Amazon.co.uk Review
Weighing only 45 g and smaller than a deck of cards, the Zillion 64 MB MP3 player is one of the most pocketable and portable digital audio devices on the market. This Multi-codec player supports MP3, WMA and AAC, giving you a flexible player for digital audio, or voice recording via the built-in microphone. The player has 64 MB of integrated memory, plus a MMC (MultiMedia Card) expansion slot, which can provide up to a further 128 MB capacity. The player is well constructed, with a solid feel to it and has a diamond-shaped blue LCD display in the centre. Due to the devices diminutive stature, this LCD is quite small, so while displaying some useful information, it doesn't display track names or album titles--these MP3/WMA tags are not supported. The controls are split between four buttons on the face of the unit, plus some sliding switches and a rotary volume dial on the sides. The controls are intuitive to use, if limited. A hold switch is a handy addition, but the equaliser is limited to Normal, Treble, or Bass with the latter producing the most satisfying sound--the treble setting suffers from too much sibilance. The sound quality is impressive for such a small and affordable device. The supplied headphones mask some of this quality and are best replaced, as is so often the case with entry-level MP3 players. Connection to your PC is via USB with the supplied cable and the software provided is simple to install and use. Transferring tracks is a breeze and there is the added advantage of being able to store any files on the device, giving you effectively a mini portable storage solution. The Zillion is powered by two AAA batteries (supplied), which provide in the region of 10 hours continuous usage. MP3 players have progressed significantly in the last couple of years and while the Zillion is not the most powerful, or advanced, it is a well-designed solid performer that has plenty in its favour, especially its small size and affordable price tag. --
Nick Baxter
