TV with DVR & Internet: $89.90/moCreative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, black)
Manufacturer: Creative Part number: 70PF219100111
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- For those who want a supersmall and cute MP3 player that offers more than just simple music playback, the Creative Zen Stone Plus fits the bill nicely.
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Where to buy
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 11/29/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, black) price range: $199.99
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 07/26/2007
The good: The Creative Zen Stone Plus comes in a choice of six colors and offers 2GB of storage for less than $70. It includes some handy extras, such as an FM tuner, a stopwatch, and a voice recorder. The player also has good sound quality.
The bad: The Zen Stone Plus interface is not totally intuitive, and the screen is too small to display full track info. It also doesn't offer full ID3 tag sorting for music, and the rated battery life is unimpressive.
The bottom line: For those who want a supersmall and cute MP3 player that offers more than just simple music playback, the Creative Zen Stone Plus fits the bill nicely.
Creative has a penchant for offering a wide array of choices for the MP3 player consumer, so it comes as little surprise that the company decided to add a screen and some extra features to the ultra-basic Zen Stone. The new Plus version, which comes with 2GB of storage and a palatable $69.99 price tag, isn't exactly an improvement over its predecessor. Instead, it's just a different option that will appeal to active users that need a little more than a screenless MP3 player can offer--and that's not a bad thing.
At first glance, it appears that the tiny (3/4-inch), round screen is the only thing distinguishing the Zen Stone Plus from its Plus-less sibling. Indeed, the players are the same size (2.1 inches wide by 1.3 inches tall by 0.4 inch deep) and nearly the same weight (at 0.74 ounce, the Plus has 0.09 ounce on the Stone), and they come in the same six colors: black, blue, green, pink, red, and white. They both have a lanyard loop built into the left edge, a standard mini USB port and reset hole on the bottom side, and a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack on the top. To the right of the screen, the Zen Stone Plus has a five-way control pad, which consists of volume and track shuttle keys surround a center button. However, unlike with the Stone, this center button is a select/menu key. The play/pause function can be found on the top edge of the device, making up one half of a rocker (the other half is a shortcut key). On the Stone, there was a shuffle/repeat switch rather than this rocker.
Overall, it's a basic design that is not unattractive and certainly falls into the cute and pocket-friendly category. However, the simplicity in the design paired with the tiny screen make for navigation that is not the most intuitive--most users will not get by without reading parts of the included quick guide. For example, rather than stepping you out or forward in the navigation tree, the track shuttle keys do the same thing as the volume keys within the menus: move the selector up or down. Music organization also suffers, in that there isn't much to it. You can't browse folders without actually skipping through them--that is, the first song from each folder will start playing as you browse. The gist is that you're getting the same exact music navigation as with the Stone, just now you have a screen. Essentially, the screen just serves to allow for several other features.
Still, those other features are redeeming, and users looking for a gym companion will be quite pleased. The Zen Stone Plus includes a clock and stopwatch, as well as a superb FM tuner with an autoscan feature and 32 preset slots. Plus, Creative will be offering several fitness-friendly extras for the player including a silicone case with a built-in belt-clip ($14.99 for a three-pack), an armband ($14.99), and--my favorite--a wristband (also $14.99) that "doubles as a watchband for the clock and stopwatch." There's also a unique keychain accessory ($12.99), which is quite fitting for a player of this size.
Other onboard features include several playback settings, such as the ability to shuffle and repeat, either taking the folders into account or not. There are also five preset EQs (rock, jazz, classical, pop, and normal), a five-band custom EQ, and a bass boost function. The Zen Stone Plus even offers a built-in mic for voice recording, and it supports MP3, WMA (including purchased but not subscription tracks), M3U (playlists), and Audible files. You can transfer music either via drag-and-drop in Windows Explorer (the player works with Windows XP and Vista only) or through a Windows Media jukebox, such as Rhapsody or Windows Media Player.
Unsurprisingly, the Zen Stone Plus performs very well in the sound quality department. The included headphones sound passable but don't do the player much justice. I used our standard test 'buds (the Shure SE310), and results were much better. (For a cheaper sound-isolating option, try the V-Moda Bass Freq). Bass response is tight and the mids are rich and warm, yet the high-end is not overshadowed. The player offers nice, even sound overall, so all genres come off well.
Unfortunately, the Zen Stone Plus didn't perform quite so well with processor speed. The time between clicking the control pad and the next item in the menu being highlighted is painfully lagging--this can be a major annoyance. Luckily, this problem doesn't translate to skipping tracks or transferring tracks--both happen speedily. The rated battery life of 9.5 hours isn't impressive by any stretch--and CNET Labs test results of 9.2 hours matched that expectation--but considering the ultracompact size of the player, the short battery life is not much of a shock. It's a trade-off.
User reviews
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Fantastic...exceeded expectations.
by Lawryll on August 10, 2007
Pros: Great sound. Super small. Can just drag and drop mp3 files without s/w.
Cons: Display a bit small and information compacted to read
Summary: I purchased this player for my wife with the wristband option. The size is perfect and all we did was plug it into the computer and it appeared as a ...
Summary: I purchased this player for my wife with the wristband option. The size is perfect and all we did was plug it into the computer and it appeared as a hard drive, so copying WMA or mp3 files was an absolute snap. There was no confusion as to what is being synched...you are in complete control. This is definately a welcome change from my Zune which requires it's sometimes frustrating software to use. This also means you can use the Zen Stone to backup important files...such as your resume and such and have it with you at all times...much like a USB key.
As far as sound quality, it's great. Not only that, but in addition to the preset equalizer settings (ex: rock, jazz, etc.) you have the option to adjust the equalizer settings manually. This makes a HUGE difference depending on your speakers...sometimes bass isn't full enough...no problem with the Zen, just equalize it where you like it.
The radio is great...picks up signlas with no static even in our basement laundry room with the machines running.
Haven't done too much with the recorder, but the only thing negative about it is the button is a bit hard to push and control being so small. Other than that, it works exactly as it should.
The screen is a bit small...but it's easy to read. The only complaint is it's limited screen space to dsiplay information...but that is to be expected in a device this small. This is a clear winning feature over the shuffle.
Finally, everything seems to be well designed and non-proprietary. The accessories are reasonably priced and the standard headphone jack can utilize any speakers you want. As an additional bonus...if you already have a mini USB charger for your phone or other electronic...then you can most likely use it to charge this device as well (I used my Motorola Razr charger with no problem).
All in all...a welcome surprise to the mp3 market. For the price, compatability and size, this is definately the mp3 player to get. My wife is extremely happy and after seeing the other options out there...I'd definately not hesitate to buy this again.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good value for the money if you don't care about playback order.
by manwithabook on February 10, 2008
Pros: Inexpensive for what you get.
Cons: Sluggish response; playback software bugs, not Creative's usual quality
Summary: First I will lay out my biggest gripe. I listen to a lot of audio books so it is IMPERATIVE that tracks be played back IN ORDER. Creative's documentation ...
Summary: First I will lay out my biggest gripe. I listen to a lot of audio books so it is IMPERATIVE that tracks be played back IN ORDER. Creative's documentation states that the play order is alphabetical by file name. However, that is not true. I went and renamed 42 tracks manually 01 through 42. It starts with track 04 then plays in order through track 42, then goes to tracks 1, 2, and 3. I have been to the Creative forums and found others with similar complaints. Although it says it plays in alphabetical order on "Normal" playback mode, it does not work properly.
If you don't care about playback order or having playlists then this is a truly awesome value for the money. The sound quality is great and the AM/FM radio feature makes it great for picking up the short range FM audio on the TVs at the gym.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Poor screen and broke within 2 months
by shiroii93 on August 12, 2008
Pros: it looks nice....
Cons: the screen is hard to see, the buttons do not press easily and broke very quickly
Summary: I did not like this player at all. I bought it at first because I needed something with a little bit more memory then the muvo and I thought it ...
Summary: I did not like this player at all. I bought it at first because I needed something with a little bit more memory then the muvo and I thought it looked cute. However I was quickly made aware of my mistake. I first noticed that the buttons required quite a bit of force to work,ehich was annoying, and the screen could not be seen in sunshine.
Quite quickly the screen went black all together and would not turn on,even when fully charged. It was very expensive for a 2gb player (80 euro) and was a total waste of money because it broke so fast.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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best deal in the market
by bleech on January 26, 2008
Pros: audio quality, user interface
Cons: battery life
Summary: Yes, there are some minor drawbacks in this player, such as its ability to get scratched and the sort of short battery life. However, there are some major advantages regarding ...
Summary: Yes, there are some minor drawbacks in this player, such as its ability to get scratched and the sort of short battery life. However, there are some major advantages regarding the main competition in this price range and portability players, such as the Iriver S10, the Sandisk Sansa clip, and the very own Stone [the regular Stone].
First of all, the sound quality is spectacular. You´ve got to swap the earbuds and get some decent ones. But this player sounds spectacular with the Creative´s own Aurvana earbuds. You have to be aware that a good sound does not mean a loud sound. In this case, the channel separation is at least on-par with that of the Iriver, and much superior to that of the Sansa Clip.
As for the screen, I have to admit that it is more than enough. And the interface is much better than what it seems. If we can live up to the fact that Apple and Iriver products have to be learnt how to use, why feel different about the Stone´s interface?
Couple of hours are more than enough to understand how things work, and it gets to be pretty intuitive.
So all in all, price included, no player gets as good as this.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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small player with a screen, lots of memory
by captlem66 on November 26, 2007
Pros: small, has a screen, fm tuner, good sound quality, easy to use and put music on
Cons: no clip, menu features could be better, not great battery life
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Many Many problems with brand new devices
by dhaue on October 25, 2007
Pros: size, style
Cons: lack of quality, lack of support
Summary: I love the size and form factor,unfortunately, I purchased 4 weeks ago and still have not been able to use a single time. Original device faulty (was returned and ...
Summary: I love the size and form factor,unfortunately, I purchased 4 weeks ago and still have not been able to use a single time. Original device faulty (was returned and tested as bad). Replacement device also faulty. Support works of a script with little understanding of windows OS and their own "creative lite" interface. Gets expensive when they won't foot the shipping bill on devices with, what looks like, very poor mfg QC.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Absolutely Thrilled!!!
by NightTech on August 9, 2007
Pros: Just cool. I think the value is really there for the price paid. Creative also has excellent Customer Service (they have been very responsive to questions, very specific, and candid).
Cons: Battery life may become an issue. The amount of playing time is not very impressive compared to others (however, depends on your purpose). Lanyard loop is not great..
Summary: Absolutely cool. So much so, that I purchased this as a gift and decided I just had to have one too. I believe that the keychain case is a must. ...
Summary: Absolutely cool. So much so, that I purchased this as a gift and decided I just had to have one too. I believe that the keychain case is a must. It is much smaller than I anticipated (cute). I'm not thrilled with the fact that the battery is integrated and must be replaced by Creative. However, in light of this, I think that it may be a good idea to purchase the protection plan through them (I do not normally recommend that, however, I believe the value is there in this case). I thought that the earphones were more than sufficient and the sound is of excellent quality (I'm certainly not one that places a great deal of emphasis in this area - however, I think it's just awesome - I suppose if you were in that area you might feel differently). My Husband is picky about sound and he thought it rocked! We were both pleased. Bottomline, if you are looking for a player of excellent value, and with very good Customer Support Service; I would highly recommend this one. Finally, I would mention that it would be nice if Creative would include the keychain case as a standard with this product.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best budget MP3 player out there!
by carmaniac88 on July 22, 2007
Pros: Stylish design, OLED screen, drag-and-drop files, great MP3 sound quality
Cons: Easy to scratch, buttons are a bit small, optional strap
Summary: The iPod Shuffle and even the 2GB Nano better look out, this player has the best of all worlds in terms of size, ease of use and features. The OLED ...
Summary: The iPod Shuffle and even the 2GB Nano better look out, this player has the best of all worlds in terms of size, ease of use and features. The OLED screen is clear and crisp, the interface is simple and logical, and the fact there's no need to convert the files to proprietary format is a BIG plus (especially for those who know the horrors of using iTunes). The only thing I didn't like was that fact it doesn't come with a strap/lanyard, which is required since the player is so small (it would be very easy to lose).
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best quality. Good Headphones. Reliable.
by remda666 on August 23, 2009
Pros: Everything including price: $50. (unlike some competitive ones who has no screen, made of metal, and need special software to copy which went for $75)
Cons: A bit slow
Summary: Satisfied !
Summary: Satisfied !
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Absolutely disappointed!
by NefDena on May 1, 2009
Pros: Small and compact - able to fit into any pocket.
Cons: Limited Warranty best describes this product. Purchased June 2008 and after reviewing this sites warranty, etc., its definitely the truth! My little convenient cute any pocket size MP3 player completely died on me 2 mon. early of expectancy.
Summary: Description claims 20 hours of play time - not! I would have to charge over night, then use a safety pin to restart, spent usually 10-15 minutes pushing and clicking ...
Summary: Description claims 20 hours of play time - not! I would have to charge over night, then use a safety pin to restart, spent usually 10-15 minutes pushing and clicking to turn on (the music I spent countless hours installing - using my favorite cd's). The so-called PLUS I assume is related to the radio feature, also. Never, ever worked besides all talk radio and sports. The clock lost time ALL OF THE TIME...I will not understand why I purchased at least five different head, bug - ear plugs (of course could never find plugs in the stores designed for the Creative Plus "oh we don't sell that MP3 player anymore") understand completely....This was the worse electronic device I've ever invested in. I've now resorted back to my Panasonic CD/MP3 Player that I've had for about three years now from Radio Shack that has never failed me. For $62.00 plus it was not a good investment in a small compact player. I've had several strangers compliment the small compact size and I've told them in all honesty to not invest your money in it. Being a computer to and from work (bus and subway) its important for me to have my music to drown out unwanted noises/talking, etc., and I expected so much more. Absolute regret! I should have invested an extra 20-30 dollars for an iPod, really. I've had this little impersonator charging for three (3) days now to see if it would come back to life. Only to discover a blue light on the top on/off push down what-ever - never seen before and have no clue. Of course, after so long the instructions, receipt and box are recycled items. It was just an unbelievable experience...in the subway it would stop, continue to push on/off thingy and it would come back on once going up on the elevator; would think it was a cell phone. Starting my bus commute...nothing after about a 1/2 hr of holding down the on/off piece - it would come on - in ten more minutes I'm transferring to the subway. The struggle for my music begins all over again. The figmentation of fully charged did not last 20hrs of play it was usually two hours. Without ear plugs and wanting to enjoy your balcony on the weekends with a book and hot cup of coffee - "speakers" oh sure the volume was loud - but so distorted, couldn't believe your music was drowning. A male friend laughed when I called myself entertaining us one evening with my styles of music..."sounds like your on the bus and can hear someone else's too loud music thru their ear/bug phones", I didn't laugh. One last thing...be sure to get the advertised color (if it says black, more than likely it will be black). Thought I was ordering pearl...the color reminded me of my old "putty" color home computer - umm beige and a cheesy plastic (catch all) cover.
Made a typing error "oops" I'm a commuter to and from work - not a computer. I know my electronics at least I thought I did, until now.
Updated on May 1, 2009
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Creative
- Part number: 70PF219100111
- Description: The tiny ZEN Stone Plus is designed for life on the move. Compact and sporty looking, it comes in glossy color and can store up to a thousand songs. You're sure to fall in love with its smooth curves, round blue display with clock/stopwatch, FM radio and microphone. Whether you're running between lessons, keeping fit in the gym or commuting to the office, just pop the ZEN Stone Plus in a pocket and keep it with you all the time... because it's the MP3 player you'll love.
General
- Product type Digital player / radio
- PC interface(s) supported USB
- Signal-to-noise ratio 90 dB
- Total harmonic distortion 0.1 %
- Flash memory installed 2 GB Integrated
- Digital storage None
- Weight 0.7 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in
- Color Black
- Software type Drivers & Utilities
Carrying Case
- Case type None
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9)
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Supported bit rate 320 Kbps
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display OLED
- Resolution 64 x 64
- Backlight display Yes
- Display illumination color Blue
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Built-in clock Timer, Stopwatch, Digital clock
- Additional features Voice recording, Upgradeable firmware, USB 2.0 compatibility
Equalizer
- Equalizer factory presets Jazz, Rock, Classic
Radio
- Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
- Station preset qty 32
- FM station preset qty 32
- Tuner bands FM
Remote Control
- Remote control None
Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone operation mode Mono
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural Ear-bud
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Sensitivity 109 dB
- Impedance 32 Ohm
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included 1 x USB cable - External
- Connector type 1 x USB Mini-USB Type B, 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
- Slot(s) provided None
Battery / Power
- Battery 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
- Mfr estimated battery life 9.5 hour(s)
- Power device type None
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices USB port
- Operating system Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows XP SP2 or later, Microsoft Windows XP 64-bit Edition
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Battery drain test / audio playback 554.155 min
Product series
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, black)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, white)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, red)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, blue)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, pink)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
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Creative Zen Stone Plus (2GB, green)
Manufacturer: Creative
Specs: Digital player / radio, 2 GB, MP3, WAV, WMA, ADPCM, Audible, Protected WMA (DRM 9), 1 x Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player batteryIntegrated
Accessories
- Creative EP-830 - headphones (33401384)39.99 - 59.99
- Creative Zen Aurvana (31951301)87.99 - 111.99
- Creative Aurvana X-Fi headphones (32600964)224.79 - 298.99
- Creative ZEN Skin 3-1 Pack - case for digital player (32617591)14.99 - 19.99
- Creative ZEN Clear Case - case for digital player (32626020)14.18 - 15.37
Manufacturer info
- Creative
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Creative products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://us.creative.com
- Address:
1901 McCarthy Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035, Milpitas, CA 95035 - Phone: 800-998-1000
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