Gadget Wars: Creative Zen Stone vs Samsung YP-S2QB vs iPod Shuffle

When it comes to the faceless DAPs that offer nothing but audio, three names come to mind. Apple would be first on the list with its Shuffle that’s been around for quite a while and has undergone a couple of minor changes over time. Next up is Creative’s Zen Stone which also underwent upgrades to the Zen Stone Plus with an OLED display, and then to the Zen Stone Plus with speaker. The third is Samsung’s latest offering, the YP-S2QB or ‘Pebble’.

You may recall that I had done a feature on faceless DAPs a while ago, and I’m just adding the Samsung to this list. I intend to help you make up your mind about which of these players is worth buying if you’re looking for a simple DAP that does little else but play music.

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Creative Zen Stone (1GB Rs 1, 500, 2GB Rs 2, 200)
The curvaceous and petite Zen Stone is small and lightweight (21g), with a simple copy-paste format for audio playback. Accepted file formats are MP3, WMA, and Audible. It offers no media manager software of any kind, but you won’t really need one. It’s equipped with a standard 3.5mm earphone socket and a set of Creative earphones that you don’t need to change. The Zen Stone offers users a folder switch option in case you’ve stored your files in specific folders. A shuffle mode allows random play.

For charging the Zen Stone comes equipped with a mini USB port and connector cable to hook it up to a PC, so you can also transfer your data. The battery offers up to 10 hours of nonstop playback. Audio quality is both loud and clear. I recommend avoiding peak volume as the audio tends to get a bit harsh depending on the recording. The good thing is you won’t need to pump up the volume that high. The player comes with a bundled keychain for portability and is available in a couple of funky colors.

Samsung YP-S2QB (2GB Rs 2, 750)
Samsung’s YP-S2QB is a neat-looking player too. It’s also called the Pebble because of its shape. This DAP is also lightweight at 13.6g and easily portable. The necklace-style strap with earphones helps. The 3.5 inch earphone socket is coupled with a locking system to make sure it doesn’t slip off. The charger doubles as a dock for data transfer. Since it’s just a single pin it minimizes the need for wires.

The YP-S2 reads MP3, WMA, DRM, and OGG formats, and files can be copy-pasted for playback. But Samsung’s also included a copy of its Media Studio PC software for file transfer. It may not have a folder switch feature, but it does come with Samsung’s DNSe sound engine with EQ presets to enhance the audio experience. The player is loud and clear, and the earphones are comfortable. Battery life is probably the best part; it lasts a little over 12 hours.

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Apple iPod Shuffle (2GB Rs 3, 250)
The new Shuffle trumps the others in this lineup with its clip design, which eliminates the need for any add-on for portability. Clip it your bag or shirt and you’re good to go. The main drawback is of course iTunes; there’s no copy-paste method for file playback. You’ll have to dock it with your PC for charging, and use iTunes for playback.

Playback options include a shuffle mode and that’s it. Although it uses a standard 3.5mm earphone port, I’ve always had issues with Apple’s earphones. They usually tend to lose their rubberized portion rather quickly due to moisture or prolonged use. But I’m sure there are plenty of users who’ve had no problems whatsoever. Weighing in at about 15g, it’s not difficult to carry around.

Audio quality is way better than good. Battery life will vary, but you should be able to get 13-14 hours of playback on average. The DAP is available in a range of colors.
Roundup

While Apple’s iPod provides great battery life, easy portability, and good sound quality, having to use iTunes for transferring audio could be an issue for some. There is also its rather high price for just 2GB.

Creative’s Zen Stone offers an easy folder skip option, decent battery life and audio quality, and an easy copy-paste method for file playback, but it does tend to sound a little sharp at peak volume.

Samsung’s Pebble seems to cover all points reasonably well, with a not-too-steep price tag.

The Winner!
All things considered, the winner in my opinion is the Samsung YP-S2, which offers easy portability, good battery life, and great sound quality with EQ presets. The affordable price only makes it an even better choice if you have simple tastes and are on a tight budget.