I got an music player finally, needed it real bad for my exceptionally long bus rides (1.5 hours +) to and from the college. I first thought of buying one of those uber-good looking and big branded players, and had my thoughts on getting a Nano but it was too costly per MB it gives. So I decided looking for a budget player which would fulfill my space requirements as well as not turn up becoming a coaster on Format (Those damn Chinese models).
I knew about the Transcend T.sonic 610, which came in 1 GB and 2 GB variants, but I needed 4 GB and it didn’t look so good, it looked like a packed up box rather. Then, Xubz at Techspot answered a similar doubt posted there and pointed at another model of Transcend T.sonic, the 630. This one looked a lot better and smaller than the 610 and had a 4 GB variant too, and that too in Black. My search ended there 
Anyway, off to physical features, the 630 is VERY light at 30g including the Li-ion battery which is rechargable only via USB. Battery lasts for around 15 hours of music playback on minimal conditions. Dimensions are (73 mm x 33 mm x 12.5 mm) which is significantly less than the 610′s (70 mm x 34.5 mm x 15.5 mm). I don’t know the exact measure of the screen, but its much wider than the 610 though lesser in height. Its more like a side scroll screen than the down-up scroll screen the 610 possesses. A Line-In port is present along with the standard headphone port. There was no Line-In cable bundled along, though the website mentions so. The box packaging didn’t mention it either.
On the music front, formats supported by 630 are MP3, WMA and WMA-DRM10 (32 kbps to 320 kbps) music. Ack, am no way getting DRM stuff into my player, but its a good feature for those who subscribe a lot to online stores and so on. But WMA is the ONLY format supported for it, so be careful if you’re gonna buy that for use with most iTunes tracks, etc. Has an FM (20 Channel Storage) and voice recorder built-in but I wouldn’t be needing either of them cause all FM plays in Chennai are tamil songs and am not an interviewer or a bathroom singer to make use of the V-Rec. 
The settings and miscellaneous features of the T.sonic 630 are the ones that really rock. It’s got 7 Equalizer settings with a user-defined option available too. And there’s the best thing about 630 over 610, the Playlist feature. You can create a playlist ON the player (Not .pls/.m3u). This feature is cool in such a cheap and small player V-Rec has an auto-time recording feature too, so that you don’t miss your favorite programs over FM, etc. And the screen’s OLED display contrast is just too bright even at the lowest possible level! Has lyrics sync feature too, which would be a sure battery drainer. Oh well, it has loads more stuff, all of which can be found in the Manual that came along.
The music quality is decent, but doesn’t sound good on the bundled earphones. Instead, I tested it out by fixing it up to my Creative SBS 2.1 and the results were pretty clear. Though on full volume it starts to get a little noisy. Coupled with a good earphone, it might be decent enough for all audiophiles alike. What I mean is, its more than decent for music on the road where external noise is very high anyway.
Getting used to the interface is very easy and you hardly need to read the manual to perform basic functions like change Repeat settings, or browse through your music, add files to playlist and so on.
Quick tip: (To add a song to the in-built playlist in the Transcend T.sonic 630, first enable the Playlist Editor via Settings and then while browsing the collection, press the REC button to add the file to the playlist)
All in all, a good budget buy if you want a lot of storage for very little amount, packed into a good stylish casing. The Transcend T.sonic 630 is worth the Rs. 3000 price for its 4 GB variant.
Hey I am also planning to buy a music player to hear songs during the travel to and from college. Nice review. Are you sure this is best deal there? I was hoping to get my hand on creative player with that price…
beta3
2 Sep 07 at 1:05 pm
Hey
Well, I’m looking to buy myself a portable player too… but the most important thing that I’m looking for is the Audio quality. I _kn0w_ that the nano gives amazing output, I have personally tested it, so that’s an option.
But wanted to know if there were equal or better ones out there. I have heard creative has good ones too, not sure about quality.
For this model, you say the audio quality is “decent”. Hmm… not sure I can compromise on that..
Any advice ?
Preshit
2 Sep 07 at 4:07 pm
@beta3 – I think the Creative Zen Stone falls into that price range, but I don’t think you get 4 GB in them. I needed space, quality was my next priority.
@Preshit – It isn’t even fair to compare it with the Nano, that’s a different experience altogether. This shouldn’t even be in your options. I’ve stated my priorities in the above comment line. More space, least cost and acceptable audio quality. Nano isn’t something that’s for the budget section.
And about Creative, their HDD players sure do rock. Haven’t tested a Flash based one yet, but you might wanna check out the new Creative Zen 16 GB, it plays videos as well.
P.s. Wait for the iPod ‘Fat’ Nano, Sept. 5.
Harsh
2 Sep 07 at 4:40 pm
Congratulations on the buy
Atul Varaskar
2 Sep 07 at 7:57 pm
@harsh
have you tried it on linux??
Gaurish(gary4gar)
2 Sep 07 at 8:51 pm
@Harsh:
iPod ‘Fat’ Nano ? Elaborate please :p
You see, I have a budget of 8K ( coz the nano comes for 7K ). I want quality, second comes small-size. So, HDD ones are out of topic. I don’t need video players either
.
Kindly advice
@Gaurish:
Doesn’t work ?
Preshit
2 Sep 07 at 8:55 pm
@Preshit – I meant this.
@Gaurish – Its a drag and drop player, guaranteed to work on any OS that supports a USB drive. And I’d never buy anything that wouldn’t work on Linux. But then, what doesn’t?
@Atul – Nowhere near your black beauty
Harsh
2 Sep 07 at 9:39 pm
Yucck ! Take that off my face… I’m off to the store tomorrow.. 2GB iPod… here I come.
Preshit
2 Sep 07 at 9:49 pm
2 GB? You’re not buying the Shuffle are you?
Harsh
2 Sep 07 at 10:11 pm
Well, the 4GB nano is slightly outa budget.
Preshit
2 Sep 07 at 10:13 pm
Don’t get ANYTHING without a screen! Get some more savings and buy later, cause screen-less players will make all your brain pointers wild!
Harsh
2 Sep 07 at 10:22 pm
The 2GB nano does have a screen :-s
Preshit
2 Sep 07 at 10:23 pm
There’s a 2 GB Nano even now? I thought it was just 4 GB and 8 GB .. My bad, I guess.
Harsh
2 Sep 07 at 10:34 pm
There are disadvantages you know , my black beauty rests in my drawer all this rainy season won’t come out of my house until this season ends …….
I am a bit skeptic maybe ,but I guess given the “size (dimensions)” of your player you can very well take it out in the rainy season ,it’ll probably keep dry even in your pocket
Atul Varaskar
3 Sep 07 at 3:00 am
Why not get a water-proof cover or something for it?
Harsh
3 Sep 07 at 6:48 am
What’s his black ?
Preshit
3 Sep 07 at 1:08 pm
This
Harsh
3 Sep 07 at 1:58 pm
Ok I’ve reconfirmed, there is NO 2 GB Nano. Must be a chinese/taiwanese fake you’re probably gonna receive.
Harsh
3 Sep 07 at 9:39 pm
Excuse me ?
Apple Store
The prices are as follows:
2GB : 7000 INR
4GB : 9000 INR
8GB : 11500 INR
The prices above are from the Apple showroom. Other dealer prices may be lower.
Or even:
http://computerwarehousepricelist.com/productlist.asp?ctg=48
Preshit
3 Sep 07 at 9:47 pm
How could you NOT see the apple site ? :p
Preshit
3 Sep 07 at 9:48 pm
Really weird, I found no 2 GB ones in the market
Anyway, if its clean, what are you waiting for?
(Maybe this?)
Harsh
4 Sep 07 at 5:56 am
Naaah, its too thick… I’ve decided to go for that 4GB Nano
( Got some extra hosting accounts… )
And well, I _had_ to get an Apple product.. now I can go tell iJustine ( http://www.tastyblogsnack.com ) :p
Will keep you updated.
Preshit
4 Sep 07 at 6:11 pm
That’d be the Justine.tv person right?
Good luck on your purchase
Harsh
4 Sep 07 at 6:36 pm
You know what thanks to you I am taking the d00d out …… damn hell saves me from all the crap they keep blabbering on the train.
So howz your player going …. get the EP630 bro’ will cost ya some 850rs… there is a GO hapening at techenclave go see get em … they are way to good for that money.
Atul Varaskar
6 Sep 07 at 9:35 am
@Harsh: Yeh, Its her.
And well, I _haveto_ wait now… I’ll be getting the new “fatty” nano or the touch
Preshit
6 Sep 07 at 2:04 pm
Hello
How are you?
Adesva
11 Sep 07 at 8:16 am
Whats your experience of this mp3 player after using it for 2 months ?
I am thinking of buying this one…
Manas
13 Nov 07 at 9:49 am
It still works as good as it did
Harsh
13 Nov 07 at 5:44 pm
I saw in a review that file transfers were too slow and that the music was not easily heard in a noisy environment. Is that true ?
Manas
14 Nov 07 at 10:45 am
Yes file transfer is medium (Slightly faster rate than the V30 pen-drives) and no, sound can be heard clearly at 80% (Safe limit) even in noisy situations like my bus roaring at full speed; haven’t a problem with the bundled headphones. In any case you can easily use an amp-featured headphone.
Harsh
14 Nov 07 at 4:20 pm
Cool… Then sound is no problem. I will buy this one.
Manas
14 Nov 07 at 5:13 pm
Hey man thanks a lot .. i was not able to create playlist …
BTW it works on linux !!
Akshay
17 Nov 07 at 6:36 pm
Hi.
Good design, who make it?
naisioxerloro
29 Nov 07 at 3:58 pm
Transcend makes it
For more info: http://www.transcendusa.com
Harsh
29 Nov 07 at 4:03 pm
[...] while ago I blogged about my purchase of a Transcend T.sonic 630 4 GB Music Player [...]
The new Transcend T.sonic 650 music player » Harsh J
1 Dec 07 at 7:40 am
Hi Harsh J
I know you are a Linux fan, but I still need to ask you this…
Is your Transcend T.Sonic 630 player fully compatible with MAC OS X? For example, if there is a driver / cd software included, do you think it will allow me to upload mp3 songs from my Mac?
I tried to get this information from the Transcend US website but could not log on for some reason.
Thanks, James
James
17 Jan 08 at 6:23 pm
Basically, if a Flash-Drive works on an OS, the Transcend players will work too.
So regardless of any OS you use, it will be mounted with no issues or drivers required, cause it mounts as a removable device.
Actually this player has two modes, one (MTP) is like the iPod one where in you can sync with a player and all and the other mode is the normal file transfer mode.
The latter mode is what makes it work on all platforms (it acts like a Flash-Drive, where you just dump in all MP3/WAV and it recognizes them automatically). The latter is also the set default of the player.
Harsh
17 Jan 08 at 7:11 pm
Ure quick tipp helped me a lot..but said they did not explain it on their manuals….
ali
27 Feb 08 at 5:25 pm
how to use the lyrics synchronization in t sonic 610 2 gb. i had read the whole manual. nowhere its given about the lyrics sync.can any one tell me how to sync lyrics with mp3 songs
balaji
8 Mar 08 at 4:10 pm
Harsh,
Does the T630/650 support sycing via rhthmbox or other audio programs on linux?
gigi
21 Apr 08 at 12:25 pm
Yes you have to set the player mode as MTP in the player and it’ll act as a sync-able device. In normal player mode it just appears as a drag-drop thing within Rythmbox and Amarok, etc. With MTP it will appear and work as a proper iPod like device.
See the player settings and you should find MTP mode easily within.
Harsh
21 Apr 08 at 1:08 pm
hi harsh,
i have T 630. but i ve got a prob. aftr i charge it thru a USB charger, the playr refusd to start up now.what has happnd? i testd the USB charger at the shop.it was working fine dere.
vicky
22 Jul 08 at 7:02 am
hi again,
i got da problem solvd.
i had to press d RESET button n it got switchd on.
thanks anyways!
vicky
22 Jul 08 at 8:55 am
Hi,
Any idea where I could get a new battery for the player (in Bangalore)?
Or how much a battery would cost?
Thanks
Bosco
22 Aug 08 at 10:36 pm
hey Harsh,
i bought this 4GB one for 2150 yesterday at s.p. road bangalore. Im finding it little difficult to browse the music. can i browse it like folders ? how do i do it ?
also can i just drag and drop the music onto the player and play those songs ? or do i have to only with windows media player sync function ?
please reply back.
Thanks,
tanveer
tanveer
27 Jan 09 at 4:50 pm
Yes you can browse the music as folders if you put the files as such. In case your media player is not mounting like a normal removable disk (Like a pen-drive), do the following on the player:
1. Go to the main menu -> Settings (Set)
2. Look for an option called MTP (It stands for Media Transfer Protocol)
3. Under this option, ensure that the value is set to USB and not MTP.
4. Set it to USB if not, of course.
Now connect your player to the computer and it should mount like a pen drive. You can now drag-and-drop normally as you would on any other drive. You can also create folders on the device and place music in it, in a much more organized way, as you had wanted.
I personally arrange my music as Artist name (folder) -> Album name (folder) -> Files. It helps me browse music easily!
(Note: In case you were asking HOW to browse the music on the device then just hold the menu button of the device down for a second, and a browser should open on the screen, where you can navigate easily.
Press menu again in this screen to go upper in the directories and press play to enter directories and play files.)
Congrats on your purchase! Its a pretty decent player for its cost
Harsh
27 Jan 09 at 5:47 pm
Hi Tanveer,
Where u bought the transcend player.Could you please share the Shop Name.
Regards,
Ganesh
Ganesh
6 Mar 09 at 3:51 pm