We woke up this morning feeling like it was 2005. That was the year that Mumbai was submerged due to never-seen-before rainfall, and Eris, the solar system's largest known dwarf planet, was discovered. It's also probably the last year that dedicated portable media players were still exciting. Yet here we are, well into 2015, reviewing a portable media player from Transcend.
The Transcend MP710 is a tiny device that does exactly what it says on the box, and not much more. Because it's fitness oriented, it features a G-Sensor Step Counter and run-friendly hooked earphones. The pocketable size and lightweight build can be considered advantages, but there is nothing else special about the device. It is simply a portable media player and recorder with 8GB of storage space.
Design and Specifications
The MP710 is made entirely of plastic, which keeps it down to a lightweight 39g without the headphones connected. At 88x44x10mm, dimensions are on the compact side too, which is a good thing for a fitness-focused PMP. There are two colour options, and the dull finish looks good in an understated way. The 2-inch 240x320-pixel TFT LCD screen can be used to play AMV and AVI format files, but unfortunately it's a terrible screen to actually watch anything on. It exists mainly to provide visual cues to navigation and to display album art.
The MP710 is made entirely of plastic, which keeps it down to a lightweight 39g without the headphones connected. At 88x44x10mm, dimensions are on the compact side too, which is a good thing for a fitness-focused PMP. There are two colour options, and the dull finish looks good in an understated way. The 2-inch 240x320-pixel TFT LCD screen can be used to play AMV and AVI format files, but unfortunately it's a terrible screen to actually watch anything on. It exists mainly to provide visual cues to navigation and to display album art.
Performance
We've stated that the system is pretty foolproof as far as getting it running and operational is concerned. This is perhaps the only praiseworthy thing about the Transcend MP710's performance.
We've stated that the system is pretty foolproof as far as getting it running and operational is concerned. This is perhaps the only praiseworthy thing about the Transcend MP710's performance.
Starting with audio quality, we're sad to say that the MP710 and its bundled headphones are absolutely appalling. There was a significant hiss to some of the classic audio tracks we tested; more than the acceptable limit. There was also a significant problem with stereo separation, with certain elements of tracks clearly playing through only one earpiece and ignoring the other. The in-ears are so bad, it's as if they had been designed by someone serving his or her last day at the job before quitting and disappearing forever.
Verdict
Bringing back products from the past is like reminding us of our foolish teenage years. If we were to draw a comparison, the Transcend MP710 would be like a 40-year-old in baggy jeans and a sideways baseball cap trying to sneak in to a college canteen and look inconspicuous. Even today's least expensive smartphones can handle audio playback and recording better. If you are thinking of spending money on this device, save it instead and buy yourself a better phone the next time you upgrade.
Bringing back products from the past is like reminding us of our foolish teenage years. If we were to draw a comparison, the Transcend MP710 would be like a 40-year-old in baggy jeans and a sideways baseball cap trying to sneak in to a college canteen and look inconspicuous. Even today's least expensive smartphones can handle audio playback and recording better. If you are thinking of spending money on this device, save it instead and buy yourself a better phone the next time you upgrade.
Price (MRP): Rs. 3,999
Pros
- Doesn't weigh much
Cons
- Bad audio output
- Low-quality bundled earphones
- Limited storage space and file format support
- Average battery life
- Step counter is a joke
Ratings (Out of 5)
- Design: 2
- Performance: 1
- Value for money: 2.5
- Overall: 2
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