Creative ZEN X-Fi 8GB (Electronics)

SD card not well integrated This looked like an excellent buy given the price of other flash memory mp3 players, I wrongly thought the SD card facility would allow me to buy multiple cheap SD cards (which would work out cheaper than loads of built-in memory and better/quicker than a hard drive machine) to make up for the 8GB memory. Got this wrong though, probably the fault of my own unrealistic expectations, because I didnt realise that the music on the SD card would not work as part of the player's library, and could only be browsed through a basic file directory. So, it does work but not very well, and not as I had hoped. Will get one with a bigger memory to start with.

Iplayer This is a great player but I'm surprised no one has mentioned the iplayer. I've got a PSP and an ipod and transferring video to my PC and then converting was just too much hassle. Basically I wanted to easily watch programmes in the gym or the train where there is no wifi. The Creative Zen X-Fi was listed on the iplayer website and now...........download the file to my PC, transfer to Zen and watch at leisure for up to a week I think. It's great. The interface takes a little getting used to but really is fine and it's got great headphones, a built in radio and you can add memory through the sd slot. Oh and it's got a speaker too.....maybe I should have given it 5 stars. Download iplayer programmes for the tube or train though. It's absolutely great.

Good Player I bought the 32GB Zen x-fi after the failure of my trusty Zen Vision M (dropped on floor and Creative said that they no longer could repair and they no longer held any spare parts - my player was only 12months old!). Creative do seem to have an odd attitude to Customer Service. It is almost as if customers are a nuisance to them. One has to jump through hoops just to get support and then only by email according to their website as one cannot locate their telephone number easily. So beware! As to the Zen x-fi. I had read several reports before deciding on buying. I had contemplated an Ipod but have found the problems transferring material with all the restrictions i-tunes make. With Creative at least you can use Windows Media Player. I have used their Centrale software and although I found this OK, many do not. Certainly WMP works quite OK. The Zen size was a concern but when delivered by trusty Amazon (promptly as usual) the player was found to be of good size, not too small, and I find the buttons fine to use. Transfer of songs and album art went smoothly. Sound is great (better than Ipods) and this without using the Zen's included sound improvement options. Navigation is simple and intuitive. Two problems I found - the internal speaker operates on switch-on even if software-switched to the Speaker Off option! Secondly if trying to connect to the internet network - if a signal cannot be found then the screen states 'Searching for Network' and it is impossible to come out of this screen - even the main OFF switch does not work - a lock-up that requires the reset function to be used and an internal file rebuild on next switching on (this has not caused the loss of any files). I did not need the networking ability but just thought that I would try it (I will not do that again!). If anyone has the answers to these problems, please post them! In addition the SD media card slot does not permit any integration with other files lodged on the player, so one needs to order a player with enough internal memory and that is why I went for the 32GB model. The player looks good, certainly better size than my Vision M and being a flash player does not have an internal disc to damage. As usual Creative do little for the customer - there is no screen protection (not even a silicon sheet), a very short usb lead (150mm long!), software disc on a mini disc so cannot be used on slot cd/dvd players (requires a download from Creative's website instead), Manual on the disc although there is a Quick start Guide, no mains charger. In summary the sound is good, the player handles fine and if one does not need to contact Creative then all should be fine. I just hope that if the player needs repair that Creative will not discontinue the model and refuse to help after owning it for a short time. Just one star off for the problems mentioned.

xfi mode adds more treble to your songs than cleans them up. I bought this mp3 i accidentally dropped my creative zen in water its now broken. My verdict on this mp3 player the xfi mode the crystalizer is more deafening than the so called restore your music as its supposed to be i personally think it add treble onto the track and the 3d part of it just adds more bass. The xfi function is great for dance music if you like that sorta thing. The video on it the sound is superb better than the creative zen vision m. The software than comes with it that creative central how on earth do you use it i just do it manually i have no clue what so ever lol. The player its self is very light you can operate it with 1 hand not like the brick the zen vision m. I think the battery life is longer than the zen vision m as well. The radio is useless cant get a proper signal on it ever when you try to exit it freezes sometimes. Its not a bad player I just think that xfi is a gimmick but its louder than the zen vision m but it takes a few playing around with the sound to get it right or maybe i'm just a picky listener.

Zen X-Fi 8GB This is a great little player (only had it a week so time will tell) the sound quality is top rate. Compared to the wifes IPod Classic its slightly better to my ears. The only thing I can find against it so far is the software suite that comes with it. Its utter poo. I am running Vista 64 so I don't know if that could cause problems, but looking at other reviews its just the software. Creative suggested I use Windows Media player instead and this works brilliantly. You can easily sync the player with Windows Media player and add and remove files very easily, and it doesnt stop working like the Creative Suite does. So far I would recommend it.