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QJ Review: RCA H100

Posted Aug 16, 2006 at 9:30AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: Tags: chrome, gaming accessories, headphone, iAudio, WMA, Yahoo!

On the 27th of June, RCA brought three new MP3 player models into the market - the 4GB RCA H100 ($139), the 6GB RCA H106 and the H116 (both $169 each). All models are available to purchase right now, but lack features such as an FM tuner, recording capabilities, photo support, and video support.

The RCA H100 series is compatible with WMA subscriptions and audible files. Although it is much bulkier than an iPod Nano and lacks the flamboyance of a Creative Zen V, so those looking for an affordable medium-capacity player with no extra features at all should check this player out. That will do it for the H100, next is the H116.

While the H116 series isn't ugly, the lack of a glossy high-tech appeal and prominent branding gives the lightweight player a very generic buzz about it. Holding it in the hand comes natural, and at its thinnest point on the player the device measures 3.5 by 2 by .5 inches. It's not as skinny as a Nano nor the Creative Zen V Plus, but that doesn't take away from the overall user experience.

As RCA representatives have stated, the H100 series is "so small, that it can hide behind a business card." RCA reps have also confirmed that there isn't a difference between the H106 and H116 models- in fact, all of the series models are practically identical from the outside.

The 6GB RCA H116 is next to the Cowon iAudio 6, a-4GB microdrive player that will definitely give you more bang for your buck on the features side and it will also give you a greater bang in your wallet than the H116 though.

The appearance of the ashy-colored device has a thick and glossy finish that attracts a lot of finger prints and is outlined by a thin Rio carbon-like chrome border. Underneath the 1.5 inch display is the main controller and volume mechanism, an audible wheel with grain-like raised bumps for traction. The wheel functions perfectly and you select the menu items by pressing the center play/pause button. The forward and back buttons border the left and right sides of the wheel, while the menu button sits just nearby to the right. As RCA's intention on keeping costs down, the buttons are not back-lit as would often be expected. The only item on either spine is a power button, while the headphone and standard USB jacks, as well as the hold switch, are located on top.

There's also an opening for a lanyard but not recommended for such use as this microdrive player is susceptible to malfunctioning if knocked around for too much. Along with the player, the package includes generic iPod-like ear buds; a two-ft. long USB cable; a basic FM transmitter (not packaged with the H100); a driver CD with the Yahoo Music Engine; and various other promotional offers from such companies as eMusic and Yahoo. The FM transmitter doesn't work quite as well as perviously hoped, you may experience a little static and even worse, muffled sound quality on even the clearest of frequencies.

The screen itself doesn't support photos or album art, but it's easy to read the white text against the black background and it gets the job done. The menu is simple, with options for music, audiobooks and playlists. Selections are broken down by artists, albums, titles, and genres, and menu items don't speed up as you go. The menu button takes you to one of three screens, Now Playing, wherever you left off while browsing, and the settings menu. Settings include shuffle, repeat, DSP, and profile, as well as another screen where you can customize the menu options, adjust contrast and brightness, and set the player to MTP or UMS. Clicking and holding the play button during playback will add a song to the My Selections playlist, though you can't do the same for albums. The same action allows you to skip chapters within an audiobook.

One minor annoyance about the player is when you activate the volume via the scroll wheel, you'll have to press a button within a couple of seconds to get rid of the volume meter; you'll find yourself hitting buttons twice to get the desired results - or maybe we're just impatient. We've also noticed a consistent one- or two-second pause between or when selecting tracks. Blame that on the hard drive, which makes this player more susceptible to damage than a flash player such as the Creative Zen V Plus.

Audio quality is decent. The same tracks on our Samsung YP-Z5 were slightly crisper and punchier. The DSP settings include a very heavy Bass, as well as Pop, Rock, Jazz, Flat, and the five-band customizable graphic. While the players are rated for a reasonable 16 hours of battery life, you will be lucky to get 13 hours of music per charge. Expect that figure to drop a little if you're playing subscription tracks. One note about recharging: you must use USB as there is no AC adapter included. In MTP mode, the player was easily recognized by Windows Media Player 11, and our MTV Urge subscription transfers over USB 2.0 were quick and painless.

Without subscription capabilities, the RCA H100 series is a blast from the past. It's easy to use and is priced for those who don't care about bells and whistles. But for those who are active and in the market for a flash-based player, we recommend the 6GB SanDisk Sansa e270. Although it costs twice as much as the RCA, its multitude of features is worth the price.

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