Rave 256MB MP3 Player $75@ Costco B&M After-$20-Rebate

[bupkus]

If there's better stuff in the same price ballpark, I welcome your input.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

So final price is $55 AR? If so, that would be a good price, not OMGWOWINEED good, but cheaper than anything else with a brand name.

 

[drssyoon]

I had one. Very low volume, even at max. I returned mine to Walmart (paid $49 during the hot deal thing last year).

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: drssyoon
I had one. Very low volume, even at max. I returned mine to Walmart (paid $49 during the hot deal thing last year).

:Q

Either yours was defective or you just like to torture your eardrums. This is my everyday MP3 player and it definitely is worth the price, easily the best Mp3 for under $100. Best feature: the ability to record FM radio instantly.

 

[bupkus]

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
So final price is $55 AR? If so, that would be a good price, not OMGWOWINEED good, but cheaper than anything else with a brand name.

That would be about $75 after rebate. Don't forget tax as well bringing it to about $85. Beginning to not sound so hot.

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

Originally posted by: bupkus

Originally posted by: HeroOfPellinor
So final price is $55 AR? If so, that would be a good price, not OMGWOWINEED good, but cheaper than anything else with a brand name.

That would be about $75 after rebate. Don't forget tax as well.

Ah, thanks for clarifying.

 

[drssyoon]

No really, I compared the sound from this one to Rio Cali I had - same tracks and the difference was like a night and day. May be I had a defective one. I do use MP3GAIN to set my level to 90dB.

Originally posted by: Nikamichi

Originally posted by: drssyoon
I had one. Very low volume, even at max. I returned mine to Walmart (paid $49 during the hot deal thing last year).

:Q

Either yours was defective or you just like to torture your eardrums. This is my everyday MP3 player and it definitely is worth the price, easily the best Mp3 for under $100. Best feature: the ability to record FM radio instantly.

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: drssyoon
No really, I compared the sound from this one to Rio Cali I had - same tracks and the difference was like a night and day. May be I had a defective one. I do use MP3GAIN to set my level to 90dB.

Ah, I'm going to assume yours was defective. Even while riding on the subway with the volume full blast, the music can be heard.

 

[Nick5324]

I have this MP3 player, got it from walmart a little while back, about $65 shipped, no rebates. The volume is to low. When it is on 20/20, it IS loud, but considering it's the max, not as loud as it should be. Also, it doesn't seem like the volume is equally spread throughout each notch of volume, going from 14 to 15 seems like a much bigger change than from going from 5 to 6, for example. I've had a problem with battery life as well, it plays for a good amount of time on one battery, but the problem is that if i leave a battery in it for about 3 days without using it, the battery will be dead. FM turner is surprisingly decent, and being able to record instantly is nice. SD card expandable is also nice.

 

[ILikeStuff]

using the supplied earbuds? The supplied earbuds TOTALLY SUCK. With them, the volume was pathetic, and would intermittantly cut out totally. I replace them with some decent Sony headphones and that totally fixed the issue. I love my Rave256 now. Great little mp3 player for the price.

 

[bupkus]

I'm glad to hear that it comes with an FM tuner. I like to watch TV while I exercise and L.A. Fitness has these televisions set up with FM transmitters for members with FM receivers. I'm gonna buy one now and give it a try. I expect if the FM works well and the headphones suck I'll look for replacements.
Lastly, does this unit play other formats besides MP3? Sometimes I prefer the quality of music fight off the CD. I guess 1/4 GB is ok for MP3, but if you want .wav that's a different story.