Samsung YP-P2 review

Samsung YP-P2 Review

Reviewed by: Nate Lanxon

Reviewed on: 1 November 2007

Performance
Browsing the P2 is really easy and instantly comfortable, even if you're used to an iPod. After switching off the hideously irritating menu sound effects, we plunged into some music. Sound quality is generally pretty decent. First up for testing was Tarantula by Pendulum, a powerful drum 'n' bass track from the Australians. Pendulum's wonderfully distorted bass was as driven and heavy as it should be. Ambient sound effects in the background were clearly audible and free of any interference.

Glósóli by Sigur Rós, the dream-like track full of ethereal ambiance and regimented stomping, was reproduced wonderfully. Very few people will take issue with the P2's performance, other than the fact that it doesn't support lossless audio -- a big disappointment for anyone who likes to plug their players into a hi-fi.

Although viewing angles are quite poor, video playback is generally impressive on the 16:9-format screen. High-quality movies are bright, crisp and exceptionally smooth. None of our usual test library of video files would play, some of which use typical video podcast resolutions. Samsung's Media Studio software will convert clips, very slowly, to .SVI format, but the results aren't impressive.

Quite nice is the integration of RSS subscriptions. Although you need to use Samsung's functional, if clunky, media manager, you can subscribe to RSS feeds and have their content automatically downloaded to your machine. It's not as seamless as the podcast support in iTunes, but it's good enough.

If you're planning on using Bluetooth earphones, you'll be pleased to hear it's a simple process to set up. The P2 supports A2DP stereo Bluetooth, so sound quality through some decent wireless earphones will be top notch.

Conclusion
Despite trying the be the iPod touch and failing somewhat, Samsung has produced a solid new player. It's stylish, easy to use and distinctly affordable. We were disappointed with the number of audio formats supported, and very sad not to see support for lossless audio. The P2's massive screen makes video the killer app. The only problem is that video playback can be a pain due to the restrictive number of formats and resolutions the player supports.

All in all, the YP-P2 is capable and affordable, but hindered by some annoying software restrictions. If you're looking for an affordable and great looking player, consider the P2. But if you want a polished and sophisticated video experience, you may want to shell a few more quid and plump for the model the P2 is so obviously styled after, the iPod touch.

Supplier: Advanced MP3Players.com 

Edited by Jason Jenkins
Additional editing by Shannon Doubleday