Samsungs newest digital music player masterpiece, the K5, is a lightweight 1GB/2GB/4GB MP3 player with a heavyweight portfolio including an innovative touch screen, FM radio receiver alarm clock and built-in speakers. A fraction of the size of the smallest stereo system the K5s slide-out speakers deliver the same great sound. No distortion great volume and a defined deep bass. Perfect for the active outdoorsy hip and young lifestyle the K5 is a fashionable accessory that will revolutionize your personal and shared audio experiences.
Review by PC Magazine
Samsung’s latest flash-based MP3 player, with the characteristically cryptic name of YP-K5, has a very interesting twist to it: The back of the device slides open to reveal a surprisingly good-sounding speaker. Aside from that, the K5 has an FM tuner, a 1.7-inch color OLED screen capable displaying photos, touch-sensitive controls, and 2GB or 4GB of flash memory. While
some may see this player as gimmicky and bulkier than necessary, I actually like having the speaker option. It’s also got excellent battery life and the earbuds are unlike any I’ve seen yet.
I held the K5 up next to my LG Chocolate phone, and wouldn’t you know it, they’re the same size, measuring 3.8 by 1.8 by .7-inches. The K5 weighs 3.7 ounces, which is also pretty close. The matte black magnesium case seems sturdy, but the super glossy black front picks up fingerprints like nobody’s business. When the player is off, you can’t even see the touch sensitive-controls. Whereas the Chocolate slides apart the long way, the K5’s built-in speaker slides out sideways on a mechanism that appears surprisingly robust. The speaker half of the K5 houses a pair of tiny drivers covered by a silver metal grille. You can stand the player up (with the speaker open) on a desk or nightstand to crank out your tunes.
Review by CNET
Fall is an anxiously awaited time of year in the gadget world because it’s when tech companies roll out some of their hottest gadgets in preparation for the holiday buying season. September in particular seems to be the prime month for MP3 player announcements, with last year marking the debut of the Apple iPod Nano. It looks like 2006 is set to continue this tradition, with the sleek Samsung YP-K5 leading the way. This unique flash player, available in 2GB ($210) and 4GB ($260) capacities, may be a bit pricey and thick around the middle, but that’s not stopping it from turning some heads.
In the closed position, the K5 isn’t that remarkable looking–rather reminiscent of the Olympus M:robe MR-100–but its smooth, black body feels good in the hand and its shiny face is eye-catching. Once the device is powered on, the visual experience becomes even more pleasing. Like the M:robe, the K5 features touch-sensitive controls, backlit in pleasing shades of blue. A center circle select key is surrounded by four arrow indicators, while Back and Menu selectors sit kitty-corner to one another on the outskirts. A smallish (1.7-inch) color OLED screen resides above the controls, and along the top edge is the power/hold switch. The bottom edge of the player houses the headphone jack and a proprietary USB port.
Review by Gizmodo.com
Here it is. You might have seen some fuzzy flyby images of this MP3 player with speakers built into its backside. But we’ve got it in our hands. And we love it.
For a 4GB player, it’s kinda chunky. The magnesium case is almost three times as thick as a nano, even though it has a slightly bigger footprint. But you would too if you had speakers built into your ass, mounted on sliding rails. I think I remember hearing that they’re 1.5 watts, total. How loud are they? You know when there’s some asshole talking on his cellphone in the library, and you just tell him to shut the hell up? It’s about that loud, except it’s not annoying. It’s fucking great. Flipping on the EQ’s 3D mode drew a soundscape I thought came from stereo speakers about a foot apart when I closed my eyes and gave a listen.
How does the rest of it hold up? We unbox, review from head to toe, drop the stat-smather, and even shoot some b-roll video of the speaker, after the jump.
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