MP3 Players

[Soruk]

SPECS
TYPE - Zen X-Fi2
Capacity - 8GB
DATE - September 2009
PRICE - £99.99
COUNTRY - United Kingdom
ACCESSORIES - None.

SOUND QUALITY - Can't fault it.
USER INTERFACE - (1) Volume could be easier to get to, (2) MicroSD handling is really bad (see below)
SOME COMMENTS - If they gave it back the original X-Fi's SD card handling this would probably be the best player I've ever used.
SUGGESTIONS - Ogg Vorbis support
BATTERY LIFE - Haven't flattened it yet

The original Zen X-Fi had a very basic file browser for accessing the SD card content. It was basic, but it worked well. The X-Fi2 insists on rebuilding the card's library EVERY TIME I go into any category on the card menu. This is INSANE. It takes 30 seconds to rebuild the library when 7 video files are present *and nothing else*, and when I had 62 20-minute XviD video files on an 8GB MicroSD card, I hit the reset button after waiting for over an HOUR.

But aside from that, the picture quality is good and the sound quality from the machine is fantastic.

Edit 2009-11-14: The new firmware release 1.02.03 fixes the MicroSD issue described above.

[Lazerfingers]

• XFi 2
• 8G
• 10/02/2009
• $129
• USA
• Sound Quality is fantastic
• User Interface is a little sluggish, touch screen unsensitive
• I like my new XFi 2 but the lack of Linux (Ubuntu) support has me stuck with the oldest version of your firmware so I'm not getting the best possible performance from my player
• Please add Linux support!!!
• Battery Life is excelent, no complaints there

[babya]

Specs:

Type- ZEN Neeon 

Capacity-6GB

Date-early August 2009

Price-$20 from Cash Converters

Country-Australia

Accessories-none

Sound quality-great, has custom EQ

User interface-easy to navigate, uncluttered

Some comments-nice microdrive based player

Suggestions-would like a flash player with similar styling 

Battery life-fine for my needs

[9lives]

TYPE - Zen X-Fi2
Capacity - 32GB
DATE - October 2009
PRICE - €199
COUNTRY - Ireland

SOUND QUALITY - Very good with X-Fi switched on. 
USER INTERFACE - I've never used touch-screen before but I'll probably get use to it.  However having to press several times to lower or mute the sound is ridiculous.  Scrolling through lists (bands, albums, tracks) is not particularly easy and I've often clicked accidentally when I was just trying to scroll.  But the interface looks very pretty. 
OTHER COMMENTS - I am using firmware 1.00.10.  The headphones are pretty good. 

BATTERY LIFE - Probably only had it on for about 20 minutes in a week 

This is my fifth Creative player in six years but if this experience is anything to go by I might not be adding to the list.  

Firstly, the firmware limit of 8000 tracks has caught me out.  I've been holding off on buying a new player for a year because I was waiting for a 64GB flash device.  Eventually I decided to reduce the bitsize of my 40GB collection to a uniform 96kbps in the knowledge that the X-Fi feature would improve the sound.  While it did, I found that over 1000 of my 9000+ tracks could not be seen.  Call me ignorant but I always thought the stated specifications (8000 tracks @ 128kbps with average track time of 4 mins) were just a guide and not a ceiling.  When selling you a 32GB player this information is not made very clear. 

Secondly, is the video.  I converted an avi (that plays perfectly on my PC) to the right size/format for the player, transferred it up and then watched it freeze and skip frames. Nosing around the forums I found that a number of people are reporting this. 

Thirdly, every time I make the slightest change to the content of the player via a file browser it rebuilds the library on restart.  This usually lasts for several minutes. 

Fourthly, I put the player in my empty fleece coat jacket while I walked to the store.  When I came back I could already see a couple of little scuff marks on the screen - the only time anything could have come in contact with it was the couple of minutes I put the headphones in there while I was dealing with the shop assistant.  I can't imagine what the screen will look like in a month.  Yes, I could buy a screen protector but I spent enough money on this thing that the screen should stay scuff-free in a large empty polyester pocket. 

Finally, and what is even worse, I have had no response from Creative Support in 5 days in spite of average response time being 1 day, apparently.  

Another small point - when using Mediamonkey to upload Playlists (something that worked fine with the Vision M) it seemed that they were not displaying on the player.  What actually seems to have happened is that they are transferred to a folder called "Playlists" rather than the one the player recognises which is "Playlist".  So once I moved it and re-started the player (and waited about 4 minutes for the library to rebuild) it worked fine. 

I'm not moaning for the sake of it - I loved the Zen Xtra, Touch and Vision M but thus far I'm finding this to be a bugged, unpolished player and the worst Creative one I've used.

[bmet]

SPECS
TYPE - TYPE X-Fi2
Capacity - 8 GB
DATE - 10-27-09
PRICE - $129 US
COUNTRY - USA
ACCESSORIES - Leather Pouch / AV cable

SOUND QUALITY - Altho good, the differences that the X -Fi makes can go from excellent to terrible depending on the generation of music selected. I wish there were buttons on the screen to change the EQ preset on the fly.

USER INTERFACE - Touchscreen is worse than my 3 year old Palm Treo. No matter how many times I use the Calibrate control, there is a very narrow strip to scroll up and down, and I miss it three-fourths of the time. 

SOME COMMENTS - I can't adjust the time, only the Alarm. WTF!!

SUGGESTIONS -

1). How about a loudness control? What is up with the EQ step at 250Hz?  That is a terrrible high-bass frequency to be emphasizing. Personally, the presets built into my Creative Nomad IIc sound better. WDUFIU?

2). RADIO - What an example of a Tuner done wrong!! 

a) In this modern day, why can't we get the digital information that cheap car radios display?

b) Would be nice if one could change EQ presets on the fly while listening to the radio.  (WHY DOES the FM TUner have to be turned off to access EQ?)

c) The linear access required to change to specific station is annoying. We should be able to just 'punch' a preset to the station we want, instead of being forced to scroll linearly thro all the numbers. There's certainly enough room on the screen to list preset numbers without having to go to sub-menu.

d) The radio has good sound, but no Stereo/Mono switch. The automatic circuit doesn't always make the right choice, and that's when the X-Fi drills my ears with white noise!

3).  VIDEO

a)  Creative states that .avi files are supported, but the Creative Central application doesn't 'see' them unless specifically pointed to them. What an inconvenience!.  The application interface should be able to show 'all files' in any folder without having to have it added in the preferences.

b) Even when Creative Central app does see .avi files, and transfers them over to the player, the X-Fi2 DOES NOT play the sound from the .avi file.

c) Transfer is very, very slow, and yes, my pc only has usb 2.0 ports.

BATTERY LIFE - Not sure, since I plan on returning it.

I am starting this thread because people in this forums see only the bad side of Creative MP3 players.

I never had trouble with my two previous Creative products. Creative's Internet Advertising made it appear as tho the X-Fi2 could be the ultimate media player, but I am so disapppointed in it .  My $40 Slyvania multi-media player (from Big Lots) is easier to use, and faster to transfer files.

Oddly, I paid the same price for my Nomad IIc back in 2003, and it's audio playback is simpler, the quality is great, and the presets sound better than the X-Fi2. The Nomad also has a bass and treble adjustment that this new unit lacks. I guess I'll just have to live with my two hour limit of music for now, cause this techno-blunder is going back.

[rphunt2002]

TYPE - Zen X-Fi2

CAPACITY - 32GB

DATE - 10/20/2009

PRICE - $229

COUNTRY - USA

ACCESSORIES - AV cable

SOUND QUALITY -

Sounds very good, better than the Zen

VIDEO QUALITY -

Very nice once you get videos to work. Crisp, bright, and good color.

TOUCH INTERFACE -

Takes some practice and getting used to. It gets confused or ignores certain gestures at times, so it's a bit inconsistent. A light touch doesn't work, so it may seem unresponsive at first. The touch calibration definitely helps. However, I also found that if you rearrange the icons in the main screen, response becomes extremely bad. Resetting the menu fixed that.

Of course keep in mind that a touch interface means you have to look at it when using it, and requires 2 hands much of the time (a problem when holding an umbrella). The original Zen could often be operated for Volume,  Pause, Skip, and Power  when still in my pocket.

SYSTEM INTERFACE -

It takes 3 steps to change volume, which is a pain. When unlocking it, an extra step involving dragging an icon is required, so getting back to the display is unnecessarily difficult. When music is playing, the album cover is shown in half the display, there's no option to disable that.

SOFTWARE -

Creative Central is useless, I don't see any reason to install it. It offers nothing that windows doesn't, execpt video encoding, but that is extremely slow and unreliable. Not even for drivers, those seem to install automatically from the player.

LOADING AUDIO -

I just drag and drop of MP3s, so it's very easy. There seem to be issues with album names and album art. For album names it kight help to use MP3Tag software (Google it) to check ID3 data. Also, for album art, use MP3Tag to "embed" the art into the tags.  I believe there is another post on this forum explaining that. For some reason there are times when album tracks get doubled. Not sure why.

LOADING VIDEO -

Again I just drag and drop. The real hassle here is that the X-Fi2 seems extremely fussy about the vdeo format. 90% of the time, the sound or picture will be messed up, or the format won't be recognized at all.

Without using Centrale, I haven't found a WMV setting it will recognize. Same for Divx.

But for Xvid, Handbrake seems to do well most of the time, if you get the settings just right. And it looks really good. I'm able to transfer from DVDs or even YouTube.  Unfortunately I had to spend a lot of time trying 6 different encoders to figure this out.

LOADING PHOTOS -

Some JPGs are not recognized, not sure why.

AV OUPUT -

This works pretty good, but it defaults to PAL.

SUGGESTIONS - 

Make the volume easier to change (maybe even a doucle-click of the Menu button to alternate loud and soft).

Eliminate the icon drag needed when unlocking.

Fix the quirkiness of video format compatibility, and publish what settings will work for various formats.

Fix the album track doubling problem.

Publish how to include album art.

Make some themes that use black text, instead of white.

OVERALL -

In many ways I like it, it sounds and looks very good.

But in many ways it's aggravating, when loading audio and video, and with the issues of the interface.

This is all fine for someone who likes to hack and fiddle with stuff like this, but I could never recommend the X-Fi2 for the average user.

I have hopes it will be improved via firmware, I just hope Creative continues working on that.

[Linda613]

SPECS
TYPE - Zen

Capacity - 4gb
DATE - June 2009
PRICE - $79.00

COUNTRY -USA

MOOD:  Definitely unhappy

The original MP3 player lasted 5 weeks.  It froze in the middle of an audio file.  The customer service reps were nice enough to send me a replacement right away.  The replacement MP3 player lasted 6 weeks.   Same problem ... it's frozen shut.   I have contacted customer support several times, and the last reply I received told me to return the unit to the vendor.  Well, Wal-Mart is smarter than that.  They don't accept returns on electronic items.  Therefore, the burden is on the customer to deal with the manufacturer. 

I took great care of the MP3 player.  It was never dropped or bumped or left in the elements.  At this point, I think Creative must be tryng to wear me down.  And they just might win.  

[Green7izard]

Type: Zen V plus

Capacity: 2GB

Date: Month: 12     Day:05       Year: 2005

Price: €100-€170

Country: Netherlands (Western Europe)

It is a great player, never had difficulties with it. But now its falling apart

Rows of pixels(horizontal) are failing (sometimes, now 3 rows), but it still works good.

I love it, would even a new one if they were still on the market(or an ordinary Zen V),

 because i love the simplicity of the controls, its easy to acces everything.

And the sound is perfect. But i can't buy them anymore over here sadly.

So: Screw Ipod, I want CREATIVE

I dont want touchscreen or a metal cassing, the only thing i want is a MP3

with high quality sound, that is easy to control(and be able to see a list

of songs and what your playing on the moment). Creative Zen V ROCKS!

[psykho]

SPECS TYPE - Zen

Capacity - 4gb

DATE - Nov 2007

PRICE - $180.00

COUNTRY - PHILIPPINES

MOOD: Definitely SAD and unhappy

The MP3 player lasted about a year. It went dead in the middle of an audio file. I though the battery went empty. So when i got home, i charge it, after the charging is done, i open it, it goes into "rebuilding". I try everything, format, clean... but it doest work, it always stuck in "rebuilding'. I bring it to there affiliated technical service center but they dont even know whats the problem is. I emailed their customer support and the reply is that it was a hardware problem and they advice me to buy a new one. It so sad to hear coz i believe in the product and i love it a lot but it didnt last that long. And im using my headphone collection with it. I have an old MP3 player (taiwan based motherboard brand) also flash based, run in 2 AAA bought it 2006, it's still alive and kicking. Hope CREATIVE will address this issue.

[ab6oj]

DEc 1, 2009

SPECS
TYPE - Zen X-FI2
Capacity - 16GB
DATE - Nov. 28, 2009
PRICE - $179.00n+ Tax
COUNTRY -California
ACCESSORIES - NONE(

SOUND QUALITY - Sound Quality is better.

                              FM radio makes a better stereo split.
Use interface -I like this touch pad and the menu dispaly now. fast control. No navigation around.
SUGGESTIONS - Volume control:  Too Hard!!!!

                                                     Can this be done by touching the up/down arrow instead of a slide..

                                                     May need a UP/Down arrows some where.

                         Centrale : same story all the time. Is some really working on this ?

                          This EXPERIANCE category of forum:   Staking the post maybe better than QUEing sothat the last (most recent)

                                                      message shows first..
BATTERY LIFE - I don't know now yet since it is new. so far so good.. The battery indicator stays longer than V-plus, X-fi.I had V-plus,X-FI before.