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Transcend T.Sonic 860
| Caractéristiques | |||
| Screen | 6.1 cm | ||
| Screen Resolution / Colours | 324 x 240 pixels / N/A | ||
| Storage | Flash memory 2 GB (+microSD) | ||
| Dimensions/Weight | 94mm x 50mm x 12mm / 65 g | ||
| Battery | 22 hours of audio | ||
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| File formats supported | MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, FLAC and WMA-DRM10, MPEG4 SP(Xvid) and FLV |
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Tristan François
Test date: March 16, 2010
Test date: March 16, 2010
Capacity on a shoestring with microSD
It's a well-known fact that the price of an MP3 player is directly proportional to its storage capacity.
Another well-known fact is that the difference in price between the different capacity models of a given MP3 player is not usually in line with the price per GB often seen with flash-memory storage devices.
That's where a microSD slot can make all the difference, as you can seriously boost a lower-capacity MP3 player's storage space for just a little bit more of your hard-earned cash. In other words, you can turn a 2 GB model into an 18 GB player in the blink of an eye.
The best bit is that you can invest in extra memory as and when you like. You can buy a memory card with the player or save up to invest at a later date. Plus, microSD is a popular format that's not going anywhere just yet!
In fact, with a bit of luck, you'll still have that microSD card from your old mobile phone kicking around somewhere ...
Another well-known fact is that the difference in price between the different capacity models of a given MP3 player is not usually in line with the price per GB often seen with flash-memory storage devices.
That's where a microSD slot can make all the difference, as you can seriously boost a lower-capacity MP3 player's storage space for just a little bit more of your hard-earned cash. In other words, you can turn a 2 GB model into an 18 GB player in the blink of an eye.
The best bit is that you can invest in extra memory as and when you like. You can buy a memory card with the player or save up to invest at a later date. Plus, microSD is a popular format that's not going anywhere just yet!
In fact, with a bit of luck, you'll still have that microSD card from your old mobile phone kicking around somewhere ...
As a brand that's better-known for making memory cards, we certainly weren't expecting Transcend to launch into the MP3 player market. Then again, I seem to remember saying that about Sandisk not so long ago too ...
Handling: basic but practicalThere's nothing really ground-breaking in the design of the 860 itself or its internal software. Despite being a bit plastic, the product is well-finished, and although the controls don't look amazing, they're practical to use. It's the same story for the interface too: it's nothing pretty, the icons could be more attractive, but it is, at least, functional.
After that fairly mediocre start, I had to look twice at the spec sheet, as the big surprise with the T.sonic 860 is the impressive number of audio formats it supports. In fact, heavyweight MP3 player manufacturers can pretty much all go get their coats, as very few players other than Cowon's can beat the T.sonic 860. I know, I'm still in shock too!
Audio: could do betterGuess what? That's right, the earphones are rubbish, but don't say I didn't warn you. In any case, we wouldn't really expect anything less when even top-of-the-range players are supplied with low-quality earphones. The sound is foggy, not really neutral and they're not the most comfortable earphones either. In other words, get yourself some new ones.
As for the rest, the headphones output isn't fantastic. Although sound is reproduced correctly, the definition could be better, which is a real shame in a player that can read file types such as FLAC. But let's be clear about one thing, the sound output is definitely not bad, it's just that certain other players have set standards very high.
There's an FM radio, a voice recorder function and a battery life of just over 15 hours, which, again, is a long way behind the best products on the market.
Just like rival memory manufacturer Sandisk, Transcend has launched into the digital music player market with a product that's far from bad. With a huge list of compatible formats and a functional interface, the T.sonic 860 is sure to please anyone who's looking for a versatile digital music player without shelling out for a top-of-the-range model.
Pluses
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Huge range of formats supported
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Easy to use
Minuses
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A bit plastic
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Sound output could be better
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Bad earphones
Although Transcend is better-known for its storage products, the T.sonic 860 in no way discredits the brand. It's certainly not the product of the year, but for occasional use, there's not much point paying more for a better player.
