The Commands
As I started to examine
the Digital Audio Player, I noticed that besides the standard PLAY/PAUSE,
STOP, RWD, and FWD buttons there were also the Repeat/Random, Album, ESP/Last
Memory, +10 and SBS commands. The first one mentioned in the list was no more
spectacular than the same command on other audio devices, but the Album command
was quite interesting; it was designed to help skip from album to album (if
the MP3-CD is recorded in albums). This feature can sure help you save some
time if you have a lot of files on one CD. In the same line of idea comes
the +10 command. This key allows you to skip ten songs in only one click one
a button; it's yet another time saver. The Last Memory command was also a
great component. It was created to remember the last file played before stopping
the MCD-MP65 so when reused, you go start right were you last left. As for
the ESP... I think I'll keep that for later. The last special command was
the SBS (Super Bass Sound). This bass boost was quite impressive and really
showed me how a little bass can really increase sound quality.
The Test : Heaven or
Hell?
The first time I really
got to test the MCD-MP65 was just before I was going to bed. So I popped a
CD in it and started to enjoy the MCD-MP65’s great sound quality. I tried
both MP3-CD and CD-R Playback and founded both quite sharp: the LCD Display
was very useful, the SBS made an already great sound quality become even better,
the Album, +10, and Last Memory were just fantastic commands that made the
MP3-CD Playback a child’s play, and the ESP (Electronic Shock Protection)
system seem to work perfectly. The only two problems that I accounted were
the fact that the MCD-MP65 would still play when the AC adaptor was attached
to it without plugging it in a power outlet (this problem could cause a major
wastage of batteries if you pay attention to what you’re doing) and that the
unit did not come with a remote. Still, because of its great performance,
I was ready to give the MCD-MP65 a mark of about 9.0/10.0… The next morning,
I decided to give the MCD-MP65 a little jogging test. I was expecting the
ESP system to work perfectly, but instead, it gave me a rather poor performance.
First of all, the supposedly 40 seconds ESP would only last for about 10 seconds
(it was odd, but that was just the way it was). Also, second of all, when
activated, the built in anti-skip protection would stop the CD from playing
right in the middle of a session even though my batteries were full; it also
would cause CDs to skip for no particular reason (like my brand new Craig
David CD that I had purchased a week before testing the MCD-MP65!!!). Finally,
the ESP would cease functioning when the unit was in a vertical position.
Just to be sure that that these issues weren’t a one time gig or based only
on my judgement, I putted the MCD-MP65’s ESP to trial a second time and even
asked other people to use it for a while; sadly, the results were the same.
Therefore, I was forced to lower the unit’s rating.
Conclusion 
So, what’s the verdict? Well, the MCD-MP65’s ESP was a big disappointment,
but we have to say that the unit that we received was not the final version
of the product. This is quite important because the official product offers
a 100 seconds ESP; also, most of the problems mentioned in previous paragraphs
must have been fixed on it. Still, due to its outstanding performance in all
the other areas and great qualities such as the Large LCD Display, the SBS,
Album, Last Memory, and +10 keys, and the MP-3 CD/CD-R Playback it can be
labelled as a excellent product. Also, the remote included with the MCD-MP67
can only helps to make things even more interesting. Therefore, if we take
the MCD-MP65‘s great attributes and features, subtract from them the ESP poor
rating, and add to that the fact that the unit I tested was a prototype; this
digital audio player receives a well-deserved 8.0/10.0. The MDC-MP65 offers
a great price and great performance. You can travel with it, use it in your
car, or simply enjoy it at home for several hours. Despite its flaws, there
isn’t much more that you can ask for in a digital audio device.
David
Dorgerville 
27/12/01
