Technology Extreme Battery Tip: While throwaway alkaline batteries are still the norm, we recommend that readers purchase a rechargeable Ni-MH battery kit at their local Radio Shack or electronics store for all their electronic devices. Ni-MH, or Nickel-Metal-Hydride, rechargeable batteries haven't been on the market for very long in AAA, and AA sizes, but even Energizer and Duracell are now manufacturing them. The importance of this fact is that in devices like MP3 players, digital cameras, and other high-drain electronic devices, Ni-MH rechargeable batteries usually deliver 25% more battery life than non-rechargeable Duracell Ultra alkaline batteries. Plus, since they're rechargeable they'll save you a ton of cash in the long run. What could be better than that?
Batteries included
Potential buyers can also see from the specs that the DMP-100 forgoes using the speed and ease of a USB port for the more common parallel port connection for data transfer. We'd prefer to see native USB support for the DMP-100 simply because it takes about three to five times less time to download data from the PC by using the USB port.
But the use of a PC's parallel port for this purpose is still preferable to using the mind-numbingly-slow serial port option that we've seen some MP3 players utilize.
Other features of the DMP-100 center around its audio playback capabilities, specifically its slightly better than average 90dB S/N ratio, and its average 20Hz - 20KHz frequency response rating.
Rounding out the package are a set of included earbuds, which fit inside the ear versus traditional headphones which require a support bar across the head, as well as a soft carrying case for using to transport and protect the player.
Powering up the DMP-100 for the first time revealed a non-backlit two-line LCD screen, which is very easy to read providing that there's enough light. The display isn't as detailed or informative as the display on the Diamond Rio 500 unit we recently reviewed, but it conveys the basic information of song title and length appropriately. It also provides a three-step battery life indicator, as well as a volume level meter and repeat/random display icon.
The DMP-100's major functions of stop, track forward, track backward, play, pause, repeat, random play, and power on/off, are found on the front of the player in a silver circular ring of connected buttons.
Menu and Mode buttons lie beneath the ring, as do two other buttons which control the preset equalizer mode and the unit's select/enter commands.
Volume levels are controlled via two buttons on the side of the player that move the dB level up and down accordingly. We found that at its maximum volume level the DMP-100 was easily heard under the worst of conditions, such as standing 20 yards from a busy freeway and listening to the player (We go to the limit for you folks). Also, the player didn't suffer from much distortion or breakup when completely maxxed out, a testament to its internals and the quality of its standard earbuds. Which brings us to the unit's overall sound quality....