The Samsung YH-925 20GB MP3 player has striking features that put it in position to be more than a mere digital audio machine.
The device is capable of recording directly to MP3 from line sources at up to 44KHz at 160Kbps.
Equipped with a 1.8-inch colour screen, the YH-925 is able to display photos and slide shows, and is a USB hub that can off-load from compatible digital cameras.
Its nine EQ presets and SRS/WOW audio enhancements allow for good quality audio sound.
Unlike some of its competitors, its highly readable screen keeps the user informed about connect status, battery charging and file transfers, along with the usual song information. It also supports Microsoft`s PlaysForSure digital rights management scheme.
Although I could sing its praises for pages and pages, the device did let me down. When I unplugged it from my notebook without allowing it to safely disconnect, the device`s whole system corrupted and I had to reload the firmware.
Besides that, even with all its extraordinary features, the YH-925 has some of the worst audio performance I have ever experienced in a player. While harmonic distortion is minimal when the EQ is off, once any of the other settings is activated there are unusual amounts of distortion, easily detectable by the untrained ear, on test tones and music.
I like loud music so I didn`t mind the fact that the device was preposterously loud, although those around me seemed to.
During the testing, I also tried it on an unamplified speaker, and it managed to take it to a reasonable listening level. With headphones, the normal listening level is around midway on the 40-step volume control. Higher levels will bring on distortion, even with no EQ. I have yet to hear an SRS/WOW implementation on a player that actually improves the listening experience.
Another downer is the fact that it requires that the user install a driver on their notebook or PC. Without it, the YH-925 won`t recognise music files that are transferred to it. What a bummer when it is basically just a USB hard drive.
You can use Windows Media Player 10 to select and sync tracks. Samsung also provides Napster software on the installation disc. On the player software side, navigation is excellent, with pop-up menus that allow you to add a track to the playlist, delete it, and perform other context-sensitive functions. The screen is bright and highly readable. Auto-dimming preserves visibility while conserving the battery. When the backlight is fully off, the screen is unreadable.
An excellent feature is the fact that the cable is proprietary, with a Y connection that goes to the USB port and to the charger. While others may prefer the standard USB A/B (large/small) cable and a separate charger, I give this feature 10/10.
The Y cable may be used to connect to cameras, too. The USB host mode is straightforward. Once connected to a camera, you can copy or delete images from the camera`s memory. Given the proliferation of digital cameras and the inconvenience of taking a computer on vacation, this is also a very welcome feature.
The voice recording quality is not much to write home about, but when used to record simple interviews, I guess it will do; the point is that the microphone could use more isolation from the case. However, line-in recording is fine.
If not for its audio problems, the YH-925 would be a desirable player. The bottom line is that the Samsung YH-925 is a promising player marred by serious sonic flaws. It has acceptable quality without EQ, but all EQ settings are a disaster.
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