Samsung YP-Q2 v. Sony E-series deathmatch

Sounding out two top 8GB media players

By Alun Taylor • Get more from this author

4th September 2009 11:02 GMT

A small but handy benefit if you who plan on listening to long audio files, is the Samsung's superior scan facility. Not only does it ramp up to a far higher speed than the Sony, but it is also far smoother while it is about it. That said, the Sony gives you an audible indication of scan progress while the Samsung is wholly silent.

Samsung reckons a fully charged Q2 will keep chewing through the tunes for 50 hours, while Sony say the E444 is good for 30. As always, we found those numbers just a little on the optimistic side, getting 43 and 26 hours, respectively. That's a big jump forward by Samsung – the best we got from the Q1 was 26 hours from a claimed 30 – but a step back by Sony which claimed 45 from the old E-class, three more than we managed to get in practice.

Sony and Sammy, side by side

Compared to Apple's ubiquitous iPod Nano, for which prices start on the wrong side of £100, both the Sony and Samsung look like excellent value. The 8GB Q2 is widely available at around the £65 mark, while the Sony has only recently arrived in the UK at around £89. Discounts will no doubt follow.

If cash is tight, both the players on test are available in cheaper, 4GB form, unlike the Apple device, which only comes in 8GB and 16GB flavours. If a 16GB player is what you are after, then both Sony and Samsung will happily oblige.

Verdict

If it was any closer when they crossed the line these two would have scrape marks down their sides, there really is that little to choose between them. Both sound great, the Sony has the better controls, the Samsung better format support. The Q2 has a bigger screen but the E444 is smaller and lighter. If it was our money – and being MP3 rather than Ogg or Flac users – we'd go for the Sony, but only because its smaller and the controls are easier to use. ®

Thanks to AdvancedMP3Players for the loan of the Samsung Q2.