RCA's Lyra and Sony's upcoming Memory Stick Walkman promise to change both the perception and realization of MP3 music as a true audio standard for the masses, and we've heard through the grapevine that several other large electronics vendors are plunging into the fray.
While we applaud RCA's decision to enter the MP3 portable market, we wish that more research or focus group work had been performed on the Lyra before its introduction. It's close to being the "everything" MP3 player we've been waiting for, but it misses the target in a few areas that should have been no-brainers.
Before we begin nitpicking, lets tell you about what the Lyra does offer to consumers who purchase the unit.
Device Type
MP3 player
Amt. of removable memory
32MB Compact Flash Ram (64MB optional)
File Transfer Interface
Parallel (file transfer rate 450 Kbps)
Audio connections
Headphone din jack
Display
Backlit LCD
Dimensions
2.5 in. x .87 in. x 4.5 in. (W x D x H)
Weight
3.5oz. without batteries
Signal To Noise Ratio
>75db
Included accessories
Belt clip
Headphones
CompactFlash external drive with cables
Minimum requirements
Windows 95/98/NT, 32MB RAM, Pentium 166MHz processor, 45MB available hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, available parallel port, full duplex sound card
Playback Features
Normal play, repeat one, repeat all, shuffle, repeat all shuffle, program, 5-Band Manual EQ
Battery
2 Included AA alkaline batteries, non rechargeable
Software
Real Jukebox
Warranty
Three Months parts/labor