Samsung Galaxy Player 4.0

Pros: The Galaxy Player 4.0 has stunning quality in audio, display, speed, reliability, convenience

Cons: NONE at all

Summary: The review above (CNET 05 Dec 2011) was most likely written by someone so driven by gurus' mantras and hearsays, that he remained blind and deaf to reality when "testing" the device. That is, if he ever really made the alleged test...

Personally I own a "Galaxy S WiFi 4.0" (the French name for the "Galaxy Player 4.0"). I have chosen, bought, owned, and long listened to, a lot of audio rendering systems and devices, including (mechanical) Gramophone in 1946, (high-end) HiFi in 1969, HTC HD2, and this Galaxy Player 4.0, dozens enclosures, with a couple of expensive yet bad ones, and many very inexpensive yet excellent ones. This "Galaxy Player 4.0", I am listening to it for hours daily, plugged on my current 2x10w Stereo system (sure very cheap, low power and clearly under HiFi, yet surprisingly good) including right now while writing. Please people don't remain influenced by the mantras like "audio on pocket devices cannot be good" and so on; this HAS BEEN right, but is no more. Yes the previous Samsung MP3 Players had very good quality audio, they were (with Philips) among the rare and early ones to offer REALLY usable speakers *and earphones* on pocket devices; yes this "Galaxy Player 4.0" clearly beats them on all counts; but NO, "careful listening will uncover the kind of background hiss we're accustomed to hearing from mobile phones" CANNOT be anything other than an INVENTION, written WITHOUT TESTING, just because it is common "thoughts". This "Galaxy Player 4.0" in facts is stunning by its audio quality, either through its tiny speaker, or through its earphones, or through enclosures; particularly its speaker clearly beats in audio quality the already excellent HD2. In particular, absolutely no hiss or lag or any tiniest such flaw. I played the "Galaxy Player 4.0" loud for test at McDo, I felt like immediately lowering the power, because the music was heard by everyone around, not at all because any problem with the audio quality, which is way above anything you would believe, and particularly above anything blind "I-know-all" would repeat everywhere.

The same could be said, just a little less stunning, about the (wonderful) display.

Also, this device is stunningly reactive. Swapping FM radio stations is INSTANT (and FM sensitivity is way above average, and without any parasite). Everything responds immediately, and RELIABLY, never failing or waiting, making for an extremely friendly and pleasant experience, and a device that you don't want to leave at home and that you ACTUALLY use HOURS DAILY. About everything is INTELLIGENTLY automatic (nothing in common with stupid MS-like automatisms) *and customizable*, everything is instant, never a single crash or reboot.

So I suspect the above "review" was written by someone who "tested" too routinely, without really listening or watching (and this is optimistic: to be honest I think no test at all took place).

Versailles, Mon 18 Jun 2012 15:15:00 +0200