Our quick take
Samsung TicToc YP-S1AL - 3.5 / 5
Our review sample was one of the 4GB variety which can hold up to 1000 songs, says Samsung. The Tic Toc is supplied with a small docking station that plugs in to your computer via USB for charging and transferring music files. On connecting the player for the first time, you’re prompted to install Samsung’s bundled TicToc-specific mini app software as well as the maker’s Kies software that can also be used for managing your Samsung mobile phone. You can transfer music simply by dragging and dropping files and the player can handle MP3, AAC, WMA, Ogg, FLAC and WAV audio files. Powered by the DNSe 3.0 sound engine, the TicToc can be used with one of seven DNSe sound fields. These can be adjusted using the mini app and include Auto, Normal, Studio, Rock, R&B, Dance and Concert Hall.
When talking about portable devices, one of the all-important factors is battery life as nobody wants their music source conking out halfway through the day. According to Samsung, the TicToc offers 12 hours of playback which should see you through the day. Audio performance is fair but not the best we’ve heard, and the sonics start to sound extremely tinny as soon as the volume is turned up to a decent level. Having said that, after switching to a better pair of headphones, the improvement was significant. The sound copes well with bass-heavy tracks and the mid range is also punchy and clear. We can’t really mark the player down for its poor headphones as that’s pretty much standard on affordable MP3 players. Firmly at the entry-level of the market, the TicToc will set you back £49.99, although you might be able to find it a bit cheaper online if you shop around.
To recap
The quirky design and motion control are sure to make this a popular choice with the kids, although the audio performance could be better
