Product Description
Package Includes: MP3 Player, USB cable, E.CLIPZ headphones, Sports armband and 1 AAA battery
The RCA RD1076 512MB Lyra MP3 Player is an attractive, easy-to-carry MP3 player that fits your on-the-go lifestyle. Whether you're jogging at the gym for running to catch your train, it's designed to make listening to your personal soundtrack more convenient. Up to 20 hours playback on a single AAA battery Accessory kit included
Customer Reviews:
pretty good but..........2007-03-25
it was good but it wasnt quite built to specs as in the screen fades out every once in a while n stuff
nice little player.......2007-01-03
battery life is great , and the SD card extention is nice you can add a 2GB card no problem.
Great sound but only shuffles.......2006-12-08
I bought an RD1076 this week after 2 years of using the smaller RD1072 (256MB). Two days later I returned the it to the store. I only use the player to listen to downloaded podcasts (spoken word). Since both models have no bookmarking capabilities I slice the podcasts into 2-minute segments before loading them to the Lyra. Obviously the tracks must be listened to in a precise order. When I synced the files to the Lyra they were in some kind of random order, even though the player has a random/shuffle play mode. I called RCA customer support. After 20-25 minutes on hold at the beginning of the day I was told that there was no way to force the files to be played in the order defined in the playlist. If that one problem was fixable it would be perfect for the way I want to use it. But, as it is, it's worthless to me. Oddly, my older RD1072 does not have this problem.
Two problems I do have with my older RD1072 (256MB) is that I can only load 150-180MB worth of files before it quits accepting new files and it won't play *any* of the files on an SD card. So, even though I've really enjoyed having the 1072 for the past two years I don't think RCA knows what they are doing in the MP3 player arena.
Excellent for walking, jogging, working out........2006-08-29
I bought one for my wife about six months ago to have for her fitness center workouts. I enjoyed using it so much when I walk and jog that I just recently bought one for myself. Both players work fine. I don't hear any squeal or see any battery problems yet. I also heard some say the arm strap was tacky, but it fits comfortably and holds the player just fine so you don't have to carry it in your hands or pockets (like several I see with ipods and other mp3 players doing). For more serious listening settings, it might be advisable to check into more expensive players, but for working out, this player would be hard to beat for the price (shop around online for best price).
By All Means Skip This Product and Buy the SanDisk Sansa.......2006-08-26
I owned this exact product for 7 months before it died unexpectedly. It replaced a Rio that I owned for 6 years and used for 30-60 minutes every day running or lifting weights. The Lyra's battery consumption was horrible compared to the Rio, and even worse to my new 1 Gb Sansa. I'm still on my first battery with the Sansa, and it has played what would have been 3 batteries worth of MP-3's on the Lyra.
The user interface and features on the Lyra don't compared to either the 2000 Rio or the 2006 Sansa. Sadly, Rio exited the business, but the SanDisk product is at least as good. Plus, for the same price I paid 7 months ago for the 512 Mb Lyra, I got a 1 Gb Sansa.
It is sad to see the vaunted RCA name on such an inferior, poorly designed, and undependable product.
Product Description
The RCA RD2217 Lyra 1 GB MP3 Player is designed to be an easy-to-wear, splash proof device you can wear during a workout. The 1 GB of flash memory stores up to 32 hours of WMA or MP3 music. If that's not enough, the FM tuner gves you access to all the available FM radio stations in your area. The stopwatch, pulse monitor and calorie-counter functions complement its use for sports or training. The multi-line dot-matrix display lists the artist, song, elapsed time, volume level and battery level.
Package Includes: MP3 player, Music management software, USB cable, sports armband, belt clip, clip earphone, 1 "AA" alkaline battery.
Built-in stopwatch, calorie counter & pulse rate monitor Up to 50 hours battery life from 1 AA alkaline battery Splash-proof design Can be used as a USB (2.0) mass storage drive Dimensions(WxHxD) - 1.97 x 2.8 x 1.02 Weight - 1.4 ounces Is PlaysForSure compatible for flexible music downloads
Customer Reviews:
decent and cheap - workout? .......2007-02-02
stopping and restarting so that you pick up where you leave off press stop and hold the button until it shuts down. Play will allow you to start back up. I prefered the previous firmware- ie the stuff that's loaded- I ended up installing a new firmware. The previous allowed my player to be recognized only as a flash drive. I liked that because it allowed me to create folders and check the amount of room left easily. The new firmware is better in terms of file order- I believe it loads in the order the files are copied- but I miss the freedom of simply creating a directory and knowing exactly how much room was left. Of course this lead to me accidentily erasing the firmware. But the performance of this player is still decent. The belt clip is long gone, I think I sucessfully used it for three months, and then it broke. It still fits in my pocket and I'm not using it in an athletic situation. It occurs to me that it would be reasobably easy to construct a similar belt clip- perhaps even using some belt clip from another device. I haven't worked out how, but a thin gauge wire might be a good place to start. This player takes a lot of fooling around to figure out and it's not the most intuitive piece but it plays mp3 and wma and that means I happily use it for podcasts and audio books from my local library. It's not perfect but it's not expensive it has a visual display. I've seen something that suggests you can change the background color. I have not achieved that yet.
Keep the firmware (perhaps copying it to your computer as backup).
Don't use it to work out- it's belt clip will fail and that's the only way to use the armband.
Unintuitive button use.
Still good playback. Multiple file support. windows media playlists? rugged construction. easy use with conventional or rechargable batteries.
GREAT PLAYER.......2007-01-31
This Mp3 player is really great for using at the gym or any sporting activity.
-first of all it was smaller than i thoght
-the little joystick feel is wierd but you get used to it
-the player looks robust and like it can take some abuse
-the eq function is fine, rock is my favorite
-you can change the color of the LCD orange,blue,purple
-it has an fm radio and you can record radio
-amazing battery life, and you dont have to rely on an internal battery, it uses an AA battery for 50 hours of play, and after 2 years you wont have to worry about the internal battery life ending.
-it has a great clip and arm band to use it were you want it
AND BESIDES ALL OF THE ABOVE IT MESSURES YOUR HEART RATE
GREAT PLAYER
Stay away from this useless junk.......2007-01-25
Nothing about this player makes sense. It is as if it was designed by graduates of Boston College. The buttons take FOREVER to respond, if they respond at all. The order that the songs are in make no sense. Alphabetical..really? I have no idea what RCA was thinking releasing this bomb on the general public.
good player, minor drawbacks.......2007-01-19
Just got this for Christmas. So far it's been great. Haven't had any major issues with it, even what others have stated. Here are some things that people might not like about it: you have to use windows media player to add or delete songs from it. It's not drag and drop like some of the other players I've seen. The software that comes with it(other then the drivers) is like a demo and tends to lock up plus it keeps asking if I want to 'buy' the full version of it everytime I open it. Very annoying, so I just use media player which works just fine. Yes, the plastic clip seems very flimsy, but if you use the arm band, I think it is more then adequate for that. The buttons, at first, seemed difficult to activate, but as I have been using it that has gotten better.
The earbuds are nice and have good sound. The battery included with the player is a very good long life alkaline.
Over all, I like the player. It was given to me as a gift. The only thing different I would have like it to have an SD card slot to expand the memory, but then I haven't been able to use up all the memory it currently has!
A Piece Of Junk.......2007-01-15
RCA had a good idea but a bad design. The Software is like trying to find your way through a maze that has no exit. I was a system network engineer and I was ready to bounce it off the walls a few times. The clip broke when trying to ugrade the firmware before we had a chance to use it. I had to call and order another clip which took over and hour. Save up and buy something better or go get a root canal it's less painfull.
Amazon.com Product Description
Nicely lightweight and easily pocketable, the RCA Lyra RD2315 flash memory digital audio player goes with you wherever you roam and offers 512 MB of storage. And unlike many of today's palm-sized players, it features large, easily accessible and intuitive controls as well as a good-sized, dual orientation LCD (which also lets you choose between red, blue, or purple backlighting). It comes with both a neck strap and a belt clip for easy transport.
It has 512 MB of flash memory storage and playback capability for both MP3 and WMA, and it's also compatible with DRM-protected WMA files from online stores or subscription services (including Audible.com). The 512 MB memory will store approximately 8 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128 kbps) or 16 hours of WMA tracks (at 64 kbps). You can also expand the Lyra's memory with optional Secure Digital (SD) and MMC memory cards.
In addition to digital audio playback, the Lyra also has a built-in FM tuner (with 20 presets) featuring an FM record function, enabling you to capture your favorite songs and programs to MP3. It also has a voice recorder for short notes to yourself and line-in jack for direct recording capability from external sources such as a cassette deck or CD player. It connects to PCs via an ultra-fast USB 2.0 connection, and will easily connect with both Windows and Mac-based computers. It's powered by a single AAA battery, which provides up to 20 hours of continuous usage.
What's in the Box
512 MB RCA RD2315 digital audio player, USB cable, line-in cable, belt clip, neck strap, clip earphones, AAA battery, installation CD-ROM, printed operating instructions
Product Description
Thomson provides a wide range of video technologies, products and services to consumers and professionals in the entertainment and media industries. Offering an array of state-of-the-art digital products and services, Thomson adds value to hundreds of millions of consumers around the world every year.PRODUCT FEATURES:Mp3/WMA/WMA DRM/ Audible Playback Multiple Recording Options;512 MB Flash Memory Audible;Digital FM Tuner with FM Record Full Accessory Kit Included;Dual Orientation Backlit LCD Screen FM Transmitter Included.
Customer Reviews:
A good expandable MP3 .......2007-09-17
RCA Lyra RD2315 512 MB Personal Digital Audio Player with Voice, Line-in and FM Recording This is good for the person who wants an MP3 for books, and music and recording in class. most college students can tell you about that. It can hold a 2 gig sd card which are chip as chips and will hold up to about 30 LP's or CD's or it will resord for hours if you have a long class and the prof. never know it is even in the class. Most MP3 don't have the SD chips but my friends and I have been shopping around for all the one's that do. One's that hold pictures MP3, movies, music vidio's and more because we can trade then with each other and have all types music and stuff at a touch.
Doyel Whited
It broke........2007-02-28
While this thing was working, I lenjoyed it. For what it was anyway. It's good for background music at work or workout. It's slow to start and respond, all problems other reviews stated, but lightweight and I think shaped very well with clip and all.
The problem is that I started it up one day and had progressively worse errors till now when it only displays the logo and the lights stay on permanently. I'd buy another one for work (where it might get broke) if I can find it for cheap enough.
I hate this little MP3 player..........2006-06-12
The only thing I like about it is the sound quality is good. I can fit about 130 songs.
Cons:
It's very slow, everytime you go through your files you have to wait while it loads. It's pretty annoying, especially if you are looking for something far down the list and you have to wait each time.
I find it hard to use. There are so many times when I just want to go to the main menu and it doesn't go, and programming is difficult.
I leave the player to choose my songs on random, but random is very weird. I'm used to players going through the whole list, never repeating a song, until all the songs are done. This player will play the same song you just heard 3 songs ago. Also, say you pick a song, and it randomly chooses the rest for you. Somehow, it memorizes that order or something, because say you choose that song again some other day to start off, it will play the same songs again in the same order.
Sometimes I'll be listening to songs on random and it will just stop and go back to the main menu.
I really wish I didn't buy this, but the salesperson told me this was the best seller and he never had any complaints about it. I listened to him, even though I thought it was hideous. Don't buy this, spend a little more money and get an IPOD.
A below-average mp3. No resume function. .......2006-04-30
I got this mp3 from Target, mainly because of the 1). good review in amazon.com; 2). good price; 3). SD expansion ability.
However, after I tried it for 1 hour, I got disappointed.
Altough RCA tried to make his customers happy, this machine is poorly designed beacuse of 2 important thing 1). there is no resume function, which means if I listen to a 1 hour file and stopped at 20 minutes place, the machine can not remember the point I stopped and will play from the begining next time I turned on the machine. 2). when you put a SD card into the expansion slot, part of the card extrude out the machine, and not completely protected.
Nowadays, mp3 player is not only for songs and music. the designer of a mp3 player must consider the possibility that a customer will possibly use it for long audio book tracks.
These 2 shortcoings are enough to kill all the other endeavours RCA tried to upgrade their mp3.
Good MP3 Player for around $100.......2005-12-27
Not ready to invest a lot of cash into an MP3 player yet, so I wanted something expandable and cheap. I am pretty happy with my purchase of the RD2315 Lyra. This one has 512megs embedded memory and is expandable via an SD Card slot (up to another 512 megs for 1 gig total).
This is my first MP3 player, so I am not sure how the sound compares, but it sounds good to me. No equalizer mode...but it does come with 5 presets (Rock, Jazz, Pop, Bass, ect...) Transferring files from the PC is easy via a mini-USB Cord (included). It supported USB 2.0 but 1.1 mode is plenty fast. No special software needed (I'm using Windows XP...it auto-detected the Lyra as soon as I connected it)...just drag and drop files and folders once it is connected. The latest firmware update allows up to 50 folders and 8 folder levels. It supports WMA (including DRM) and Mp3 formats up to 320kps.
The display has 3 backlight colors (red, blue and purple) and you can adjust the contrast on it. It has a cool flip mode which flips the screen 180 degrees so you can hold it in either direction. Fliped mode was easier for me to use (pressing the joystick downward is awkward in default mode). Flip mode looks just like the image of the Player on this web page, but the round part would be at the top instead of the bottom.
LCD response time is what you would expect for a passive matrix display. Processing speed could be better ("please wait" messages, ect..). The tiny joystick control could be better, but isnt awful. The 4 buttons surrounding it could also be better, but are useable. It feels sturdy considering it's weight (just under 1 and a half ounces). Controls arnt real intuitive...you will need to either read the manual or experiment a lot to figure out how to do stuff like jump to different radio presets.
Although I havnt tested it yet, it comes with a line-in jack (cable included) that lets you rip CDs directly to it's memory...no PC required. You connect it directly to a CD player and just start ripping.
It comes with an FM tuner that allows for 10 station pre-sets. Reception seemed pretty good to me. A built in recorder allows you to record either voice or radio directly to MP3 (limited only by the amount of memory you have). The one I bought also came with an FM transmitter, which allows you to hook it up to your car stereo (plugs into your cigarette lighter...transmits your music over a very short range radio channel, which you have your car stereo tuned to...so your MP3 player plays over your car radio).
It runs on a single AAA battery (included). Docs say it will run 50 hours or so. Comes with a neck strap and a replacement cover for the battery that doubles as a belt clip. The included earbuds are ok, but you will probably want to replace them with better ones. The firmware can and has been upgraded...the version as of this writing is 3.11. Firmware updates are handled from RCA's website (their site is actually pretty easy to use). You will need to download and install a small utility.
I paid just under $130 for the 512 meg version as of Dec 2005, after tax (there is a 256 meg version as well, the RD2312). Overall I am happy with it...I looked at a couple dozen other MP3 players the same price and cheaper and didnt see any I would rather have purchased. It comes with a free copy of Music Match Jukebox (which I dont use, because I dont like it). It would have been nice to have had a manual included, but a PDF version is available free on RCA's website. If you're looking for a good medium/low-end MP3 player, this one seems pretty good to me.
Product Description
The palm-sized 20GB Lyra Audio/Video Jukebox is a world full of entertainment at one's fingertips - enabling movie and music buffs to easily transport hours worth of their favorite content in their coat pocket. The device is about the size of a small picture frame and features a large LCD Screen, the Lyra A/V also acts as a computer storage device, is compatible with multiple audio and video codecs, and can be easily connected to most standard television sets for analog playback. Enjoy up to 80 hours of pre-recorded television shows, feature films or home videos directly on the LCD screen. Easily connect the device to a television set via an analog composite video output. With the built-in, separate audio and video recording modes, recording on the device is quick and easy. The display screen can also be used to organize digital audio music files or other types of stored data, including computer files such as word processing documents and presentations. The Lyra A/V Jukebox can also be a portable pocket photo album, since JPEG images can be viewed by either transferring them directly from the PC using a USB 2.0 High Speed connection or by inserting a compact flash memory card. Keep all of your entertainment at your fingertips with this Lyra A/V Jukebox!
Customer Reviews:
Good idea but that's all.......2007-11-23
This player looks great and the specifications sound nice. However, the firmware is really bad and RCA did not provide a working update. There are problems with so many files, that are not supported. Many DivX don't work at all, some work with bad synchronization errrors. Even some MPegs, a much more standardized format, don't work at all. With some MPegs, I just see Fatal Errors. All the files I tried, and it was a lot, worked pretty well on a PC, a DVD-Player, and even on an iPod. If you want to watch videos, look for sth else, that'll save you some stress.
not in good shape.......2007-01-10
was good at the beginning but now it all falling apart, the audio output is not even working now and I have to result to getting my audio from the line out.
GARBAGE!!!!! DO NOT BUY!!!!!.......2006-09-23
Doesn't even deserve the one star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought this for my daughter for a Christmas present last year. It never worked at all. RCA support SUCKS!! I spent hours on the phone with RCA & didn't get anywhere. I always thought RCA made good products but have learned otherwise from this miserable experience. I sent this product back to RCA for a refund about a month ago & haven't heard anything. I will feel lucky if I do get a refund after reading these reviews. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY ANOTHER RCA/THOMSON PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE & WOULD ADVISE ANYONE WHO READS THIS TO DO THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF BEATING YOUR HEAD AGAINST A WALL IS FUN FOR YOU THIS IS THE PRODUCT FOR YOU.
Waste of money.......2006-09-15
My wife bought this for me for Christmas last year. It doesn't work - for a whole number of reasons. After reading the other reviews here I'm afraid to send it back to RCA. I can't even get in touch with anyone there I have to send it blind and hope they take care of it. Don't waste your money.
The One I Had To Let Go..........2006-09-15
The Lyra was my first PVP machine and I picked one up in January 2004 not long after its release. I was enamored with its sleek screen with dazzling video, cool interface, respectable audio fidelity, and other amenities - including the ability to record directly from a video source. I auditioned one for a month before after much hand wringing, forced to return to Best Buy just before my 30 day return was about to expire. There were a number of factors which led me to do so; glitches with the interface, video issues, system freezes, etc. Finally, I experienced a complete lock-up of the interface that not even the pin reset could undo. Mind you, my Lyra wasn't abused in the least - never dropped, rocked, or jolted. I *really* liked the Lyra even in spite of its considerable flaws but had no choice but to return it. I've moved on since then to a much more issue free Creative Zen Vision M and have no regrets...but you know what they say about your "first love". Sigh.
Product Description
The Lyra Micro Jukebox includes a FM transmitter to play mp3s in a car. Plug the transmitter into any car's cirgarette light and mp3s will transmit straight to the radio. The retractable cord is also an antenna. The transmitter encodes at 64 kpbs as well as being a data storage device. The device is also Play4Sure Certified which means the plyer will work with the most secure music downloads and subscriptions from WMA-compliant services. Compatible formats are mp3, WMA, WMA DRM 10. Also, compatible with most secure music downloads from WMA-compliant services that support DRM. The Lyrca Micro Jukebox has multi-line LCD Screen with Icons Display lists name of artist, song, elapsed time, volume level, and battery level indicator when in playback mode. HDD SmartTrax Navigation Browse your contents by album, genre, year or title and easily select a group by ID3 tag as well. Track Search Forward & Reverse Auto Power Down Digital Volume Control JPEG Image Playback Custom EQ Firmware Upgradeable Armband Hard Disc Assumes audio encoded at 64 kbps WMA and average of 3 minutes per song Storage Capacity up to 5GB Rotational Speed 3600 RPM USB 2.0 High Speed Multi-Line LCD Display Size of Display 1.5 inch Bright LED Backlit Icon Based Menu Table of Contents Playlist Elapsed Time Digital Volume Level Battery Level Indicator Stereo Headphone, Mini USB and External DC Power Jack Built-In Lithium Ion Polymer Battery System Requirements - PC Processor 500 MHz or higher, PC Operating System Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, XP, Internet Navigator Explorer 5.0 or Higher, Hard Disc Space Needed 100 MB for Software Only, CD Driver Capability Digital Audio Extraction, USB Port, Sound Card, Video Card 16 Bit Color, Mac Operating System OS 10.2 or Higher Dimensions - Width 1.97 x Height 3.3 x Depth 0.55 inches Weight - 0.19 pounds
Amazon.com Product Description
Primarily designed as a digital music player but also capable of storing data, the RCA Lyra RD-2763 is a great choice for commuting, jogging, and a host of other on- the-go uses. The unit comes with a combination FM transmitter/charger that plugs into any car's cigarette lighter, letting you play your favorite tunes through the FM radio while charging the Lyra at the same time. In addition, the Lyra's 5 GB hard drive stores both MP3 and WMA files, in addition to supporting secure downloads from WMA- compliant DRM services. Listeners will enjoy access to up to 170 hours of WMA music or 3,400 songs encoded at 64 kbps--enough for almost any application, including cross- country road trips.
Getting around is simple thanks to the HDD SmartTrax navigation and included MusicMatch Jukebox software. The former lets you browse your contents by album, genre, year, or title, or select a group by ID3 tagging, while the latter offers such functions as Lyra DJ (creates precise playlists based on your sorting preferences) and the ability to export MP3 files to WAV format. And because there are no moving parts, the Lyra's music playback simply doesn't skip.
Listening to music is only part of the fun, however. The Lyra also stores data files, such as digital photos, PowerPoint presentations, text documents, and more. The data storage in effect turns the Lyra into a mini hard drive, making it a great companion for anyone who needs to transport small data files from one location to another without wasting a CD-R or hauling along a laptop. It also serves as a nice overflow device in a pinch, such as when needing to free up space on a digital camera.
The Lyra sports a multi-line LCD screen (with icons), which lists the artist name, song title, and elapsed time, among other details. The display makes it easy to select songs, view other selections, adjust the volume, check the battery level, and more. And thanks to the six equalizer presets--which include bass, custom, pop, rock, jazz, and flat--you can easily optimize the sound tones to suit your tastes.
The Lyra is compatible with PCs running Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, or XP or Macs running OS X 10.2 or higher. To transfer music, simply run a USB cord (included) from the Lyra to a PC (the Lyra supports USB 2.0). The Lyra, which also comes with a built- in lithium-ion polymer battery and a universal AC/DC adapter, measures 2 by 3.3 by 0.6 inches (W x H x D) and is backed by a 90-day manufacturer's warranty.
What's in the Box
Lyra jukebox, FM transmitter/charger, MusicMatch Jukebox CD, AC/DC adapter, mini USB cable, headphones, user's manual.
Customer Reviews:
DO NOT BUY IT!!!!!.......2007-11-30
You may think you are getting a good deal, but it is because the item is a piece of worthless junk!! After 2.5 months, my player reads "File system corrupted" and it is totally unusable! Don't waste your money! I wish I had read these reviews BEFORE I bought it! I actually give this 0 stars, but the review process demands a star.
No frills, but great value - except for the transmitter.......2007-10-31
I paid $40 for the mp3 player which included an AC adapter and FM transmitter. Based on price and value, I cannot complain. The mp3 player is very basic (cannot display photos, play videos, etc), but its 5 GIG capacity makes it a real bargain compared to other name brand players. It is hard drive based, rather than flash. Therefore there are sometimes delays when searching for songs, and sometimes when adjusting the volume. The FM transmitter, in my case, is essentially worthless. It has a very limited frequency selection, and none work well......noisy, full of static, unbearable!! So if you're looking for something basic just for listening to tunes, and the price is right, I highly recommend this player.
Excellent item, worth the money.......2007-10-10
I recommend it a lot, you don't need more than 5 gb for your travel purposes, buy it today!
Keep it out of the heat.......2007-10-06
I bought the Jukebox last fall when I started doing a long commute. It worked fine for a long while, but I left it in the sun a few times, and now the battery won't hold a charge very well. I only get about 20 minutes. Also, there a spring in the FM transmitter that holds a fuse in place, but the spring was too weak and it would lose contact. I ended up stuffing pieces of aluminum foil in to ensure that it would make contact. (Don't do this unless you know what you're doing, because if the fuse is short-circuited, it could start a fire -- if the fuse can't, well, defuse an overpower event). The price was right, and it got me through some long car rides, but I wouldn't buy it again.
An Awesome DAP For Those On a Budget!.......2007-09-28
This is my second RCA Lyra. I had a refurbished RD-2762A I got on eBay, and after a little over a year, its battery quit holding a charge. In the interim, I used a small 512MB Chinese-made player that worked well, but didn't really suit all of my needs.
After some research on-line came up with no real answers, I just typed "RCA Lyra" into Google, and it came up with this item at Amazon.com! The first thing I noticed was the price, which at that time was 49.99. I paid twice that for my refurbed 2762A!
I immediately saw that it resembled my 2762A in nearly every way, but was a gorgeous dark metallic blue with a darker scroll wheel. I quickly purchased it, with free S/H, and got less than a week later.
The Lyra suits my needs very well, and its 5 gigabytes of hard drive space stores my entire music collection. It has various EQ settings, and the sound is surprisingly great, on par with my brother's 30GB Video iPod, and ease of use is, well, easy.
Firstly, forget about any software programs, including MusicMatch or Windows Media Player. Just switch the file transfer protocul (under the menu => Settings) from MTP to MSC. Now, when you connect the Lyra to your computer with the USB cable, it recognizes it as a portable hard drive. Now, you can simply drag and drop files and whole directories onto the player. You can still create playlists, however, including My Selections, which allows you to save your favorite tracks into an on-the-go playlist.
Battery life is pretty good, at least for me, around 8 hours, which beats my old RD-2762A (less than 6). It has the same monochrome screen as previous Lyras with a bright blue backlight. Not as cool as some of the other fancier and expensive DAPs, but perfect for me.
The included earbuds are not that great, and I'm using the far superior JVC Gumy Berry Blue headphones I ordered through Wal-Mart's Site-to-Store ($9.99). I carry the player in a small Case Logic Pocket case I got from their website ($9.99, $15 with shipping).
There are few accessories for any of the Lyras, but through sheer luck, I found an RCA MP3 Starter Kit at Wal-Mart on clearance for $3! It contained three silicone cases for the Lyra, plus an extra wall charger. My Lyra is currently garbed in the blue case to match the rest of my accessories.
The included free FM transmitter plugs directly into your cigarette lighter adapter (no batteries!) and has a retractable cable that plugs into the Lyra's (or any portable music or video player) headphone jack. The transmitter actually works well, at least in my car, and has eight stations for reception.
For those that love Lyras, I'd highly recommend the RD-2763FM. And with he price continuing to drop at Amazon.com, I say go for it. It's a solid DAP with great sound, features, and an actually good FM transmitter thrown in.
Here's a pic of my RD-2763FM with its accessories, sans the FM transmitter:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y247/ChironHeroTeacher/P10100034.jpg
Product Description
Package Includes: MP3 player, Music management software, USB cable, sports armband, belt clip, clip earphone, 1 "AA" alkaline battery.
The RCA RD2215 Lyra 256 MB MP3 Player With FM Tuner was designed to keep you moving through the toghest workouts, by storing your favorite songs. The 256MB of flash memory stores 8 hours of music when encoded at 64KHz. Adjust the volume and settings on the 3-line backit dot-matrix display. Listen to new music by using the digital FM tuner and picking up local radio stations. Designed for the active lifestyle, it also includes a stopwatch, calorie counter and pulse rate monitor. Supports all Microsoft-based download sites Special splash-proof design for wearing in the rain, or while jogging along the riverbank Battery life up to 50 hours
Customer Reviews:
bad investment.......2007-08-07
I wished I had read all of the reviews for this when I bought mine two years ago. It is worse than a piece of junk because I paid too much money for it and it is useless. The buttons are not easy to use, when I think I am turning it up, I have somehow skipped to the FM radio and cannot seem to get back, other times it seems to cycle through the same 5 songs for no apparent reason. I am still very bitter about spending so much money for a worthless piece of junk - not to mention all the time I have spent trying to make it work.
Does have defects.......2007-05-15
As most who bought this one knows the battery door did indeed break on my sons. It skips and freezes really bad. He still uses it but I do not think it would hurt his feelings if it got stolen at school! lol
terrible.......2007-04-21
electrical short kills cheap-med quality head phones! i lost four before i figure out the problem. and no, it was not just one player. i returned it and got a new one, and it did the same thing. I gave it a 2 and not a 1 because it records radio very well.DO NOT BUY!
Progressively Worse.......2007-04-09
At first I thought it was a pretty nice little MP3 player, although the 60 songs it holds has always been a thorn in my side. I didn't mind converting everthing over to real player since it doesn't play itunes, however, after about three months I had to change the battery...After changing the battery, the mp3 player would randomly shut off, which became a constant problem after every battery change, though eventually the problem would solve itself. Approximately a year later, the battery cover was also constantly falling off for no apparent reason. Now, about a year and a half since purchase, it has completely died, only playing about two minutes worth before shutting off on its own and refusing to reboot for several minutes. It's a great player for the price, but I would have liked something a little more dependable with a larger memory.
NO RESUME!!!.......2006-09-08
The title says it all. If you bought this player for listening to audiobooks, which is what I did, you'll be extremely disappointed that you'll have to fast forward through the book every time you start it up since there is no resume feature. Considering audiobooks are anywhere from 3 to 8 hours long in most cases, or at least the pieces you get from audible are, it's totally inconvenient to start playing from the beginning each time you turn it on. Get used to the fast forward button and remembering exactly what time you were at because you're going to be doing a lot of it. Lame.
Product Description
The RCA ThumbDrive is a tiny drive that makes transporting entire libraries of digital material more easy than it's ever been. It plays back all your MP3 and WMA files -- including the ones with DRM protection. Browse your music files Connect to any device through the USB connection for easy transfer. Includes earbud headphones and neck strap. Rechargeable battery. Comes with music management software.
Customer Reviews:
A great, basic player.......2006-12-29
I got this player at an incredible price, so I'm not sure I'd pay the listed price here. I would say it is worth spending around $30-$40 max for it. It is not as slick as the new screens and displays, but if you just need a little something to grab and go, you got it. The sound quality is great, just as good as my sister's $150 mp3 player. Transferring is easy and fast, charging is comparable to all others. Display gives you more than you think. Benefits: can also use as a jump drive. very small (pack of gum); Drawbacks: supports only mp3, wma and wav files. no fancy readout. Overall, a nice basic unit.
Product Description
Box Includes: MP3 Player, USB cable, Sennheiser earphones, Universal AC/DC adapter and carrying case.
The RCA Lyra 5GB Micro Jukebox (RD2765) will store all the music you need for that long trip -- or that long day at the office. It stores upt o 170 hours of WMA music(about 3,400 songs) encoded @64Kpbs, as well as storing non-music files. The device plays back all your MP3s and WMAs and is compatible with secure downloads from sites that support DRM. The color screen displays the name of the artist, song, elapsed time, and other important information, while showing your album art too. Lightweight, comfortable Sennheiser earphones provide a wider dyanmic range and excellent bass response -- giving you more from your music. The HDD SmartTrax navigation lets you browse your contents by album, genre, year or title for easier music selection. Includes MusicMatch Jukebox software Powered through USB or external DC jack System Requirements - Windows 98SE, XP, 2000 or Mac OS X 10.2 or higher; 100MB disk space; USB port Dimensions(WxHxD) - 1.97 x 3.3 x 0.55 Weight - 0.19 lbs.
Customer Reviews:
Good little player ^_^.......2006-12-12
I bought my little Lyra RD2765A at the local FYE about 2 weeks ago. I can say that so far, I'm very happy with it. I pretty much stick to using the basics of it, transfer files to it using browser windows instead of any program, aside from the Lyra DJ ( I also do my own music file tagging before hand in Winamp, RARELY do I ever use Windows Media Player ).
File transfers are simple to do, the sound is GREAT, and the volume control sensitivity is VERY nice. I do agree that using this to look at images is kind of pointless ( why would people want to look at a highly detailed image on small screens anyway? Give me a full 17" computer screen, thank you. ).
I like the little navigation joystick, it's easier to feel for when you have to keep your eyes on the road or where you're walking. The only downside to it is that you have to lock the player when you put it in it's sleeve so when the joystick moves, it doesn't affect anything.
Also, trying to find car adapters if a car doesn't have a tape deck is a bit annoying, as most adapters out there now are made to fit Ipods sockets, and not much else. Same goes with protective sleeves. There are NO protective sleeves out in the market that fit the design of the RCA Lyra RD2765A. And yes, the shiny mirror finish DOES show off finger prints badly. But it's nothing a little TLC can't take care of.
We'll see what my opinion on the player is during the next few months, but so far, I'm very happy ^_^.
~~Bee
Don't Buy!.......2006-12-06
I got this item in March 2006 to start my new workout regime. I used it for music only. It started off nice, I had about 400 songs on it (lasting between 3 and 4 minutes in WMA format). When I first got it, I could get some serious playtime out of it. As I used it only for the gym, I can't estimate the number of continuous hours of play. In any event. After about 3 months of usage (June 2006), it wouldn't last more than an hour. So I deleted the songs that didn't do much for me in the gym, bringing the total songs down to about 300. In August, I lost my workout steam--much like the Lyra lost it's music play steam--and put it away for a while. I recently started back using it (December 2006) and I now get about 15 minutes of play time from this device.
Man, I wish I'd purchased an Apple iPod.
great gift.......2006-11-10
to the person it was given to, said it was fantastic, the sound was great, the features were easy... very friendly user
It's nice for a beginner or newbie mp3 owner........2006-07-23
Hello, I've decided to write a review on my experience with the RCA LYRA 2765. I owned it for about 9 months before I got that horrible "File System Corrupted" message. Now this little gadget worked nice , it had on average 6 hours of playtime (No, It does not play for long periods of time, so forget that *12* hours promise on the box) The file transfer through the USB cord was fast, but when you wanted to profile a long list of songs, it took over an hour, or would freeze and you had to start again. It was durable, I dropped it a couple of times. However, it did get dirty. I mean really, smudged, icky looking dirty becuase of the shiny silver chrome. It won't be shiny after a few weeks, trust me. I was able to get about 1,400 songs on the 5 GB hard disk, most of them in WMA format. You can also change the background picture, but don't bother using this as a photo viewer. It just sucks at holding photos. They were all tiny and screwed up. Also, be aware that this MP3 player will not last past 1 year. I've never talked to an RCA LYRA owner who has had one for more than 9-10 months. For some reason, no matter how nice you take care of it and no matter how good your music is in formats, eventually this little message pops up that says "File System Corrupted". I tried to reset it, over an over. I tried to take the hard drive out and clean it, but it still had that message (ALSO, if you do take your LYRA apart like I did, it voids the warranty) But Thompson has some crappy customer service so don't bother calling them. ANYWAY, It's a nice gift for someone who has never had an MP3 player before and wants to test drive it. But for a real, long lasting player, go with Creative or Sony. Or sell your soul and buy that iPod.
Not for audiobooks.......2006-07-10
Works fine as a music player but didn't perform the function for which it was purchased: to play downloaded audiobooks. At least in Massachusetts, audiobooks are downloaded from libraries as single files of up to 150 mb. However, this player lacks a "bookmarking" feature so you cannot listen to 10 pages worth, stop the player, and pick up where you left off the next day.
Product Description
mp3, WMA, WMA DRM Playback / Up to 1 GB Flash Memory with optional memory card slot expansion / Full Accessory Kit Included / Backlit LCD Screen Multiple Recording Options - Voice Record, Line-In Record and FM Record Listen to several hours of audiobooks, newspapers, audio magazines or radio programs. Built-in up to 1 GB Memory Expansion Slot for SD or MMC Memory Cards Compatibility - MP3, WMA, WMA DRM Battery Life (Continuous Playback) - Up to 20 Hours System Requirements - PC Processor 500 MHz or higher, Windows 98SE, Me, 2000, XP, Mac Operating System OS X-Ver.10.1.5 or Higher, Internet Navigator, Explorer 4.0 or Higher, 100MB Hard Disk Space for Software Only, CD Driver Capability, Digital Audio Extraction, USB Port, Sound Card, 16 Bit Color Video Card Dimensions - Width 1.46 x Height 3.3 x Depth 1.1 inches Weight - 0.08 pounds
Amazon.com Product Description
Nicely lightweight and easily pocketable, the RCA Lyra RD2317 flash memory digital audio player goes with you wherever you roam and offers 1 GB of storage. And unlike many of today's palm-sized players, it features large, easily accessible and intuitive controls as well as a good-sized, dual orientation LCD (which also lets you choose between red, blue, or purple backlighting). It comes with both a neck strap and a belt clip for easy transport.
It has 1 GB of flash memory storage and playback capability for both MP3 and WMA, and it's also compatible with DRM-protected WMA files from online stores or subscription services (including Audible.com). The 1 GB memory will store approximately 8 hours of CD-quality MP3 tracks (encoded at 128 kbps) or 16 hours of WMA tracks (at 64 kbps). You can also expand the Lyra's memory with optional Secure Digital (SD) and MMC memory cards.
In addition to digital audio playback, the Lyra also has a built-in FM tuner (with 20 presets) featuring an FM record function, enabling you to capture your favorite songs and programs to MP3. It also has a voice recorder for short notes to yourself and line-in jack for direct recording capability from external sources such as a cassette deck or CD player. It connects to PCs via an ultra-fast USB 2.0 connection, and will easily connect with both Windows and Mac-based computers. It's powered by a single AAA battery, which provides up to 20 hours of continuous usage.
What's in the Box
1 GB RCA RD2317 digital audio player, USB cable, line-in cable, belt clip, neck strap, clip earphones, AAA battery, installation CD-ROM, printed operating instructions
Customer Reviews:
THRU-HIKERS!!! You need this MP3 player.......2007-12-17
I bought this for the trail. It was nearly impossible to find an MP3 player that runs on batteries, is water-resistant, durable, uses cards and has FM radio! This one is all of those things.
I won't disagree that it takes a hot second to figure out, but heck, what else are you going to do on the trail?
This is really a nifty little thing to have. Another thru-hiker owned one and recommended it to me...and I'm getting one for my hiking husband! They are great!
Everything you want for a good price.......2007-02-20
I received my player about a month ago, and so far, am very pleased. The radio reception for me has been great, and the FM transmitter was flawless the 3 times I've used it in my car. It has been easy to download songs onto it. I also love that it is small, sporty, and gives the option to wear a lanyard or use the belt clip.
Drawbacks would be that (as everyone else has said), you can't pick up with the song you left off at, even during the same session (i.e. you can't switch from the radio back to your songs without being stuck at the top of your song list). Second, it does take some time to figure out how to work it since the directions aren't great. Third, it is slow when you are maneuvering through the menu.
All in all, for what I wanted, it's great. I mainly like to listen to the radio or certain artists from my CDs that I'm in the mood for. I also wanted the ability to record the radio since I don't have an extensive CD collection (but I haven't used that feature yet). The FM transmitter is also a good bargain here since you would have to pay a good amount to add one on to any other MP3 player with these same features. I researched the right MP3 player for me for 2 months and it all came down to this one. I am very happy with it so far.
Fine product while it worked !!.......2007-01-12
Very nice designed mp3 player with many good features for its price. The only problem is that it lasted 3 days !!!
The manual reccomended to update the device to the last firmare version available at RCA's website, I performed the procedure and the device went dead with no recovery.
I'm waiting RCA to give me a new one...
Great features, good price, decent quality........2006-11-08
I am using it since several months. I agree with most of the other reviews. I am not a big msuic buff and had not had many players before to comare it with. But what else do you want in this price?
Menus are slow and not very easy to use. Menus orientation changed upside down makes it very conveneint to use your thumb to navigate.
Battery life is not great, i use NiMth betteries those are considered quite long lasting but with me a battery lasts hardly one, long, NYC commute. May be I used to keep adjusting volume/chaning stations constantly and that makes the light turn on and that consuems more battery?
Radio reception is not great, a lot of noise and not many stations that i can receive in Manhattan and Linden blvd area in Queens. By the way I noticed when in a bus, if engine is idling, like at a bus stop, recption is poorer and when bus is moving and engine is reving reception improves! the FM tramsitter for car that came with it is nice.
voice recorder is quite sensitive. I used that to record a lecture in a big hall from a distance and it was understadnable when played back.
Ear buds seems fine and comfortable though i used only once. I used my aiwa ear buds and now i use Shure ear buds to supress subway noise.
Great features. all that i wanted. radio, voice recorder, SD memory expansion, I have not tested but someone mentioned we can use up to 1gb card with it. Record from radio. Line in is great. I converted my audio books to MP3s using line in. Belt clip, neck cord and nice software bundled, i still have to download one free audio book! . Besides battery life, i am very happy.
Good player overall - lacks some intuitiveness..........2006-08-16
I bought this player for a friend hiking the Appalachian Trail. He needed specific features: runs off replaceable batteries (not internal), memory card expandable, a long battery life and is compatible with Windows 2000. After reviewing at least 50 MP3 players, I decided this model fit the bill perfectly.
Pros:
1GB internal memory - ample start.
Supports memory cards up to 512MB.
Volume levels are sufficent.
Lightweight, sturdy, ergonomic design.
Three color backgrounds available - display is BRIGHT at night - works as a nice ad-hoc flashlight.
Display orientation - can be changed so controls are at the top or bottom.
Voice record feature - great for recording notes, thoughts, etc.
Key lock - keeps you from accidentally switching tracks, menus, etc.
Software - easy to load, use and get started!
Preloaded with the DaVinci Code - kinda cool. Also came with a giftcard for two free books from audible.com.
Cons:
Menus aren't very intuitive at all. It takes some experimenting to figure out where you are/how to get where you want.
The manual is only *moderately* helpful - it doesn't adequately explain the features or functionality - annoying! Also, the manual is PDF only.
When viewing tracks it scrolls slowly so you have to wait awhile to see the name of the track playing. This is especially annoying if the file includes the artist/album/song name.
Shuffle feature seems to shuffle in predictable order...
I had and used this player for almost 4 weeks before I mailed it to my friend - and it was my first experience with a portable MP3 player. Most of my time with it was spent on loading songs and recording voice tracks. I didn't spend lots of hours actually using it. My friend has had it on the Trail for about a week and so far seems happy with it. I'll report back on battery life, other functionality issues as I hear back from him.
Overall, it's a nice, affordable alternative with pleasing features.
MP3 Players
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Audio & Video
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Electronics
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Portable Digital Media Players
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SanDisk 2 GB SD Memory Card ( SDSDB-2048-A10, Retail Package)
SanDisk SDSDB-1024-A10 1 GB Secure Digital Card (Retail Package)
Juice AAA-4 pack Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries
Rayovac 824-24PP Alkaline AAA Batteries (24-pack)
Riptopia CD Ripping and iPod Loading Service 50 CDs To Digital Music
Riptopia CD Ripping and iPod Loading Service 200 CDs To Digital Music
Riptopia CD Ripping and iPod Loading Service 100 CDs To Digital Music
