Still, those other features are redeeming, and users looking for a gym companion will be quite pleased. The Zen Stone Plus includes a clock and stopwatch, as well as a superb FM tuner with an autoscan feature and 32 preset slots. Plus, Creative will be offering several fitness-friendly extras for the player including a silicone case with a built-in belt-clip ($14.99 for a three-pack), an armband ($14.99), and--my favorite--a wristband (also $14.99) that "doubles as a watchband for the clock and stopwatch." There's also a unique keychain accessory ($12.99), which is quite fitting for a player of this size.
Other onboard features include several playback settings, such as the ability to shuffle and repeat, either taking the folders into account or not. There are also five preset EQs (rock, jazz, classical, pop, and normal), a five-band custom EQ, and a bass boost function. The Zen Stone Plus even offers a built-in mic for voice recording, and it supports MP3, WMA (including purchased but not subscription tracks), M3U (playlists), and Audible files. You can transfer music either via drag-and-drop in Windows Explorer (the player works with Windows XP and Vista only) or through a Windows Media jukebox, such as Rhapsody or Windows Media Player.
Unsurprisingly, the Zen Stone Plus performs very well in the sound quality department. The included headphones sound passable but don't do the player much justice. I used our standard test 'buds (the Shure SE310), and results were much better. (For a cheaper sound-isolating option, try the V-Moda Bass Freq). Bass response is tight and the mids are rich and warm, yet the high-end is not overshadowed. The player offers nice, even sound overall, so all genres come off well.
Unfortunately, the Zen Stone Plus didn't perform quite so well with processor speed. The time between clicking the control pad and the next item in the menu being highlighted is painfully lagging--this can be a major annoyance. Luckily, this problem doesn't translate to skipping tracks or transferring tracks--both happen speedily. The rated battery life of 9.5 hours isn't impressive by any stretch--and CNET Labs test results of 9.2 hours matched that expectation--but considering the ultracompact size of the player, the short battery life is not much of a shock. It's a trade-off.
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- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 20 reviews
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"Good value for the money if you don't care about playback order."
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Where to buy
Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, black):
$47.79 - $58.85
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
|---|---|---|---|
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Amazon.com
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$47.79 | Yes |
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Next Warehouse
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$58.85 | No |
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$49.99 | Yes |
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Directron.com
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$52.98 | No |
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Costcentral.com
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$54.24 | Yes |
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