RCA Lyra 128 MB MP3 Player

Rating:
Summary: Good product - affordable - easy to use
Review: I go to the gym several at least 4 times a week, some of them are spin classes. I was looking to get an MP3 player for those times I was on my own. I asked a guy about one he had and he had this Lyra. The arm band is what got me interested in it. It stays on great and the device is protected very well. I did lots of research on other players and just wasn't up to paying over $100. This one really suits my needs. I don't need vast amounts of memory and the sound is really good. The software is easy to use. I use Windows Explorer to move my files around. A couple of hints I have come across.

I copy all my files over to the drive. I don't cut and paste. That way they stay on my hard drive. Also, one other reviewer was displeased with not getting them in order. Once you get the songs on the drive, you can rename the files with a number at the beginning of the file. That way you can get them in the order you want., e.g., 01 Song name. I also read somewhere where 1 mb is equal to 1 minute. So essentially this drive is about 2 hours. Also, I found out that you can plug computer speakers into the device and listen to it at home. I have a spare set of computer speakers and use this method sometimes.
I buy my batteries at Dollar General - uber cheap - I don't really track how long they last but at 4 for $1.00 it suits me fine. Overall, I am happy with this product.

Rating:
Summary: HIT OR MISS. I SAY DON'T TAKE THE CHANCE
Review: After reading other reviews it seems this product is either really good for some or really crappy for others. <br /> <br /> I got this for Christmas last year and it seemed ok as a gift. Windows found it right away and it was easy to put music on it as what should be expected.<br /> <br /> But I started to hate it because of the fact that I can't adjust the order of the songs unless I delete them and put them back on in the order I want them in.<br /> The battery cover is flimsy and the whole thing is made out of cheap plastic. <br /> <br /> Now recently this thing stopped working all together on me. I put music on it but the thing freezes and says there are 00 songs on it.<br /> <br /> After looking at other reviews, I say don't take the chance of getting a crappy player.

Rating:
Summary: ............You decide
Review: I have had this product almost a year now and i have to say there are pros and cons!

Pros:
1-Excellant size[fits into pocket nicly].
2-Great connection speed.
3- wma compatible.{if u dont have windows media player get it.
4-it has a lock button for sensitivity[wich sum dont]
5- the screen is a descent size.

ok the Cons:
1-If YOU DROP IT you are screwed . I say this because i was shooting hoops one day during half time of a game and i had it in my hand and i crouched down to take a shot and it fell out of my hand due to a stray ball. it dropped about 2 feet and and the tiny device that holds the battery into the player broke off! from then on i had to use rubber bands or athletic tape to hold it on, becuase without it u cant listen to it. Scotch tape does not work. So in other words it is kinda fragile compared to others. the putting on of tape and rubber bands gets tiresome because of the sumwhat small play time.

2-The strap it comes with is a joke and is hard to get the mp3 player in it.

3-Its been alomst a year since i got it [got it Dec 27 03]
and my sound system doesnt work. it started this strange plague ever since october and i cant recall any happening that might of messed it up. I first thought it was my headphones fault, but after testing about 4 other headphones my hypothesis was wrong. I tried updating it but nothing happened, the updating process didnt even work and i have an XP and roderunner,great combo in my p-o-v.

4- The size is good and bad but it is bad because it can be easily lost if not careful.

5-buttons could be bigger, though it all depends.


Well u heard my opinion and you can think what u want. One word to descbribe this: OK
But, i want more storage and better sound so im goin to go with the Creative Zen Mini.


Rating:
Summary: Cheap Construction
Review: This player was all that I wanted it to be when I bought it for my son - I even bought one for myself. Shortly thereafter, though, my son's battery compartment door broke - there's a tiny plastic tab that locks it closed. If mine hadn't broken shortly thereafter I'd say he was rough with it, but I know I wasn't. The plastic tab will first loosen, which VERY annoyingly shuts off the player in the middle of use, and then it will break off completely. It's a poor design (or perhaps this was what it was designed to do so you'd have to buy another). Now we have 2 MP3 players with taped-closed battery doors. I wouldn't buy another.

Rating:
Summary: Great Value! A Great Alternative over iPod Expandible Memory
Review: When I was shopping for an MP3 player, there were many different kinds. Of course like everyone, I liked the iPod but $249-$399 is a lot of money. I looked at size and I liked the 256MB kinds but they were $149 (for an extra $100, I could get an iPod that holds a lot more songs). Finally I found this one. I liked it a lot from the descriptions and reviews. And I saw you can buy a memory card (SD or MMD) to expand the memory in your mp3 player (about $30 at samsclub.com for an SD 256MB). At first I thought 128 MB would hold on like 25 songs but if you set the quality setting to a right level (WMA 64k) you can fit in about 4 hrs. of music and about 63-70 songs (depending on size). When I plugged it in with the included USB port, Windows XP immediately found it and I could already transfer my library to the MP3 player (or memory card). The included CD comes with drivers, MusicMatch Box v8.2, Mood Logic, and offers, while when online, you can get free music downloads. While it comes with MusicMatch Box, I use Windows Media Player 10 (free at microsoft.com) and I can transfer songs quickly and at a good quality level (WMA 64k). And also with MSN Music, Walmart Music Download Store, Napster, and many others you can legally download songs to Windows Media Player to put on your RCA Lyra. (I burn the songs to a CD first then put them on Windows Media Player again at my quality level/file size.) Also, the size it really small so I just put my RCA Lyra in my pocket. But, sometimes I use the included armband and headphones. Now I got this on a special sale at circuitcity.com for $69 instead of $89.
There is also a 64MB version of the MP3 Lyra here on amazon.com for $49 (for people who don't need a lot of songs on the built in memory card, for people who have an additional memory card, for people who want to save money, or for people who like the color). If you don't want to spend a lot of money this is a great MP3 Player.

Rating:
Summary: Not a wise investment!!
Review: I think $30 would be a better price for the RCA Lyra. I decided to buy one as an alternative to the more expensive mp3 players. I just needed something to listen to to run on a treadmill. My brother also bought one the same time I did, because it seemed like the best value for the purpose. Five months after I got it, it would cut off at random times. I finally realized it was because the battery door is flimsy, and it pops away easily unsecuring the battery. I mentioned something about needing a new mp3 player to my brother, and he told me his broke too. I asked him what happened and he reported the same thing - the battery door. His won't even play anymore though. I know reviews are a dime a dozen, but the market for mp3 players is so big now, that you should invest your money elsewhere. I decided to pay a little more money on my new mp3 player, and I am in love with it. I won't say what it is though, because I don't want this to be taken as a negative ad against the RCA lyra just so you will buy another specific brand.

Rating:
Summary: Review of decent 256 MB player
Review: Before I begin this review, I need to offer this disclaimer: I am reviewing the 256MB version of this product (model # RD1075). I have to post this review on the 128 MB product page because the 256 MB version of this product does not have an item listing on Amazon.com. So, other than that matter, the rest of this review is for identical products.

I was forced to get an RCA Lyra 256 because my Rio Chiba inexplicably ceased to work despite no obvious signs of damage or malfunction. The RCA Lyra is less complex and less refined than the Rio Chiba, but for the purposes of what I needed it for (working out), it suited me. Like the Rio Chiba, the RCA Lyra 256 uses Flash memory to store MP3 and WAV music files for listening enjoyment. Like the Chiba, the Lyra also provides memory upgradeability to using Secure Digital or MultiMediaCards. The sound quality on for the Lyra is top of the line for the most part. The Lyra is also compact, which makes it very viable to use when working out.

Now, for all the good of the Lyra, the bad must be pointed out. Unlike the Chiba, the Lyra does not have an FM Tuner. That however, is minor, since this is a less refined product and, as a result, less expensive. The other, more glaring cons, involve the playback quality and physical endurance of the player. As stated above, the sound quality is great for the most part. However, when the battery starts to run low, there are barely noticeable pauses that occur in the middle of songs that can be somewhat distracting. In addition, this same pauses can occur if the transfer of music from the computer to the Lyra isn't completely clean, which happens a little too much for a USB transfer. The Lyra's physical endurance is also a concern. The flash-drive Lyras are likely to be used almost exclusively for running and other workout activities. So, they should be built to endure a bit of pounding. Alas, mine fell on a carpeted floor twice and the latch that keeps the battery cover closed broke off. So, to use it, I have to tape the battery cover shut. A typical Lyra is likely to undergo much more abuse than that, making this unacceptable. It should also be noted that the armband that comes with the item is mediocre at best. While firmly holds the Lyra against the arm, the way it is designed makes it nearly impossible to operate the controls on the device, since they are all covered by the thick fabric of the armband.

Despite the cons in this review, the Lyra 256 still garners a positive recommendation because it meets my base requirements. It still functions; it still plays high quality music; and, it is a perfectly-suited complement to my athletic endeavors.