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Photos: Insignia Kix

The Insignia Kix is a viable option for the younger set or as a secondary MP3 player for the gym. It's a cheap and simple device with decent sound quality.

CNET Reviews staff
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The silver Kix includes black, dark blue, and maroon flaps.
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A hold switch on the bottom edge of the player helps to ensure that controls aren't accidentally activated.
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A small and stiff five-way control pad with a tiny nested power/menu button sits to the right of the screen. It's not the easiest to use because of the size and stiffness, but it gets the job done.
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The USB interface is concealed by a rotating cover, and three different colored covers come with each version of the player. The white model comes with pink, blue, and green.
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Best Buy appears intent on expanding its line of MP3 players. The latest addition, dubbed the Insignia Kix (1GB), screams budget: It has a small screen, a plastic body, and a price tag of just $50.
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The main menu offers selections for now playing, music, FM radio, settings, and (surprisingly) Rhapsody Channels. On the plus side, the FM radio offers autoscan and preset slots, though seeking between channels is a painfully slow process in general. Plus, the reception isn't great.
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The design of the Insignia Kix hearkens back to the early days of flash MP3 players, right down to the built-in USB plug. The player looks like a thumb drive with a (small) screen, though at 3.2 inches by 1.4 inches by 0.6 inch, the Kix is a bit larger than most thumb drives.
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Aside from some rather irritating feedback that buzzes in when tracks are paused, music sounds decent, even through the included earbuds (though they don't score points for comfort). Bass is lacking and the experience is nowhere close to mind-blowing, but audio is more than passable for a player at this price point. The rated battery life of 30 hours is good.
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Continuing around the edges of the player, you'll find a dedicated volume rocker and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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