Creative Zen Stone Plus with Speaker

There’s nothing drastically different in the new Zen Stone Plus except the built-in speaker. If you’ve read my review on the previous model , this may seem rather redundant. But for those of you who haven’t, let me clue you in on one of the smallest DAPs available today.

Form Factor
The new Creative Zen Stone Plus is exactly the same as the previous model, with just two exceptions. One is that it has a built in speaker of course, hence the long name; and secondly it weighs about 27g more than the older model. The Stone Plus comes with a OLED display and a five-way nav-pad in front. The speaker is located in the rear.

On the top is where you’ll find the 3.5mm earphone socket and the shortcut key (any feature can be assigned to it) and the Play/Pause key. The reset socket and the external microphone are also located on the same side.

On the lower side of the player is the mini USB port for PC charging and connectivity. A thin rubberized case not only keeps the player cushioned but also offers a facility at the rear for attaching a belt clip. While the design may have been retained, unlike the previous model's glossy texture this one has a subtle matte finish that helps prevent scratches from showing.

Features and Performance
The Creative Zen Stone Plus with the speaker is quite a loaded device. It comes with an FM radio that for some rather strange reason doesn’t have as good a pickup as the older version. It could be a glitch with just this piece... or else it’s the biggest downside to the new player. The voice recorder works fine; Creative has managed to fix the slow interface and it's now a whole lot faster.

The sound quality is as good as before, so you’ll have nothing to worry about. The highs are just a wee bit on the shrill side but thankfully that can be adjusted with the customizable EQ. There are a few presets to choose from, including a Bass Boost option.