do not. Most non-iPod players support WMA, and some online music stores still use the secure WMA format (although the trend is changing toward sales of MP3 files).
MP3 format
Motion Pictures Experts Group Layer 3 is such a mouthful, it's no wonder the abbreviation has taken over. In fact, MP3 is the Kleenex of digital music--so common, it's become shorthand for all portable players whether they use this format or not, though nearly all do. After a long and frustrating war between competing file formats, most online music stores are now selling their music downloads as MP3 files, including Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, and Napster.
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CNET product brief
Description: The Coby MP-C582 is a 1 GB, flash player.Compared to other flash MP3 players on the market, it is very inexpensive at around $25.
Pros: Has a 90 dB signal-to-noise ratio, which is considerably more favorable than some similarly priced MP3 players.By way of comparison, the average cost of a product with this favorable a signal-to-noise ratio is $70.(Signal-to-noise ratio is a measure of the strength of the audio signal in comparison to that of the background noise.A lower signal-to-noise ratio means that the device produces more hiss and static, while a higher number (closer to 100) means clear-sounding audio.)
Cons: None noted, given available product data.
Suitability: A flash MP3 player, suited for bringing quite a few songs with you.According to the manufacturer this player will last approximately 5 hour(s) between charges; your run-time will vary based on use and power management configuration.
Value: In view of its very inexpensive price, this MP3 player has great features for the money.
Suggestions: Audiophiles may wish to buy aftermarket headphones for better sound reproduction.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.
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