Rating: 
Summary: An introduction to portable .mp3 players...
Review: This is how I looked at my purchase. This was the most inexpensive CD/mp3 player on the market, so don't expect all the features and quality you would from a player 3 times as expensive. I've had little to no problems with data CD-Rs created containing .mp3 files using Adaptec CD Creator. The main problem I have with the player is that it seems to eat-up batteries rather quickly. You should consider buying rechargeables for this player. Also, the display is minimal; when in .mp3 mode and trying to choose which album or track you want to listen to, it's very cryptic, which requires your careful planning when burning a disk of .mp3s. Features I liked: 1) seperate line-out and headphone jacks, ID3 tag recognition, PRICE! You get what you pay for, most of the time, but in this player's case, I'd say you get an excellent value.
Rating: 
Summary: Made in China, and it shows
Review: What is wrong with this player:The volume control knob is messed up, right channel comes on before left. Line-Out refuses to work No remote, and it would be easy to put one in This player feels like it's going to split in two. $.01 per unit and the screen could be back-lit Navigating your songs is next to impossible if they are not in folders, and it only plays
in the order they were burned (leading zeros are required) High bit-rate (160kbps) reduces the anti-skip to around 50 seconds, down from 120. If it's moving when it gets more MP3 data, it will skip and pop (loudly) Adjustable EQ is a bass boost switch, sounds like you're listening through a blanket Eats batteries as a light snack, no matter the type Good luck with tech support, it's outsourced to India, they have thick accents and are clueless, and the number is a long-distance call! Do not buy this player!
Rating: 
Summary: Can't beat the price
Review: I bought the SP50 for [cheap] after mail in rebate. It plays any mp3 disc i throw at it. The only thing is the headphones just plain [horrible]. But for the price get some better ones.
Rating:
Summary: Cheap and it works
Review: OK, a few things that the description for the SP50 lies about:
1. The display is not backlit.
2. You can not add a remote.
3. There is no EQ.
4. It does not come with burning software, but you can use anything that can burn a MP3 CD (most any good burning software). That aside, this is a good, cheap player. Navigation is a little sketchy, you have to select a track in a folder to jump to that folder, but the manual doesn't tell you this. The CD comes to a complete stop during MP3 playback, and spins back up every 120 seconds to save batteries. If it's not spinning, you have to wait about 3 seconds for it to spin up and get data. Most players do this, even the iPod does it (it has a hard drive so it kind of has to). Throw away the included earbuds, they [are poor quality], which is typical. If you need a cheap player that you don't care if it gets dropped/smashed/soaked in napalm and set ablaze, and can play MP3's, get this player. It even comes wih batteries.
Rating:
Summary: SP50 is good
Review: Although there are many negative reviews here, my player doesn't have any of the problems that the others have. It does everything it says on the box and overall it is a great MP3 player for the price that it is offered at. THe first thing you do before you even purchase it is to look for some moderately good headphones. Anything will be better than the earbuds that come with it. The batteries that come with the SP50 do not have good battery life. They don't last nearly as long as what it says on the packaging. After I went through the included batteries (Only took about 3 hours, with extensive searching and messing around with the buttons to learn it), I popped in some new batteries and they have lasted over 6 hours, and are still going strong. It DOES read ID3 tags - Just that when you first start the song, the file name of the song shows, and then the Title, Artist, and Album, as well as the kHz and bitrate. All of my MP3's on CD-R discs have played without any errors, although it shuts down by itself sometimes (May be user error, I might have accidentally held the stop button down or something, but it has happened 3 times now).
The playlist feature is a pain to configure, so I don't reccomend that you use it. Instead, use the RND mode. If you have the songs on any mode, once you stop and start it again, you will have to set the mode again, and in my opinion, it is a real pain because RND is literally on the bottom of the list.
Although it has its faults, the SP50 does provide great sound quality. With the bass boost on, the sound is incredible, even on very high volumes. Those reports of distorted sound at high volumes, the sound quality is excellent with my Sony MDR-G52 headphones. The lock feature was a nice addition that is usually found on higher, more expensive models. The extra line out plug is an added bonus, though the bass boost function doesn't apply to it. It is quite slow when it comes to starting or switching between songs, and it is noticeable to other people and yourself if it is quiet. The ESP works great.
Overall I think that this is a good entry-level player with enough functions for it's low price. I highly suggest that you buy the SP50 for your playback needs. By the way, I bought this "fully working" version (It doesn't have the problems that the other people have) at Best Buy.
Rating: 
Summary: You get what U pay for
Review: ... the SP50 is a really good (though not great) player for the price (after rebate)
Pros:
-really has 120 second anti shock for mp3 playback and 45 sec for regular cd(only when ESP button enabled and not flashing) and with really strong batteries. Shook the thing like a earthquake, did'nt skip a beat.
-Played just about every thing i've put in it. MP3 recored at various rates up to 320kb worked fine.( used Nero-burnig ROM)
-Displays ID3 tag info (scroll)
-easily navigate folders. Displays folder names too. -Seperate audio line out.something more expensive players don't have. -Has a lot of standard features packed into it. (read the manual!) Cons:
-Player feels light and fragile. Afraid to drop it.
-ear buds are poor and should be thrown away for better headphones immediately.
-No Back light. problem in poorly lit areas and at night.
-Sound quality is average.
-Equalizer button only increases volume nothing more. Bottom Line:
If you're looking for an inexpensive MP3 player that does the basic job of playing MP3 and standard cd's has good features, with relatively average to good sound quality then this this is the right thing for you. But if you need more than an introduction to the world of MP3 players and have the cash to dash then look else where. This is not the luxury car of portable mp3 players but it will get you to where your going.
Rating:
Summary: possibly the largest waste of money
Review: This CD player is horrible, go with the iriver. Mine broke the first week i had it and support is so horrible that you cannot get any help. Iriver is a much better company, better support, and better quality.
Rating:
Summary: Very good !!
Review: The CD/MP3, plays excellent, the directory search is a little bit difficult. thanks
Rating: 
Summary: I'll give it a few days
Review: I just got the SP50 in today. So far, I'm disappointed. I bought it to replace an off-brand 2.5" hard drive player, that wouldn't hold a charge or recharge well. I recorded a full CD, with one folder of sixty tracks, and the rest in the root directory. The sound quality is decent, after I realized I needed to plug my cassette adapter into the headphone jack instead of line out (it sounded awful when plugged into line out). But navigation is a pain. I haven't figured out how to get to my other folder, except by browsing in reverse from the first song. The major problem is that after song 60 or so, it just won't read the MP3s, at least in the time I considered reasonable. It just spun and spun, and never actually played the songs from 61-80 (except for 65). I will keep it for about a week. If I'm not happier then, I may try to return it for something else.
Rating:
Summary: A hockey puck works better.
Review: This company changes their name a lot as they lose their customers so much with their lack of service and support... there is none. They must think a new name will make people think they are a new product. "rio", "diamond", "replytv", "sonicblue", "govideo" etc. etc. stay clear of them all as they are all the same ignorant and abusive company. I made the mistake of investing hundreds of dollars on their products and this MP3 player, and all you have to know is that when it stops working, you lose. Not only will they not fix it or replace their products, they will not send you to anyone that will. There are no authorized repair centers for their product. And if you ever get through to their long distance number, and the one to two hour hold times (no joke), you will get a rude and obnoxious rep telling you the only way to fix it is to buy another one. (again, no joke) It is beyond me as to why they are still around. You can see by the reviews of all their products that this is an issue. The only positive reviews are the ones that have not had a technical issue... yet. I urge all the people that have bought their products to save the worthless items, and don't throw it out. Only so you have evidence of purchase when the case against them begins. Save your telephone bills too. Everyone else, stay clear and make note of the current name "sonicblue" as the will soon be in the sonic red.
| 
