Asono Mica (1GB)

Features
Unusually among non-Apple players, in addition to playing MP3 and unprotected WMA, it reads unprotected ripped AAC files, though not protected iTunes tracks. But that's a mixed blessing -- both PCs and Macs see the device simply as a removable drive and no jukebox or music-store software we tested recognised it by name. iTunes didn't recognise the player at all; Windows Media Player 10.0 saw it as 'other media' but listed none of the content; and Musicmatch 10.0 found it as a removable drive but presented menus that we needed to drill down through to find the music. On the PC, we found it easier to transfer tracks with Windows Explorer, and on the Mac, we simply dragged and dropped. In all events, the player's music-management capabilities are basic and awkward.

Asono's design experiments didn't stretch to the earphones themselves, which are virtually identical to the iPod's distinctive ear sticks. With a 90dB signal-to-noise ratio, the Mica's sound quality largely depends on how firmly you stick the phones -- which fit as well (or as badly) as Apple's -- into your ears. Unfortunately, you need to purchase an optional component to use another set of headphones. With 11 equaliser settings and separate bass and treble settings, the Asono lets you massage the sound to your liking.

Performance
FM reception on the Asono Mica is solid and clean for the most powerful stations, and voice-memo recordings are crisp, as long as there isn't much ambient noise. Line-in recording is solid, though it requires a special cable (included). The USB connection charges the battery, from which we coaxed only 10 hours per charge -- a subpar figure. The Mica's performance suffered further from the excessively slow USB 1.1 transfer speed of 0.8MB per second.