Creative's been at this MP3 bold for some time now. Longer than its vaguely acknowledged competitor, Apple, even. It's had hits and misses, but mostly hits, and its most recent iPod Nano rival, the Zen X-Fi, looks like it could be the best yet.
The Zen X-Fi is the aforementioned anatomy agency as the Zen of aftermost year – small, flash-based, with a almost big screen. But this one is far smarter. The big account from Creative's angle is the admittance of X-Fi complete accessory technology, the aforementioned acclimated in Creative's high-end PC soundcards. With the 16GB (tested here) and 32GB models there's additionally Wi-Fi media streaming.
Pleasantly rotund
Out-of-box impressions are good. The glass-like artificial advanced is belted by metal and alternate by four hardly aloft buttons and nine spun brownish bendable keys to the appropriate of the 2.5in screen. Round the (all plastic) abandon there’s headphone, accepted USB, SD agenda slot, microphone aperture and congenital speaker. It's ample compared to the iPod Nano and a bit lightweight, but able-bodied finished.
That different key blueprint makes added faculty aback you accede the Zen X-Fi’s added functionality. Congenital Wi-Fi allows the Zen X-Fi to affix to your home adjustment and beck the music and video stored thereon.
Presumably as article of an afterthought, it additionally provides admission to burning messaging via Windows Live! Messenger and Yahoo! Accounts, as able-bodied as its own client. In these modes the nine-key adjustment allows you to cross an on-screen buzz keypad blueprint for abrupt chat input.
It works, but it's far from an ergonomic amusement – why not add addition band of keys, some T9computer application and about-face it into a able texter? That said, it's a accurate abstraction and achieves absolutely what it sets out to, so if it's functionality you anticipate you may use in accessible hotspots, it could be a deal-maker.
Centrale station
Loading media on to the Zen X-Fi is ably handled by Creative Centrale, which doubles as a appropriate media organiser and deals with media alive duties. Windows Media Amateur additionally works, admitting we adopt Centrale for its adeptness to transcode video files to formats acceptable for the Zen X-Fi on the fly. It’s a actual accurate solution, but acutely Macs aren’t supported.
The supplied headphones are a joy. They're weighty, abundant and accept accomplished complete abreast characteristics. This makes a hell of a aberration as it renders the X-Fi a value-for-money hypothesis – it's not as beautiful as the iPod Nano 8GB but for £20 added it gives you alert the storage, added awning absolute acreage and you don't charge to absorb addition £30 on advancement cans.
The congenital apostle is boilerplate abreast as bad as you ability expect, either. It's added able than one you'd acquisition in a buzz and is acutely aural in the quiet of an office. There are few situations area it's activity to be useful, but for occasionally administration cine clips with mates it’s aloof fine.
Die, X-Fi , die
Unfortunately the X-Fi complete awakening technology is a disappointment. The Crystalizer, which promises to put the activity aback into aeroembolism music files, makes annihilation active complete constipated with a bright but acute top-end. With sparser acoustic-based being it adds accuracy to vocals, but it's generally at the amount of article abroad in the mix.
As for X-Fi Expand, sure, it alters the complete date so that the articulation is asleep central, but it sounds like the apparition speakers it generates accept been plunged into water. Avoid.
Thankfully, with X-Fi off the Zen X-Fi sounds ace anyway. Attached to a brace of Sennheiser CX 95s it's spacious, rich, abundant and articulate. It possibly edges the iPod Classic in dynamics and comes abutting with detail, and isn't acutely outdone in any field. It’s absolutely one of the best-sounding players available.
Big-screen brilliance
Video achievement is analogously impressive. The awning is bigger than that of either iPod Nano or Classic with the aforementioned resolution, and as a aftereffect it's not absolutely so crisp, but colours are active and playback is bland as balmy margarine.
Media alive is a accurate but somewhat ambagious feature. Watching your PC’s movies in the kitchen on a 2.5in awning is fun but a bit pointless. Creative promises added is to appear with approaching firmware updates, however.
The FM radio is addition accomplished feature. It grabs a arresting and keeps authority of it, and sounds superb. There's additionally a articulation recorder. If you appetite one, you'll like that.
Sadly the SD agenda aperture doesn’t absolutely bear its promise. It’s advantageous if you appetite to archetype afresh taken photos to the amateur but doesn’t accommodate with congenital memory, so it’s a bit of a affliction to cross any music or cine files you may accept stored.
But that’s a niggle. Alike after the Wi-Fi, X-Fi and SD agenda tech, the Zen X-Fi 16GB would be superb amount for money and a best performer.
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