9. Truly Convenient

The ergonomics are as every bit as good as the Karma. The screen is a good size (40mm in diameter), very clear and with nice effective blue backlighting. The menus are logically organized with a simple system of scrolled items and validation. You browse with a scroll wheel and a button on the side which are easy to reach. The joystick in the middle commands the playback parameters. Only the volume controls are a bit harder to use, but that's just a detail. Apart from the usual playlists, it has an equalizer you can set to your own parameters.

Playback quality is just as good as the Karma, really well done. The headphones are again Sennheiser MX 300. This is an excellent choice and makes listening a pleasure. You'll have no reason to change them, which is a price argument to remember.

For those who need no more than 1.5 GB, the Nitrus is the sleekest solution we have tested to date. Its price of $230 is reasonable, and it is hardly larger than a flash memory player. Add to that its flawless ergonomics, impeccable sound quality and excellent headphones, and there is really no more to say...well, there is, actually. The Firmware should be upgraded to turn it into a removable disk device. And when are they going to release the 4 GB Nitrus?