If there's something that your average new-media trendy simply wouldn't be seen dead without it's his trusty MP3 player, and it's a sign of the mass acceptance that computing is moving towards that MP3 players are so en vogue of late. Afterall, MiniDisc's are sooo 90's darling, and we can all appreciate the convenience of being able to change at whim, and carry it around in a sexy little gizmo that looks good, sounds great and plugs conveniently into your PC's USB slot. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the latest in Creative's MuVo series of compact MP3 players, the NX, and before we go into the details I'm pleased to report that this is the best in the series so far. Let me tell you why.

First things first, the MuVo NX hasn't altered massively at first glance from the impressive little original. It's slightly wider, but remains the same height; now also incorporating a tidy little LCD screen and a few new controls. All of this is a big improvement, pushing the MuVo up from something that could fit in the cheap and cheerful category to something that looks and feels expensive; slick design with good functionality to boot. The LCD screen (a feature which, with hindsight, was disappointingly lacking from the original) adds the ability to browse track names, and configure various options (Dictaphone mode, EQ modes, shuffle, repeat, etc.), you can also browse through the folders on your NX's memory. The backlight is rather attractive too, glowing sensuously blue allowing you to pick out details in even the darkest of power-cuts, and you can configure the length of time this stays alight in the menu as well.

The controls have undergone something of an overhaul and the result is once again this improved feel of better quality and more thoughtful design; with a handy little scroll wheel providing the basic functionality, and additional buttons provided for play/pause and volume adjustment. The volume adjustment is handily visualised on the LCD screen too, allowing to you to judge loudness or quietness in the grand scheme of the player's range thanks to a sliding-bar. A nice touch.

Of course, much of what I've mentioned thus far isn't revolutionary, but when you notice that you can pick-up a 128mb MuVo NX for around the £100 mark you'll realise that such functionality, style and build quality makes for exceptional value for money.

The basic structure of the MuVo has remained much the same in the NX update, with the two detachable segments of the player itself, and the battery case (which, incidentally uses a single AAA battery) returning. The player section once again slots into a free USB port, and files can simply be dragged-and-dropped onto the memory using Windows' helpful removal device functionality. As with the previous MuVo you're free to transfer whatever files you like, not just MP3's, allowing you to use the player as portable storage media. A small mic has also been added, allowing for some pleasing Dictaphone functions which is good. Apparently, you can cram up to eight hours of speech onto the 128mb of memory, though this is dependent on audio quality.

The sound quality has been improved from the original, with a generally better range being appreciable, and audio proving crisper. The bass is still not going to be cracking any tiles however, and the volume could do with being able to go just a tad louder, but these are minor concerns given the excellence on offer in this area. Sadly, excellence is not a word I'd use to describe the bundled headphones, which whilst pleasingly matching the NX's colour scheme are more than a little pants. Bin them and buy a decent pair.

All in all the NX is an excellent improvement for the MuVo series, pushing the boundaries of price vs. features to new heights. It isn't cutting-edge, nor will it hold your entire collection like some devices, but for somewhere around the £100 mark you can still get great build quality, ace sound, and compact/stylish design. The MuVo is just so convenient and for fans of smaller players, ideal.

I wouldn't hesitate in recommending it at this price as the thought that has gone into the NX is plain to see; we're even offered a changeable maroon fascia, and an arm-band for the sportier among you. Excellent value for money, a great little MP3 player.

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By Luke Guttridge