Samsung U3 Review - Performance
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The sound quality of the U3 is only average. That is kind of what I expected
from this player, so it doesn't necessarily make it a deal breaker. The sound can be adjusted through the equalizer to get the best overall experience, but the sound is still just average. The signal-to-noise ratio in this player is only 90 dbs, which means that there may be some slight hissing during quiet moments of the music. I would have liked to see the signal-to-noise ration around 100db.
The included ear buds work well with this player, but some people may find them uncomfortable. Check out my review of the top five sporty aftermarket headphones for some good ideas on replacements. For those people who are in need of an MP3 player for the gym and don't need exceptional sound quality, this is definitely the player to get.
The battery life of the U3 is much better than the sound quality. Samsung rates the battery life at 15 hours before the U3 needs a charge. Charging is
accomplished through the built-in USB connector.
Final Thoughts
Samsung has impressed me with this simple little device. I may be a bit partial,
because I am a fitness guy and need a good MP3 player to get me through my workouts. The Samsung U3 is perfect for that. This no-frills player is definitely not for everyone, but it will be a joy for a select number of people who enjoy the fun and capable player. I think that the majority of people will love the fact that this player will double as a portable flash drive, and that may help sales a bit for Samsung.
Samsung has eliminated the need for a USB cable, which I like very much. I do have concerns, though, about the USB connector breaking off if the player is accidentally hit while connected to a PC. If this happens, the player will become useless for transferring files and synchronizing; on top of that, you won't be able to charge up the battery anymore. So this feature is sort of a double-edge sword, but if a little bit of caution is taken while charging or synchronizing you should be okay.
For about $69, this player is competitively priced. The U3's competition consists of players like the Creative Zen Stone 2 GB and the Toshiba Gigabeat U 2 GB. The Creative Stone is much smaller than the U3 and will cost about the same, while the Toshiba is closer to the $100 range but features better sound and a picture viewer.
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