-
CNET editors' rating:
4.0
stars
Excellent
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 23 reviews
- See all user reviews
Product summary
The
good: The Samsung YP-K5 features a unique and stylish design with a built-in, slide-out speaker, and the interface is stunning; includes an FM radio and cool visual effects. The player offers excellent sound quality, and the included earbuds are decent.
The
bad: Due to the speaker, the YP-K5 is on the large and heavy side for a flash player; the touch controls take some getting used to and attract smudges; display could be bigger; expensive.
The
bottom
line: The Samsung YP-K5 is a unique MP3 player with a fun interface and great sound quality; it may be bulky around the middle, but it's an excellent choice if you want to share your tunes at the drop of a dime.
Specifications: Device type: Digital player / radio ; Flash memory installed: 4 GB ; Digital player supported digital audio standards: WMA , MP3 ; ; See full specs
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 09/01/2006
- Released on: 08/31/2006
Fall is an anxiously awaited time of year in the gadget world because it's when tech companies roll out some of their hottest gadgets in preparation for the holiday buying season. September in particular seems to be the prime month for MP3 player announcements, with last year marking the debut of the Apple iPod Nano. It looks like 2006 is set to continue this tradition, with the sleek Samsung YP-K5 leading the way. This unique flash player, available in 2GB ($210) and 4GB ($260) capacities, may be a bit pricey and thick around the middle, but that's not stopping it from turning some heads.
In the closed position, the K5 isn't that remarkable looking--rather reminiscent of the Olympus M:robe MR-100--but its smooth, black body feels good in the hand and its shiny face is eye-catching. Once the device is powered on, the visual experience becomes even more pleasing. Like the M:robe, the K5 features touch-sensitive controls, backlit in pleasing shades of blue. A center circle select key is surrounded by four arrow indicators, while Back and Menu selectors sit kitty-corner to one another on the outskirts. A smallish (1.7-inch) color OLED screen resides above the controls, and along the top edge is the power/hold switch. The bottom edge of the player houses the headphone jack and a proprietary USB port.
The K5 is on the large side for a flash player--it measures 3.9 by 1.9 by 0.7 inches and weighs a relatively hefty 3.8 ounces--but there's a good reason for this. If you flip the player on its side and push up the bottom edge, a built-in speaker slides out. What's great about this is that the speaker is designed in such a way that it angles itself up, not only propping the face of the player at an ideal viewing angle, but pointing the speakers up and forward so as to direct the sound at the listener. We've seen MP3 players with built-in speakers before, but none have shown this kind of ingenuity. What's even better is that the speakers actually sound OK--tinny and lacking in bass, but certainly passable, and better than any other built-ins we've heard. And they get quite loud.
Continue reading- See more CNET content tagged:
- Samsung Electronics,
- speakers,
- MP3 player,
- MP3
User reviews
- Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 23 reviews
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
-
Showing 3 of 23 user reviewsSee all 23 user reviews
-
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful
-
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
-
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
- See all 23 user reviews Write review
%20MP3%20player%20reviews%20-%20CNET%20Reviews&srcUrl=http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/samsung-yp-k5-4gb/4505-6490_7-32057242.html){kind=small}