Qool QMT 21 (256MB)

Performance
Built-in speakers on an MP3 player are a rare feature in our book. In terms of practicality, it is mostly unworkable since the small size of a pocket-able device allows for only a tiny driver which tends to result in hiss at high volumes. Secondly, for two speakers to work, a minimum distance must be maintained between the two to enable stereo sound.

The QMT 21 fails in this respect, generating mono sound rather than stereo, though with 100mW per channel it is certainly loud enough to deliver on the highs and mids. However, bass was virtually undetectable even on Massive Attack's ultra-bass heavy Futureproof. Even after we cranked up the speakers to maximum volume, it was still barely discernible and given to distortion, an inevitable result with the tiny drivers.

Using our test earphones, on the other hand, the QMT 21 was a virtuoso on the low end with well-defined bass on the aforementioned Massive Attack track. Using Diana Krall's You are Getting to be a Habit with Me, we found the QMT 21 to be pretty decent on vocals and detailed enough on the highs.

On transfer speed, the QMT 21 ran at a disappointing 0.25MB per second, while it fared much better on battery life at 18 hours and 49 minutes.

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