Very basic (Yelo DMP32)

Member Name: stmatth

Product:	Yelo DMP32
Date:	03/02/01 (245 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap

Disadvantages: Not a lot of features

Probably one of the cheapest and smallest MP3 players, the Yelo DMP32 is enough if you don't need fancy features and don't mind that its silvery surface makes it look like a cheap plastic toy. It has the basic functionality (play, stop, skip to next track, repeat), but even features like random playing or the option to program playlists are missing. According to the adverts, its 32Mb of memory will give you an hour of music, however, if you really want one hour, you will have to convert your MP3s to an almost unacceptably low sound quality. For standard high quality MP3 (>128kb, 44100Hz) you need approximately 1Mb per minute, giving you half an hour on the Yelo. However, as the memory is divided into two 16Mb chunks, every track has to be shorter than 15 or 16 minutes - unless you buy a larger memory card which will cost you considerably more than the whole player.

With high quality MP3, the sound quality of the Yelo is quite good - I do not notice any difference compared to MP3s played on my PC. To transfer your files from the PC, it comes with a cable that goes into the parallel (printer) port on the PC. The Yelo comes with two programs: The "manager software" and "Musicmatch". Or, to be precise: the printing on box claims that it comes with two programs on CD, in fact it comes with only the manager software on a floppy, and a well hidden hint in the booklet that a link to the Musicmatch programme can be found on their webpage.

The manager software is necessary to move files from the PC to the Yelo. It is easy to use and reliable, but be warned that it only runs on Windows 95/98, but not on NT or Windows 2000 (not to mention Linux). The Musicmatch software is a rather inflated and ugly looking programme that converts Audio-CDs to MP3 files. You may want to look around on the internet for some other free ripper software.

In summary, the Yelo is not a terribly sophisticated machine, but ok for basic needs, e.
g. if you listen to the same couple of tracks again and again all day. I use it for learning foreign languages: I put four or five lessons from a CD course onto the Yelo and listen to them repeatedly while walking to work. Very useful!

Summary: