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CB Appliances, Electronics and Technology Review of Tru Tech Model T512-M MP3 Player
Tru Tech Model T512-M MP3 Player

Tru Tech Model T512-M MP3 Player review: Cheap crap sold by some retailers! 38

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Author of the review
12:00 am EST
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This review was chosen algorithmically as the most valued customer feedback.

In any case, my wife and I purchased the referenced MP 3 player for a friend going through chemotherapy for cancer to help alleviate some of the stress during these procedures. Not surprisingly, I found this unit to be a cheap piece of crap, cant really tell from the packaging if its produced in China, or some other third world country, but I would be surprised if its not. After several hours of attempting to download music (unsuccessfully) the cable that connects the unit to my PC, which was unreliable initially, began to fail as the connection at the MP3 was poorly made, unless I held the cable a certain way, it would not connect to the PC. Eventually, it would not make connection at all.

After being disappointed by the purchasing group at Target, now I will embark on the second round “guest relations”, I will attempt to take it back to one of your stores, I am sure that this will be an adventure. Dealing with the 16 - 18 year old minimum wage clerk at the return counter, returning a product with the packaging that is torn apart (the only way to get this cheap piece of crap out of the packaging) will definitively be challenging.

Lesson learned, stick to brand name electronics, not the cheap crap sold by some retailers.

No “form letter” response required, however if you wish to have some sincere dialog, please respond.

38 comments
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Kim Delaneu
Dec 23, 2006 12:18 pm EST

I was fine with the music downloading, but then all of the music was somehow "lost" and I cannot download anything else. None of the functions work property and it states that the mp3 is full when I am nowhere near the capacity. I cannot delete anything and a little House is where the songs should be and I do not know how to remove it. Went to stated website target.com/trutech and it is not a valid website. Very disappointed because I received this as a gift from the company I work for.

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Ebony
Mar 29, 2007 1:43 pm EDT

So I went to Target today to purchase an MP3 player to take with me on a 4 hour long bus ride to Dallas this weekend, so that I could have music to listen to without the bother of CD's... well I'm following the instructions and everything is going along fine and dandy, I finish the installation... restart the computer... plug in the USB, the screen lights up..so far so good... I choose several songs to download... they start copying to the MP3 player... the little music note pops up on the MP3 player... I walk away for an hour or so to let it finish... It's done! *I do a little happy dance :-)* Only to see that it says "No File"... -_- ... wtf? I try many times but the POS wont download any songs... I look around for some kind of tech support... can't find any... -_- ... back to Target I go... lets see if the will take this crap back and give me my money... *screams* 60 bucks for this POS excuse of an MP3 player! This is going to be an interesting encounter with customer service...

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Fransheska
Apr 01, 2007 7:20 am EDT

Okay well i went to target yesterday to buy a gift for my sister.. my sister is all happy that i bought her an mp3 ... she reads all the instructions and when she goes to download songs the music symbol is popping up and she is all happy ... and then when she went to go hear the music the freaking piece of JUNK ! Said "No File"... I wasted 50$ on something that is super useless. I am today going to Target to Get my money Back and buy an MP3 that is way better than TRUTECH! Dont sell something that does not work ! :-(

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Hokiehunny02
Apr 17, 2007 1:47 pm EDT

I got my wonderful truetech mp3 player for Christmas from my brother. I was so excited. When I went to download songs, that I bought, they seem to download. Then I went to play them and the stupid thing said "no authority." I don't know what to do with mine I don't have a receipt or anything and now that it has been 4 months they will probably not take it back. If anyone knows of what I can do please let me know.

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Lauren
Apr 23, 2007 1:34 am EDT

I am having the same problem as everyone above me. My first MP3 player I found at target on Clearance for $20 and that thing lasted me over a year and worked just fine no problems at all, but it happened to get wet. So I go back to Target and wanted another cheap mp3 player because I am "hard" on my electronics. LOL Yeah, well I guess you get what you pay for right? This thing sucks. If I want to add new songs it tells me I have NO FILE I have to delete everything off this stupid thing and then re-copy it all. It is horrible. I can't wait till I have money for a REAL MP3 player!

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jackiey
East Elmhurst, US
May 04, 2007 7:37 am EDT

Just purchased the Trutech MP3 player Model T1000-M and the cable doesn't even read on any computer for downloading music.

This product should be pulled from the shelves of Target. I purposely kept my receipt. Something told me, keep your receipt! I should've known something was wrong when it said that I need to add a battery.

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Jay
May 07, 2007 7:33 pm EDT

I've owned 2 models of the Tru Tech mp3/dvd players, although not this particular model, and have have problems with both of them. The major problem being with the remote controls malfunctioning (new batteries did not alleviate this). Without the remote, half the alleged functions are inassessable. These were also purchased from Target.

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Robert
May 09, 2007 10:40 am EDT

I have just discovered the RIP function in the Media Player. With that function I was able to rip (copy) to the library (or other location) and play back the file. Check it out.

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Chris
May 29, 2007 10:58 pm EDT

I'm making my second major attempt at putting music on the t512; the screen is giving me what i believe to be an error message, V060512, with an image of a wire connecting the pc to the player.

Somehow i managed to get music on before, but it is apparently write protected, and will neither play nor delete. Formatting my K drive won't result in anything but the same error msg.

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mama
Jun 03, 2007 5:30 pm EDT

I bought it today and you know what it tells me to get a new service so this little piece of ### would work imma return it tomorrow.

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Debbie
Jun 04, 2007 3:07 pm EDT

I bought this and thought I downloaded music and NOTHING. Then I tried again and the screen went blank. It won't go on at all. I know it has nothing to do with the battery. I am so upset that I can't find the receipt and wasted my money.

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Matt Erenberger
Jun 11, 2007 11:38 pm EDT

I strongly agree with what I say. I bought this thing got it to turn on one time and it literally has not turned off since and they were batteries right outtake the pack i tried switching batteries and that didn't help anything i hooked it up to my laptop and guess what it doesn't appear to connect. By the looks and feel of this thing it will break with ease and I'm thinking about testing that theory right now its pissing me off that bad... this is a item i would never even consider buying again it is by far the worst mp3 players ever... its something you'd expect to get with your big kids meal from Mcdonalds... lol

Even for that it would suck.

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Hayden Moore
Jun 12, 2007 12:00 pm EDT

The long and the short is that the Trutech T512 is a piece of junk. Just like all of the others said it simply doest not work AT ALL. If you have one the best advise is to throw it in the trash and move on to something better.

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Jesus Muchalibre
Jul 08, 2007 11:25 am EDT

T1000-
I replaced a Creative MuVo that accidentally got run through the washer with this unknown inexpensive player. Big mistake.

I had no problems putting music onto the device and playing it back. However, I encountered problems within the first several hours of operation with the *poorly* engineered buttons on the case. The volume got maxed, but now I cannot reduce the volume. Where in Hades is a technical support website for this POS player?

I guess I can still use the thing if I put a headphone on it with a volume control, but having the thing stuck on high volume decreases the battery life.

My bad for buying this thing. Like one of your earlier posters, I should have stuck with a known brand.

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Daniel
Jul 10, 2007 7:14 am EDT

I kinda agree and kinda don't... I don't have to hold mine as certain way i just cant get the correct format... I have tired. MP3 it didn't work nor did. WMA i can only not access this information through a mac tough, in a pc like status it will download 50% of the music. But the T1000-M I bought is much better than a piece of ### That i got from walmart named the ZEN stone! f***ing liars! The first problem occurred when the cable wouldn't connect so when i got a new cable. That worked but then it would never show music or play it the only thing it would ever do is show its power display. So two in three days i am just a little pissed!

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Jessica
Jul 20, 2007 8:33 pm EDT

Um... Hi everybody,

I just got this as a b-day gift from my mother. I never heard of the brand so I wasn't not too excited about it. I was suspicious about it being any good, 'cause my mom is pretty cheap so I haven't even bothered to open it.

Instead I've been searching it, can't find anything about it but complaints so after reading all these comments I don't think I will open it at all. I am heading to target to return it ASAP. Hope moms doesn't find out!

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tricia brown
Sep 01, 2007 3:26 am EDT

I got a trutech today and I've been fighting with this thing for like three and a half hours and i thought it was me, but apparently it's just a piece of [censored]! I'll never buy another trutech anything again! I'm bringing it back first thing in the morning. I'm pissed!

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sam
Sep 07, 2007 6:36 am EDT

Hi All,

I have a trutech player. I found a few functions which may help you. When the "HOLD" button is on, you cannot transfer music. In fact the music player becomes write protected! Also, after you connect the player using the USB cable, you will see a wire connecting the player and the computer with letters starting with"V". Now press the menu button again. This makes the player ready to accept music files. You will see a music icon on the wire icon. Now simply copy and paste files into the music player.

Hope it was helpful! If it was, please comment!

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K Johnson
Sep 16, 2007 8:58 am EDT

This is a piece of crap MP3 player. When I first purchased it it was wonderful! After about a month or so it just stopped accepting my downloads ereased all of the music I had put on it and now every-time I plug it up it automatically deletes my music files. When I first got it I had 87 songs downloaded now I'm down to 2 songs. I feel as if I was robbed big time I work hard for my money not just to give it away Trutech needs to stand behind their product and let us all bring them in w/out a receipt and get store credit for a different brand or just give back my D**N money!

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Liz D
Sep 29, 2007 8:02 pm EDT

It seems a lot of people are having problems with putting music onto their T1000-M's. I just bought mine from Target today, and found no such problem.
I didn't need to install the software because the software is only needed for Windows 98 users who do not have current USB cababilities on their computer. If you have anything higher than that you can just plug your device into the USB drive and it'll be automatically connected.
To get my music onto the devise I opened the My Music folder where I keep all my music files, and then leaving it open I opened My Computer and opened the devise in that window. Then I just dragged and dropped my music files into the "MEDIA" folder of the devise. It went right in.
As for how reliable this devise is, I have no opinion as of it. It plays fine for me, I don't like that you can't shuffle music...you have to either play it in it's alphabetical order or pick a song from the folder, but I bought it for $30 so I can't complain. I'll check back with a review when I know more.

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Josh V
Oct 03, 2007 7:56 pm EDT

This thing sucks. Doesn't download for crap. Every time I put something on this it says "no file" ...so ya, don't buy it...crap

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Rebecca Bussler
Oct 17, 2007 5:10 pm EDT

I bought a TruTech music player Model T1000-M for about $25 at Target. My stepdaughter showed me how to use lime wire and then I downloaded a good 20 songs and transferred them to the file. well, I try to listen to them and it says "No files"! I can't believe it. Piece of cr*p. Hope this helps anyone else who bought it or is thinking of buying it. Don't do it! Invest in something better.

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Dave
Nov 04, 2007 9:40 am EST

There is no tech support or instruction manual to be found. The Trutech mp3 player seems to be without any kind of home page to the company. You cant request any kind of instructions. I thought I was just doing it wrong, apparently not. I have songs loaded onto it but when you try to play it it just says NO FILE. So aggravating! There are data files and Media files, I dont know which my mp3's should be in. But I guess it doesnt matter. Dont buy this piece of junk. Trutech is a phantom company. I dont think there is a responsible party at all for this product!

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A Reed
Nov 18, 2007 3:04 pm EST

I saw a TruTech mp3 in a target circular and I just wanted to see if it was worth the $30 price. Wow! Glad I checked; sounds like TruTech is a lousy deal. Thanks for the info.

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Chris Whipple
Nov 18, 2007 6:17 pm EST

Well, I just got this, and its ok, not the best MP3 player, but it gets the job done. Only complaint is the plastic is so cheap I can see the blue back light through the casing in the dark. Also, there is a song on there that came with it that wont delete, but it dont show up on the list. Ill just format it off and every thing will be fine... right?

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Rachel Gooden
Nov 24, 2007 5:16 pm EST

I had mine. Luckily the crap was working for a little while. And i get up one morning to jog. I turn on the fu**ing s**t and a message comes across the display saying "Keys Locked... GOODBYE". Who locked the ###ing keys. I hope target isn't still selling this junk.

Rachel.

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Ayu Tsukimiya
Jan 04, 2008 7:17 pm EST

I bought this mp3 player, and I was HAPPY with it! ^_^
It lasted good for about A MONTH. Most of the songs would work but some of them wouldn't go on! It'd say "Unknown format." That didn't bother me... WHAT BOTHERED ME WAS THAT THE STUPID PIECE OF TURD "SUPPOSEDLY" HAD A BATTERY LIFE OF 8 HOURS AND WOULD ONLY LAST ABOUT 2 HOURS WITH A FRESH BATTERY! It would die when the battery is still about full. AND CERTAIN SONGS I LISTENED TO WOULD CAUSE THE MP3 PLAYER TO DIE AT CERTAIN PARTS! >_< After it dies I'm able to turn it on, but I lose what I was listening to. A few minutes later it would die AGAIN. And what I really hated was that I would have to hold it a certain way for the sound to go into the left earphone. AND I KNOW IT'S NOT THE HEADPHONES CAUSE I CHANGED THE HEADPHONES MANY TIMES... >_>
Well at least now I got an iPod nano just a few days ago!
I HATE TRUTECH AND ITS STUPID ELECTRONICS
GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT GOSHDARNIT >_<
>_>_>_>_>_> >________>

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Michelle C.
Jan 11, 2008 4:45 pm EST

Piece of crap. I bought it for my son for Christmas. I did manage to load several CD's on it prior to wrapping and played them to test it. Worked fine. He opened it Christmas morning, listened to a couple songs, then it says "flash error - save data and reformat". So, I did that...like 5 times...and everytime I put music on it I get the same message. My poor 7 yr old never even got to play with it. Of course, Target won't take it back...they refer me to the repair service. Whatever. I'm just buying a better brand, and I figure Target owes me $30. Total rip off.

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K.Chatman
Jan 15, 2008 9:11 am EST

First off, i advise everyone not to use the little microsoft cd that came with the mp3, it just does not work. Use limewire is my best suggestion. But, it seems that the majority of you got yours from target, obviously bad idea. If the files don't show up just format the thing and start over, or go to the folder under the menu and click the house, and WALLA!,There are your files.

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shawn robinson
Jan 30, 2008 4:20 pm EST

Earlier this month, i bought one of the trutech mp3 players. at first i was proud of it, because it worked well,but the file says that it is full, when the bar is'nt even filled. And today i wanted to put some more music on it, and the screen just goes straight to ready, and the file doesnt show up on media player, so therefore i can delete nor add songs, and i payed a good $37 dollars and change, and i need a soloution because right now i'm very unhappy.

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david porter
Feb 02, 2008 5:04 pm EST

unfortunately, i bought trutech before looking up complaints about it, but my sans doesn't delete so i went looking and found what i thought to be a bargain. my bad

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Pranjal Shirsat
Feb 03, 2008 12:42 am EST

When I connected My Ipod Tru Tech Model T512-M MP3 Player to a laptop of Compaq I was able to transfer song files to the IPOD and back to my computer but when I connected it to the desktop computer, I am not able to view the files and folders in the IPOD and neither able to add files to the IPOD folder.

Is there any software which I need to be able to transfer files to and from my IPOD?

Please advice.

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Armen Tanzarian
Feb 21, 2008 6:27 pm EST

It's worked perfectly fine for me, so I'd have to disagree. I also got my mom one for her birthday and was able to configure it without trouble. Don't really know what you're all doing.

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nancy avery
Apr 02, 2008 6:40 am EDT

I WAS WONDERING WHERE I COULD GET ANOTHERCLIP FOR THE ARM BAND? I GUESS I'M AN OLDER MP3 OWNER, BUT HAVE NOT HAD ANY TROUBLE WITH MY MP3 PLAYER.. BUT WOULD REALLY LIKE ANOTHER CLIP FOR IT.. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.. WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET ONE THROUGH YOU?

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carmen
Jun 15, 2008 12:53 pm EDT

wow i just saw an ad for the trutech mp3, so i figured id go to the internet and check reviews. well im glad i did. i wont be buying this piece of crap, im sorry youre going thruogh this crap.good luck hope you got your money back.

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mb
Aug 20, 2008 9:49 am EDT

I've had my Trutech T512-M for 6 months. It worked very well for the first 3, but now it's doing the same 'no file' thing no matter what I do. It just died & that's that! PIECE OF JUNK PERIOD. I will be checking this website before buying another.

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Jay M
Sep 20, 2008 3:18 pm EDT

POSSIBLE SOLUTION - There seems to be a way to choose the "default" file that the Trutech MP3 player reads on the MP3 player itself. My 7 yr. old son brought it to me and said it "didn't work. After downloading songs, deleting, re-formatting the MP3 player...no luck. Then, I stumbled upon the screen under "Menu", then "Folder". I'm not sure what I did, but it appears that you need to "open" the right folder to play them. As jacked up as that sounds, it worked! I don't get the "NO FILE" screen anymore. It is still a major flaw in the firmware installed on the MP3 player, but it beats throwing it in the trash.

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nw05
Galena, US
Jan 13, 2010 5:59 pm EST
Verified customer This complaint was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

I've lost my USB cord. Does anyone have their cord that they are no longer using?