Evergreen's $8.50 DN-2000 MP3 player

Japanese Co. Evergreen is no stranger to the cheap and crap-plasticy product. Now they combine their love of the two and apparent hatred for human-kind in this $8.50 DN-2000 MP3 player targeting the ill-fated shores of Japan, and perhaps, beyond. It runs for 5-hours on a single AAA battery and supports 1GB SD cards. You realize of course, that we are now at the dawn of disposable MP3 players don't you? Gawd save our souls.

[George @ Apr 7th 2006 8:37AM]

Seems like an ideal product. People with digital camera's have the memory cards any ways. And it is a nice gimick to give away to friends and customers.

I even like the look of this mp3 player.

[citykids @ Apr 7th 2006 8:46AM]

Yeah Engadget, to hell with those who can't afford an iPod! Muahahaha!
Seriously though, I remember when cheap cassette "walkman" players could be had on street corners for $10, it's about time mp3 players started dropping in price as well.

[Joe @ Apr 7th 2006 8:47AM]

Sounds great. Not everyone are tech-snobs like yourselves you know. Now even _poor_ people can listen to digital music.

Whatever next? Clean drinking water for the world's population? Gawd save our souls.

[Chris @ Apr 7th 2006 8:57AM]

This is the exact same player as the Sitecom
MP310 which I bought at the beginning of last
year. Back then I paid 35 euro's for it and
it was utter crap. Button didn't function
correctly.. next was stop etc etc..

Sounded good, but it was a waist of those 35
euro's. Here's a pic of the Sitecom.

http://www.consumax.nl/catalog/images/sitecom-mp310.jpg

[Agent Jones @ Apr 7th 2006 9:04AM]

This has been out in the US for months... I got one in silver from Surplus computers for $15 It dosent have a resume feature so every time you start it up it plays the first mp3 on the list. If you bump it, it'll momentarily lose contact with the sd card and will start again from the begining. It does make for a fasd reader that can play Mp3's in a pinch....

[Andreas W @ Apr 7th 2006 9:05AM]

This thing has been available from ledshoppe.com for 15$ for at least 3 months, I ordered one a while back, and surprisingly it didn't have horrible sound quality, until i dropped it onto the sidewalk, and it broke completely. guess i will be moving up to a Joybee 130 now...

[StevenC @ Apr 7th 2006 9:11AM]

Shame on you Engadget. I bought one of these from Proporta at least 6 months ago and I was aware of them for 6 months before that. They are cheap and they do the job - plain and simple.

[TZK @ Apr 7th 2006 9:11AM]

This would be interesting if you could buy it with a new album release on it.

Or, maybe not.

Nevermind.

If its for Japan, why are you reporting the price in USD? Report it in sushi, or whatever currency used there. HAhahaha

[Rob @ Apr 7th 2006 9:22AM]

Ahhh, a cheap way to shut up my nephew who keeps asking for an iPod. Hey, the kid breaks everything!

[nullsmack @ Apr 7th 2006 9:22AM]

#4-6 I demand inside shots of both sides of the pcb, stat!

[Lorne @ Apr 7th 2006 10:05AM]

Finally! The cost vs. value curve of MP3 players has been completely out of whack from the get-go. Flas players have been priced like they were major components, but their consumer value is more along
the lines of something you would pull out of a cereal box. I'm looking forward to pulling one of these out of a box of Fr00t L00ps in a year or two (battery and SD card not included).

[raindog @ Apr 7th 2006 10:07AM]

While this thing looks like crap, I've always been interested in mp3 players that had no storage of their own and just let me use my own media. The best example I have of this is my cheap-ass Orbit portable DVD player, which is actually a USB host and will play mp3's and divx (and NES games) off of usb storage compliant devices. (Sometimes cheap is quality.)

But that's really big to be carrying around, and its battery life is appropriate for a DVD player, not an MP3 player. Anyone seen anything with a form factor like this cheap thing but with a USB port instead of an SD slot?

[jcg @ Apr 7th 2006 10:39AM]

I want one. I don't like the idea of my bringing my HD mp3-player with me when i'm jogging. It's cheap, small and I would feel bad when I break it

[thatlostdog @ Apr 7th 2006 10:43AM]

I bought one a year ago off ebay from china All I had to do was pay $9 for shipping. I have been using it at the gym with an old sd card works great resume feature works until you pull the battery out. Just purchased a new 1 GB sd card for 19$ all I can say is it works I like it more than my buddy's shuffle and I paid a fraction of what he did.

[AFD @ Apr 7th 2006 10:50AM]

Looks like a nice design, and a great price.. not bad, actually.

[jcplummer @ Apr 7th 2006 10:55AM]

Diddo, #11

This is the perfect addition to the motorcycle... and if it gets lost/stolen/broken... I'll just get another. Exactly what I've been looking for!

[push2flush @ Apr 7th 2006 11:00AM]

#10: "But that's really big to be carrying around, and its battery life is appropriate for a DVD player, not an MP3 player. Anyone seen anything with a form factor like this cheap thing but with a USB port instead of an SD slot?"

sandisk had a lovely device called the mp3 companion. the problems though are it was 35 when it was available, and only worked with cruzer micro thumb drives. they no longer sell this item, and ive seen it for 75 on ebay at one time, a perk is it does have a screen ion the device, and a nice form factor.

[dave @ Apr 7th 2006 11:12AM]

perhaps a new UN initiative...OMP3PC

[Kill Fat People @ Apr 7th 2006 11:35AM]

I'd rather the thing was a little bigger and the SD card was completely hidden. How are you supposed to put that in your pocket with the SD card sticking out the side?

[paolo @ Apr 7th 2006 11:48AM]

Who cares if it doesn't work well the way it is now, for some reason I'm hearing HACKING in my left ear...

[heyhow @ Apr 7th 2006 11:55AM]

Hey seems to be the new apple product- as usefull as the ipod shuffle, black, smaller and cheaper! must have this ....

[push2flush @ Apr 7th 2006 12:04PM]

im seeing a hacked NES controller in my future. ( i know its been done before, but this one is cheap enough to give it a whirl).

i just hope it will support that 2gb sd card i got comin in the mail..

[yuppicide @ Apr 7th 2006 12:17PM]

I've seen these on eBay for a long time here. I almost thought of buying one, but didn't want to have to get a memory card. I had a 1GB SD card, but that's for my digital camera and nothing else.

The iPod Nano sells for what $149 in stores for 1GB?! If I could get a bunch of these for the price stated and a 1GB SD card for $29, I know an avenue I could rebadge them and sell for a good profit. I'd probably just sell them for materials + $10 labor myself though.

[fulani @ Apr 7th 2006 12:29PM]

Why so negative?
Looks awesome. A lot of people have SD cards from various devices these days, why not let them use them to play music?
Good battery life, no worries if you break it. Sounds great.

[cmoney @ Apr 7th 2006 12:32PM]

Re: Disposable mp3 players

Actually, I was in the airport (EWR) a few days ago and found some disposable mp3 players already. They were used for audio books. The package had some headphones and a little player not unlike the one pictured. The one I looked at had about 20 hours of content though I don't remember how long the battery lasted. Cost about $15 IIRC. They had about 20 different "books" to choose from. Not expandable (at least as far as I could tell without buying one and opening it up) and only one book per device.

[MetaD @ Apr 7th 2006 1:06PM]

Borders is already selling a device that plays just one book for about $50. It's very wasteful of a good MP3 player that could be used to play all sorts of content. I like this device from Japan - sign me up for one.

[Poopmaster @ Apr 7th 2006 1:15PM]

It's about usability, durability, and ultimately quality. When you can't sell those things, you sell price. And with a price this low, do you really think those sweatshop workers expended any effort at QC? C'mon guys. You get what you pay for, because the workers sure didn't.

[daschupa @ Apr 7th 2006 1:43PM]

Hmmm, might be good for the OMP3PPC (One MP3 Player Per Child) if you could add a mini hand crank and make it John Deere green.

[Jared Dilg @ Apr 7th 2006 2:16PM]

push2flush:

That sounds like a fun mod! Post some pictures when you're done.

[yuppicide @ Apr 7th 2006 2:21PM]

Does anyone know where I could buy some of these?! I'm in the USA. I'd want them all black like the one pictured, and as cheap or close to the $8.50 specified.

[mb @ Apr 7th 2006 3:31PM]

there's a cloud of smug building over engadget

[funetik @ Apr 7th 2006 5:08PM]

#21/push2flush

The Akihabara story says it'll "support up to 1GB SD card"

Wouldn't hold your breath :(

[push2flush @ Apr 7th 2006 6:28PM]

"30. #21/push2flush

The Akihabara story says it'll "support up to 1GB SD card"

Wouldn't hold your breath :( "
~

ill sure as abraham try it.

[Dave @ Apr 7th 2006 7:35PM]

I have had one of these for about a year now....I bought it on Ebay, sold as a generic SD card mp3 player. I paid like $20 for it, but I thought it was a good deal, can be used as a SD reader for a computer too. I personally think if you don't need the song title displayed, go with this. The sound is loud enough, battery life is long enough, and its pretty small too.

[Eli @ Apr 7th 2006 7:41PM]

#31: SD cards have an onboard memory controller, there's no reason it shouldn't be able to support higher than 1gb. Since the whole thing is translated from Japanese I'm going to assume something got lost there.

[Mandarin @ Apr 7th 2006 8:04PM]

Thats not disposable. It's cheap and decent. Not everyone can throw 200$ for an ipod these days.

[Mandarin @ Apr 7th 2006 8:12PM]

Where do you buy a 19$ 1 GB SD card these days?

[obo @ Apr 7th 2006 8:50PM]

It's not disposable until it comes in a Happy Meal or a cereal box.

[ashok pai @ Apr 7th 2006 11:45PM]

hey, buzz off will you ? you dont like it dont look at it. why do you think you are the centre of the universe, and everything is made for you? there are 4 wheelers rather large and got tillers behind these stupid looking cars, the seating comfort isnt good, and people call them tractors - so? these arent meant for you either in case you want complain abt them! there are sections of society who wouldnt mind a cheap mp3 players. they probably will save for 2 months and buy them. college and school kids who can buy an mp3 player out of thier pocket money. so whats with crappy japanese, and crappy products diatribe ?

[Rc @ Apr 8th 2006 1:13AM]

It looks like the SD card is hidden, the image on the picture above shows where is is inserted but I think they were trying to convey that it doesn't stick out by making the SD card transparent.

[Fire Hazard @ Apr 8th 2006 2:18AM]

iCrap I mean iRock makes one with 128MB you can get it here:
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__iRock_930_MP3ez_128MB_MP3_Player,__12763926

also to those who say iPods are expensive, I don't like iPods but you can get a 1GB nano for $150 at newegg. Link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855101448

there is also a fake iPod nano on newegg literally called "Generic" The back of it is shiny like a nano. survay says: "it's craptastic"
Link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16855104109


well i am all outa links
why doesn't the end key work on my mac?

[Keith @ Apr 8th 2006 10:58AM]

This is absolutely awesome! First of all, it might either be a spam, or it's a true real deal. This disposable MP3 player might just as well be a good present for friends. I wonder if that 5 hours playback is anywhere long lasting.

For $8.50, I do now have second thoughts that it is kind of a good value for disposable electronic product.

[Frank @ Apr 8th 2006 1:49PM]

Where can I get it

[SoccerWzrd @ Apr 8th 2006 2:09PM]

There are already cheap better sd-card mp3 players. I've found several better deals already(the lowest being $0.99 after a rebate)There are almost always deals there for less than 10 bucks and have lcd screens.go 2 dealnews for some good deals.

[Peter Burkimsher @ Apr 9th 2006 1:48AM]

Well priced is all I have to say.
I needed a memory stick a couple of months back, and was looking for something to read my camera card ('cause gigabyte memory sticks are a bit expensive). Eventually I found something on eBay with 128mb internal memory, MP3 player, voice recorder, FM tuner (which is crap), and a built-in USB port, with an SD card slot. So now I can put photos back onto my camera, and I have a 1GB memory stick.
But my wonder-device cost a whole 40 euros, so for the lowest price seekers, this device looks promising.
Peter B.

[eio @ Apr 11th 2006 4:51AM]

I've brought it for weeks, it works.
The sound quality is awful but still acceptable, roughly equivalent to a poor laptop soundcard. The background noise is high and not corresponding to the volume control, so it's bothersome when you play it in very quiet environments.
Playlist is sorted by the time you copy mp3 files to the SD card, not support files saved in sub directories.
I took a photo of the inside circuit, here it is:
(MTM809 is the controller/decoder, MS6310 is the codec)
http://www2.beareyes.com.cn/jpic/1/2006/04/20060410_174323_1.jpg

[MickerMack @ Apr 26th 2006 6:03PM]

I'm intrigued, but is it possible to find one without the internal memory like the iRock model?

Don't see it on the ledshoppe (#6) or computer surplus websites (#5), the Proporta model (#7) is listed at $50, and the iRock rebrand is $25 because of the internal memory. Am I missing something here? Under what name do they appear on Ebay?

~~~~~

P.S. @ 37 Mandarin
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820208042

[Classpro @ Jun 28th 2006 5:46PM]

Some of these comments are not helpful. Like the guy who says that you can buy an mp3 player on ebay for 99 cents. Hay dude, did you check out the cost of shipping? I guess that's why people post items for 99 cents with $25 shipping - because there are really sharp people like him who only look at the listed price and ignore the shipping cost.

LEDShoppe has the player for $15 shipped. Here is the link:
http://www.ledshoppe.com/Product/com/CA2019.htm

Also, a very similar (though uglier) version appears to be offered at Newegg for $9.00 with free shipping:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16800999352

I ordered one of each to compare. The comments on the Newegg site did not sound good - one guy saying it won't play high bit rate mp3s. The reviews of the evergreen said the sound was good. Some people on here say there is buzz. I don't know who is right, or whether people are even comparing the same product. Anyway, I'll find out soon enough.

[jimy @ Sep 9th 2006 6:02AM]

there's a cloud of smug building over engadget

[gatogordo @ Sep 10th 2006 2:13AM]

The LEDshoppe mp3 player doesn't remember what the last song was playing before turning off. It starts at the 1st song all over again. It does read my play my 60x adata 2gig SD card, however.