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RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Blue) | 
| Brand: RCA
Category: CE
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $48.99
You Save: $1.00 (2%)
Rating:  11 reviews
Color: Blue
Media: Electronics
Batteries Included: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 3.1 x 1.1 x 0.7
MPN: TH1602
Model: TH1602
UPC: 044319751536
EAN: 0044319751536
ASIN: B00137ERVC
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 2 GB of flash memory stores up to 600 songs or 8 hours of video | | • | Connect directly to your computer with the built-in USB for fast file transfers | | • | Included EasyRip software makes quick work of building and managing your music library | | • | Add more memory using the MicroSD slot | | • | Enjoy up to 35 hours of music playback with one AAA battery |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
AAC - WMA - DRM9 / OLED Display / microSD Slot / Voice Recorder / FM Tuner / AA batteries / Flip Out USB
Amazon.com Product Description
Sleek, slender, and absolutely stunning--exactly what you'd expect from a Pearl, one of RCA's Gem line of digital audio players. Not only can you easily download and listen to your favorite songs, but you also can enjoy the ability to listen and record FM radio directly onto your Pearl. No Cords Required
The Pearl's direct USB connector design means you can quickly download your favorite open MP3, open WMA, and unprotected AAC tracks from any computer. This multifunction device will double as your MP3 player and a USB data storage device.  Connect directly to your computer with the built-in USB for fast file transfers. | Expandable
Want more room? Not a problem. Add expandable memory in the MicroSD card slot and load it up with music. This option gives you the flexibility you need to store additional songs, audio books, and other large files. Crystal Clear View
The Pearl's 0.8-inch OLED screen provides a vibrant viewing experience. A quick glance is all you need to see your navigation or information about the current track. Tune in While You're Out
Better than a simple FM receiver, the Pearl allows you to record while listening to an FM station. The player will store the MP3 file until you're ready to listen again or download it to your computer. What's in the Box
RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Black), one AAA battery, earphones
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| Customer Reviews: Read 6 more reviews...
 basic functionality September 18, 2008
Eclectic Reader
The player did not work out of the box for me - I had to update the firmware first by going to the RCA website where they have downloads and upgrades. I was not able to do this on my laptop running XP SP2, but fortunately had no trouble doing on a computer running Vista Business.
Except for those initial 20 minutes of frustration, I have had no major trouble using the device which I've used for about 6 weeks now. The only other glitch is when running through songs sometimes the screen seems get stuck rotating between the same three song titles which can be a little frustrating. The whole scrolling thing is somewhat cumbersome. To save time, I tried putting my favorite exercise songs in favorites but that seems to get erased every time I change the battery.
I haven't really used the RCA included software. Windows media player (11) recognizes it and syncs fine. I have also transfered music manually (using it as if it were a USB flash drive) paying attention to the file structure.
I got it in part because of its expansion capabilities - its main advantage over similarly priced entry level devices - and I think it supports up to a 2 GB mini sd card. Works fine with that but having it in seemed to drain the battery much more quickly and it also increased the start up time the device needs to recognize it, so I ended up removing it since I haven't yet filled up the device. The songs on the SD card are integrated in the play list. I would actually prefer that they could be separated (especially given the cumbersome scrolling), but that's a minor detail.
The FM radio worked fine for me but definitely need to have headphones fully extended to get decent reception. I agree that it is not reliable enough to do recordings unless you find the optimal position of the device/headphones and don't move it. The Voice memo recording is a nice feature.
This is my first mp3 player so I have nothing to compare it to. I got it for $40 and was only expecting basic functionality and it has met my expectations. Sound quality is good. I chose the 2 GB over the 1 GB Pearl because it didn't seem that the 1GB has expansion capabilities (despite what Amazon describes - I actually went to Walmart to check out the devices and ended up getting the 2 GB to be sure.) It's perfect for what I use it for, mainly exercising at the gym because of its small size. The integrated USB is great - no caps to lose or wires to remember. If you don't like it as an MP3 player you can still use it as an expandable USB flash drive. Also like that it uses 1 AAA battery instead of proprietary ones. (I use rechargable ones - batteries do not last 35 hours on this device.) The main drawback is choosing songs (particularly if you have many different artists each with just a few songs) can be time consuming because all songs are in long lists in either the Artist, Album, Title, or Year categories. Overall though, I've been happy with it.
An entry level MP3 for an entry price. September 17, 2008
Shoyu
I was looking for a budget MP3 player and found exactly that with RCA's Pearl. Let me start off by saying I never used the SD card reader so I can't report on that, but many of the problems listed in the other reviews are accurate. The main problems I have with it are:
1) It doesn't sort files very efficiently....or not at all.
2) The max volume is quite low in comparison to other MP3s I looked at.
3) When you do turn it off it has a habit of staying stuck in power down mode - roughly 80% of the time - and if you're unaware of it, your battery life (which is low to begin with) will be almost non existent.
O.K. with the bad out of the way, let's look to the good. If all you're looking for is an MP3 player this does an adequate job. It has sufficient memory (2GB) It is easy to load your favorite songs into the unit - just flip out the USB port and plug it into your computer, open the drive and drag your MP3s into the drive. Simple. Now that I think about it, that really is the only good point....oh well. If you want an entry level MP3 player for an entry price, the RCA Pearl isn't a bad place to look (or listen, as the case may be)
 DO NOT BUY! September 10, 2008
LJ (Akron, OH USA)
I would not recommend this MP3 player. I have had nothing but trouble with it since I bought it 2 months ago. It freezes. It shuts off when I don't want it to and turns on spontaneously, which wears the battery out. Ripping music to it is difficult, the software that comes with it is horrible. Stay away!
 I Wanted to Like the Pearl. Really September 4, 2008
David Bullis (Yellowstone County, Montana)
_ The 2 gig RCA Pearl fit my image of a well thought-out design. I love the integral USB plug that swivels shut. I have rechargable NiMH batteries, ro the notion of replaceable batteries seemed eminently superior to unreachable, short lived Li-Ion devices. The Micro-SD upgrade - just a fine idea.
_ But. The software is counter-intuitive. After a week I can make it work, but it is clumsy and slow. [One exception - The module to extract songs from your CD library is excellent.]
_ After a week the switches in the controls are already skipping. I can effectively play random songs by all titles. Only.
Some songs, about halfway through, start playing at double speed. I don't even know how that is possible, but observed phenomena.... Some songs start cutting out as though there were a bad connection to the earphones. That was not so.
_ Many times when shutting down, the player will lock up and never finish shutting dowm. Eight hours until I took the battery out. Occasionally The start-up will also hang up.
_ The volume is non-standard. Top volume is not terribly loud. Sufficient for my uses.
_ When it works, the 2GB RCA Pearl is a joy. Say half the time.
_ I didn't realize that RCA doesn't really exist any longer, so this is really an Audiovox. I did the updates, both od the Player firmware and the software that goes on my computer. Also, like old digital cameras, one cannot just drag mp3's into the device; one must use the proprietary software.
_ So I have a large, expensive USB drive. One I am not sure I can trust.
__ DAB __RCA Pearl 2 GB MP3 Player with FM Radio and Direct USB (Blue)
Lacks a couple critical features August 19, 2008
Mindme (Kirkland, WA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This little mp3 player would be perfect for people who don't need to carry their music collection around with them and like the idea if their player runs out of juice they can slap in a cheap AAA battery. However, two major problems. Well, actually four. But the two biggies, one you can't navigate files by directory. You can't put, say, music in one directory and podcasts in another. This player just presents all files in one big list to you. You can sort them by tags but that's a bit of pain. The real deal killer is the second problem. When you turn the mp3 player off and on the player doesn't remember where you were. That's not bad for 3 minute songs but if you're 30 minutes into a podcast, it takes a while to ff back to where you left off, assuming you remember.
Other minor problems, the SD card reader doesn't seem to read all SD cards. And it really doesn't kick out much in the way of volume. If you're trying to listen to a podcast on a subway or on a busy street, max volume is way too low.
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