The Insignia NS-DA1G 1GB MP3 Player: Expecting a Cubic Zirconium, Receiving a Diamond
Written: Dec 03 '06 (Updated Dec 03 '06)
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Pros: Excellent Sound Quality, attractive and functional design, mini-USB 2.0 connectivity, FM Tuner
Cons: Photo image quality, included earbuds and Rhapsody software, must download user manual.
The Bottom Line: See Overall Below.
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| symbiosis's Full Review: Insignia Sport 1GB MP3 Player NS-DA1G |
Introduction
Tiny, flash memory MP3 players are going to be a very popular present during this holiday season. In the 1GB-2GB flash player category, the standard is still set by the iPod shuffle and nano. However, many other brands now have competing products. One of the lesser-known brands is Insignia, which is Best Buy's house brand.
The NS-DA1G is a 1GB, flash memory based MP3 player and photo viewer. It can play music in the MP3 or WMA formats. With a firmware update available at the Insignia website, it can also handle Audible and OGG formats. The player can display photos in the JPG format.
Design
The NS-DA1G appears to have been designed by a very talented engineer. The overall size is quite small, at 3.1"(H) x 1.3"(W) x 0.5"(D), and the device weighs a mere 1.2 ounces.
The front of the unit is the high gloss black popularized by the iPod. While it looks great, this shiny black finish is infamous for attracting fingerprints. The sides and back are black, with a rubberized finish. This gives the unit a nice feel, and also makes it easy to grasp.
On the long side of the player, there is a hold button. This is exceptionally handy for when you want to set volume and play options, then slip it into a pocket, without having to worry about accidentally pressing buttons. Next to the hold button is a recessed reset button. Hopefully, I will not need to use that button much.
At the end of the player is the headphone jack, and a mini-USB jack. The mini-USB connection is becoming very popular for devices such as MP3 players, digital cameras, and digital picture frames. This not only provides high speed (USB 2.0) transfer, but also means that the cable is easily replaceable if something happens to the included cable.
On the front of the NS-DA1G, there is a power button, menu button, and up/down/left/right control circle with play/pause/select in the middle. The front also includes a tiny full-color LCD screen, which is about the size of a postage stamp.
All of the buttons have a nice tactile feel, and the unit feels like it is solidly constructed.
I am really impressed with the design, and cannot really think of any way that it could be improved.
Design 95/100
Included Accessories
The NS-DA1G comes with a mini-USB cable for transferring files onto the player. As previously mentioned, this type of cable is becoming fairly common and transfers files quickly. This is also how the player charges the battery.
The package includes a cheap plastic case with belt loop and cut-outs for all the buttons. This is not going to win any style points, but does protect the unit from scratches and allows you to attach it to your belt, if you have a belt, and so desire.
There is a quick start guide, which gives you the basics of most tasks. There was not, however, a full-bodied user guide. The user guide is available at Insignia’s website. The user manual is in the PDF format. The explanations are simple and clear, and include many helpful color diagrams and pictures.
The NS-DA1G comes packaged with the Rhapsody Jukebox on CD-ROM.
The cheap included earbuds are, well, cheap included earbuds. They are hard plastic, without a cushion, which makes them rather hard on the ear. Should you have a high enough pain threshold to properly insert them, you will find that the sound is decent. The earbuds do an acceptable job with the mid and high range frequencies, but are very lacking in the low bass frequencies. I would recommend that you replace them with a decent pair of canalphones or headphones as soon as possible. Upgrading headphones is a quick and easy way to improve the sound of your MP3 music. Here are some ideas:
AKG K 26 P Headphones
Highly portable closed design headphones with good full range sound, excellent low bass, for around $40
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
Over-the-ear, closed design headphones with excellent detail and accurate full-range sound, for less than $100
Sennheiser HD580
Over-the-ear, open design headphones with excellent detail, superb comfort, and accurate full-range sound, for less than $200
Accessories 70/100
Ease of Use
This MP3 player has a simple, menu based navigation system. The 128x80 color LCD screen is easy to read. The directional buttons move through the menus, with the center (play/pause) button used to select choices. Almost everybody should be able to quickly get the hang of this. If you have issues, the user guide can walk you through all the basic functions.
The mini-USB cable provides easy hookup to virtually any modern computer. This connection is also used to charge the player. I transferred 816 MB of data to test the transfer speed. The transfer took 3.9 minutes, which equates to a very respectable 209 MB per minute. So completely filling the device should only take about 5 minutes.
Songs and photos can be transferred onto the device using either Rhapsody or Windows Media Player. The device shows up in My Computer, and it is also possible to just copy the files you want and paste them right into the device. I prefer this method.
Ease of Use 90/100
Sound Quality
Level 1: I am a pretty normal guy/girl.
With the included earbuds, the sound is acceptable. If you think your stock car radio or Bose Radio sounds good, this player will also sound very good with the included earbuds or inexpensive upgrades. The emphasis here is on the mid-range, with decently clear upper frequencies (cymbals, etc.) and very little bass. There are five preset equalizer settings, as well as a custom EQ setting with adjustments at 60Hz, 300 Hz, 1 kHz, 6 kHz, and 14 kHz. This will allow you to tailor the sound to your liking a bit. After this basic tryout, I placed the earbuds in their new home, my trash can.
Next, I hooked up the included headphones from my Panasonic portable CD player. These are very nice for included headphones, and compete favorably with headphones up to about $20. Again, there was an emphasis on the mid-range, with prominent vocals and electric guitars. Cymbals and horns can be distinguished, and some mid-bass reappeared.
Level 2: I really like music. What can I do to make it sound better?
With most portable devices, the cheapest, easiest way to improve the sound is to get a better set of headphones.
Moving up the headphone food chain, I next hooked up my AKG K 26 P headphones. Hmmm, I think the guitars are starting to sound like, well, guitars. Distortion is diminishing. The different types of cymbals are starting to be distinguishable. Vocals sound fairly accurate. Mid-bass has become more balanced with the mid-range and highs. Low bass has made an impressive and fairly accurate appearance, although it is slightly exaggerated. Pair the NS-DA1G with these headphones, and your teenager is likely to think they have entered audio nirvana.
Level 3: I have some disposable income, and my doctor is starting to worry about my audio obsession.
Don’t worry folks, you can still buy these headphones for less than those crappy Bose Triports that they sell down at the local retailer.
At this point, its time to get out the real headphones, Sennheiser HD280 pros. These cans can be found for less than $100 on the internet. They also represent the first point where the ability of the NS-DA1G to produce clear, accurate sound will be truly tested All listening was done with MP3s encoded at 320 kbps, to preserve as much detail as possible, while still allowing a reasonable amount of music to be stored on the device.
With the HD280 Pros, vocals have suddenly become very accurate. This could be what it sounded like to be in the studio with Michael Stipe as he was recording. Effects and vocal layering are also now clearly distinguishable. Saxophones sound incredible. I can hear the sharp, practiced intake breaths of the singer between closely spaced verses. The difference between various drums is now apparent. The bass and electric guitars are also well-defined. The overall musical spectrum sounds accurate and well-balanced. The NS-DA1G is getting its first real test, and it is doing very well.
Level 4: My doctor says that I am suffering from Audiophilia. I am more than a little bit obsessed with sound quality, and my stereo may be worth more than many used cars
Having already made something of a disclaimer about my sanity, it is now time to test the top end of the NS-DA1G's audio performance. For this slightly ridiculous endeavor, I attached my cMoy headphone amplifier (cMoy amplifiers.), and my Sennheiser HD580 headphones.
At this point, well-mastered original music becomes more important. Flaws in the original recording become apparent, and are often magnified by the loss of the MP3 encoding, however minor that might be. This is why I cannot stand MP3s encoded at less than 320 kbps. At the risk of sounding corny, some magic has crept into the music. For the first time, I can tell that the intro of the song I am listening to is actually a recording of a human heart beating, rather than just a clever drumbeat. Electric guitar notes linger just as long as they should, and not a second longer. The smallest tapping on each cymbal is clear and distinct. The slightest background hiss has disappeared, leaving a beautiful black background between each note. All instruments are clearly defined. Masterfully recorded and blended background vocals are now apparent. I can hear slight echos of Johnny Cash's powerful voice from the recording studio. If there were any lyrics that I could not make out before, I can now.
How does the NS-DA1G compare to my larger and more expensive Creative Zen Sleek? Very well. Hooked up to the same setup, playing the same song, the Zen Sleek sounds just a little bit better. I am fairly amazed with how good this little Insignia MP3 player sounds.
Sound Quality 85/100
Photos
The ability to display JPG photos is one of the advertised features of the unit. I have tried to transfer quite a few pictures onto the player, and have not had much luck. Initially, only about 1 out of 3 pictures would show up, the others would say that the format was not supported. Through trial and error, I found that the images would show up if I saved them as .jpg files in Baseline ("Standard") format in Photoshop. Still, with a maximum resolution of 128x80 pixels, all pictures turn out looking pretty grainy and distorted. The screen size just is not big enough to effectively display photos. So this "feature" is not really very impressive. However, I also do not consider it to be a very important part of the player. If this is more important to you, it would probably knock the overall rating down a star.
Photos 30/100
FM Tuner
Unlike the oh-so-popular iPods, the NS-DA1G has a FM tuner. To test it out, I found a list of all the local radio stations on the internet. The tuner found all of the listed stations. The reception is good, even in my basement. The LCD screen displays a simulated FM dial, which is kind of cool. Clicking the right/left buttons moves up or down the frequency range. Holding the select button brings up a list of presets. Pressing the select button again sets the station as a preset. This whole process is fairly effortless. I added 12 radio station presets in just a few minutes.
FM Tuner 90/100
Battery
After taking the device out of the package, it is necessary to open the battery compartment and install the battery. This is quick and easy. The battery is a 3.7V rechargeable, removable lithium ion battery. Insignia claims up to 18 hours of battery life. The battery can fully charge in around 2 hours via the USB cable.
I love the idea of a easily replaceable battery. The only thing keeping me from giving the unit a perfect score in this section is that the battery is not yet listed on Best Buy’s parts website. Since I have not been able to find a place to order the battery and do not know what the price is, I have to deduct some points.
Battery 85/100
Warranty
The NS-DA1G comes with a 1 year parts and labor warranty. This makes me a lot more comfortable with recommending the player, as some flash memory based players have had reliability issues.
Warranty 90/100
Overall
I have now tested two Insignia products. In both cases, I was skeptical before I tried the product. And in both cases, I was surprised how much I liked the product. The NS-DA1G is priced competitively with similar players, and in most cases is either less expensive or has more features than the competing product. In addition to excellent sound quality and a nearly flawless design, the NS-DA1G features a FM tuner, an easily replaceable rechargeable battery, and a color LCD display. This would make a great present for kids of all ages.
Overall 90/100. Highly Recommended
I received this product from Hass MS&L for the purpose of providing a fair and honest review on Epinions.com.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 75
Recommended for: Athletes - Lightweight and Portable, Perfect for the Gym
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Epinions.com ID:
symbiosis
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Reviews written: 49
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