Creative NOMAD Jukebox Zen NX 20GB

Reviews: Multimedia

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Nicholas Hart
Kurtis
TheTechLounge
Feb. 23, 2004

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Quality Check

As I said earlier, the Zen NX feels very solid. The aluminum face and backplate are very securely attached and, aside from the scroller, the buttons do not protrude from the sides of the case enough to be in danger of damage. I'm not a big fan of the plastic strap used for removal of the battery, but the vast majority of users will be content with its lifespan and will not be swapping it out. Button presses provide good feedback and do not feel soft or mushy.

Of course the most important aspect to cover on the Zen NX is the sound reproduction quality. I found the included headphones to be somewhat disappointing; the music sounded a little tinny. They will be fine for occasional use, but definitely consider purchasing a quality set of headphones if you plan on using the device often. To verify that the sound quality problem truly is a headphone issue I plugged the Zen NX into my Logitech Z-640 PC speakers and there was a huge difference. From Neil Diamond (greatest singer/songwriter of this or any other generation) to AC/DC the Zen NX is capable of delivering great sound

Obligatory iPod Comparison

What kind of hard-drive based mp3 player review would this be without a comparison to the undeniably sexy Apple iPod? The Zen NX is a bit larger and the interface, although very easy to use, pales in comparison to the touchpad-like navigation of the iPod. However, the Zen NX has a user-replaceable, reasonably priced rechargeable battery where the iPod requires you to send it in for battery replacement lest you void the warranty by attempting it yourself. Cost is a major plus for the Zen NX; the 20GB version is about $160 less than the same capacity iPod. I have not had the opportunity to compare the sound quality between the two, but do know that the Creative performs very well. I will say however, that saving $160 sounds (pun very much intended) a lot better to me!

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Page 4 of 5

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions & Taking a Closer Look
Page 3: Using the NOMAD Jukebox Zen NX
Page 4: Quality Check & Obligatory iPod Comparison
Page 5: Conclusion

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2 User Comments

1 - Posted by Guest on December 25, 2004 - 7:22 pm

I found this review very comprehensive and explanatory. It provided just the kind of information that I (as a newbie and prospective buyer) needed. Great job!

2 - Posted by Guest on June 20, 2005 - 12:27 pm

I'm guessing that the setting for speeding up or down play speed is for audio books.

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