The menus on the device are a cinch to navigate, and you can browse your music via ID3 tags. The Insignia Sport supports playlists transferred via Windows Media Player, but you can't create them on the fly, which is a bummer. The FM tuner supports 20 presets and is reasonably strong, despite having a tough time with fringe stations. Conspicuously missing is the ability to make voice and FM recordings, though I like the A-B repeat option (for looping sections of a track), which is handy for learning music, lyrics, and languages.
The Insignia Sport doesn't require a software install and works with any MTP-enabled jukebox software, including WMP 11, or you can select File & Folder mode to use it with Macs. It can play MP3s and WMAs as well as protected downloaded and subscription content from online stores such as Napster and Rhapsody (not iTunes), though the player is designed to integrate best with Best Buy's version of Rhapsody.
The sound quality is better than I expected, and the included earbuds are adequate, but I'm definitely not a fan of the asymmetrical cables. I swapped out the included buds for Creative Zen Aurvanas and got far better sound, especially on music with a wide dynamic range like acoustic jazz and classical. Hip-hop and R&B definitely benefited from the custom 5-band equalizer, which is more effective than the handful of EQ presets. The battery pack is rated for 18 hours of music playback per charge.
What You'll Pay
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