An improvement on BenQ's previous pendant-shaped MP3 player, the Joybee 102R, the Joybee 180 is a slightly larger (59.3 x 57 x 21.8mm) sibling that comes with added features like an OLED display which was solely missed in the Joybee 102R.
For the fashion meisters, each unit of the Joybee 180 comes with two interchangeable faceplates that range from retro chic Modern Grey to teenybopper POP art. Switching the covers is a relatively painless affair though we noted that there is a tendency for the metal ring, which secures the faceplate, to drop out after being bounced around in our pockets. Along with a lanyard attachment and a plastic loop that can also be hung off a lanyard or attached to a bag sling, we were only surprised that Benq did not include the earphone-choker accessory that came standard with the Joybee 102R.
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Face off: One for every occasion |
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Physical controls on the Joybee 180 include a volume rocker switch, four function buttons (Menu, Record, Power and A/B/Hold) and scroll wheel, though the promised optional in-line remote control was still not available at the time of this review. We have nothing to gripe about the tactile feedback of the physical controls except that we were not particularly impressed by the build quality of the scroll wheel which felt a little light and plasticky.
Even though it weighs a mere 48g, the square-like bulk of the Joybee 180 does not lend itself well to fashion mavens. Rather than describing it as a mini pendant player suitable for waif-like models, the Joybee 180 would probably see more usage for users who prefer medallion-sized players hanging off their necks.
Menu navigation is very easy to master, requiring a minimum of button presses to get to the desired function, though we did have some teething issues with the scroll button, which needed a firm press before it registered our input.
Editors' note: The Joybee 180 originally has the added feature of wireless FM transmission and a walkie-talkie function via an optional headset. However, according to BenQ, the optional headset will be withdrawn globally from the Joybee 180's accessory line-up.
Features
OLED displays are fast becoming a common feature in MP3 players, though our usual gripe is that there is no contrast setting which renders the display unviewable in bright sunlight. The Joybee 180 could have also done better by including USB 2.0 connectivity rather than the slower USB 1.1.
The Joybee 180 has seven preset equalizer settings which should be enough for most portable listeners though there is no way we could preset our own or even apply them to our radio tunes, although we could activate it for voice recordings.
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 Buttons on the side |
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The voice recording option has the same sort of performance as we would expect from most MP3 players that carry the same feature: Relatively clear in close quarters though bad pickup when the sound source is a distance away. However, in-line recording of radio to WAV format is possible on the Joybee 180, which allows the user to apply equalizer controls to the WAV file in playback.
Besides support for the usual suspects (MP3, WMA and WAV), BenQ has also made life easier for online music consumers by bundling in Windows DRM support for tunes purchased from sites such as MusicMatch.
Bundling in the QMusic software, the default music application for Joybee products, the application is perfectly capable for essential tasks (ripping, conversion into MP3, playback, playlist creation) on a clean interface that would not have the user scrambling for the help manual.
Performance
The clarity of the FM reception is surprisingly good in the locations we tested. Overall, we would say that as long as the user is intending to tune in to FM in urban locales, the Joybee 180 should work pretty well.
Sonic-wise, the Joybee 180 could handle the highs and mids on our reference track, Diana Krall's They Can't Take It Away From Me, though in terms of bass, the Joybee 180 was a little flat. This is where the equaliser setting helps, with both the Bass and Rock setting cranking up the lows to an acceptable level even if it is at the expense of vocal clarity.
For battery longevity, the Joybee 180 lasted a mean time of 12 hours and 55 mins which fell short of BenQ's claimed 14-hour playback time. We also achieved a mean transfer speed of 0.69MB per second from PC to player which would make for about 6 minutes to fill the Joybee 180 to the brim.
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