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Entered CNET Catalog: 02/05/2004
SKU: 0054651070127
Manufacturer: Creative Labs
Manufacturer description
MuVo TX is an ultra-light, high-performance Digital Audio Player with super fast USB 2.0 that lets you enjoy hours of WMA or MP3 digital music anywhere. Offered with 128MB, 256MB or 512MB of built-in flash memory, MuVo TX is equipped with super fast USB 2.0, so now you can transfer music and data up to 40x faster than conventional USB 1.1. And, because it gives you skip free playback, it is designed for flawless performance during exercise and other rigorous activity. Simply attach MuVo TX to any PC or notebook with the built-in USB 2.0 connector and drag-and-drop your music files to your MuVo TX in lightning fast speed. You can also use it to carry documents, photos and any other data files between computers at home, work or on the road. Use the handy built-in mic to record up to 32 hours of voice messages, notes and conversations. Plus the high-resolution backlit LCD provides full track information (ID3 tags), access to custom settings and allows easy folder navigation with the convenient rocker button. Load it, snap it and go!Product summary
The good: Cool design; 512MB of storage; USB 2.0; comes with armband and belt clip; great sound; easy to use.
The bad: Expensive; no FM tuner; tiny screen.
The bottom line: Though an appealing USB key/audio player hybrid, Creative's latest MuVo is no iPod Mini.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 06/29/2004
The MuVo TX, which is the same size and weight as the 1.5-by-2.9-by-0.6-inch NX, resembles a Zippo lighter with an LCD screen and buttons. Missing from the TX package is the snazzy red spare battery module that was included with the NX. Also unfortunate is the absence of a USB extender cable, which would be handy for those with overcrowded or inconveniently located USB ports. However, Creative now provides a cleverly designed holster that can clip to your belt or an included armband--an ideal accessory for working out, jogging, or even just walking around. There's also an eye hook if you prefer to use a lanyard.
Despite the player's diminutive size, the TX's 96x32-pixel backlit LCD is crisp and easy to read. It shows basic ID3-tag info, elapsed time, playback settings (such as shuffle and repeat), and a battery gauge. Like the MuVo NX, the TX is a snap to operate, thanks to its minimalist controls: volume buttons, a play/pause/power button, and a track-skip/menu-navigation jog dial.
The TX isn't feature packed, but it can record up to 32 hours of low-quality mono voice memos on the 512MB model--that is, if you don't store anything else on it. The standard MuVo five-band equalizer is present as well, offering Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Classical presets, plus a user-defined mode. Regrettably, the device lacks an FM tuner or a recorder.
To copy files to the TX, you separate the "key" from its charcoal-gray battery pack and plug it into a USB port. You can either drag and drop files in Windows Explorer or use Creative's surprisingly good MediaSource application to create playlists, rip CDs, and copy files. As with other MuVos we've tested, the TX's 90dB signal-to-noise ratio resulted in clean, full audio playback. But you'll probably want to ditch Creative's flat-sounding, foam-padded earbuds.
The TX fared well in our transfer tests; thanks to a USB 2.0 connection, tunes traveled at a speedy 1.6MB per second. Battery drain tests also provided positive results, with the player lasting more than 18 hours.
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User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9out of 9 user reviews
On my second one, still love it
Pros: small, rugged, good sound, good battery life, great value
Cons: Can't sort songs easily
out of 9 user reviews
Very user friendly and nice portable flash drive
Pros: Small size, very easy to cycle through menus, runs on one AAAbattery
Cons: very small and easy to misplace
out of 9 user reviews
Decent MP3 Player
Pros: USB 2.0; Compact Design
Cons: Navigation; battery life
out of 9 user reviews
Why buy Shuffle (sorry Apple)
Pros: Screen (small but at least TX has one). Small and light. Very easy to learn and well laid-out controls. Works as a hard-drive. No cable needed to sync with the computer. No software needed to sync with the computer. Accepts AAA batteries.
Cons: Not as sexy as Apple's Shuffle. Why no 1GB version. Cheap headphones. During playback, display doesn't show artist or album info, only song title.
out of 9 user reviews
Simplicity an asset
Pros: This is a simple player that does one thing and does it well. Assets: Doesn't require cables, takes MP3 and WMA files, tiny!, uses one single AAA batery so it's easy to replace on the fly, earphones are actually o.k., includes a useful belt clip and armb
Cons: Yeah, no FM receiver except on the more expensive TX FM model. Earphones could be better (no foam please). Other than that, I'm loving it!
out of 9 user reviews
Great Sound, Easy To Use
Pros: great for jogging and riding. Plenty of storage (over 8 hours of mp3's). Cured my acne and made my sex life better!
Cons: random play generator not that random, only scrolls track title, not artist.
out of 9 user reviews
One of the coolest and most useful device you can get
Pros: This device is like the ultimate device to carry in your pocket, not only is it lightweight, Creative managed to squeese in a usb head, so you can directly access it with out annoying cables, a EQ, which you can adjust to you personal needs, 128mb/256mb/5
Cons: I personally find nothing wrong that will make a big deal about the player. The sounds good, the bass can be adjusted with new headphones and the EQ, good styling and overall compact size. You can just say that in the future, they won't need to make mp3
out of 9 user reviews
very good design, in many ways
Pros: small size good display (for what it is) armband! standard FAT16 filesystem good audio 'OK' gui (usable, almost good)
Cons: price is too high units should go to 512 (to start) and go to a few gig. the 512 model should break $100. THEN it will attract a bigger slice of the aud.
out of 9 user reviews
Great workout player
Pros: Small, sounds great, supports DRM files and has USB 2.0
Cons: no flash expandable memory, easy to misplace, not really feature packed, your girlfrind thinks its "cute"
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