CNET Editor's rating: 7.3 out of 10
Reviewed by
Rick Broida
Review date: 06/28/04
Release date: 06/01/04
The good: Cool design; USB 2.0; comes with armband and belt clip; great sound; easy to use.
The bad: Tiny screen; no USB extension cable.
The bottom line: Creative's MuVo TX FM is a great option for people who want a small, lightweight, and gymworthy player with a decent feature set.
The Creative MuVo was the first device we'd seen to combine a USB memory key with an MP3 player, a design that has since been emulated by the Gateway DMP-200, the Rio Fuse, and Creative's own MuVo NX. The company has made several improvements to its latest MuVo, the TX FM. The player adds an FM tuner, comes in a choice of four capacities (128MB, 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB), and offers a faster file-transfer speed (USB 2.0), though it still has the tiniest of LCD screens. Combine these features with great sound, music store compatibility, and a $60 price tag for the 256MB version, and you have a winning flash player that's hard not to like.
The MuVo TX FM, which measures 1.4 by 2.9 by 0.6 inches and weighs just 1.5 ounces, resembles a Zippo lighter with an LCD screen and buttons. The player offers a similar control layout to that of the MuVo NX, but the TX FM has slightly different coloring: white and black as opposed to grey and black. It lacks the snazzy red spare battery module that was included with the NX, and the USB extender cable, a handy extra for those with overcrowded or inconveniently located USB ports, is also notably absent. On the upside, Creative now provides a cleverly designed holster that can clip to your belt or to the included armband--an ideal accessory for working out, jogging, or even just walking around. (There's also an eye hook if you prefer to use a lanyard.)
Despite the player's diminutive size, its 96x32-pixel backlit LCD is crisp and easy to read. It shows basic ID3-tag info, elapsed time, playback settings (such as shuffle and repeat), and a battery gauge. Like the NX, the TX FM is a snap to operate, thanks to its minimalist controls: volume buttons, a play/pause/power button, and a track-skip/menu-navigation jog dial.
The TX FM offers more features than its bare-bones and more expensive sibling, the TX. Both players can record low-quality mono voice memos and offer the standard MuVo five-band equalizer, which has Rock, Pop, Jazz, and Classical presets, plus a user-defined mode. However, with the TX FM, if you tire of digital tunes, you can turn on the FM radio. The player can automatically scan for available stations and create up to 32 presets from the ones it finds. There's also the option to record radio, which the MuVo does in 4-bit stereo; this isn't great for music but fine for, say, an NPR show you want to hear later. Unfortunately, there's no way to set up timed recordings, TiVo-style.
To copy files to the TX FM, you separate the "key" from its white battery pack and plug it into a USB port. You can either drag and drop files in Windows Explorer or use Creative's surprisingly good MediaSource application to create playlists, rip CDs, and copy files. As with other MuVos we've tested, the TX FM's 90dB signal-to-noise ratio resulted in clean, full audio playback. But you'll probably want to ditch Creative's flat-sounding, foam-padded earbuds.
The TX FM fared well in our file-transfer tests; thanks to a USB 2.0 connection, tunes traveled at a speedy 1.6MB per second. Battery drain tests also provided positive results, with the player lasting more than 18 hours.
Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more.
Intro:
The Creative Muvo TX FM is a 1 GB, flash player.Compared to other flash MP3 players on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $65.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 1.1 oz weight.This is lighter than the average MP3 player on the market today, but is to be expected for a MP3 player of this price.This unit comes with a radio tuner.
Weaker Features:
Has a 0.05% total harmonic distortion, which is somewhat less favorable than some similarly priced MP3 players.For example, the Creative Zen Nano Plus, a 1 GB MP3 player at around $70, has a 0.1% total harmonic distortion.
Suitability:
Suited for those who want to store a goodly amount of songs.Listen to your favorite local stations on this radio equipped player.Funkify your listening experience with the blue backlit display on this player.According to the manufacturer this player will last approximately 15 hour(s) between charges; your run-time will vary based on use and power management configuration.Flash-based players are a little more durable than their disk-based cousins.If you bike or jog with your MP3 player, you may want to opt for a flash player like this one.
Value:
In view of its relatively inexpensive price, this MP3 player has great features for the money.
Suggestions:
Audiophiles may wish to buy aftermarket headphones for better sound reproduction.
8 out of 10 - Excellent Second Muvo I bought
I have a muvo 256mb I bought in 2003, I used it heavily for the past year and its still ...
I have a muvo 256mb I bought in 2003, I used it heavily for the past year and its still working. I bought this one because I wanted more space. I liked the sound on this and It plays the mp3 files I create on my computer. My cellphone lg vx8100 won't play everything its 'touchy'. The FM radio is not that great it doesn't pull the stations that well, your headphone wire is the antennae. The display is small and the comtrols will probably be hard for someone older to use. and for some reason they supply you with giant ear buds that dont fit too well. I gave it an eight because it sounds great and seems to be durable, I also like the built in usb plug.
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by stx377 (see profile) -
April 19, 2006
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great Player!
I use my Muvo tx fm with good quality Sony MDR7506 headphones. Excellent quality music even after 3 or 4 ...
I use my Muvo tx fm with good quality Sony MDR7506 headphones. Excellent quality music even after 3 or 4 years. Also using quick rechargeable AAA batteries making that part practible.
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by Jobbythehut (see profile) -
July 4, 2008
10 out of 10 - Perfect fantastic Mp3 player, very reliable, and great for sporty lifestyles
This is the best 128mb, 256mb, 512mb, and 1g mp3 player ever made, mine hasn't had a problem, and ...
This is the best 128mb, 256mb, 512mb, and 1g mp3 player ever made, mine hasn't had a problem, and I've had it for about 3 or 4 years. My brothers new Ipod classic 80 gig is already broken, he should have got a creative.
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by cre4tive (see profile) -
December 24, 2007
8 out of 10 - Excellent the thing's a tank
i have had this player for about a year now and have done everything to it besides drop it off ...
i have had this player for about a year now and have done everything to it besides drop it off of a cliff. it is durable, reliable and the sound quality is good if your using the cheap earbuds that i use.
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by melvindamoose (see profile) -
July 1, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Fantastic device
I've had my Muvo TX FM 1gb for six or seven months now, and absolutely love it!
The plusses ...
I've had my Muvo TX FM 1gb for six or seven months now, and absolutely love it!
The plusses for me include: Super-fast song transfers using USB 2.0, ease of use of the player and Creative's PC software, compatiblity with just about any music store, very good sound quality, the near-indestructibility of a no-moving-parts flash player, and, perhaps most of all, the extremely small size and weight of the device.
My only whine about the Muvo is that it comes with the usual in-ear Creative ear buds. This is a product which is used, more often than not I would guess, in the gym or while running. It would be REALLY nice if Creative would acknowledge the fact, and include a more workout-friendly solution. I know - a decent pair of clip-on earphones costs no more than $20, but still...
Overall, I heartily endorse the Creative Muvo TX FM. I'm very happy with mine, use it several times a week, and have no plans to replace it any time soon.
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by pelkin (see profile) -
September 14, 2006
3 out of 10 - Poor Cheap solution
I've had previously an excellent Panasonic mp3 player (http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_Shockwave_SV_SW30_256MB/4505-6490_7-31050594.html?autoplay=true), but due ...
I've had previously an excellent Panasonic mp3 player (http://reviews.cnet.com/Panasonic_Shockwave_SV_SW30_256MB/4505-6490_7-31050594.html?autoplay=true), but due to the fact that it was too small in memory and it had only USB 1.1 connection, I needed to upgrade. I am disappointed of the Creative mp3 player: I have to take care when I am using it not to break the parts on which it is built with. Also the FM is a joke; whenever I have an obstacle, the FM gets noisy. The sound quality of the mp3s is OK, but not great. For me, this was a downgrade in terms of quality. Next time I will go for trustable brands.
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by lucibalaj (see profile) -
August 5, 2006
10 out of 10 - Perfect The flash player I always wanted
A great upgrade from my earlier 512 unit. Can also scroll through an MP3, a big improvement. The play button ...
A great upgrade from my earlier 512 unit. Can also scroll through an MP3, a big improvement. The play button has a better design than the earlier version, and the plastic clip and case are well functioning as well. The earphones and volume are also better than the 512. A great buy! I just hope it puts up with the punishment I am likely to give it, the old one finally crapped out after 8 months. This time I have a service plan, whoopee!
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by foundrysmith (see profile) -
June 21, 2006
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Awesome MP3 Player
I have owned 2 MuVo MP3 players so far. I use my old 128MB MuVo as a thumb drive and ...
I have owned 2 MuVo MP3 players so far. I use my old 128MB MuVo as a thumb drive and I had the 1GB drive for a few months. Unfortunately I just lost it. But after researching MP3 players I decided there's nothing better out there so I'm going to buy another one. I really liked the one I had, great features and the perfect size for the gym and running. Just showing off your MuVo is a great reason to go to the gym Hope you all have better luck with that approach than I have had.
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by NICU28 (see profile) -
April 21, 2006
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Hope you all have better luck with that approach than I have had.
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