Oakley Thump (128MB, Rootbeer)

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CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
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Product summary

The good: Great sound; excellent earpiece design; USB 2.0; plays DRM-protected WMAs; rechargeable battery; they're sunglasses!

The bad The bad: Stiff and awkward controls; shockingly expensive; cheap plastic feel; so-so battery life.

The bottom line: If you can afford it, the Thump is just about the coolest thing you can put over your eyes and ears.

Specifications: Device type: Flash player; Flash memory installed: 128 MB; Digital player supported digital audio standards: WMA, WAV, MP3; ; See full specs

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CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Rick Broida
Edited by: Jasmine France
Reviewed on: 11/02/2004
Updated on: 02/15/2006
Released on: 11/01/2004

We've seen audio players built into headphones and we've seen audio players built into pendants. The Oakley Thump is the first audio player we've seen that's built into sunglasses--and we hope it's not the last. Though it's priced like a high-end iPod and designed more for function than fashion, we can't help loving these shades, which feature UV protection and impact resistance. You will, too, especially if you enjoy spending time outdoors.

The very idea behind the Thump's design is ingenious, but the execution is mixed. For starters, we were pleased to find that we could wear them over regular eyeglasses, though obviously it felt a little weird. With or without glasses, the Thump fits snugly enough that you can exercise without fear of them bouncing around or flying off your head. Plus, there isn't a cord to get in the way.

The earbuds are highly adjustable and are able to raise, rotate, and extend to fit just about any set of ears. Although they're not padded, we found them to be much more comfortable than most earbuds because they don't have to be mashed into your ears to stay put. We also liked the flip-up lenses, which make the Thump more suitable for indoor use (and make the wearer look even sillier).

On the other hand, the Thump's frame has a decidedly plastic feel to it--a concession, no doubt, to the need to make them as light as possible (and at 1.8 ounces, they're reasonably light), but still a disappointment given the high price tag. Thankfully, Oakley offers colors other than the boring matte black, including Rootbeer, Tortoise, and White Camo. Color choices vary depending on whether you choose the 128MB or 256MB model; the latter has the bonus of polarized lenses.

Our bigger complaint was with the controls: two buttons on the left arm and three buttons on the right, all annoyingly stiff. Actually operating the player is easy enough--the left buttons control the volume; the right ones, play/pause/power and skip/shuttle--but it takes way too much effort to change the volume just a few notches. Our loaner Thump was an "engineering sample;" here's hoping Oakley solves this problem during final production.

See more CNET content tagged:: Oakley,; audio player,; earbud,; song,; battery

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mp3.com

Editors' rating: 77

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macworld.com

Summary: The Thump 2 is by far the best sports-focused audio player I've used, for one simple reason: no cords. The player itself is built into the Thump 2's body, and each earpiece features a fully adjustable earbud; controls are embedded in the temples. The more

Read full review
pcmag.com

Editors' rating: 40

Summary: For a whopping $495, you should get something a little sturdier and more comfortable. And we thought the Thump would be much louder than it is.

Read full review
goodgearguide.com.au

Editors' rating: 60

Summary: The Thump 2 is a slight improvement over the original model, but it still has some issues. While the price has dropped, we still think it's a small fortune to pay for such a low storage MP3 player.

Read full review