Customer Reviews

Memorex Biomorph Digital Audio Player (MMP8500) (MMP8500)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

If you are searching for an MP3 player under a hundred dollars then you would be hard pressed to find one with as many features as this one. 128MB of (expandable) memory and an FM tuner plus a stopwatch feature. The manual that comes with the unit is pretty sparse and confusing but the one you can download on memorexelectronics.com is much better. The "Real-One" software that comes with it has been ill-received by reviewers on other sites so I didn't install it but you don't need it anyway. Just plug it into a USB port and the computer (Win XP) will see it as a removable drive (or two). Then you just drag and drop your MP3's. The other advantage of the computer seeing it as a removal drive is that it will function in this role also. So you could store pictures or other file types and transfer them to another computer. I have updated the firmware (downloaded from memorexelectronics.com) and it was a pain free and simple operation. It might be harder for someone who is not very proficient with computers. The sound quality is very good. It sounds as good as any portable CD player I've heard. The case has a cheap feel to it and the operation buttons could be beefier but it all works like it's supposed to. The FM reception is weak but strong stations sound good. My only real complaint is with the display. It is unreadable when the backlight switches off. I hope they fix that with a firmware update.

I bought this unit because I liked the expandability of an MMC card (which are falling in price all the time), the cheap initial price compared to other units, the ID3 informative blue backlit screen, its shape, and, most of all, its reported simple plug-and-play flash drive capability. All of these turned out to be as good as promised. In my Windows XP machine, I plugged the device in without touching the enclosed cd, and the unit was recognized and installed as the biomorph external drive (with two drive letters: one for the internal memory, and one for the card slot). I was delighted: I don't like to install software that comes with peripherals. My machine already has the software I want. I then just dragged and dropped mp3 and other files, and voila, no problems, and the mp3's play fine.

The other qualities worked out, too. I really like the shape: the rubber edging is nice, and the unit fits nicely in your palm. I prefer this to the long and thin units. Also, the biomorph is incredibly light. The ID3 tags worked fine. The battery compartment is a bit flimsy, but so far no problems.

The weaknesses, perhaps to be expected, are in the little extras thrown in. I very much wanted an arm band, but the enclosed velcro arm band was apparently designed for Hulk Hogan. Unless I'm wearing a thick sweater, the arm band won't seal. This has been my biggest disappointment. The other two accessories are equally useless. The headphones sound okay, but the earbuds are too large or something so they are painful in my ears after a couple of minutes. Have to go shopping for a new pair. The faux leather cover is obviously a 3 cent joke made in China. While it does fit over the biomorph, the clasp that seals it on fits partially over the power button, so I find the unit frequently turning itself off and then I adjust it, and then it happens again.

Finally, I have not tried other mp3 players, but the biomorph does not get very loud. I have tried all kinds of mp3's, and in general I have to leave the biomorph's volume at MAX all the time (including if I plug it into my stereo). I have not yet taken it to a loud environment, like an airplane cabin, but I imagine music won't be audible in such an environment, if I need to have it at MAX in an otherwise silent environment.

I can't say I'm unhappy. I have an expandable flash drive and workable mp3 player, and I didn't spend a fortune. That said, since prices on competing units (with working arm bands and decent headphones) have fallen recently to closer to the biomorph's price, I wouldn't buy this unit again. Since buying this item, prices on shock-resistant keychain flash drives with high Mac/PC compatibility (like Lexar's Jumpdrive Sport) have fallen through the bottom. Could I do it again, I would just pick up a cheap 256 meg Jumpdrive Sport for my flash drive needs, and look into a better mp3 player, perhaps the Rio Cali 256 (which my friend owns), even if it lacks the ability to serve as a flash drive without the installation disc.

UPDATE: After just over three months of use (funny, that's how long the warranty is), my Boimorph has died. It's actually a shame: I've really gotten to like it. Over time, I got used to the arm band (though they make it too loose and I had to stretch it a little to keep it from pressing the power button off) and with another pair of headphones, it was great for jogging and working out. It was also a nifty flash player for transferring files between my laptop and desktop, which I did often. But with no warning, I suddenly got an icon of a hand with "HOLD" on the palm. I held but nothing happened but the unit turning off. So I replaced the battery: no change. I read through the entire manual and the support web site, and no mention is made of this icon, and so no corresponding troubleshooting tips. (This infuriates me.) So I followed the only procedure the site and manual provide for the Biomorph not turning on: resetting it. Did so, and now I get nothing but a few broken lines which immediately disappear. Strangely, it still works as a flash drive when connected to a computer via USB, but otherwise it's locked in this oblivion state with crazy graphics. Not cool.

2 things with this player...
...don't update the firmware
...don't use their software

First the current firmware update, only really changes 2 things... when you turn it on it won't start playing right away... 2nd, it allows you to use the stopwatch while it's playing music. Both aren't of big concerns for me, so after I saw some of the reviews I didn't update.

Second the player shows up like a removable drive under windows and you can just drag and drop your music files on to the drive. You don't need the software to copy files over to the player. Of course I had already converted my cds to files before I bought the player, but you can do this with other apps.

I've used this for about 2 months now, 3 to 4 days a week, changing the music every couple of days and it has been a great little player.

I wish I could say that for the money, the biomorph is a great mp3 player, but since I actually got it for free, I'm somewhat biased in that department. However, I can say that within the three weeks that I've owned it, the biomorph has simply fallen apart. Let me first qualify by saying I don't take it with me to the gym, I don't strap it to my arm when rollerblading- none of that. I use it for listening to mp3's while on the subway and that's all. a very low-impact kind of interface. Given that, it has still managed to fall apart at the seems.

For starters, the case it comes with is counterintuitive. Aside from being thin and flimsy (and outright unusable) its design by nature requires for it to be looped through your belt. It also covers up the loop hole in which you are expected to slip the included arm band into, causing you to only be able to use one or the other.

Secondly, the headphones are constructed rather shabily. The nexus point where the left and right ear buds split off from each other is toggled with a sub-standard plastic aglet that has already slid off, revealing the exposed wires. In an attempt to resecure it, (which involved simply sliding it back down) I cracked it. Now a lame-o piece of scotch tape is the only thing keeping me from feeling the current that runs through it.

Again, let me say: LOW IMPACT INTERFACE. I'm not doing jumping jacks, I'm not treating it like a cheap toy. I'm very responsible with my electronics and this thing falls apart like a pressed daisy.

Thirdly, the thin metal clip that serves as the AAA battery's contact point has already broken off. This from changing the battery twice. Luckily for me the segment of it that broke off does not effect the actual circuitry, just my ease in lifting it up again to replace batteries. But make no mistake- it's a major inconvenience as this unit tends to go through its single AAA battery rather quickly.

All of the above I can pretty much handle. As completely humiliating as it is to have a brand new piece of electronics constantly failing me, like that CD player that always skips, all of the above are actually "deal-with-able." After all, we mustn't look gift horses in the mouth.

What I do find to be increasingly irritating though, is the number of times the player shuts itself off when I use the "lock" switch to keep that flimsy "forward/backward/pause" switch from shuffling my songs. Without fail, every time I lock the unit, the unit shuts itself off. It's a shame it advertises itself as a lock switch and not a power off switch. otherwise I might be pretty happy with the functionality.
In short, as grateful as I was to receive it, this mp3 player really is more hassle than its worth and I look forward to the day (not far now, I'm sure) when it breaks completely apart of its own accord so I don't have to make up a lously lie as to why I bought a new and better player with better sound quality, more memory and a more intuitive interface.

I got this MP3 player as a Christmas gift, and at first, it seemed to work great. The directions for transferring files to the player were unnecessarily complicated and confusing, but once I figured out how to load files, it was very easy and fast. The MP3 function is very easy to use and the sound quality is fine, but the radio function is horrible. The reception is lousy, the radio changes stations for no reason, and the player often randomly shuts down and changes the presets.

However, I ran into a problem when I tried to load the WMA files I had purchased from Napster and BuyMusic.com. The files wouldn't play even though the player was supposed to read WMA files. After trying countless fixes, I gave up and called customer service, who informed me that Memorex products do not read any legally downloaded music files. I was advised to either download the files illegally or stick to files from my CDs. Since the entire reason I wanted an MP3 player was to play songs I don't have on CDs and I would rather not be sued, I returned it.

If you just want to listen to music tracks from CDs, it works great. However, if you want to buy any songs over the internet, don't buy this MP3 player!

Had one, returned in a week. Don't bother. FM tuner literally takes three seconds between each MHZ setting, only goes one way and sounds terrible. Flimsy case design. Frimware will not work with Windows XP, USB interface locks up OS on PC. and to top it off, not supported by manufacturer anymore.

Bought this player on the spur of the moment while buying a DVD video player. Got home, set up the MMP8500 with NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER!!! I installed only the drivers and drag and drop my MP3 files from my hard drives. YOU DON'T NEED TO INSTALL ANYTHING ELSE!

The unit is very light and sounds great, I did however buy the SONY MDR-J10 headphones for ten bucks, I just don't like ear buds.

For a 100 bucks you can't wrong. I find the volume to be fine and play my music with the volume about two thirds of the way up. Any louder you you're just asking to go deaf!

As far as it's construction, I don't find it to be any different from most portable electronics. I can't picture this unit breaking unless you really go out of your way to trash it.

The FM radio feature isn't all that great, even strong stations don't sound all the well and it lacks AM which is a bummer for those of us who listen to talk radio. But then again I did buy it mainly to play my MP3s and it does that very well. As for this other format WDA I can't offer an opinion being that all my files are in MP3.

I got this mp3 player for christmas and i have to say that it has served its purpose so far. At first i wanted to get the virgin player but once i found out that i wont need that much memory i opted out of for the biomorph. The 126mb was good enough for me because i listen to the same 20 songs for about a month untill i change them anyway. But, for others you can add addtional memory. The directions will fool for about a day but in all actuality it installs itself. Some down falls are the accesorries, the head-pieces are too big and it doesnt get that loud, the case is shabby and so is the armband. Also, after a day and a half you will find yourself changing the aaa battery. Overall, its a pretty good player.

I'm a junior in high school and I love this thing. Everyone at school always raves about I-Pods but most of them have MP3 players that are under $100. Go figure. Anyway, My mom bought this one for me for an overpriced $152. She could have done better for that money. But I am a Cher fan, and in case no one has noticed, whoever makes up the CD's has a thing for putting the same songs on 3 or 4 CD's. With this in mind, it's great so long as you have Windows Media Player because, quite frankly, if you are computer illiterate this is a brilliant MP3 player. And this way all my cher songs can be crammed onto one memory card instead of me carrying all my CD's.

I bought this on EBay for a total of $68 including shipping. It's very light so that may be why others gave a low rating - it just doesn't feel worth the $99 (actual price). I read the advice of others and didn't install the software. I just plugged the USB in and it recognized the item as a removable drive. All I did after that was drag and drop my songs in to the removable drive window and that was it! Found that after 23 songs it was full but I have a few cards at home to put in the slot to increase the memory. Pluses - Lightweight, came with arm band, easy to program/use. You CAN use the stopwatch along with the MP3 playback. Minuses - Clip that holds the battery in place looks very fragile, cannot program songs, cheesy case. Overall, I am quite happy with the purchase. At least I don't have to carry my CD player in my hand while running to keep it from skipping!