This is a discussion on Onda Vx858 Cool or Crap? Post Your Thoughts! within the Off Topic forums, part of the General Topics category; After read lots of prejudices here concerning a non Meizu player like Onda VX858, I’ve decided to write a review. ...
After read lots of prejudices here concerning a non Meizu player like Onda VX858, I’ve decided to write a review. Having had a M6 for 20 days, having a M3 (what keeps me fully satisfied except one long commented issue), a Teclast C260, having the chance to test many times an iPod Nano, and a iRiver X20, I think I am in position to judge what IS this player also called Honey.
I am an audiophile and I devote lots of my time to listen to music in all the possible ways, I am also capable to distinguish what is a good video or a still picture.
Brief Description. I’ve bought a “compatible Onda VX858” in which I’ve installed the latest original Onda firmware which is 00.00.0017. My VX858 is a Rockchip device of 2Gb, with touch screen and mini SD slot for up to 4 Gb. Touch screen can be played by fingers or through a stylus pen, no stylus pen provided. Screen is QVGA TFT of 2.8” size with resolution of 320x240. I don’t have information about colours but I suppose is above 262k colours.
The device has just 4 buttons: one, for switch on and hold, one to access main menu and two extremely useful buttons to manage volume up and down.
No traces of the manufacturer.
Sound. This version of firmware can play MP3, FLAC, APE (normal set), WMA (no lossless), WAV, No support for OGG yet.
The player uses a Wolfson WM8750 audio decoder, which has been chosen also by Teclast to bring a better sound to their latest players.
All test I’ve done have been without EQ, and listening my favourites songs that I’ve listen in all others devices I have tried.
Playing MP3, APE, FLAC or WMA the sound is the best I’ve listening in a devices of this type, well defined and precise deep bass sound, crystal clear treble and midrange, superb stereo with no traces of distortion of any kind.
EQ functions is still basic in VX858, but is announced for next releases Microsoft PlayFX, a function for spatial sound and effects.
Video. This version of firmware can play AVI (xvid/mp2) and FLV.
Play AVI at a resolution of 320x240 up to 24 fps , recommended up to 22 fps for good audio synchronization. The screen of 2.8” brings the best video I’ve seen in an MP4. Size of screen is superb for clips and even for movies with subtitles. I’ve tried AVI at 25 fps but sound get out-of-synch.
Beware!!! When video is played from a SD card, user must be sure that is using a high speed removable card. Video will sound good but surely will be out-of-synch!!!
Touch screen. Touch screen can be used through fingers or some pen acting as a stylus or pointer. I’ve choose to use fingers as I don’t want the screen scratched by a hard stylus. For an unknown reason, for me have been easier to control functions holding the device in a hand, pointing with thumb of the same hand.
At first appears as a bit unresponsive, but after some time it gets easier to handle, the system has a useful “calibrate” function that seems to work properly. I’ve noticed that using a soft tone called “bee” to control the device (by hand and ear), is even easier to control its functions.
Selection is done in two touches: one to select and one for action. Thru touch it’s possible to do fast forward and backward in sound and video by keep pressing the icons.
Anyway, touch screen is slower than use of buttons, but it’s not disgusting in any way.
I wasn’t fond of touch screen due to greasy finger prints that are unavoidable, surprisingly the excellent backlight make this mark invisible while in use… sort of coated cover or protector. Anyway it requires constant clean with a soft cloth.
Firmware. Onda is delivering new versions of firmware frequently and all versions are available in Onda site (www.onda.cn) in Chinese with a small portion in English. For a machine not so old in the market actual version is 00.00.0017 which I suppose it has 16 versions before.
When it’s loaded is shown the typical 9 functions of Rockchip devices in icons in vertical position: “music”, “video”, “pictures”, “radio”, “text”, “record”, “browser”, “games” and “settings”. Each function can be accessed by touching it; within each function all information are distributed vertically, except by option “video”, which is turned right to take advantage of its size. Each of this option has on top and bottom, a sensitive area that can allow open a small sub-menu to go back to principal menu, return, go back and forth, go to browser and other related options. This areas disappear automatically when aren’t needed, reappearing when any of the areas is touched. Extra menus are in FM radio to manage station memory. Other difference is option “Music” now without the useless typical rockchip spectrum resulting in a cleaner screen. In option “picture” buttons up and down volume are used to navigate back and forth images. Option “Settings” lead to another set of 9 icons for configuration of the device.
The firmware is fully skinnable, thru RKLogoEdit or other alike.
Conclusion. As a Rockchip device, it lacks on automatic ordering of files, like it is sort by artist, album and song, solving this by browsing files through the “explorer”. The system doesn’t have date and time and the managing of ID3 tags is basic (but both functions will be implemented in new firmware versions according to Onda announcements). In other words, is a rather basic operating system but extremely reliable, which do excellently all the functions implemented.
Onda VX858 brings the best sound and image I’ve found in an MP4, being over passed by M6 just in display of still images.
An important note about some editing I've done to this text: when I was testing FLAC and FLV I do have the files in a non high-speed card mounted in the SD slot.
That's totally wrong!... try to get the best SD cards available or use it just for lossy formats. Lossless formats and videos requires a high transfer speed to achieve the best quality.
Due to this I did have to rewrite some paragraphs.
DaremoS, FYI the sound chip in the M6 is more expensive and better than that of the VX858.
Error...
I have been a defender of quality sound of Meizu players. I still enjoy my M3 which I kept due to its awesome sound quality, despite of the bugs this players has (I am talking of the issue at the end of some tracks we all know). Due to this trouble I get rid of my M6.
I really don't know how expensive is Philips UDA1380HN audio codec, compared with Wolfson WM8750... the thing is that I am not saying which one is better... I just said the resulting sound of Onda VX858 is the best I've heard.
This point of quality sound is a very subjective matter which depends of lots of circumstances. Finally I am not the owner of the truth.
This is perfect. I was lookign for a PMP (although wifi would be nice, but that has very limited options) and was trying to decide between the Hacha PC20, Oppo V5 and the Onda VX858. I wonder what the sound is like of the Onda VX858LE (cheaper model without wolfson audio chip). I can't seem to find the 4GB version VX858 with the wolfson chip.
This is perfect. I was lookign for a PMP (although wifi would be nice, but that has very limited options) and was trying to decide between the Hacha PC20, Oppo V5 and the Onda VX858. I wonder what the sound is like of the Onda VX858LE (cheaper model without wolfson audio chip). I can't seem to find the 4GB version VX858 with the wolfson chip.
What I've noticed comparing my Chinese players vs USA produced or some Korean like iRiver X20... is that sound in Chinese is deeper and colourful, while iPod Nano and iRiver X20 tend to be flat and artificial... for an unknown reason both players sound almost the same. Listening Meizu, Teclast and Onda I've noticed better sound.
Concerning your doubts... Teclast C260 is pure Rockchip as it is Onda VX858LE, I am satisfied with Rockchip devices sound... so I don't see a reason for Onda to have bad sound. I haven't had the chance to have in my hands an Hacha or Oppo but if they are Chinese, I would expect also a good sound in them.
That picture you displayed of the VX858 in your review didnt look like it. Was that really it? Also has anybody heard anything about the VX878? i want to buy it off of Dapsta. Does dapsta preload the default language to english?
That picture you displayed of the VX858 in your review didnt look like it. Was that really it? Also has anybody heard anything about the VX878? i want to buy it off of Dapsta. Does dapsta preload the default language to english?
Thanks,
Kyle
P.S. I'm New
What you saw in that picture was a skinned version of firmware 00.00.0017 (the latest). When I took that picture few days ago, I was trying different skins taken from Onda/BBS. This skin is called Onda VX858 Vista.
As a Rockchip this player have the tools to change is appearance, one of the characteristic I demand from my players. I love to see it in constant changes.
Original firmware comes in Chinese but with English always as an option.
Does the Onda VX858 have a resume playback of video's when the player is turned off or stopped to do other things with the player? Nothing drives me more nuts with my Meizu is having to fast forward thru a video because it doesn't keep track of where I turned it of. Since the point of buying this player for me is video playback (my meizu will still be my perferred player for audio due to the amount of time and the quality of the audio chip).
paulrbeers... Onda VX858 is a rockchip player. Rockchip operating system is a very raw one. Doesn't sport sophisticated capabilities but those necessary to manage in a reliable way its functions.
In this aspect Meizu players bring lots of more functions than the VX858. What you require is a sophisticated function that I've see in a iRiver X20 that I had some time ago.
But concerning image and sound quality Onda VX858 is for the moment the best I've tried.
Does the Onda VX858 have a resume playback of video's when the player is turned off or stopped to do other things with the player? Nothing drives me more nuts with my Meizu is having to fast forward thru a video because it doesn't keep track of where I turned it of. Since the point of buying this player for me is video playback (my meizu will still be my perferred player for audio due to the amount of time and the quality of the audio chip).
There are good news for you... there is a close relationship among Teclast and Onda... here is the good news:
I've installed the latest version of Teclast C260 firmware (01.10.0001) and it has the resume option that you want for music, video, photo and sort of for e-book. The best is that it works perfect... I've tested it.
They have added also a nice manage of ID3V1, which is too working... still a bit imperfect but this is a new series of firmware which means that all the bugs will be solving.
So Onda VX858 will have this function too in the near future. And so the other models of Teclast,,, C290 seems to be an awesome player.
Awesome, well I have already decided to pick up an Onda VX858LE 4GB model since the size is near perfect (prefer the Hacha PC20 form factor, but don't like the way it has to use the audio out for charging which means if I lose the cable I have to try to track down this specialized cable) and I like the touchscreen functionality (cool factor). The only other thing is I seem to be finding some differing reviews as to whether it can use 4GB miniSD cards, but either 6GB or 8GB max at anytime is still plenty for me right now (only have a 4GB Meizu). I hope this all comes true with the possible updated firmware. *crossing fingers now*. Thanks for the update!
Thanks for that DaremoS, I didn't think about using other firmwares on the v858. I'm guessing it changes the whole player to a Teclast or not?
You mean if Onda VX858 will be a Teclast C290 for instance?... I have been tempted to install that firmware... what only discourage me was that C290 have no speakers while Onda VX858 has it. Seems that more feasible to interchange firmware is Onda VX868 with C290.
What I know is that Onda BBS and Teclast BBS are always in the same tune... mentioning products of each other. Maybe they are sharing the same devices manufacture... I really don't know why they have many thing in common. But new developemnts of Teclast soon appears in Onda.
Well I pulled the trigger (sort of). I ordered a Super Talent Vidego28. While I couldn't compare the Super TalenT Vidego28 directly to the Onda VX858, I was able to compare it to the Pasen iTouch (which has been confirmed to be a rebranded Onda VX858) and they had the exact same stats so I pulled the trigger. It was also only 105 bucks plus shipping (and I had a 5 dollar coupon) for the 4GB model. I couldn't resist!
Super TalenT Vidego28 is the same Onda VX858, all is coincident including the way it looks!!! :D
Features:
- 2.8" TFT LCD color touch screen
- Built-in separate audio chipset WOLFSON WM8750 makes better quality sound
- Built-in MIC and speaker
- Supports external Mini SD card
- Chipset: ROCKCHIP2608A
I just wish that it comes with corresponding firmware as backup... so you can try Onda firmware which have some extra features like it is support for audio APE and native FLV video
I congratulate you... US$ 105 is really a bargain!! :D:D:D:D:D
Glad to hear that! I'm supposed to have it in hand by Monday which is super sweet. Can you post where you got the skins for your Onda VX858?
I get them from here http://www.onda.cn/bbs which is not simple as I don't speak Chinese so I have to Google it ... anyway I can send you what I have... firmware are small files.
Here is a detailed disassemble of Onda's VX858 VX858LE and VX878... all touchscreen players.
It worth to see because appear a good picture of Wolfson WM8750 audio decoder chip... M6 SL is using a Wolfson audio chip too, model WM8987... reviewer claims that this WM8750 was used by Sony, Xbox and Apple Nano!!???... I really would like to know if this is true.
Also shows FM7843 touchscreen control chip... maybe it's the same will be used in by Meizu in M7 and M8... was used by Motorola E 680 PDA Phone <--- Isn't this a predecessor of iPhone???.
Thanks for the read! It was very interesting. Does kind of make me worry if the wolfson audio chip of the "standard" 858 is also in the nano which is also prevelent in my soon to be delievered vidego28. Ah well, either way I am sure I will be happy.
Thanks for the read! It was very interesting. Does kind of make me worry if the wolfson audio chip of the "standard" 858 is also in the nano which is also prevelent in my soon to be delievered vidego28. Ah well, either way I am sure I will be happy.
I am sure that vidego28 has it, according with specifications I posted yesterday... :D
what I don't think is that Nano has it for two reasons:
1. most important... I've tested hundred of times iPod Nano and its sound is not very good... its just average compared with Meizu M3 / M6 and VX858... compared too with Teclast C260 (pure Rockchip) which sound is also better than iPod Nano.
Linear Mode
