Portable CD MP3 Player

Philips Active PSA612 (4GB, blue) Review

CNET editors’ review has given Philips Active PSA612 a good rating of 6 out of 10

The good: The Philips PSA612 packs 4GB into an attractive, fitness-friendly design that features a unique rocking-face control and an antishock option that decreases risk of damage to the hard drive. The simple weatherproof player includes an FM tuner and a talking stopwatch, and it’s compatible with music subscription services. It ships with decent wraparound headphones and a stylish armband.

The bad: The buttons on the Philips PSA612 are too stiff to operate easily, and the back cover must be removed to recharge and transfer music. The device’s antishock feature is limited, and the display can be difficult to read in daylight. The player will lock up if subscription tracks have expired.

The bottom line: The Philips PSA612 is decent as a high-capacity fitness player, but if you can spare some change, the 4GB Apple iPod Nano is a better choice overall.