Labs

LG's MFJM53 uses flash memory for storage, and is the only 8GB device in this test. It's a little big for a flash-memory player, but it looks reasonably stylish and well designed.

The MFJM53's control system is the most confusing of all the players in this test. Pressing the Menu button brings up a list of the player's

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main functions, including Music. Selecting this option returns you to the 'now playing' screen, so it's not immediately obvious how to select the track or album you want to hear.

Holding down the Menu button gives you the option of browsing your track library, but songs within an album aren't displayed or played in the correct order. Oddly, a second 'EZ' menu button displays similar options and information, but the options work far more predictably. The MFJM53 takes a while to start playing the tracks you select, and the long pauses it inserts between tracks will ruin continuously mixed compilation albums.

The MFJM53's headphones sound OK, but they aren't especially comfortable. Its battery life is excellent, however, and transferring music to the player is quick when it's running as an external storage device. You can set it into MTP mode, but only if you can find the menu option.