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FIRST LOOKS
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Samsung Yepp
YP-Z5
It’s the first 4GB
flash player to be
compatible with
PlaysForSure, but
it’s still no iPod
nano–killer.
4GB: $249.99 list;
2GB: $199.99
go.pcmag.com/
ypz5
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THANKS FOR THE MEMORY
THE SAMSUNG YEPP YP-Z5 IS PART OF THE OPENING
salvo in what will soon be a slew of non-Apple
high-capacity flash MP3 players hitting the shelves.
Although not quite an iPod nano–killer, it does have
some advantages, including an impressive 30-hour battery life,
a bright 1.8-inch LCD screen, and photo panning/zooming.
It is also the first PlaysForSure-compatible 4GB flash player
on the market, though it will soon be followed by many similar
devices. The Z5’s screen seems fairly rugged, though I did find
a few scuffs on the silver plastic casing. Nearly twice as thick as
the nano, the Z5 still qualifies as “thin.” The somewhat finicky
controls are probably what will keep this otherwise satisfying
player out of the limelight, but techies will love nice touches
like Ogg Vorbis support. Overall sound quality is good, but not
the best I’ve heard; at least the included earbuds aren’t bad. The
Z5 is available in black or silver, and pricing is comparable with
that of the iPod nano.—Mike Kobrin
Sennheiser CX-300
If you want thumping bass
with minimal mud, you’ll
love these compact in-ear
headphones.
$69.99 list
go.pcmag.com/cx300
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Drivers are
covered with
a screen
TINY BASS THUMPERS
FOR BASS LOVERS AND SUBWAY COMmuters,
the Sennheiser CX-300
in-ear headphones are a very good
step up from stock earbuds. They’re
small, fairly nonintrusive, and the sound
quality is noticeably better than that of the
slightly cheaper Sony MDR-EX series, with
more clarity and crisper highs.
The bass is very powerful, but it doesn’t
overwhelm the rest of the sound. Also, the
16-ohm CX-300 headphones are more
efficient than Sony’s, which means you
don’t have to turn your player up as loud
to get a comfortable listening volume. In
addition, the CX-300’s noise isolation is
reasonably effective. These are a good alternative
to your player’s included earbuds,
especially if you dig a beefy low end.—MK
StarTech MP3 AirLink
With a dead-simple setup and
a price that won’t hurt your
wallet, this is an excellent
wireless music system.
$92.99 direct
go.pcmag.com/airlink
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YYePG Proudly Presents, Thx for Support
Channel button
WIRELESS MUSIC MADE SIMPLE
THE STARTECH MP3 AIRLINK LETS YOU SEND MUSIC
across your home without making your floor look
like a snake pit. The 2.4-GHz transmitter and receiver
are two nearly identical 1- by 3.1- by 3.1-
inch (HWD) plastic boxes. Each box has its own wall-wart
AC power adapter, and the system comes with two sets of
RCA-to-3.5mm cables and one 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable.
Overall, I’m impressed with the AirLink’s sound
quality and ease of use. It has a significantly clearer signal
than Bluetooth-based products. But if you have a
lot of interference in your space from other devices that
use the 2.4-GHz frequency band (Bluetooth headsets,
microwaves, some RF remotes), the AirLink may disappoint.
If you don’t, you’ll find this is a very useful, and
affordable, product.—MK
36 PC MAGAZINE MAY 9, 2006