Two is better than One.
Written: Jul 26 '04 (Updated Sep 14 '04)
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Pros: I like the Philips Key MP3 Player so much I bought two.
Cons: Not for the ones who want to see a display.
The Bottom Line: If you are looking for a 256 MB player, consider the option of getting one Philips KEY005 and one KEY006 Player.
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| eddiey18's Full Review: Philips KEY006 (128 MB) MP3 Player |
I like the Philips KEY005 MP3 Player so much that I decided to get another one.
Please read my review on Philips KEY005.
http://www.epinions.com/content_146169433732
Since the Philips KEY005 and Philips KEY006 are identical except Philips KEY006 has the control integrated into the necklace, I went ahead and got the Philips KEY006 instead. So everything I like about the Philips KEY005 holds true for the Philips KEY006. I was not going to write about 2 identical products but I thought this Philips KEY006 does have few advantages over the Philips KEY005.
The Philips KEY005 is a good product and has advantage over the Philips KEY006 of being carried in varies ways instead of just hanging the MP3 on the neck. However, if you like to hang your MP3 player on your neck, this Philips KEY006 is better choice. There is less wires to tangle and easier and faster to put on.
This review is going to concentrate on the necklace as this is the only difference between the 2 products. The necklace has the control built in. The main-control which starts and stop/pause the player is on a plastic piece joining the necklace together. The main-control piece has a string loop that ties to the body of the MP3 player. Next to it is a short electrical wire that connects the MP3 player to the necklace. At the opposite end of the main-control there is another back plastic piece. It is located at the top of the necklace. The position of this piece would be at the back of your neck when you put on the necklace. There is a receptacle on it and it is for the headset to be plugged in. The head set forms more of a V than a Y with a plug that joins left and right ear phones. It is about 15 inches long. It is short and just the right length to lay it on your shoulders when you unplugged ear phones from your ears.
The main-control button on the Philips KEY006 is easier to locate and operate than the one on the Philips KEY005. The volume increase and decrease controls are on the left side of the necklace. The forward and backward controls are on the right side of the necklace. The controls are rubber buttons on a fabric necklace. They are orange color on a back necklace, very easy to locate. However there is not much feel to the button when they are pressed but the MP3 player response to the buttons well.
In order to make the necklaces interchangable to the MP3 players, I need to do a little modification to the players and necklaces. I went to a local hobby shop and got some “O-rings” and “Lobster-claws”. These are the little hardware that girls use to make necklaces and bracelets. I added one O-ring to each MP3 Player and added the one Lobster-claw to each of the string that used to connect directly to the MP3 players. Now, I can carry either necklace/control and can switch MP3 players. The addition of the O-ring and Lobster-claws did present a little problem on the Philips KEY006 necklace. The extra length of the Philips KEY006 necklace caused the electrical wire that connects the MP3 and the necklace to carry the weight of the MP3. I do not want to put stress on this connection and it is difficult to increase the wire to match the string, so I shorten the string. It was actually quite simple. All I did was tie a knot just above the Lobster-claw on the string. Now both the string and the electric wire are of the right length again.
I priced some MP3 players with 256MB memory and they cost more than both of my 128 MB MP3 players. Most new MP3 players have displays but I never use it and do not miss it. What I gain is versatility. I now have my 2 favorite artists on each of the MP3 Players. I can swap them with ease. I also have an extra head-set and two sets of control/necklace.
If you are looking for a simple MP3 player that looks good and function well, get the Philips KEY005 but if you don’t mind wearing the MP3 player on the neck only, get the Philips KEY006. I would recommend anyone to get both if they don’t mind that there is no display on sound tracks.
One last tip, the enclose Musicmatch Jukebox Software is not bad. Philip included this software in version 7.1. It can be updated to 8.2 via the web. It did take me a while to figure how to convert my CD music into MP3 format. The convert option did not work. I could not make the program convert CD music into MP3 format. However, the record option can change the CD into MP3 format and record on your hard drive. Just go the the Options and then Recorder. Change the Settings to MP3 and CD can now be recorded in MP3 format. Once you converted/recorded your music, it is just a click and drag operation to get music onto the MP3 players. The Computer looks at this Philips MP3 player as another hard drive.
Update (8/03/2004)
Musicmatch Jukebox version 9.0 is available. You can use the Recorder option and the COPY on the left to change CD into MP3 or Wave formats. It can be download via CNET.
http://www.download.com/Musicmatch-Jukebox/3000-2167-10020670.html
Update (09/14/2004)
Ripping CD into MP3 or WMA format.
Forget using the Musicmatch program; just use the Window Media Player Vision 10. It out performs the Musicmatch Jukebox program that I was using. It rips a song in about 15 seconds. It is very easy to use and it is also FREE.
If you need a MP3 with larger capacity, take a look at the Philips HDD120. http://www.epinions.com/content_155061685892
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 60
Recommended for: Athletes - Lightweight and Portable, Perfect for the Gym
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Epinions.com ID:
eddiey18
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Member: Edward Yee
Location: Southern California
Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 1 member
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