Creative Zen Stone Plus 2GB MP3 Player With In-Built Speaker - Black

Amazon Customer Reviews

(5 out of 5)

Radio is excellent where I live!

I wonder if the previous reviewer has a faulty radio! I have had my Zen Stone Plus since last July and regularly use the radio when walking the dog (in South Wales). It also works well in North East Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the North East and South East of England ( I haven't tried it anywhere else). I have even used the radio on the train. I am delighted with both the radio and MP3 player and would recommend it to anyone who wants a cost effective, truly portable MP3 player with radio functionality.

(3 out of 5)

Poor FM radio, great speaker

The main reason I bought the Creative Zen Stone Plus with built in speaker(pink) was the radio and that built in speaker. The radio is a waste of time though. Reception is very poor even though I live in an area with a very strong FM signal. All the other radios in the house have crystal clear FM reception (including the FM radio on my partners Sony Ericsson K750i mobile phone). If you have the patience and can put up with very loud static while you shuffle about the room seeking that elusive hot spot, you might eventually find one. Don't move though or you'll lose it. No good then for listening while walking the dog. I wondered if my player was faulty and contacted the Creative Support Team two days after purchasing it to discuss. After some rather stilted and weird email communication from them (they didn't read my email properly regarding the problem nor did they actually answer any of my queries) I took it back to the store and they happily exchanged it for another one. The reception on the new one is slightly better but not by much. I have decided to live with it (even though i am not happy and have since noticed that somebody else has notified of the same problem on the Creative web site user discussion forum) because I really love that speaker...it really is fun! Obviously it's a thin sound but never harsh. Music or spoken word you find yourself getting totally immersed in the listening because somehow, despite its size it manages to deliver real ambience. The microphone is ok for recording as long as the source is right next to the mic. Anything else it doesn't pick up. No good for recording lectures as I have seen bandied about by the manufacturers! As you might have read elsewhere, the way files and menus are managed on the Zen Stones is not ideal. However, as far as i know no other player has this built in speaker so there's no other option if you want this feature. Supplied software is excellent and easy to use, the player feels gorgeous tucked in your hand as so small and screen very clear. Creative should sort that radio out though because it really is not acceptable. I have had to take this into consideration with my rating.

(5 out of 5)

dinky but substantial!

I read many reviews about this model and decided to take the plunge and for £29 I am so pleased I did! I am not the most technically minded of people but I found it very easy to start loading podcasts and music. The player is very small - fits in the palm of your hand - but it packs an excellent speaker which I have found very useful indeed; the sound isn't bad at all given its size. The radio also works a treat if you have a good signal. I do not regret my purchase at all as I now have a fully mobile mini music centre!!!!

(4 out of 5)

Great little MP3 Player!

I was unsure about buying this MP3 player as have read some buyers having issues with battery life. I have had no such problems and have found the battery long lasting and infact is still going strong after 12hrs of usage. The radio works fine, The speaker is a nice touch and the player itself is tiny and comes with a handy little clip. Overall I am very impressed with this great little MP3 player and adding Media to it is also an easy task. I got mine from Dixons (£26.95 Delivered) as they were cheaper than Amazon at the time.

(4 out of 5)

excellent value

I am really pleased with this purchase. I thought the speaker would be a 'gimmick' but in fact it is excellent. It is great for my elderly mother to listen to her audio books on.
The radio is also very good - obviously you do need an aerial in the form of headphones - but can then turn on the speaker if you wish.
The player works straight out of the box - drag and drop - is fine - no need to install software.
Only complaint are the headphones - I would be curious to know if anyone has ears that they fit!!!