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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 68 reviews
- See all user reviews
Product summary
The good: Big on features and extras; 128MB of expandable memory; attractive design; Mac compatible.
The bad: Fades in at the start of every song; doesn't play loudly enough; somewhat pricey.
The bottom line: The YP-700 is the ideal flash-based player for those seeking high-end looks, as well as extensive features and extras.
Specifications: Device type: Digital player ; Flash memory installed: 128 MB ; Digital player supported digital audio standards: MP3 , WMA , ADPCM ; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 08/08/2002
- Updated on: 10/29/2002
Design
The first word that comes to mind when you pull the YP-700H out of its box is elegant. The player's uncluttered layout and solid, metal construction lend it an air of sophistication that sets it apart from many of its competitors. At 2.1 by 3.4 by 0.6 inches and 3.4 ounces, this rectangular unit easily fits in your palm and won't weigh down your pocket.
A small, backlit display on the unit's front shows you just about everything that you need to know, including the ID3 tags, the remaining battery life, and the current EQ setting. Five buttons--the most prominent of which is a sturdy jog dial for Power, Play, Pause, and Song Skip--adorn the YP-700H's slightly curvaceous side and control most functions. Besides that jog dial, there are two volume buttons, a Mode switch, and a Record button for capturing voice memos with the built-in internal mike. The USB port is hidden behind a small flip-out door, something we always like to see. There's also a Hold switch and a SmartMedia card slot, which will allow you to expand the YP-700H well beyond the onboard 128MB of memory.
Features/connectivity
The YP-700H connects to your PC or
Mac via USB 1.1. Although Samsung includes its YEPP Audio Manager software for Windows, Mac users will have to download and install iTunes 1.1 or higher. Transferring songs using Samsung's software is a mostly painless affair, although it doesn't offer a native drag-and-drop interface. (Mac users, on the other hand, can drag and drop songs with iTunes.) However, the bundled software offers the nifty 2X MP3 feature, which allows you to compress your files even more, although this results in slightly degraded sound quality.
The YP-700H delivers an impressive array of features, most of which are accessible via the aforementioned Mode button. Holding down that button brings up a list of choices, such as the usual assortment of Random and Repeat modes; nine EQ settings, including a user-definable option; the ability to adjust the brightness, the contrast, and the scrolling speed of the display as well as edit the logo; and the capacity to create and access playlists. In addition, you can also delete songs or format the SmartMedia card on the fly, which could come in handy if you need to quickly clear space for recording voice memos or lectures.
In terms of extras, there's also a whole lot to like. Not only does Samsung include a rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride battery and a charger, the company also gives you a cylindrical, external battery pack, which hooks into the YP-700H's side and takes a single AAA cell. We were also grateful to see a good-looking, gray-suede case that snugly houses the unit and the battery pack, and it clips on to your belt for outdoor activities. The clip-on, in-line remote is also a godsend; it has its own backlit display and allows you to control most of the basic playback and navigation functions. Lastly, there's an FM radio with five presets, which oddly enough is accessible from only from the remote control and not the unit itself.
Performance
When it comes to sound quality, we have no complaints, as all of our MP3s and WMAs sounded crisp and clear over the included so-so earbuds, with the extensive array of EQ options and bass boosts clearly having a positive effect. We were also happy to discover that this Samsung has a Resume mode, so we could pick up listening right where we left off when we powered down the unit.
Alas, all was not perfect. For starters, the YP-700H fades into songs, meaning that you miss the first few seconds of every tune. This may not annoy you as much as it bugged us, but we feel obligated to mention it. Our other gripe had to do with the YEPP's maximum volume level; the unit doesn't play loudly enough to drown out many of the noises that you'll encounter in urban areas. Again, this problem may not affect or bother you, but it's certainly worth noting if you'll be using the YP-700H while taking public transportation or walking in a city.
Using both the rechargeable battery and the extra pack, we got about 15 hours of battery life, contrary to Samsung's claim of 20 hours. That's about average when compared to similar products.
Value
At $299 (list), the YP-700H costs about $100 more than most of its 128MB competitors, such as and . While we think that $300 is a lot of money to pay for a flash-based player of any sort, the extra cash will get you a handsome MP3 player that has all the bells and whistles you can handle.
User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 68 reviews
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