James Kim,
June 7, 2006
Here are the six portable media devices used in CNET's MP3 and portable video player picture-quality shoot-out. Ranked from best to worst in terms of overall image and video quality, as well as the wide variances in display size (from the Samsung's 1.8-inch screen to the Archos AV500's 4-incher), these players represent a mix of the best and/or most popular MP3 players or PVPs on the market. Find out more details about the final results.
| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Check Prices | Check Prices | $430.00 to $679.00 | Check Prices | $147.99 to $499.37 | $344.99 to $489.99 |
| CNET editors' rating |
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| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | November 11, 2005 | February 01, 2006 | January 26, 2006 | March 30, 2006 | October 20, 2005 | October 04, 2005 |
| The Bottom Line | The well-appointed Archos AV500 puts wide-screen video in your pocket, but we're still waiting for a point-and-click way to get video into the device. | The Cowon A2 is a sleek portable video player with a bright, wide-screen color LCD, as well as full multimedia recording and playback capabilities, but it's not the most efficient device. Plus, it's in desperate need of Windows Media DRM 10 (Janus) compatibility. | The dazzling, DRM-friendly Creative Zen Vision:M gives the iPod a run for the money as the current high-capacity WMA champ. | If your idea of the ideal MP3 player is one that packs in every feature in the book, including a 2-megapixel camera, take a long look at the Samsung YP-D1--just keep in mind it maxes out at 2GB. | Get the affordable, sleek, and sexy 5G Apple iPod for its audio virtues. Although video looks great, poor video battery life and a relatively small screen hamper its appeal to video heads. | The Creative Zen Vision, a dazzling but occasionally frustrating personal media player, handles video and music with aplomb, all for a tantalizingly low price. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Hard drive |
30 GB |
20 GB |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
30 GB |
| Weight |
9 oz |
10.5 oz |
5.7 oz |
2.1 oz |
4.8 oz |
8.4 oz |
| Height |
3 in |
3.1 in |
4.1 in |
3.3 in |
4.1 in |
2.9 in |
| Depth |
0.7 in |
0.9 in |
0.7 in |
0.7 in |
0.4 in |
0.8 in |
| Width |
4.9 in |
5.2 in |
2.4 in |
1.8 in |
2.4 in |
4.9 in |
| Display type |
LCD 4 in - Color |
TFT 4 in - Color |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
LCD 3.7 in - Color |
| Sound effects | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
Bass Boost |
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