PSP: The Definitive Verdict (Page 5)

After two weeks of intensive handheld gaming, we offer a comprehensive and detailed review of PSP, along with an extensive photo shoot, all-new high quality videos, and market analysis.

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More on UMD

The UMD discs hold 1.8GB of data, compared to Sony's Hi-MD format which can store 1GB and the regular MD which holds around 160MB. One potential, easily identifiable issue with the UMD discs is the exposed disc area on the back of the casing, open to scratching, smudging, and dust.

UMD discs are like MiniDiscs, but scratchable from behind!

MiniDiscs feature a sliding metal strip to protect the actual data disc inside, whereas the silver within the more attractive UMD media is exposed to the elements, which is bound to end in tears for somebody at some point. Especially if the disc flies out of the machine or something extreme like that.

How PSP shapes up to some other, ahem, popular media

At least the game packaging is impressive, and just as stylish as the Nintendo DS's game packing. In Japan at least, it's basically a very slightly shorter, narrower DVD box, with the familiar instruction manual and disc layout inside, as you can see in our photos.

Classiest game packaging is a pretty close call

Make Some Noise

The speakers are slightly naff, it has to be said. Admittedly, they are pretty loud on the highest volume setting, but they sound extremely trebly, as if you're hearing someone else's phones on public transport. They're on the bottom of the unit, with the earphones jack, AC adapter jack and serial number its only neighbours, but they still get the job done.

PSP's speakers are on the underside and not ideal

Nintendo DS's basic stereo speakers sounds a lot better than the PSPs. Of course, stick in your own headphones, and you have some excellent sound, which we have been particularly appreciative of while checking out Ridge Racers' exceptional dance and house beats.

Sony's PSP earphones are pretty run-of-mill bit look good

But even phones do not fully solve the sound issue; even on the highest volume setting, the volume is not quite as loud as some audiophiles would prefer. If you really want to immerse yourself in comfortably deafening stereo sound, like for example iPod and its bog standard phones accomplish, then it seems the only way to achieve it with these first wave of PSPs is to put the audio out into an amplifier of some kind. Again, this is being pretty picky; don't get me wrong, this is not an audio disaster by any means, but things could have been a little tighter on this front.

Continue Through Feature:

• Page 1: The Hardware Buzz, Hot Property
• Page 2: Two Weeks, Inside the Box, Build Quality
• Page 3: Secret Screen, Ergonomics, Triggers
• Page 4: Sleeping, Useful Buttons, Faulty Units
• Page 5: More on UMD, Make Some Noise
• Page 6: Thanks for the Memory, Battery Power
• Page 7: Full Whack Value Pack, Just Browsing
• Page 8: Movies and Music, Will You be My WiFi
• Page 9: It Plays Games Too - Performance
• Page 10: PSP vs DS, Final Thoughts

See also: Full Launch Report from Tokyo
               PSP Set for Launch in Japan
               PSP Launch Could be a Disaster