MobiBlu DAH-1500i (1GB, Black) printer friendly version - MP3 players - CNET Reviews

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MobiBlu DAH-1500i (1GB, Black)
http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-6490_7-31473739.html

At a glance

Editors' rating: 7.0 Very good Editor's take: If the MobiBlu DAH-1500i got any smaller, it wouldn't exist. The good: The cute and stylish MobiBlu DAH-1500i features a user-friendly, ultratiny design; a bright OLED screen; and useful extras such as FM tuning and recording, voice recording, and SRS Wow sound effects. This MP3 player also works as a removable flash drive and is DRM compatible. The bad: The MobiBlu DAH-1500i uses a nonstandard USB cable and has poor battery life. What's it for: Listening to ripped or purchased MP3s and WMAs; recording voice notes; listening to and recording FM radio. Who's it for: Style-conscious music lovers with a craving for tiny tech that doesn't skimp on features. Business use: Acts as a decent voice recorder and can be easily concealed in any pocket. Essential extras: Better headphones and a more attractive lanyard or neck chain. The bottom line: If you love all things tiny, consider picking up MobiBlu's cute cube, the DAH1500i.

CNET editor's review

Reviewed by ; Jasmine France Edited by ; James Kim Reviewed September 8, 2005 (updated October 12, 2006)
Editors' note: We have lowered the score of the DAH-1500i from 7.3 to 7.0, given the arrival of the more feature-filled Cube2. MobiBlu is one of a multitude of lesser-known portable audio companies trying to make a name for itself among giants such as Apple, Creative, and iRiver. While most of the MP3 players that we've seen from MobiBlu have been decent, they're not standouts, so the company has thus far skirted the spotlight. However, it appears that the MobiBlu DAH-1500i is poised to change this status. The ultratiny, cube-shaped device is a tech marvel and has certainly turned some heads among industry journalists, including those here at CNET. And despite its unimpressive battery life, the DAH-1500i largely lives up to the hype.
http://reviews.cnet.com/MobiBlu_DAH_1500i_1GB_Black/4514-6490_7-31473739.html?tag=tool 10/13/2006

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If nothing else, the MobiBlu DAH-1500i is versatile. The cute MP3 player is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems (plug and play--no driver install is needed for operating systems released after 1998), and you have a choice of six colors: black, pink, silver, blue, red, and orange. And at $129.99 for the 1GB version and $99.99 for the 512MB version, it's quite a bargain. Had MobiBlu made the DAH-1500i any smaller, it would have been an ergonomic disaster. As it stands, the player weighs just 0.6 ounce and measures 1 cubic inch (1 by 1 by 1 inch)--about the size of four sugar cubes stacked together--and it manages to accommodate a usable control pad, with a four-way rocker (volume up/down and track forward/reverse) surrounding a play/pause/power button. That said, while the MobiBlu DAH-1500i's buttons are functional, they are pretty stiff and will pose a problem for those with large fingers. This stiffness can also be an issue when trying to navigate the many options. Just around the corner from the control pad is the 3/4-inch-diagonal OLED with fairly large, bright blue text on a black background. Due to the smallness of the screen, songs with track names longer than four letters continually scroll, making them difficult to read. Of course, you have to expect such a concession from a device that you can easily conceal in a closed fist. Continue around the side from the screen, and you'll find the menu key and the hold button, while the top of the device sports the headphone jack and the lanyard loop. Be aware that there is no standard mini-USB port; instead, MobiBlu provides a proprietary USB cable that plugs into the headphone jack. This cable is used for both transferring and charging, so don't lose it!

The cube-tastic MobiBlu DAH-1500i in its minimalist case. While the MobiBlu DAH-1500i is cute enough to make you want to take advantage of its wearable nature, the white headphone/neck strap combo that's included isn't stylish enough to tempt most people to sport it; a silver or clear cord would have been better. Unfortunately, the lanyard loop isn't large enough to string a standard necklace chain through it. In addition to the headphones, a minimalist case is included. This highly appreciated extra is made of clear rubber and wraps just along the edges and around the corners of the player, thus protecting it from dings while not overly concealing its stylishness. You also get an install disc with a program that allows you to update the firmware of the player. You don't get music-management software, but you don't really need any. Drag-and-drop takes care of most transfers, while Windows Media Player--a standard on all Windows machines--is necessary for moving DRM-protected files to the device. Surprisingly, the MobiBlu DAH-1500i isn't as feature-sparse as one would expect from a device of its size. The player supports MP3 and WMA (including DRM) files, packs in an FM tuner, and records voice and FM radio. There's also an ample selection of sound settings, including five preset EQs, a custom setting, and the SRS Wow sound-enhancement setting, for which you can select SRS Surround, TruBass, or Wow (for both). All in all, you end up with your choice of nine sound-adjustment settings. You can even fiddle with several levels of the SRS effects--focus the SRS on the low, mid, or high levels; choose the speaker size; and adjust the individual volume levels for TruBass and surround sound--not bad for an MP3 player that's smaller than your average ice cube. http://reviews.cnet.com/MobiBlu_DAH_1500i_1GB_Black/4514-6490_7-31473739.html?tag=tool 10/13/2006

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In the numbers segment of our testing, the MobiBlu DAH-1500i wasn't quite up to the task. Its 7-hour battery life was the main disappointment, though transfer times didn't fare much better at 1.6MB per second over USB 2.0. Luckily, the little player gave a fairly impressive performance in the sound department. Even through the included earbuds, which were fairly uncomfortable, tunes were loud and clear with no noticeable background hiss, and highs and lows were balanced and defined. When we switched in our Shure E4c test 'buds, the sound actually seemed to deteriorate--things got too bright for our tastes. We also noticed a very faint clicking, staticky sound between some tracks. Overall, however, the MobiBlu DAH-1500i is a decent little performer and easy to recommend to those who drool over tiny tech. User comments Average user rating Very good 7.5 out of 10 Average user rating: from 54 users User rating Spectacular 9 out of 10 Feature packed, tiny mp3 player. by sr788 - August 19, 2005 Pros: Tiny, rechargeable, drag-drop support, FM radio. Cons: No belt clip. Proprietary USB cable 22 out of 22 users found this user opinion helpful. 3 comments posted to this opinion. User rating Spectacular 9 out of 10 I never even knew I wanted an MP3 player until I saw this thing by chadley25 - September 15, 2005 Pros: Tiny size, OLED display, feature-laden, upgradeable firmware, very nice sound, "cool" factor Cons: Ugly white earbuds, buttons sometimes unresponsive 15 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful. User rating Spectacular 9 out of 10 Good Things Come in.REALLY Small Packages by richardgear - August 19, 2005 Pros: Tiny size, fantastic sound, easy loading of music, FM Tuner!!!, great accessories http://reviews.cnet.com/MobiBlu_DAH_1500i_1GB_Black/4514-6490_7-31473739.html?tag=tool 10/13/2006

May 2, 2006

2GB mobiBLU DAH-1500i Cube Mp3 Player
MobiBLU America has added another feather in their cap by announcing the new 2GB Cube MP3 Player which is also podcast-enabled and will come preloaded with the Podcast Ready's myPodder(TM) podcast management software. This software results in podcast mobility and one doesnt need to be stuck at their desktops to enjoy the podcast which has become a part of the new digital lifestyle. Thanks to the software one can just plug the MP3 player into any Internet-connected computer and get the necessary updates and manage their selected podcasts. The new mobiBLU Cube (model #DAH-1500i) is a full fledged digital audio player which has a capacity of 2GB and sports a highly compact and stylized design. The players measures less than one inch and is actually a second generation model of the mobiBLU Cube. It plays all the necessary audio formats like MP3, WAV etc and includes an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. It includes a FM radio (with record function), voice recorder, and clock and can store up to 32 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks. It also features equalization modes like Normal / Rock / Jazz / Pop / Classic and SRS WOW virtual surround sound for a 3D soundscape and an enhanced audio experience. It should be available by June though no word on pricing yet. "Through mobiBLU's partnership with Podcast Ready, we are able to extend the breakthrough features and functionality of the 2GB Cube, making podcasts far easier to access," said Mr. Song "The myPodder-enabled B153 goes beyond any MP3 player available today, breaking new ground for battery playback time, functionality, portability and design." "This partnership with mobiBLU is further evidence of Podcast Ready's commitment to removing the obstacles that are limiting the widespread adoption of podcasting by making subscribing and listening to podcasts easier and more portable," said Russell Holliman, CEO and founder of Podcast Ready. "Together with Podcast Ready's advanced podcast directory and revolutionary podcast management services, the myPodder podcast management software delivers new levels of freedom and flexibility to the growing number of podcast users."