Rating: 
Summary: Nothing is Easier
Review: Other reviews may say this is difficult to use, but it really is not. You can add music from your Windows Media Player just like any other device. Don't be fooled by its compact size! It really delivers a powerful sound.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT PLAYER!!
Review: This is by far the best MP3 player I've ever had(Out of three). There really is no use for the radio function in a traveling vehicle, but that's what internal and external memory is for. I have been able to fit 55 songs (avg. time of 4 minutes) in the internal memory and a 128MB SD Card. I had no use for the included headphones(they're cheap, plus i had my own) or the carrying case and strap(Everyone has pockets, right?). I've had it for four months and have had no problem with it. And a high recomendation for those of you getting it and or have it already...... GET THE FIRMWARE UPGRADE AND GET AWAY FROM MUSICMATCH. what a horrible program.(At least for this usage)All in All it is small, fun, and extremly usable.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not bad, FOR THE PRICE
Review: On the whole, this is a fine product for the price. It's an inexpensive option for the first time mpg/portable music user. Just be willing to take the time to explore the software (terrible help files) and not have your hopes set on it coming with a great interface. If you're willing to take the time to get familiar with the software and what it can (and can't) do, it's pretty good. Updates are easy and can make it compatible with WMA files as well as mpg. The sound is pretty decent and is even better if you replace the headphones that it comes with. You can drag and drop exisiting files on to the device with Windows Explorer or use the included software. Picky problems - poor carry case, slot for memory card is open (no cover or protection), usb port on device could be better placed, software interface is poor.
Rating: 
Summary: It works for me
Review: I just bought this a few weeks ago and basically chose it for it's size, price, and the fact that I can buy cards to expand the memory. As a first time MP3 owner it is working well for me and doing everything I need it to. Mine came with the neck lanyard, and an arm band holder. (I use the lanyard, but have no use for the arm band holder, can't stand things strapped to my arm, however I might see if I could modify it for some other type of use, but so far the neck lanyard is perfect for my needs). I was actually pleased with the FM quality, I have had regular desk radios get worse reception and so wasn't expecting much, but was pleasantly surprised. But to be honest, I haven't had a chance to test it out on the road or out of town yet. I do hear a hissing between songs, and that is a drawback, but I can deal with it. It would be nice if you could skip or search for songs quicker/more easily. But otherwise, I don't have much issue with the buttons, they are fine by me. The software took me a bit to get familiar with, but after I got the hang of it, I found it pretty easy to use. I bought this unit to get familiar with the whole MP3 thing and fully expect to discover things that I would make sure are in my "next" player. But I think as a basic starter unit it's great.
Rating:
Summary: Gets me through my runs
Review: I purchased this a few weeks ago and find it does an excellent job of keeping up my motivation while struggling through the heat and humidity of a morning run (something I was certainly not born to do). I am writing this review primarily because of what appears to be some mis-information in other reviews. In my experience, you DO NOT need to use the Musicmatch software to download mp3 files to the player. I have plugged it in to the USB port on my winXP machine and it acts like another drive. Simply copy the mp3s over and they work fine. I rip my CDs using CDEX software, drag and drop, and that's all there is to it. I did upgrade the firmware, though, using the provided software, and perhaps that allows me to do what others claim you cannot. Sound quality is very good. I could not understand for the life of me how to use the silly headphones that come with the unit. I bought a pair of Sony aftermarket for $10 that clip on my ear and don't fall off when running. The arm band could be more comfy. It works, though, and it's better than carrying the unit or wearing something else to hold it when you're running. I also like that the volume control is very easily accesible when it's in the pouch attached to the arm band -- a necessity when running on busy then quiet streets. I wish I could find a more comfortable strap and would love any suggestions that folks may have. I can't comment on the FM module since Boston radio really bites (the whole reason I sank $130 for a player was to be able to control what I hear). However, I was not impressed by the method for storing and tuning in stations. Finally, I do wish that the expansion slot had a cover. However, I did run one day in a torrential downpour while the player was in its pouch on my arm. It stayed dry, even though the armband was soaked. From what I've seen of the other players out there, this is an excellent value -- storage, expansion, size, control, etc. all for a competitive price.
Rating:
Summary: Ok player
Review: I have been using this player for about 3 months now. It is dependable enough; however, I found the following problems: - MusicMatch is terrible software. All other music management software I have ever used is considerably more usable. Also, it changes file associations without asking. It bugs you to upgrade everytime you quit.
- Controls are non-intuitive, insensitive, clunky, and cheap. For example, there's no on/off switch. You must remember the correct combination of other button presses to get it to turn off. You'd think they'd compensate by providing great documentation. Alas, they do not.
- MMC memory is separate from main memory so you cannot span. MusicMatch goes to the MMC by default. You must remember a non-obvious key sequence to switch to internal memory.
- No playlists.
- Carrying case is very, very cheapo and [low quality]
Rating:
Summary: Fun toy with great sound but some annoying details
Review: The RCA Lyra is my introduction to digital music, and overall it is a positive experience. The price is far more reasonable than many of the other 128 MB MP3 players out there, especially as it was one of my Amazon.comGold Box offers. However, before you buy, you should keep the following in mind:
Pros
1. Nice sound. Other reviews have complained about an annoying "hiss" between tracks, but I have not had that problem.
2. Surprisingly nice radio reception, with several (10 I think) preset stations.
3. Easy to handle. I have no difficulty in working the buttons/knob even when I am running.
4. VERY lightweight - you don't notice it when you exercise
5. Once you figure out the software (more later) it's pretty darn easy to generate and load music into the player. Cons.
1. The belt clip is a joke. When I first saw it, I thought, oh, cool idea. Then I tried to use it. It does NOT want to stay clipped. It seems to work OK when I am running, but it will fall off if jostled. Don't try to listen to it while working with your hands (like I did while painting my basement) as anytime that you knock the headphone wires with your arms the player will "leap" off your waistband.
2. The software instruction manual. HAHAHAHA. When you read the hardware manual you will be instructed to go to the software manual for specific into on Music Match and how to download the music to the device. THERE IS NO PRINTED MANUAL FOR THE SOFTWARE. It is part of the tutorial on the installation CD. Don't bother to try to print it out either - it won't.
3. You have to use Music Match software. While the software is not difficult to use, it will annoy you to no end. It CONSTANTLY bugs you to upgrade. OK, already! And when you go thru the tutorial, the onscreen pics are for the UPGRADE, not what comes with the player.
4. Slow download times. In summary, the player has great sound, small size, is more flexible than some other MP3 players on the market, reasonably priced and is easy to use once you figure it out. The downside is that it might take you a bit to figure out how to use it IF you are new to digital music, and the belt clip could be improved. Overall, a fun toy.
Rating: 
Summary: ugh. big thumbs down.
Review: from the day i got this as a gift, i hated it. the software that comes with it is sooo intrusive. and it's the limited version of a full one they bug you to buy everytime you put an audio cd into your comptuer and it auto starts. also, i personally didn't like how the buttons worked - they were not very responsive. i wanted this to take to the gym. however, the little plastic pouch it comes with is *terrible*. the hip clip is not on the actual unit - it's on the pouch, so i kept it in there. i fought with the buttons through the little plastic holes all the time. not what i want to be doing while i am trying to remain steady on the treadmill. frustrated, i took it out of the pouch and used the neck string instead of the clip. after the gym, i tossed it in my purse, and when i took it out at home to change the playlist, the buttons were stuck. 3 months of owning this thing i fought with, and they said they couldn't do anything for me warantee-wise because i should have kept it in the stupid plastic pouch. don't buy this thing. i hated my expereince with it.
Rating:
Summary: Full of promise but poor audio quality
Review: First, let me say that this unit is beautifully designed, and the controls are user-friendly. Also, it works great with Windows, and songs are easily transferred to unit via dragging them to the unit's Drive letter in Windows Explorer. So, what's the Problem?? The unit elicits a high-pitched hiss into the headphones, which is VERY noticeable between tracks and also during soft passages of a song. (I tried 2 different units, and 2 different sets of headphones. No better luck...) I have very good hearing, so this high-pitched hiss bothered me a lot. I let a friend of mine try it out (his hearing is only average), and he could hear it also, but it did not bother him as much. Regardless, you do not expect that a RAM based music player would elicit ANY foreign noise at all, let alone something like this. It's not as though the unit has motors and gears (such as a CD player). Other flaws were very poor FM radio reception (honestly, could not receive ~ANY~ FM station without constant interference, even outside while walking down the street), and I thought that the headphones were terrible (they are the kind that you clip onto your ears). Both of these flaws I could have easily overlooked if unit had good sound quality. So, if the audio quality would have been good, this is a 4-Star unit (deducting minor points for poor FM reception and bad headphones). As it stands, however, this is a total ~reject~ if you have good hearing.
Rating:
Summary: Lyra's Sound is great but MusicMatch is a problem.
Review: I purchased my Lyra about a year ago and I was very happy with it until I upgraded my MusicMatch software. According to MusicMatch technical support, there is problem with the latest version MusicMatch 8.0 that doesn't allow you to view the songs on the player's internal memory. I experienced the same problem, to a lesser degree (I was not able to view the songs on the expansion card), with the previous version. As a result, I have been forced to listen to the same 51 songs for the past several months, while I exchange emails with MusicMatch's tech support (MusicMatch does not provide telephone technical support). However, absent this problem, I find the MP3 sound quality to be excellent and its just the right size to use at the gym, provided to you have a pocket in your gym shorts. The FM tuner works great outdoors, but inside the gym, reception is just okay. If MusicMatch were to address the software problem, I would probably give the Lyra 5 stars. UPDATE ************************
I thought I should let everyone know that MusicMatch corrected the problem. I can now view the songs on both the player's internal memory and the expansion card. While the player is connected via USB you press and hold the stop button (or the play button I can't remember) and player will switch between the internal memory and external memory. WARNING! I downloaded two songs from the MusicMatch website. They won't play on the RD 1080. But other than that, I think this is a great player for the price. I haven't had any other problems with MusicMatch. I am upgrading my rating to four stars from three.
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