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Reviews: Flash Memory MP3 Players

Creative ZEN

Built-in Capacity: 32GB • Screen Size (inches): 2.5 • Voice Recording: Yes • FM tuner: Yes • Video Support: Yes • Photo Support: Yes • Price When Reviewed: $300

Last updated
March 07, 2008

Reviewed by
Darren Gladstone

Pros

Feature-heavy
SD card slot for instant memory upgrades

Cons

One-handed operation a little tricky
Skimps on bundled accessories

Pricing:

Buydig.com	$179.00
TriStateCamera.com	$200.87
B&H Photo-Video	$184.95
See all

Top 10 MP3 Players (Flash-Based)

Top 5 MP3 Players (Hard Drive-Based)

See All MP3 Players

Review

Test Report

Pricing

User Reviews

Add Your Review

Pricing: Very Expensive: $300 (3/7/2008)

Performance: Very Good: 85

Features: Good: 78

Design: Superior: 90

Find out how these four scores, and their relative weights, combine to produce the PC World Rating.

Pricing

Very Expensive: $300

Performance

Very Good: 85

PC World Tests
Maximum Usable Output Level, Average (dBV)	-5.3
Total Harmonic Distortion and Noise, Average (%)	0.01
Signal-to-Noise Ratio, Average (dB)	77
Crosstalk, Average (dB)	-59
Frequency Response Deviation, Average (dB)	4

Features

Good: 78

Capacity
Built-in Capacity	32GB
SD card	Yes
mini SD	Yes
micro SD	Yes
Memory Stick Micro	No
Compact Flash	No
Smart Media	No
xD Picture Card	No
Memory Stick	No

Battery
Replaceable Battery	No
Hours of Play (Per vendor)	30

Screen
Screen Size (inches)	2.5
Screen Resolution	320 by 240
ScreenType	Color

Size
Dimensions (inches)	3.26 by 2.16 by 0.44
Weight (oz.)	2.1

Connections
Line Out	No
Firewire	No
Headphone output	Yes
Microphone input	No
USB	Yes
Video Output	No
USB Host Adapter	No

Playback
Signal to Noise Ratio (dB)	95

Audio Formats
AAC	Yes
AIFF	No
Apple Lossless	No
ASF	No
Audible	Yes
FLAC	No
MP3	Yes
MPEG4	Yes
OGG	No
WAV	Yes
WMA	Yes
WMA Lossless	No
Equalizer Settings	8
Voice Recording	Yes

Radio
FM tuner	Yes
FM Recording	No
Presets	32

Online Music Compatibility
Itunes	Yes
Rhapsody	Yes
Napster	Yes
Sony	No
Yahoo	Yes
Other	Amazon or Walmart

Online Subscription Compatibility
Plays For Sure	Yes

Video Formats
Video Support	Yes
H 264	No
MPEG4	Yes
MPEG2	No
MPEG1	No
DivX4	Yes
DivX5	Yes
WMV	Yes
Motion JPEG	Yes
XviD	Yes

Photo Formats
Photo Support	Yes
JPG	Yes
BMP	No
PNG	No
GIF	No

Hardware List
USB cable	Yes
Firewire cable	No
Dock	No
AC Adapter	No
Case	No
Remote Control	No
Other Hardware	Earphones

Other
Included Software	ZEN Media Explorer

Warranty & Support
Labor Warranty (years)	90-day
Parts Warranty (years)	One
Weekday Support (hours)	9
Saturday Support (hours)	0
Sunday Support (hours)	0
Other Service	Free e-mail support for the duration of the warranty
Toll-Free Support	No

Reliability & Service
Summary of results for all of brand's products in this category	A veteran of the MP3 wars, Creative received average grades everywhere except on ease of use, where readers rated it below average. Note, though, that seven other MP3 vendors also received subpar scores on ease of use.

Reliability of brand's products in this category
Reports of product arriving with problems	Average
Reports of products with any significant problems	Average
Reports of problems that render a product unusable	Average
Buyers' rating of product's	Worse than Average
Overall satisfaction with reliability of brand's products in category	Average