Samsung YP-K5 Review

The Samsung YP-K5 is a solid MP3 player which lets one enjoy digital music, listen to FM radio and view digital photos. Its innovative, stylish design of built-in, slide-out speakers make it a conversation starter while filling a small room with great sound. No buttons on the face plate give it a clean look, but the glossy finish smudges easily. The K5 is also pricey compared to other flash memory players of similar storage size such as the new second generation iPod nano.

If the Apple iPod nano had built-in speakers, it might sound like the Samsung YP-K5. This new player from the well-respected consumer electronics maker is one of the first to sport speakers which slide out and lock so you can create a shareable listening experience with others. These speakers put out great sound, as do the standard headphones included in the packaging. The downside to the slide out speakers is that it makes this player somewhat bulky compared to others.

Rechargeable battery life was near what Samsung claimed, coming in at over six hours for the speaker and close to 30 without. The K5 can play MP3 and WMA music files well even at higher volumes and offers audio enhancements. The built-in FM tuner is a nice touch but lacks an internal FM antenna, requiring headphones to be attached. JPEG photos can also be displayed, though since the screen is small pictures don’t quite look the way you’d like them.

The K5 uses its own software or Windows Media Player 10 and is compatible with PlaysForSure online audio services like Napster and MTV’s URGE. Control is handled through a front panel which lacks external buttons. While this is a nice and sleek look, the glossy finish of this panel easily smudges. The controls are easy to use after a short learning curve.

Other useful features of the K5 include photo slideshows set to music, an alarm clock which can be set to a favorite tune, USB 2.0 support for fast file transfer, 15 display languages and upgradeable firmware.