RCA Lyra 1080 - A Good Choice In MP3 Players
Written: Dec 10 '03 (Updated Apr 01 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Sound: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
|
|
| Durability: |
 |
|
| Portability: |
 |
|
| Battery Life: |
|
|
|
Pros: Good sound, decent value in a distinctively styled package.
Cons: Some design issues make this unit susceptible to damage.
The Bottom Line: The RCA Lyra 1080 has a lot going for it -- sound, styling, and ease-of-use and is a good value despite some design issues.
|
|
|
| sweeper's Full Review: RCA Lyra RD1080 (128 MB) MP3 Player |
It’s out-of-character for me to buy electronics on a whim but found myself almost nonchalantly tucking the blistered pack MP3 player in between a double-pack box of Mini-Wheats and the poinsettias in my shopping cart at my warehouse retailer. What the heck, I thought, the return policy at the store was generous and I’ve been wanting such a toy anyway. So far, the RCA Lyra RD1080 has proven itself worthy.
Actually, it wasn’t exactly an impulse buy as I did have some requirements. I was looking for a flash memory based unit with FM receiver. My decade old FM headset I wear at the gym was being held together with duct tape. I had to remove batteries to turn it off since the switch had broken years ago. When it stopped working entirely I tossed it and was subject to the junk music the gym pipes in. Also within the last few years I have been creating MusicMatch playlists and custom CDs anticipating a time I would be able to access such during my workouts. Having followed the development of MP3 players recently, I knew my owning one would be inevitable.
First Impressions
The unit is an attractive two color, distinctively styled, 2 oz., package that fits in a palm. I connected it to my PC and, without regards to the manual, found that the computer recognized it. The Lyra also indicated it recognized the connection. Knowing MusicMatch had MP3 player management capability, I simply drag and dropped a set of MP3 files into the Lyra’s Thomson (RCA’s parent company) icon. Transfer took place and I was enjoying Alison Krauss and Union Station bluegrass within minutes.
Design Details
As mentioned, the Lyra 1080 is a flash memory based unit meaning it does not rely on a disk drive for storage but on solid-state memory circuitry. The advantage is there are no moving parts susceptible to shock. The benefit is most appreciated by those who use the device during workouts and other activities that subject the unit to jarring. The disadvantage of such a design is the higher cost per unit of storage compared to a disk drive player. As such, the on-board 128MB stores about three albums worth of tunes sampled at a rate of 128 kilobytes per second, kbs. A lower sampling rate allows more tunes. Keep in mind that 128 kbs is the lowest sampling rate some folks find acceptable to retain “CD quality.” By adding a Multi-Media Card, MMC, or Secure Digital, SD, card, it’s easy, if not cheap, to double the unit’s storage capability.
Controls consist of four buttons housed beneath a rubberized cover. They are:
DSP – toggles through a programmed set of equalizer profiles to adjust tone
Mode – toggles through a programmed mode of play including continuous, single track repeat and random.
Off/Stop – Stops recorded music play and/or turns off the radio.
Play/Pause – Turns the unit on. Then toggles between play and pause for recorded music.
While these buttons are smartly protected against moisture, a separate, multifunction joy stick is exposed to the elements. It seems obvious the design should have included covered buttons similar to the others. While the joystick is recessed, it’s not fully protected from breaking or moisture penetration. Its function includes:
Selecting the Tuner function.
Selecting the recorded music function
Rewind / track back (in recorded music function) or tune downward (in tuner function)
Fast forward / Track ahead (in recorded music function) or tune upward (in tuner function)
Pressing the joystick straight down serves as an enter button.
Response to button pushes lag to the point where I initially found myself pressing multiple times. There is no tactile response when pressing the buttons. Eventually I found myself becoming accustomed to the lag and timed the button pushing accordingly.
A separate volume rocker switch is located on the unit’s left side.
The display is smartly laid out under the large and recessed oval window. The three line backlit LED readout, similar to the Timex licensed “Indiglo”, displays legible and pertinent information applicable to either the tuner or recorded music function. The central line shows artist and song title and will scroll through text too long to show completely in one view. A relative volume level readout is automatically displayed when adjusting volume.
The USB connection is located at the bottom of the unit under a flimsy rubber flap. The headset jack is located on top and to the side of the MMC/SD expansion slot which has no cover making it subject to contamination. Batteries, two “AAA’s”, are loaded under a plastic flap in the back. The battery compartment and its flap protrude and the flap is most likely the first item to be lost or broken on this unit. I’m considering mitigating this possibility with some electrical or duct tape.
The unit is supplied with a headset, USB cable, lanyard, neck strap, armband holder, music management software, and batteries.
Interface Issues
Some have complained about hassles moving and managing files on the Lyra. Earlier versions of the unit required converting MP3 files into MusicMatch proprietary MPY files. Happily, the latest version (RD 1080B) allows direct transfer without an intermediate conversion. The Lyra also recognizes and plays Window Media Audio, WMA, files. Unfortunately the Lyra has no built-in file management capability. For instance you cannot delete or modify files with the Lyra. There is no ability to create playlists within the player. Therefore, the best way to load music in an orderly fashion is to create a playlist in MusicMatch on the PC and copy the entire playlist to the Lyra in one move. Remember that all new music will be added to the end of the playlist in Lyra.
The USB 1.1 transfer rate seems sluggish especially if you are used to devices with USB 2.0.
The included music management software includes MusicMatch 7.5. I don’t use it as I’m a subscriber and am using an 8.X version. RCA claims it “compatible” with PC and Macintosh computers but, as Mac users are all too aware of, the Mac capabilities are stunted. PC users need OS 98se or later.
User Experience
I am using the unit during aerobic and lifting workouts. At the gym, I use the FM tuner to listen to any one of the three TV monitors that rebroadcast audio in the FM band. The tuner has 10 pre-sets. As with most small FM receivers, they depend on the headset leads as the antenna. This means that orientation of the wires may be important when trying to receive weak signals or lock onto a station adjacent to another powerful station as would be the case in metropolitan areas. It’s just a nuance portable FM users have to get used to. I also listen to downloaded music. I use the armband holder or keep the unit in my pocket. Either way it remains out of the way and, of course, there’s no skipping or dropped music. As a former aerobic instructor, I’m fully aware how music can boost exercise performance.
The headset is considered an “open” design that allows the user to hear ambient sounds. Still, their use in both ears is considered unlawful while driving, cycling, or skiing in California and other states. The lightweight earpieces clip on. Initially, I was aware of them but they no longer feel awkward and are, in fact, quite comfortable.
Sound quality is surprisingly good. Having listened to a variety of MP3 units, this is among the best I’ve heard. Only using high-end earbuds such as those supplied with Apple’s iPod or closed headsets did I experience better sound with the Lyra. Indeed, I tested the unit using a pair of pro-model closed headsets. I did hear a better sound but, with it, I also heard MP3 compression and recording artifacts including an extremely high-pitched squeal between tracks that, I suspect, are lower harmonic remnants of the sampling process. There are those who argue there is no difference between CD quality and MP3 quality. I’m not one of them. Still, in the environments in which I have used and plan to use the Lyra, top-notch music quality is not required as much as ruggedness, ease-of-use, and portability. Having mentioned that, it’s good to know that this little player can assert itself very well with no discernible distortion when the volume is turned up.
Given some doubts about certain design features, I’m still very pleased with this rare impulse buy.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 120
Recommended for: Athletes - Lightweight and Portable, Perfect for the Gym
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
sweeper
|
 in Electronics |
 in Electronics |
 - Top 500 |
|
Member: David Burckhard
Location: San Jose, CA
Reviews written: 110
Trusted by: 290 members
About Me:
Let me be your video provider
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.