Digital Trends

Samsung YH-820

June 22nd, 2005 | by Ian Bell

Conclusion

The Samsung YH-820 has a lot going for it, a simple to use interface, attractive looks and good audio fidelity. But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and Samsung has made several mistakes. The startup time is a dreadful killer that will keep you waiting, and the YH-820 simply feels lacking in features. For the same price you can get the iRiver H10 which comes with an integrated FM tuner, can read text files, a shorter startup sequence and a larger color screen; you get the picture we hope.

The biggest problem we have with the YH-820 is that we wanted so much to like it. Hopefully an updated firmware will fix the slow startup process, and maybe even help speed navigation up a little bit. But if you look at the MP3 player timeline, the market has matured, which means there is no reason why Samsung should skimp on features when there are so many more alternatives out there.

The bottom line: if you do not need an FM tuner, don't mind a slow startup time and prefer the looks of the YH-820 over competing models, then go for it; you will not be disappointed. Otherwise, your money is better spent on the other color screen model, the iRiver H10.

Pros:

• Great sound
• Simple navigation
• Has a pretty good color screen
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Lags when navigating through the menu
• Slow startup time
• Pretty skimpy on features, no FM tuner etc
• Good sounding ear buds, but the cable looks cheap and gets tangled easily