Lexar's new LDP-400 and LDP-600 flash MP3 players
By Peter Rojas 
posted November 1st 2004 12:15PM
posted November 1st 2004 12:15PM
We're probably rapidly approaching the point where new 128MB, 256MB, or even 512MB flash-based MP3 players aren't really newsworthy anymore, but since we're not quite there yet, we feel obligated to relay the news of Lexar's two new models, the LDP-400, which comes in both 128MB and 256MB varieties and can run squeeze 12 hours of juice out of a single AAA battery, and the LDP-600, which is slightly better at grabbing our attention and comes in 256MB and 512MB varieties, and has a built-in FM tuner, an FM transmitter, and an SD card slot for adding extra memory.
This is what I've been waiting for, competition in the flash-based players. I have a 1Gb MMC card I'd like to use in a workout-only MP3 player.
Very nice design and quality for the price. Wish if there will be some hacks available in the future to bypass the SD expansion 1GB limit. What else you need after that? Go for it!
Very nice design and quality for the price. Wish if there will be some hacks available in the future to bypass the SD expansion 1GB limit. What else you need after that? Go for it!
Two wishes for this fun machine:
1. I could switch drives on the fly
2. Have a small battery-to-USB for recharge when I'm not near my computer.
3. That Lexar marketing would get smarter quicker and give this machine a name and better support.
Just bought the 256Mb model. Very nice but a couple of comments....
1/ The instruction manual (pdf in the unit) is crap. The Lexar site is no better with some functions which you have to work out for yourself.
2/ Would be nice to charge the unit away from the pc.
3/ Voice recording sensitive but hissy.
4/ Navigating the menu could have been more intuative.
5/ FM transmitter works great but does not have the quality of the MP3 - base could be a lot better.
6/ Lokking forward to firmare update but not holding my breath...
Overall, 7 out of 10. Happy with it but could be better!
This long comment is for current owners of LDP-600. There's a few sections.
INTRO & COMPARISON to Creative MUVO MICRO N200:
I've had the LDP-600 512MB edition for about 2 months now. I also just bought Creative muvo micro N200($140) for someone else. It's smaller,has in-line recording, and USB 2.0 highspeed. Both player's sound quality is nearly same (maybe N200 equalizer makes less distortion but is not as loud) though the provided headphones for N200 were better(ie-stronger BASS). I wanted to keep it but I'd still rather have an FM transmitter and the SD slot. Also, both voice and FM recorder quality with LDP-600 seem noteably better and more sensitive than the N200. No way to go straight to a song with N200 (no real folder navigation). I also just added 1 GB SD for $62 after mail-in rebate.
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=82033
Now I'm keeping whole albums on the SD and random fun songs on the internal.
IDEAS(read just for fun):
Love and hate. I've found lots of occassions where the FM transmitter comes in handy. BUT I'm always thinking of new ideas. Please tell me if these ideas are interesting, of course I have no idea about upcoming LDP-800. Still,LEXAR better keep supporting all there products, ie LDP-600 is only half a year old. I'm not about to go buy the LDP-800 just bc they stopped caring about the LDP-600. NEED MORE FIRMWARE UPDATES.
1. Support for microphone sensitivity option for normal voice, louder voice, and concert-lvl. That stupid FM transmitter senstiivity switch on the back seems pointless! It should have another function like every other button on the player!
2. Since microphone already works as a stand alone mic, what if you could broadcast your voice in real time! And then play your songs! Have your own live FM radio show!!! Even yet just use it as an insane wireless PA system!!(probably intentionally prevented for potential abuse in music stores :/)
3. Ability to add songs to bookmark while navigating, without having to play them first. I never use this feature now b/c I think its pointless that you need to play "playlist" songs before they are added.
4.Delete files/folders is not intuitive. Why not just be able delete folders including files? Deleting empty folders is pointless.
5.I'd like to use the players FM broadcast and microphone while its charging, through the USB.
6. Power save option to have screen shut off or dim completely when no button is touched for a while during play .
7.A strob light option with the LCD backlight, changing colors at random with the song.
8. In ID3 tag display mode, either automatically change font size to fit artist name or have it scroll like the song title. Artist name always gets cut off after 10 spaces.
9. Real-time resume for random play mode.
BTW Please comment and add your own ideas about making LDP or any MP3 player better.
-Chris
OOPS, like it matters. I meant line-in NOT in-line recording for the N200. It works well, up to 160 kbps. But I find this pointless since I'd rather quickly rip songs from CD. But it comes in handy if a friend has a single song on a cd player or MP3 player you want, or if you're into recording live songs with a multi-track mixer.
BTW Both players (LDP-600,N200) require USB cables but N200 uses AAA so doesn't recharge via USB. N200 is generally easier to use and more convenient to carry around (strapped to soemthing)but has less sophisticated folder management, no dedicated hold button
Bought the LDP-600 off of ebay the firmware looks like it's the Euro version 1.0.3?
I like the player with one big exception...it's simply not loud enough with the Senn eadrbuds at the highest volume setting of 40.
Anyone else find the volume too low? Would different headphones help, if so which ones?
Thanks.
Franco, I accidently loaded the Euro 1.07 instead of the US 1.07 firmware and the volume level of the US version is much louder. You may want to try loading the Us version.
I have an LDP600 too,but to my disappointment, I got the UK version which does not allow FM transmission, does anyone know about the possibility of uploading a diff version of the firmware(mine is Euro V1.03)? would this make a difference? where can I get it (not from LEXAR at least)? can someone email it to me (caat1850@hotmail.com)?
cheers!
Matt, you're awesome! I received the LDP600(512mb) without FM transmitter for X-Mas (I'm in Australia). I'm overall happy with the mp3 player, but the menu system is quite clunky. Anyhoo, I initially installed the Euro 1.07 update firmwire Rom, and found the audio level to be unsatisfactory low. But upon reading Matt's post today, I just now put the US 1.07 update on the player and it's MUCH, MUCH, MUCH louder! :)