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RCA Pearl MP3 Player Doesn't Shine, But Sounds Good!

The player comes with a built-in USB connector

Jul 3, 2007 07:46 GMT  ·  By
RCA Pearl Mp3 Player
   RCA Pearl Mp3 Player

Plug-in-style MP3 players with the USB interface have been enjoying a bit of a refreshment lately, as evidenced by the recent release of the SanDisk Sansa Express.

Recently, RCA has also joined the latest trend with the Pearl, one of three players in the company's new Gem Line. Just like some Sansa players, the Pearl is also aimed squarely at the budget-conscious, with 1GB and 2GB versions retailing for $39 and $48, respectively.

RCA offers decent sound quality, so it could give the SanDisk a run for its money. Unfortunately, it has a funky menu structure and disposable battery. There is a plain old fashioned monochrome LCD display in front, which shows the essential information like battery life and track title.

The player's design is not very ugly, but it won't be running for fashion awards any time soon. The Gem player will come in 1GB midnight blue, 2GB in black and 512MB in light gray. However, the RCA Pearl offers surprisingly good sound quality and an affordable price tag.

The Pearl is small enough to fit in a pocket or purse yet packed with compelling features. It is the perfect work companion and it doubles as a USB thumb drive data storage device. It also includes a microSD card slot, which allows users to boost capacity to 4GB with an optional microSD card.

There is also a built-in voice recorder included. The RCA Pearl plays mp3, WMA and protected WMA files and is compatible with most Internet download services. Battery life of the Pearl is an impressive 15 hours from a single "AAA" battery. Users can select one of seven colors for the backlit LCD.

Not to mention the extra options such as an Fm tuner and a microSD card expansion slot and there is also a built-in USB interface, which makes it even more appealing.

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