The MuVo TX FM resembles a Zippo lighter with an LCD screen and buttons. The player offers a similar control layout to that of the MuVo NX, but the TX FM has slightly different colouring: white and black as opposed to grey and black. It lacks the snazzy red spare battery module that was included with the NX, and the USB extender cable, a handy extra for those with overcrowded or inconveniently located USB ports, is also notably absent. On the upside, Creative now provides a cleverly designed holster that can clip to your belt or to the included armband -- an ideal accessory for working out, jogging, or even just walking around. (There's also an eye hook if you prefer to use a lanyard.)
Despite the player's diminutive size, its 96x32-pixel backlit LCD is crisp and easy to read. It shows basic ID3-tag info, elapsed time, playback settings (such as shuffle and repeat), and a battery gauge. Like the NX, the TX FM is a snap to operate, thanks to its minimalist controls: volume buttons, a play/pause/power button, and a track-skip/menu-navigation jog dial.
The TX FM offers more features than its bare-bones and more expensive sibling, the TX. Both players can record low-quality mono voice memos and offer the standard MuVo five-band equaliser, which has Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Classical presets, plus a user-defined mode. However, with the TX FM, if you tire of digital tunes, you can turn on the FM radio. The player can automatically scan for available stations and create up to 32 presets from the ones it finds. There's also the option to record radio, which the MuVo does in 4-bit stereo; this isn't great for music but fine for, say, an NPR show you want to hear later. Unfortunately, there's no way to set up timed recordings, TiVo-style.
To copy files to the TX FM, you separate the "key" from its white battery pack and plug it into a USB port. You can either drag and drop files in Windows Explorer or use Creative's surprisingly good MediaSource application to create playlists, rip CDs, and copy files. As with other MuVos we've tested, the TX FM's 90dB signal-to-noise ratio resulted in clean, full audio playback. But you'll probably want to ditch Creative's flat-sounding, foam-padded earbuds.
The TX FM fared well in our file-transfer tests; thanks to a USB 2.0 connection, tunes traveled at a speedy 1.6MB per second. Battery drain tests also provided positive results, with the player lasting more than 18 hours.
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Alps-Alpie-Age
22/10/2007, 09:57 AM
rating
8/10
A very nifty little thing. Just when I thought you HAD to have a USB cable for everything except an iPod Shuffle, I was proven wrong
Pros: Lightweight (I had to constantly pat my pockets to see if it was there)
No USB Cable (just plug it in)
Easy to use interface
Extra features such as a tuner and a recorder
Cons: A short battery life (maybe 15 hours)
No docker
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lauriekl
12/04/2007, 05:08 PM
rating
10/10
I've had a MuVo TX FM for over 2 years (in snappy red, no less). I have a 2 year old and an addiction to NPR - I use it all the time. It handles moisture really well - I live in AZ and usually have it stuck in the corner of my bra. It has also survived a bunch of drops to the ground during toddler get away missions.
Now the downside. Some units shipped with a battery drain bug. I read about it right after I got mine but can't seem to find anything about it now. The only way to protect my battery life is to pull the player out of the battery pack. I go thru a lot of AAAs. You also have to make sure the update your firmware to solve a volume issue (a sudden jump in volume from 22 to 23 or some other two values).
Pros: + Small, light, compact
+ Great value
+ Great radio reception
+ Super easy to copy music to it
+ Robust
Cons: - Small screen
- Some units have a battery drain bug
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06/04/2006, 02:02 PM
ok very slow on my 3000 dollar computer
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Liz
02/01/2006, 12:04 PM
Great player... when it was working!
I bought the 1GB version of this player because I wanted something I could take to university and home to carry files but also to use for listening to music. It worked for the first 5 months, and I loved it. The screen is a little small but I had no problems with anything else at all. Then after 5 months, the player broke down completely, and it wouldnt switch on anymore. It may have been because the USB plug became loose, despite always keeping it plugged in to the battery pack. I rang Creative and they have told me to go to the supplier to claim warranty. I think anyone else considering this player should look at players with a USB plug that is not attached to the player because once that goes, the whole player is gone, since it can't plug into the computer or into the battery pack.
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A.Garcia
31/12/2005, 05:29 AM
Great MP3 Player But........?
I love the MP3 player, in fact I consider it the best I have bought, but I do recommend that two additional purchases be made with this product. First, the MoVo is to batteries like chicken nuggets to a pro wrestler. The first month I had the MuVo TX FM, I spent about $20 on batteries. That's $240 a year, so I recommend that a set of 2 AAA rechargeable batteries be purchased. Second, the earphones sound great but they are the cheapest that Creative makes (EP-180) and the wire will begin to tear and break with a lot of use. Because Creative makes only top of the line sound equipment, no other brand under $50 will compare. The Creative EP-480 for $20 + shipping is the best option.
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extreme_biker
24/11/2005, 04:27 PM
maddd mp3 player!!
this must be one of the best flash mp3 players i've ever bought. bought it as a 2nd mp3 player (my main mp3 player is the iRiver H10 5GB). screen seems a bit too small, but, as my 2nd mp3 player, i dont really mind. to compensate for the lack of a bigger screen, it must be said that it has brilliant sound quality for its price range (as long as you plug in nicer earphones). got the 256mb version for $99.98 at Dick Smith Electronics, which is stunning value for money. overall, extremely pleased~!!
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adiblaga
12/11/2005, 06:43 PM
best money can buy
I used at home in my car, at job, evrywere...
I use accuu and never let me down...
negative has the randomise algoritm ... is only oane..
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i am a fish
19/09/2005, 12:37 PM
for any one with a brain
don't bother with the over priced I-pod....
although the headphones aren't perfect, who uses bundeled headphones???
if yr that fussy about sound quality buy a new set of headphones like the sony ones that i picked up for $50, yr saving more than that over a shuffle anyway do stop complaining
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31/08/2005, 10:48 PM
easily brocken
i have the creative muvo tx fm (512 mb), the version up from this and the i had it for 1 month and the screen just cracked right infront of me with no force what so ever. Then 2 months later it started skipping for no reason.Even when u put it on a still table it still skipped. Mine is getting fixed at the moment but im hoping to get my money back to buy an ipod mini.
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Dutchie
23/07/2005, 03:33 PM
The new 1 Gig is simply awesome
Although I have a20 gig Ipod, I wanted something smaller, slots straight into USB, better battery life then my Ipod and ways only a third.
Although I have only had it 2 days, so far the battery is still going after 14 hours and the sound quality is as good as my Ipod. I did upgrade the ear plugs to my Sony ones i use on the Ipod.
Overall, this is one mean MP3 player thats even more portable and lightweight and ideal for what I want. Not to mention a great FM radio.
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