Picture courtesy of Aled Hughes.
| Value for Money | 7.6/10  |
|---|---|
| Reviewer Rating | 7.6/10 |
| Overall Rating | 7.3/10  |
The Creative Labs Zen Touch MP3 player has proved to be a popular choice amongst music fans. Competitive pricing, reliability and a 20 gigabyte memory have made the Zen Touch a genuine force and a viable contender to the Apple iPod range. If you have owned a Zen Touch then why not write us a review and share your thoughts surrounding the strengths and weaknesses of this MP3 player.
| Creative Technology Zen V Plus (2 GB) MP3 Player |  | £56.20P&P: £3.51 |
Full review by
ijkidd
on 3rd Mar 2007
User Rating : 7
Respect :
0
Good Points: Excellent battery life, easy to add audio files, good "shuffle all" function, pretty robust. Audio sounds good, but can't compare to other mp3 players as this is the only one I have owned.
Bad Points: Navigation is not easy with the slider control, which makes it very hard to select the file that you want when you need to nudge one entry up, it will go too far or not at all. The player has an apparent issue with the display developing a problem whereby the backlight comes on but no led data appears. This seems to have been caused in my case by leaving it in my car (where I mainly use it) overnight, which took it below the temperature threshold stated. I have had it two years so have had reasonable usage, but looking on the Creative forum it seems like the screen issue is very common and can occur even when not exposed to such temperatures. It seems that I may have been lucky with the length of time without of problem I have had!
General comments: I have recommended this to others in the past (who have purchased the unit), and although I would be wary of doing so again due to my screen problems, I think that with ANY portable device it is easy for them to develop issues (mobiles, mp3 players, camera's, old fashioned walkmen). Impacts, temperatures, general wear and tear generally limit these items to at the most a couple of years of usage nowadays, which is a unexpected churn rate in ethical (landfill) terms, if not warranty! Until solid state (CF etc...) mp3 player technology improves to have comparable storage capabilities I would think that hard-drive based items such as these will always be an overweight and vulnerable proposition.
Whatever problems I have had with the device I know that when reading up on competitors offering (or this products replacements) there are always issues with these kind of products, so I should count myself lucky!
ijkidd's review and ratings | 329 words
Review by
dopeypreacher
on 4th Jan 2007
User Rating : 7
Respect :
0
The reason i am getting rid of it is, as i mentioned above, the headphone jack isn't flush with the rest of the player, a huge design flaw that should have changed. It basically means that you can't plug in a audio cable to go into a hi-fi / amp system which is infurating.
But apart fromt that is a good solid mp3 player
dopeypreacher's full review | 104 words
Review by
db112358
expert review 
on 21st Oct 2006
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
I have owned my MP3 player (the 40Gb version) for some 18 months now, and I still love it. In fact, I can't imagine being without it.
I have read reviews complaining of "freezing" with their product, but I have yet to have any problem at all with my Creative Labs Zen Touch MP3 player.
It is heavier than the infamous Apple brand, but boy is it solid. Mine has a few dents (mainly from early experiments of trying to use the belt pouch, before I discovered how easily that item became unattac ...
db112358's full review | 540 words
Review by
The Falcon
on 5th Oct 2006
User Rating : 3
Respect :
0
I have nothing to compare it to, as it's the only MP3 player that I've owned, but although it's good enough when it works, the poor quality of manufacture, lack of access to Creative and lack of accessories available is annoying, and it makes me wish I'd gone with the flock and got an iPod instead.
The Falcon's full review | 196 words
Review by
lifesonsguitar
on 12th Aug 2006
User Rating : 8
Respect :
0
I bought the Creative Labs Zen Touch 20Gb MP3 player over a year ago, and it's been very good. The sound is great, but as with all of these players, it depends on the source and the compression used when ripping. I tend to use WMA and rip to 128 or 160.
I use this on the train each day, and I only have to recharge it every few weeks. I've never timed the battery life, but I guess it's good for about 12 - 15 hours of use.
I find the touchpad a little too sensitive, even on the low setting, ...
lifesonsguitar's full review | 128 words
Review by
goldfishinabowl
on 14th Jun 2006
User Rating : 0
Respect :
+1
Great when the Zen Touch works, a totally lost cause if something goes wrong!
If you're thinking of buying one its worth checking out the discussions within the support section of Creative. In a year I've had most of these problems.
I bought it because it seemed well priced compared to the iPod's, however, my friends with iPod's are still as happy as can be, my friends with Creatives are quickly swapping for the altogether more reliable, more stylish and ultimately better priced iPod's. ...
goldfishinabowl's full review | 209 words
Review by
platinum
on 17th Apr 2006
User Rating : 0
Respect :
+1
The first 6 months of Creative Labs Zen Touch ownership were reasonably problem free, apart from the touch pad, which you'll either love or hate and the track ordering:- tracks are not always stored in the correct order in the Creative Media Source player (the media player/download manager which runs on your computer). When using this player on my pc, I had to play tracks in time recorded order to overcome this. Also noticed that synchronizing the computer with the mp3 player produced errors whe ...
platinum's full review | 404 words
Review by
d1g17
on 22nd Feb 2006
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
All around I think the Creative Labs Zen Touch is a great device.. Yea Yea.. it's a little heavy. But its not like it weighs 50 pounds or anything. I haven't had it but for a few days and I love I already. When I bought it it came with an FM transmitter, no more burning CD's YAY!!! All around I think i'ts a great player and would recommend it to everyone. I owned the Creative MUVO and that was great I was waiting to find another Creative mp3 player because Creative always makes the best products ...
d1g17's full review | 191 words
Review by
Darkon
on 24th Jan 2006
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+1
I've had my Creative Labs Zen Touch 20Gb MP3 player for about 6 months now, and I can say it has been excellent in that time! The reset button is very handy for those rare freezes (it's happened twice so far) - The iPod lacks one, so you have to wait for the battery to die... What a drag!
The battery life is 24 hours - AMAZING - this is hard to find on any other player. It can even last up to 32 hours with WMA.
The sound is very good quality and NEVER skips.
The case, I'm also very ha ...
Darkon's full review | 225 words
Review by
techma
on 15th Jan 2006
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
I have had my Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player for about a year, and it has been fantastic! I haven't had a single problem, and I have recommended it to several friends
One friend managed to throw his down a flight of stairs onto a concrete floor. The case broke open and half of the buttons broke, but it still worked!! You don't need to even drop an iPod to break them!!
techma's full review | 88 words
Review by
jonnyboy16
on 17th Nov 2005
User Rating : 1
Respect :
0
I've owned the Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player for just over a year, and I have to say it's disappointed me from day one. I have accepted the fact that it freezes often, and even got used to this dodgy characteristic, but now that the warranty period has expired, the Zen has permanently frozen. It freezes every time I operate the reset button. To make matters worse, the reset button is tiny and can only be operated with a pin or similar object. What's more, the silver surround around the ...
jonnyboy16's full review | 132 words
Review by
stevebet
on 18th Oct 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
I had a Mini ipod for 7 months until one day it just died on me. After getting a refund the chap behind the desk said this was a common issue and he had the same problem with his 20 gig ipod. I then decided to buy the Zen touch, instead of replacing it for another ipod. Sorry! ipods are so over rated and nowhere near as well made as Creative's products. The sound quality with the Zen is much better too.
stevebet's full review | 92 words
Review by
berwynhoodboy
on 7th Oct 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
I bought my Zen Touch player about a month ago and I love it. The battery lasts 24 hours! It's a little heavy but no biggy. The sound quality is awesome and it's really easy to transfer songs at a great speed. I have only some difficulty mastering the Touch system. I guess my thumb is a little too rough that I can't get to instantly pick the right song... hehehehe.
berwynhoodboy's full review | 70 words
Review by
Jenesis
on 15th Sep 2005
User Rating : 10
Respect :
+2
I did my research carefully before choosing to buy the Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player, and I'm glad I did! The player itself is very easy to use. I personally use it every day walking to and from work. Although it says "Do not run or jog" with the player, I have had no problems with it in my pocket on a brisk walk! The sound quality is amazing, especially with good headphones. It doesn't have "Extras" like an iPod (no Solitaire or music quiz), but since these are pretty useless any ...
Jenesis's full review | 352 words | 1 comment added.
Review by
Dave burns
on 14th Sep 2005
User Rating : 8
Respect :
0
The Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player is an all round good device! The audio output is very good, and it is easy to use the menu and navigate.
Dave burns's full review | 71 words
Review by
julesuk1
on 12th Sep 2005
User Rating : 10
Respect :
0
I was given the Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player as a belated Christmas/Birthday present from my brother, and I love it. There is loads of room for music and files, and they are quick to download.
The player is easy to use, although the touch-pad is a little over-sensitive.
It would be great to have a radio on it, and also would be really helpful to be able to put downloaded documents in files rather than just individually on the machine.
All in all, it has good battery life, ...
julesuk1's full review | 125 words
Review by
pugblue13
on 7th Sep 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
+1
I've owned a Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 Player for about 8 months now. I bought it for use at my work place, and to cancel out back ground noise. I work 12 hour shifts, so the battery life is important to me as well. I don't use the supplied headphones (I use neckband items). It more than does the job, and I rate it 10/10 for battery life (normally get 3- 4 days use with out a charge). With my headphones it cancels out most noise! The 20GB hard drive is huge, and will be more than su ...
pugblue13's full review | 226 words
Review by
gillianskerritt
on 1st Sep 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
My first adventure into the world of MP3, and I know nothing about the technology.The Zen Touch 20gbis really simple to use and basically a personal jukebox for your CD's.
gillianskerritt's full review | 52 words
Review by
bjbrains
on 22nd Aug 2005
User Rating : 9
Respect :
0
I chose the Creative Labs Zen Touch 20GB MP3 player over the iPod, mainly on the grounds that I did not want my laptop overridden by iTunes. The Zen can take any music format, unlike other players which have to convert them! The Zen is amazing for battery life, and a mega plus is that if the battery dies, you can unscrew the back and order a new battery online, and you won't have to send it back to the manufacturers and be charged loads!! It also has great sound quality, and is easy to use.
...
bjbrains's full review | 127 words
Review by
mkleach
on 10th Aug 2005
User Rating : 2
Respect :
0
I agree with the other reviewers about the overall 'feel' of the Creative Labs Zen Touch player. I found loading music files easy using drag and drop or Windows Media player (I didn't use the bundled software).Playback quality was brilliant and I had even got used to the scroll bar!
Unfortunately mine froze on the third day and nothing I did would unfreeze the player - it was returned for a refund with the backlight still glowing (does this say something about the battery life?!).
So, a go ...
mkleach's full review | 120 words
20 GB storage lets you bring up to 10,000 WMA songs (64 kbps) or 5000 MP3 songs (128 kbps) everywhere you goCreate and customize playlists on-the-go, unique Search Function locates any song, album or More...
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