Samsung P3 (8GB, black)
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: YP-P3JCB/XAA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung P3 (8GB, black) price range: $146.99 - $169.97
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 04/07/2009
The good: The Samsung P3 offers a sleek and sturdy design with a gorgeous full-color touch screen and fun interface; it includes a boatload of features such as Bluetooth connectivity, widgets, an FM radio, and voice recording; there is support for a wide variety of audio formats.
The bad: The Samsung P3's interface may take some getting used to; there's no Wi-Fi, and podcast support is inelegant.
The bottom line: The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts.
Touch-screen MP3 players and PVPs are all the rage, and it's no wonder: the migration of controls to the display of a device makes it possible to dedicate most of a player's surface area to the screen. Thus, larger screens on smaller gadgets. Surely, the Apple iPod Touch is a testament to the potential success of this setup, and Samsung's first foray into this arena, the P2, was no slouch, either, drawing praise from critics and consumers alike. As such, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Samsung's follow-up, the P3, is quite the impressive device, packing a wealth of features and some of the best sound to be found in a portable media player. Better yet, the P3 is priced to sell at $149, $199, and $299 for the 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB models, respectively. For those who are keeping track: that's the same price as the iPod Nano, not the Touch.
To look and feel
At first blush, the Samsung P3 doesn't look strikingly different from its predecessor, the P2, and in fact, the design updates are far from massive. However, the few changes Samsung did make give the device a more polished and put-together feel. First, the P3 is slightly thinner, measuring 4 inches by 2 inches by 0.3 inch. Also, while both the P2 and P3 are constructed mainly of metal, the P3 lacks the shiny clear coat that gave the P2 a more plasticky appearance. All in all, the P3 comes across as sleeker than its predecessor, and it also feels more durable than the iPod Touch, though whether or not this is a fact is up for debate.
Like the P2 and the Touch, the P3's face is dominated by a bright, full-color touch screen, this one measuring 3-inches diagonally. The display, a 480 x 272 WQVGA number, is undeniably gorgeous--we almost feel guilty muddying it up with our fingerprints constantly, a necessity given the fact that the screen serves to control most major functions, such as menu navigation and media playback. Samsung does include a few tactile buttons--a power/hold key and volume controls--on the top spine of the device. You'll also find a tiny mono speaker in this area, which allows you to listen to music sans headphones as well as use the P3 as a speakerphone when paired with your cell phone (more on this feature later).
While it must be said that the iPod Touch has rather cornered the market on touch-screen functionality, Samsung implements it quite well on the P3. You can tap, double-tap, swipe, and drag to move through and among the various menus. And while we're on the topic of menus, it's worth mentioning that those on the P3 are laid out well. The main screen displays icons for all the chief features of the device--music, video, photos, settings, and so on. You can then swipe left or right to enter the two side screens, which contain icons for the various widgets. Tapping on any icon takes you into the respective submenu, where for long lists (such as songs), you can drag or tap to move speedily through the selections. All in all, we found navigation to be quite intuitive, though as with any touch-screen device, getting proficient at accurate tapping may take some practice.
Features galore
Initially, it's tempting to compare the P3's features with those of the iPod Touch; after all, that is the most obvious competitor in the design and interface department. However, the P3 is actually priced to square off against the iPod Nano, and the Samsung player clearly has a leg up when it comes to extras. In fact, there's little the P3 can't do--all that's missing is integrated Wi-Fi and elegant podcast support.
Naturally, the P3 offers extensive multimedia playback. It supports MP3, WMA (including subscription), AAC, OGG, and FLAC audio; WMV9 (including Amazon Unbox), MPEG4 (.AVI, .SVI), and H.264 (.MP4) video (some conversion required); JPEG, BMP, and PNG photo; and text files. You can even create your own memos (in TXT format) on the device, using virtual buttons that mimic a standard telephone keypad. If you tire of your own content, the P3 offers an excellent FM radio with autoscan and up to 30 presets. In addition, the player includes both FM and voice recording. Other fairly standard features consist of support for Windows, Mac, and Linux; slideshows with transition effects; a clock with an alarm function; a seven-band user-customizable EQ; and Samsung's DNSe 3.0 sound enhancement technology. Plus, there's a file browser for those who prefer to navigate content by folders (rather than the step-down artist > album > song method).
From there, we get into the more unusual--and perhaps more fun--extras. Foremost is A2DP Bluetooth support, which lets you listen to music via compatible Bluetooth headphones as well as pair the player with your cell phone for taking and receiving calls. Then, of course, you have the multitude of widgets. One is a light bulb that you tap to adjust the brightness of the screen; another is a globe you can spin to see the time in various cities around the world; yet another is a "sleep cat" that you can tap to set a sleep timer (naturally, it meows as you do so). There's also a calculator as well as support for several games, such as Bubble Bang, World Car Puzzle, and Sudoku Champ.
As with the P2, the P3 offers a customizable interface with various fonts and themes to choose from, plus the ability to set any image as wallpaper. The player is also fully updatable via firmware updates, so you never know what games and widgets may be added going forward. Samsung was fairly consistent with firmware releases last time around, so we suspect the company will make good on them going forward.
Super sound; dazzling display
Given the Samsung P2's impressive performance, we had our hopes set high for the P3. We were not disappointed. During preliminary testing, the P3 excelled in every area. Foremost, audio quality is nothing short of stellar--it would not be a stretch to call this an audiophile's MP3 player, especially given the FLAC support. Everything from hip-hop to blues to classical to electronica shines. (It helps that we tested the player with a pair of Shure SE530 earphones.)
Hilary Hahn's violin in her renditions of Bach is truly haunting, and the busier highs in The Bangles' "Hazy Shade of Winter" couldn't be more individually clear. Mids across genres are warm and enveloping with the rich, buttery tone we crave in this range. Low-end representation is similarly striking, the bass exceptionally tight and present without being overly forceful (Kanye West's "Heartless" provides the perfect example here). Plus, the P3 gets extraordinarily loud, so it wouldn't be a stretch to hook this MP3 player up to your home audio setup.
Video and photo display is also exceptional. Color saturation is excellent, viewing angles are great, and fine detail is very clear--no blurred edges here. We only experienced pixelation with low-quality video files, and that can't be blamed on the player. Conversion of video files was a fairly quick and simple process through WMP. Similarly, rated battery life is admirable, clocking in at 40 hours for audio and 6 for video. We still have to test this out for ourselves, but things are looking good thus far. Our one minor gripe is that the processor seems to lag a bit when switching among certain functions.
To P3 or not to P3
To be sure, the Samsung P3 is no iPod Touch killer, but then we're not sure it's meant to be. After all, the P3 is significantly cheaper than the Touch--by about $100 across the capacity board. However, pitted against other flash players and touch-screen PVPs, the P3 holds its own and then some. If you like the idea of massive screen real estate, a heap of extras, and superb performance, this device should be at the top of your list.
User reviews
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Best MP3 player ever!
by boisvert62 on May 6, 2009
Pros: Best sound quality in an MP3 player. Better than my ipod touch 32gb.
Excellent video and image quality. Much easier than the P2 to convert files.
Easy navigation. Once you can feel the touch, you will never go back to the ipod.Cons: The headphones included are average but ok. I wish that the display would be 3.5 to 4 inches.
Summary: Very easy to set-up, converting videos is now much faster: I converted movies to Divx AVI and the quality is just amazing. The apps are excellent. The best feature about ...
Summary: Very easy to set-up, converting videos is now much faster: I converted movies to Divx AVI and the quality is just amazing. The apps are excellent. The best feature about the P3 is the audio quality with different settings. I had many MP 3 players from ZEN to ipod and the P3 is the best. And yes it has an FM radio built-in.
I challenge all ipod users to try this new Samsung P3. This touch player has a unique feeling.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Well priced and affordable purchase!
Pros: Stylish, Great Sound, Performance, Nice Interface, Cool Apps, Custom EQ, Great Video Playback.
Cons: No WI-FI, Earphones are little 'out of fashion', volume controls are difficult to use to, some apps are not quite interesting but are friendly. Only 1 speaker is available (no stereo effect).
Summary: Definetly one of the best mp3 flash players on the scene.
When I saw the review of this mp3 player from cnet's editors, I could not believe it. is ...Summary: Definetly one of the best mp3 flash players on the scene.
When I saw the review of this mp3 player from cnet's editors, I could not believe it. is this might be my decision to change my iPod touch for this well high rated device? the answer at the beginning of the review was: "nah! other device that should got knocked up by apple". but my surprise I was knocked up when I received this beauty in my hands, definetly I love customizing my own style of music, and the first point given to this P3 was de Custom EQ, besides you won't need any fancy earphones to taste all the good quality of sound that this device has for its own. the second thing that impressed me was the interface, so much funny-friendly-touching experience Vs iPod Touch (ouch!). yes it's more detailed and funny, you will enjoy messing and messing around the different goodies that this device has inside. and the third thing that really amazed me is the performance, almost 20 hours of continuous playback (music) Vs iPod Touch, yes, I was owner of an iPod touch so believe what I just said =). So, is not impossible that one day, you'll preffer quality than merchandise, I already did. welcome YEPP YP-P3!.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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quality over quantity
by iruka* on September 27, 2009
Pros: great display, superior audio quality, speaker, nice build quality, lots of audio customizing options, voice recorder
Cons: bundled earphones, sometimes laggy
Summary: I just got mine a little more than a week ago and I am still LOVING IT.
First of all, the audio quality is amazing, just so long as you ...Summary: I just got mine a little more than a week ago and I am still LOVING IT.
First of all, the audio quality is amazing, just so long as you don't use the bundled earphones. Even my Skullcandies sounded better than those o.o
The screen maybe not be as big as some people want, it still big enough and certainly beautiful. The colors are awesome and it's just so clear.
It's nice that they added a speaker in there. It may not look big or get overly loud, but it gets loud enough.
All the metal and glass they put in really helps with how durable this feels. It's not so heavy that it's a pain to carry around, but it's not so light that it feels like a cracker. The silver line going around is actual chrome and the screen is made of tough glass so it won't get scratched by your keys or the like.
Audio customizability was also great. This isn't usually something I go for, but I found myself always going back to edit the EQ settings just because it was so fun to see all the options. Not only do you have the 7-band EQ (most players have just 5), but they have "clarity", "3D & bass" and other stuff. Usually, these would sound a little synthetic, but in this case, it actually helps to improve the quality.
One thing I liked about this over the P2 was the touch strip under the screen. Nice instant access to simple playback controls without having to go through menus.
The Bluetooth integration was GREAT. I know they only gave a handful of phones that the P3 would fully work with, but it worked great with my Sony Ericsson TM506. It took a few tries to sync my contacts, but it works fine now and call quality was better than I thought.
It was also awesome how many languages you can set this thing to. I still don't know the difference between "menu" and "content" for setting the language (I tried setting both to different languages, but only the language set for "menu" showed up, but not like it's important). It was cute how you can select from 3 types of fonts, too.
I know many people were complaining about the placement of them volume controls, but I never found it to be annoying at all. When I hold it, my index finger is automatically on the top side so it's easy. Even if it's not, it doesn't take that much effort to press. People were also complaining about where the headphone jack was placed. In the beginning, I did think it was weird since when you connect it, the headphone wire is in the way of the side squeezing thingies. But I found that you can just use your fingernails to get in that space and pinch them without having to take out the headphones, cause that gets pretty annoying.
The UI is very fun and pretty (even the useless widgets were fun), but it was a bit laggy sometimes. Firmware upgrades improved this a lot and now the problem only lies with the main menu, but it's fine with me, it's not such a big problem that I think about it every time I use it.
I don't know why people think the "sleep cat" is useless. To me, it was the widget I used the most. I fall asleep listening to music so it's great to have a sleep timer right there instead of having to dig through menus. And I don't think most people know that for the note widget, you really can make and save notes, not just make one note that shows up on the menu.
One more thing people were complaining about was the proprietary USB. I don't like it either, but you can get one for about $8 online, so that's not bad at all.
The only REAL complaint I have is the EmoDio software. I don't think you absolutely need it, but for me.....I did. When I tried to drag-and-drop pictures, it would say something like "this format is not supported - it will be stored but will not appear in your media library" so I had no choice but to use EmoDio to sync everything. It's not hard to use, it's just annoying. I just have it to sync pictures and videos, I still use WMP for music. EmoDio gets confusing when it comes to editing ID3 tags. As I know it, you can't even edit using EmoDio.
So overall, the P3 is a great value with an awesome amount of features, great audio quality and a durable build. For those of you who still appreciate the audio quality over all the crazy apps, this is for you. BB&H Photo-Video have random $20-off sales, so get them while you can ;]1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Ipod Killer
by jeremy23j on April 9, 2009
Pros: Touch screen, cheaper than itouch
Cons: no wifi and not a multi touch and no accelometer
Summary: the best of the best touch screen out there. cheaper and hot cool design my kind of mp3
Summary: the best of the best touch screen out there. cheaper and hot cool design my kind of mp3
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK
by shrimaltfernando on April 8, 2009
Pros: AWESOME audio quality and clarity
Superb GUI
A bit sleeker than the p2
speakerphone
Heptic feedback
AND LOTS MORECons: unlike its competition, the ipod touch, there is no wifi
The widgets arent as attractive as you would thinkSummary: i have owned the P2 for about 2 years and the audio quality(DNSE 2.0) and clarity are far superior to that of its competion (ipod touch. ect.). AND ...
Summary: i have owned the P2 for about 2 years and the audio quality(DNSE 2.0) and clarity are far superior to that of its competion (ipod touch. ect.). AND NOW WITH THE P3 , the audio clarity(DNSE 3.0) is a bit better but in its not a HUGE improvement from the p2 mainly because there wasnt much to improve upon. In the end the p3 is something you can really make your own.. you arent going to get a better sounding player for sometime , meaning this thing is going to last you a long time its a great investment.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awsome player little flaws
by Jerefizzle on February 27, 2010
Pros: Vivid Screen, good memory choses, Fm radio, flash player, and amazing sound chip, excellent mic and navigation, really affordable.
Cons: No wi-fi and no apps or games made specifically for ipods, external speaker isn't really loud, battery sucks when brightness is up.
Summary: Its really good when it comes to video and sound quality. Shows album artwork flawlessly. No 3rd party or even 1st party apps from samsung though.It seems as though ...
Summary: Its really good when it comes to video and sound quality. Shows album artwork flawlessly. No 3rd party or even 1st party apps from samsung though.It seems as though they make one product and dont really back it up as in downloads. No wifi really but it does have some type of rhapsody application that is awesome. even though i have a laptop i would like to access the internet were ever i go. Other than these flaws This product trampples the ipod touch...seriously.
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Spectacular, getting on Christmas.
by DrewP3 on December 1, 2009
Pros: It's sustainable,has nice features, as good as the ipod touch plus its affordable.
Cons: Doesn't have wi-fi connection.
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Nano killer. Unbelievable value. Superb sound quality.
by jeganux on September 25, 2009
Pros: Touch screen better than I expected. Videos, Movies, games, all look excellent. Sound quality is top notch my Ipod touch does not even come close in this area. Full codec support. good battery life. The abilty to use it as a phone is a plus.
Cons: No WIFI, No accelerometer, Bluetooth supported but only specific headsets, Screen should be slightly bigger. Widgets are a little Hoakie.
Summary: This Is what an Mp3 player should be all about and I stress mp3 player. This is way better than the Nano the value for the money ease of use, ...
Summary: This Is what an Mp3 player should be all about and I stress mp3 player. This is way better than the Nano the value for the money ease of use, extra bells and whistles is what sets this above all others in its class. Highly recommended.
The Nano cannot compete with its lack of codec support poor sounding audio and dull screen. Even with apple adding a camera to it. the P3 is still a much better value. But it is not a TOUCH. It has no browser or wifi or even an app. store. In that respect alone the touch is in a different category. I have used the P3 for over 4 months and no problems. If your into audio and mild video or movie watching and some lite flash gaming then this is a must have. Ditch the Nano you will be blown away. But if you need more you should save up for a Touch or Zune HD or wait a month or two for the Samsung M1. Tip: You can get extra flash games, helpfull tidbits, firmware updates, advice, and design your own widgets for the P3. at this
website www.anythingbutipod.com go to the forums on the P3 you will be glad you did.
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Very good mp3 player
by mpsolis on August 16, 2009
Pros: compact, easy to use, good looking, functional
Cons: Not compatible with most bluetooth stereo headsets
Summary: I like this player very much but am very disappointed that it's not compatible with my motorola s9 bluetooth stereo headset
Summary: I like this player very much but am very disappointed that it's not compatible with my motorola s9 bluetooth stereo headset
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DNSe 3.0 MATTERS MOST==EXCELLENT SOUND + VARIABLE SPEED
by aed808 on August 14, 2009
Pros: I BOUGHT THIS FOR ITS DNSe 3.0. I LISTEN TO A LOT OF LECTURES, LESSON & REVIEW MATERIALS @ -2 SPEED=WELL WORTH THE PRICE. MY OLYMPUS DOES THAT, BUT CAN'T HOLD 16 GB OF AUDIO. +1 SPEED FOR GYM TUNES IS AWESOME; -1 SPEED FOR "CHILLED" EFFECT GR8T
Cons: HAVING TO REMOVE THE HEADPHONE TO REMOVE THE CHARGER IS A PAIN.
Summary: DNSe 3.0 IS THE BEST THING FOR ME AS FAR AS MP3 PLAYER IS CONCERNED. I HAVE A ZUNE 80 AND SONY NWZ-A729--BOTH CAN'T MATCH THE GORGEOUS SOUND ...
Summary: DNSe 3.0 IS THE BEST THING FOR ME AS FAR AS MP3 PLAYER IS CONCERNED. I HAVE A ZUNE 80 AND SONY NWZ-A729--BOTH CAN'T MATCH THE GORGEOUS SOUND OF DNSe 3.0 AND ITS VARIABLE AUDIO SPEED PLAYBACK WITHOUT SACRIFICING PITCH. ALL MY SONGS SOUND LIKE NEWER VERSIONS WHEN PLAYED FASTER OR SLOWER, DEPENDING ON MY MOOD AT THE TIME. TIESTO @ +1 SOUNDS REALLY ENTRANCING AND PUTS ME IN A ZONE DURING WORKOUTS, ENIGMA @ -1 SOUNDS CHILLED OUT, PINK FLOYD AND SLOWDIVE WHEN PLAYED @
-1 PUTS ME ON A STARGAZING MOOD. IF I EVER UPGRADE, I'LL MAKE SURE WHAT I'LL BUY WILL HAVE DNSe 3.0 OR BETTER
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: YP-P3JCB/XAA
- Description: The P3 is the must-have portable video player for on-the-go cinema lovers and performance enthusiasts seeking unparalleled freedom. Like the freedom from cables and wires with Bluetooth 2.0 for wireless file transfer and an internal speaker for earphone-free listening. Or the freedom to play almost any type of file thanks to the P3's vast format compatibility (supports AVI format). The P3 also frees you from the hassle of navigating complicated menu on its 3" 16: 9 wide-QVGA touch screen via haptic-enabled widgets and the intuitive EmoTure 2.0 Touch UI. A scratch-resistant tempered glass display and solid metal finish emphasize the P3's premium build quality.
General
- Product type Digital player / radio
- PC interface(s) supported Bluetooth, Hi-Speed USB
- Signal-to-noise ratio 89 dB
- Flash memory installed 8 GB Integrated
- Digital storage None
- Weight 3.4 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 4 in x 0.4 in x 2.1 in
- Body material Plastic, Aluminum, Tempered glass
- Color Black
- Software type Drivers & Utilities
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio
- Playback modes Repeat all, Repeat shuffle, One track repeat
- Response bandwidth 20 - 20000 Hz
- Supported bit rate 8 - 320
- Additional features JPEG photo playback
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display LCD
- Diagonal size 3 in
- Resolution 480 x 272
- Features Touch screen
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Built-in clock Alarm, Digital clock
- Additional features Built-in games, FM radio recording capability
CD System
- CD system type None
Speaker System
- Speaker(s) 1 x Speaker Built-in
- Speaker system nominal (RMS) output power 0.8 Watt
- Speaker system response bandwidth 400 - 20000 Hz
- Speaker system input impedance 8 Ohm
Equalizer
- Equalizer factory presets Jazz, Rock, Ballad, Normal, Studio, Classic
Radio
- Tuner type Digital Radio
- Station preset qty 30
- Tuner bands FM
- Tuner frequency range FM: 87.5 - 108 MHz
Remote Control
- Remote control None
Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone operation mode Mono
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural
- Sound output mode Stereo
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included 1 x USB cable -
- Connector type 1 x USB, 1 x Bluetooth
Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium polymer Rechargeable Player battery
- Mfr estimated battery life 30 hour(s)
- Battery capacity 610 mAh
- Recharge time 3 hour(s)
System Requirements
- Operating system Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows Vista
Product series
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, 16 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, FM, Stereo, 3.4 oz, Black, LCD
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, 16 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, 8 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Digital player / radio, 32 GB, AAC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC-LC, Ogg Vorbis, MPEG 1 Audio, MPEG 2 Audio, MPEG 2.5 Audio, Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium polymer
Manufacturer info
- Samsung
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.samsungusa.com/
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001


