TDK Mojo X review: TDK Mojo X

TDK adds to its well-regarded Mojo line of portable audio devices with the 128MB Mojo X. There's no USB plug on the device itself, so it doesn't qualify as a plug-in player; instead, you have to use the included cable to attach it to a PC. Still, it's as small and as light as a typical plug-in device (3.5 by 1.25 by 0.5 inches and 1.3 ounces), making it a good choice for people who want to listen to music while working out.
Although the bright-orange casing and the control buttons are all plastic, the device doesn't feel terribly flimsy. The display isn't backlit, however, so forget about trying to read song information in a dark room. The Mojo X includes a groovy, orange/gray mesh carrying pouch, but we think an armband would have been more appropriate, considering the player's appeal to joggers and gym rats.
Connecting the Mojo X to your Mac (running OS X or later) or PC is a snap, though Windows 98 SE users will have to install the device drivers, which are included on a disc. Those with a post-2000 Windows OS can simply attach the player and begin using it immediately. Transferring songs or data files to the device is effortless; just drag and drop in Windows Explorer. If you wish to create playlists on the device (a good idea since songs would otherwise play alphabetically or get shuffled), the Mojo X supports Windows Media Player 9.0 and Musicmatch Jukebox. Each program has a portable device manager that enables MP3 players to show up as removable disk drives, so playlists are simple to transfer, and the selected songs are saved as folders on the Mojo X.
Along with the usual shuffle and repeat options, you get six EQ modes: Normal, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Bass Boost, and a user-defined mode that adjusts five levels of bass and treble. Other than that, the Mojo X's features set is relatively bare; you don't get an FM tuner or a voice recorder, and it won't play any files purchased from online music stores.
In our tests, music sounded acceptable with the supplied earbuds. We noticed a nice balance between bass and treble, although the midrange could use a little boost. Transfer speeds topped out at 0.39MB per second over a USB 1.1 connection, which is about average for players that link via USB 1.1. We matched the claimed 12 hours of continuous playback from a fully charged AAA battery.
The TDK Mojo X isn't as rich in features as the plug-in players currently available from Jens of Sweden. But given that you can find it for about $89, this model is a decent option if all you want to do is play back MP3s and WMAs.