The AU$449.95 Philips Nike psa[256max is based on last year's design, but the new model features some important updates, including 256MB of internal memory and improved headphones. An armband and a belt are included in the package, and though you don't get a remote, one will be built into Philips's upcoming belt accessory. The end result is a player that's easily recommendable to sports enthusiasts, runners in particular.
The Philips Nike psa[256max is compact and weighs only 60gm with its AAA battery installed. It shares the PSA 128's egg shape, but the grey face is now tinted green rather than blue. The unit is water-resistant; rubber completely coats the buttons, and a rubber gasket seals the battery compartment, making it slightly difficult to open. All in all, the device feels well built and should be able to withstand short falls just fine.
We don't have any gripes about the psa[256max's interface. Using it by feel alone is simple, though you may find the buttons a little stiff. While the LCD is small and monochrome, it's backlit, and it shows most of the pertinent information, including ID3 tags. However, you won't see the current bit rate.
Features
In our review of the psa[128, we were critical of its headphones and their short cord. We're happy to report that the new model includes better-fitting, around-the-neck headphones with an amply long cable. You may not find them terribly comfortable, but they sit more securely and should appeal to runners and Rollerbladers. More good news: Philips has toned down the magnetic wire-management system. The PSA 128's headphone cord had an integrated magnet that reined in the slack when you were wearing the player on your arm. Now the magnet is removable in case you don't want to use it.
Another plus is the included portability accessories. The player slips into a plastic housing that attaches to either the armband or the belt.
The Philips Nike psa[256max offers all the standard features, such as repeat, shuffle, and a Hold function that locks the buttons. You also get five EQ modes: Hip Hop, Funk, Techno, Rock, and a custom setting. The 256's major extras have to do with its power. Along with one nickel-metal-hydride rechargeable battery, you get a charger that holds two cells.
The player will show up as a drive on Mac OS X or Windows XP systems -- no drivers required. The included Musicmatch Jukebox software lets PC users organize tunes and turn CDs into MP3 or WMA files. And if you have a Mac, you can install a plug-in to enable Apple iTunes support. However, the psa[256max won't play AAC files downloaded from the iTunes store; you'll have to convert them to MP3.
Performance
Offering 256MB of built-in memory, the psa[256max gives you ample storage space and won't force you to encode your music at lower bit rates. Since it's a plug-and-play model, it can also hold data and other types of multimedia files. The psa[256max transfers content via USB 1.1, the standard connection for the current crop of flash-based MP3 players.
The included headphones are pretty decent, with reasonable bass response and fairly dynamic sound. They're a significant improvement over the pair that comes with the Philips Nike psa[128, offering a securer and more comfortable fit.
To turn the unit on and off, you hold down the play/pause button; power-up is quick though not instantaneous. The psa[256max has a decent signal-to-noise ratio of 80dB, and the audio quality and the loudness satisfied us once we'd found the right equalizer setting. With certain headphones, the unit was a little volume challenged, but that was a factor only when we wanted to drown out the noise of the New York City subway. As with the psa[256max, we loaded all 45MB of the Beatles' Abbey Road onto the device in just less than 2 minutes. That time translates to a transfer rate of 0.28MB per second, which is good for USB 1.1. Battery life was also respectable, about average for a flash-based MP3 player. We had to recharge the included nickel-metal-hydride AAA cell after a little more than 10 hours of use. Overall, Philips has done a good job correcting some of the mistakes it made with the psa[128; the update is a much more solid product. Of course, the same amount of moolah will buy an Apple iPod, but the 256 should appeal to casual and serious athletes, and runners will get a marathon's worth of stored music.
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Aussiefied Kiwi
26/12/2006, 05:25 PM
rating
2/10
Absolute crap. would not touch anything from Nike Phillips again.
Pros: none to date
Cons: software impossible to use
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09/05/2005, 02:06 AM
o.k,. but not for everyone
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rick
27/01/2005, 11:57 AM
Small, stylish player
Not a bad little MP3 player -- could do with a memory boost though.
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