I've got a secret hidden microphone...
Written: Apr 06 '04
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Pros: Memory size, easily operated, excellent sound quality
Cons: Old USB port (1.1 VS 2.0), pricey
The Bottom Line: One of the more costly units, but worth every penny
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| LaFeet's Full Review: iRiver iFP-195T (512 MB) MP3 Player |
Kids eat batteries, especially AA and AAA batteries. Never mind trying to get them to use rechargeables (they’re dead, I need juice now). I have enough trouble trying to understand teenage fashions and social issues.
Since my constant complaints about battery usage fell on deaf ears, I decided to take positive actions against this weekly expense. The girls use about twenty AA batteries a week (per girl, per cd player).
I decided to rid them of their battery hungry devices and introduce them to MP3 players. I tried this before, but they thought it was easier moving hard drive music to a cd than to a MP3 player. After they have realized that a MP3 player last nearly twice as long on half the battery power, they are converted.
I love WalMart, mainly because I love saving money. But I found an IRiver iFP-195T last month at a yard sale (still in the sealed package) for 20 dollars. It retailed for around 350 dollars last spring. You can now find it for aboout 250 on the net. Costly, yes, but worth it.
The iFP-195T was the first flash memory based player with 512MB of internal memory. I always said more RAM is MORE GOOD, and this little guy does the trick. I know you can get gigabyte MP3 players now…but who really needs three days of music in the same place? Besides, with the 512 meg, you can store more than eight hours of music on device the size of a cigarette lighter. As a bonus, the iFP-195T can be used as a generic USB storage device for videos, documents, and other data.
The iFP-195T utilizes iRiver's traditional triangular shape with the main controls on the top and front sides. On opposite ends are the battery compartment (one AA) and on the other, a USB port (with rubber cover), headphone jack, and a strap tab. Even someone with FAT FINGERED FREDDIE disease has no problem operating the controls. The small size fits nicely in your hand or your pocket.
You'll find the same outstanding interface, the same enormous menu system, the same exemplary sound quality, and the same healthy headphone amplifier.
The LCD has plenty to display and it's very easy to read. iRiver has included a microphone hole to allow record a messages, meetings or that someone saying that something they shouldn’t. I have made excellent use of this lately... and my daughters hate it.
A four way toggle controls track navigation. You can move from track to track or scan through a track by simply holding the toggle in the correct direction as long as needed. Accessing storage folders is also controlled in this manner.
Even with the large memory, the iFP-195T boots up quickly. In less than one second you have complete access to all your stored music. Sweet, sweet music is just a toggle away.
iRiver’s superb menu system should impress any and everyone out there. They have opted to include the following menu features:
Beep Sound Level: Off, 1, 2, 3, or 4
Resume
Fade In
Language: Afrikaans, Albania, Basque, Byelorussian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese (Simple and Traditional), Croatia, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Faeroese, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Serbian. Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian (This is not a joke.)
Voice Recording Mode: High, Mid, or Low Quality
Default: Restore factory defaults
Display
Backlight: Off, Button 1 On, Button 2 On, or Adapter and Button One
LCD Contrast
Visualization: Waveform, Progressive, or Free Space
Tag Information: On or Off
Timer
Sleep Power Off: Off or On (0-99 minutes)
Stop Power Off (1-60 minutes)
Fast Skip: Off, 10, and Directory
FF/RW Scan Speed: 1X, 2X, 4X, or 6X
Scroll Speed: 1X, 2X, or 4X; Vertical or Horizontal
Sound Balance
AGC: Automatic gain control for voice recordings
Auto Pause: On or Off
Repeat: One Track, Directory, Directory All, and All (any combination may be selected)
Shuffle: Shuffle, One Track, Directory, Directory All, and All (any combination may be selected)
Intro: Off , On, Highlight On
User EQ
Bass Boost: 0-18dB
Treble Boost: 0-6dB
The sound amplifier circuitry installed in the iFP-195T is one of the best available. Playback sound is crystal clear throughout the entire range, providing excellent fidelity. You can listen either with the supplied headphones (Sennheiser earbuds) or use your favorite pair. Sound reproduction via stereo or computer is also notably superb.
The really nice thing about this player is that it comes with a tuner for your favorite stations (FM that is). iRiver also included the ability to record from the radio directly onto the player.
Okay, let's talk battery life. With a Duracell, I can get almost 20 hours of use. With our rechargeables, about 14 hours. I figure I will save about 30 dollars a week by letting the kids have tis device and putting one of the battery charger s back in their room.
The one main area in need of improvement is the USB port. Using the 1.1 USB is not a good idea today. This USB version is too slow for the transfer of large amounts of data. I am sure that iRiver will bump up the USB port on newer models – I would.
I know that this is a MP3 player that is over a year old, and nearly obsolete. But I have found a jewel here. And I no longer need all those batteries.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250 (me 20 )
Recommended for: Music Lovers - High Capacity Storage for an Entire Album Collection
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Epinions.com ID:
LaFeet
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 - Top 500 |
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Member: Paule Patterson
Location: Cushing, Ok
Reviews written: 314
Trusted by: 36 members
About Me:
Retired Submariner, ex Air-Force Brat, current radiation protection tech, hiding in urban Oklahoma
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