Mobile style. Transcend's T.sonic-610 mp3-player

Astonish someone with an Mp3-player?! Are you kidding? Nevertheless, some companies are able producing original enough devices even today. The originality is achieved not with pompous embellishment and useless trinkets, but with well-thought optimization as a complex.

The retail price for reviewed T.sonic-610 mp3-player with 512 Mb onboard memory in Moscow starts with $106 at e-shops and with $120 at other sales outlets (at the end of July 2005). The 256 Mb version will cost 20$ cheaper, and the 1GB version - at least $25 more.

Introduction

Transcend Information, Inc. founded in Taipei in 1988 is one of the world's leaders at computer memory and computer electronics. To solve specific tasks, there were established representation offices in USA, Germany, Japan, etc. The company's strategic orientation allows combining advanced production with a system of active market sales of own produce. The latest scientific achievements and developments take no less important place in the company's concept.

For today, along with whatever memory as such there is a number of interesting multimedia products in the arsenal of Transcend. For instance, Digital Album – a photo viewer, Ìð3-player, card reader and external storage on a 20 GB hard disk. T.sonic Photo is a device similar by purpose but with integrated 512 MB flash memory. There are still two models of Mp3-players, however, they have already declared of themselves all the world round.

The T.sonic-610 model has won the first place in the comparative tests of the most recent 16 flash players arranged by Computer Bild’s magazine (Germany) in May 2005. We found no list of its participants on the magazine's website, so let's take it on trust that weak models were not taken to the contest.

Model 610 has a younger sister (T.sonic-612), almost a twin but without FM radio. In general, Transcend also produces variations of the base model with a light/optimized set of features. A wise approach, isn't it?

Packaging

The box is not swollen at all for the sake of solidity - the numerous components of the package bundle take up all the vacant space. You can comprehend the size of the package through its comparison against a CD as shown on the below photo.

Technical Specification

Design and make

The housing of the player looks as if taken from a mobile phone among today's compact models. The material is shockproof plastic. The rim around the joystick is styled for a local highlight. The hole for a neck strap is moved to the side, so the player will hang at an angle.

Controls are gathered on the joystick and two multifunctional keys located right under the display. The remaining buttons are also at hand, or under the right thumb for right-handers.

The player's display is bright and almost never turns dark in the sun. The display of labels and pictures is distinct and clear. There are no problems with tags in Cyrillic (the file name is restricted to 80 characters). Only the volume level indication is a bit messy - the figures are displayed in some conventional units - not very convenient, especially at the start. On the other hand, there is a display of track duration and navigation along that. The language can be changed right in the player's menu. The presence of Russian language is pleasant. All in all, controls and settings are so intuitive that there is no need to describe them in detail.

There are three quality levels for writing a WAV file both from the radio and microphone (equivalent to 8,16, and 32 kHz sampling rates).

The capacity of embedded battery is not specified. It is proven from practice that it holds the charge well enough. As regards the duration of offline music playback, there are many factors that affect it (volume, bit-rate, etc.). Judging by the weight, no records can be expected.

Charging via the USB and audio playback are not impossible simultaneously. Such a restriction is common, so T.sonic-610 is no exception.

Among the bundled accessories, of note is the well-made cover which is fastened on the arm somewhere at the biceps (using a special strap). The strong sticker won't let the player leap out on jerky movements.

The instructions to the player being tested says that the peak power output of the player and the bundled earphones being tested is equivalent to 100 dB acoustic pressure. The manufacturer warns carefully: prolonged listening at 80 dB acoustic pressure is hazardous to your health. Well, it's better not to play Russian roulette with deafness.

Earphones

In outward appearance, the bundled earphones resemble the famous entry-level Sennheiser. However, the similarity is misleading. In actual fact, no similarity was found in the sounding. These earphones are better than popular "hammers" which come as bundled items in almost all the Korean models, but anyway they will fit comfortably in far not every human ears. As regards the frequency response, the measurements (see below) will clarify everything, although there is too much ringing to the ear with too little bass.

Software

A curious fact: unlike many other manufacturers, Transcend honestly stated that the number of re-recordings is over 100,000 with the data storage duration no more than 10 years. At the same time, the player comes bundled with a software for data restoration (which we didn't have to use during two weeks of tests). In case heavy bad blocks come up, they will be muted (which may result in the reduction of memory capacity). Such a software is a rarity, and currently very few manufacturers of players and USB flash drives take the problem of data restoration seriously. But Transcend is an expert at flash memory, which is seen in many directions.

There is also provided software update via the Internet.

Measurements

Expert listening

As "reference" devices, the following were used:

• Ìð3-player by Creative with a powerful output to earphones
• Extremely high-quality "bud" type Sharp earphones (with removable silicon inserts), of 16 Ohm nominal impedance
• Monitor earphones Sennheiser 265 Linear (150 Ohm)

Acoustic systems engaged:

• Active stereo pair JetBalance JB-382

With 16 Ohm sensitive earphones, you hear background noise from some poor-quality recordings. With 32-Ohm (and higher) earphones of middling sensitivity, the undistorted power may be not enough.

With Sharp earphones, let alone Sennheiser 265, I didn't have to resort to the equalizer. By and large, the bundled earphones failed to produce comforting sound, and the integrated equalizer proved to be of little use. .

The player itself provides honest plain sounding, which you can easily experience through plugging it in to a decent stereo acoustic system. Of course, the load by high impedance makes itself felt, and because of the distortions you have to turn down the volume, so the acoustic system won't develop its full power through the output to earphones.

In the radio mode, T.sonic-610 demonstrated no more than middling reception sensitivity and tuning selectivity. To improve the reception quality, you have to choose the right position for the earphone cable that acts like an aerial.

The dictaphone mode, or actually the microphone sensitivity multiplied by (digital?) amplification proved a surprise. Weak remote sound signals are recorded distinctly. At the same time, the intrinsic noise of amplification becomes overly high, and switching to the "external recording conditions" submenu doesn't help either. Nevertheless, unlike the vast majority of today's multifunctional Mp3-players, T.sonic-610 will let whenever you need that urgent, record lectures.

Improvement suggestion

It is advisable that the dictaphone make a more effective use of digital technologies. For example, it would be nice if the "near-far field" feature were implemented which would provide a significant increase-reduction of signal multiplication from the microphone. Then the recorded nose of multiplication in case of a near (loud) sound source will be practically eliminated.

Conclusion

A player that sticks to your memory. Those who start mastering digital technologies with a mobile phone will not have to learn again. The user interface is as simple as "two by two".

On the whole, T.sonic-610 has proved to be a spice. It is far from being an exquisite "hi-tech", but the model is not aimed at aestheticists but the mass user.

If you don't turn the volume up to the full and choose higher-quality earphones, we'll get one of the best solutions among the mass of whatever mp3-players without support for removable memory cards.