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July 22, 2005
Review: MPeye HTS-200 MP3 Player
MPeye is a new company when it comes to MP3 players and is Korean. The HTS-200 is constructed from white and silver plastic with a metal plate on the front and back. The HTS-200 won’t sell on looks as there are dozens of devices that look similar. However, its size is only 70 x 43 x 18mm with a 5GB hard drive. MPeye says this is the worlds smallest 5GB hard drive based MP3 player.
Weighs 72g, battery time is quoted at 15 hours, has a 120x80 pixel CSTN LCD colour display that measures just over one inch diagonally. The resolution is fairly high for such a tiny screen and the menu system is very easy to read despite the tiny screen. Mpeye has added an FM radio as well as line in recording.
The main control of the HTS-200 is based on a four way joystick that’s pressed inwards to make selections. Moving it up and down in play mode adjusts the volume while moving it to either side skips to the next or previous track – this will also fast forward or rewind the music playing if held to either side for any length of time. Press and hold the joystick down quickly to access the file and picture browser, or hold it down for two seconds to access the menu system.
There are a further three buttons that are used to control the HTS-200 and these can be found on the bottom of the player. The play/pause button which also doubles up and the on/off switch, then there is the repeat/hold button and finally an A-B button which is also used for switching to the voice recorder mode. The 2.5mm line in jack can also be found on this side of the player.
On the right hand side is a mini USB 2.0 connector as well as a reset switch, both hidden underneath a rubber flap. The left hand side is home to the headphone socket as well as a loop to which the supplied neck strap can be attached. Apart from the neck strap you also get a USB to mini USB 2.0 cable, a 2.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable, a see-through plastic protective pouch with a belt hoop, a charger and a set of pretty average white headphones.
For those interested in playing other formats than MP3 the HTS-200 can handle both WMA and OGG files. MP3s are limited to a maximum 320kbps and WMA to 192kbps quality. Sound quality was generally very good, although not with the bundled headphones. There were no problems with the hard drive skipping during use either, although a device like this should have a generous enough buffer to avoid such behavior.
Overall the MPeye HTS-200 offers a solid set of features that will give the more established brands a run for their money, but at £158.95 it’s going to have a problem competing with the likes of the Creative Zen micro which is cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing. The colour screen and the physical dimensions are major plus points for this device.
Posted by mp3fan at July 22, 2005 8:55 AM