The WF-220 is WOW's lowest end model for their 2012 product line. It is the direct successor of the WF-210. One of the main features of the unit is the built-in top loading DVD media player which plays DVD Video, VCD, CD Audio and MP3 Audio. On the other hand, the primary part of the device which is the videoke function is largely unchanged except for the new songs included with it.
Packaging and Design
The design of the box follows the same theme as the other models in the WOW line which is more eye-catching than the previous models.
A carrying bag is included with the package. The quality and design of the carrying bag is not as good as the other WOW models but it is very usable. The main unit and all its accessories including the two microphones and the song list can fit inside the bag without any problems. There is even a small space to spare for your DVDs that you plan to play using your WF-220 during outings.
The main unit is made quite well and is also very compact. The top part of the unit is where you load your discs and song chips (up to 3 song chips). The top cover can be easily opened but it may be too loose in some cases especially when you put the unit in the bag. While I was getting the unit out of the bag, the cover was already open. This is just a minor gripe though. Just don’t squish the bag when the unit is in there. Also, the top cover is a fingerprint magnet.
The same front panel from the WF-210 is carried over to the WF-220. The front panel features volume and echo level dials for two microphones as well as two microphone jacks. This setup is pretty simple and straightforward. You don’t need to look for the user’s manual or look for the right buttons to set the volume and echo volumes of your microphone.
The microphone used is of adequate quality and build. One of the advantages of having two standard mic jacks at the front panel is that you can replace the microphones with any kind of microphone in case the supplied ones fail.
User Experience
While the WF-220 is purely a MIDI karaoke player but that doesn’t mean it sounds bad. Yes, it does not sound as good as Mabuhay and Concerto models but it is way better than the competition. The quality of the music is as close as it gets in MIDI terms. There are no unnecessary tones like what the competition is doing. Did I say the songs are quite up to date? Well, yes they are! Another plus for WOW.
The built in song search function is quite difficult to use though – and it only shows song titles in huge fonts. No artist name. No album name. No producer name. Because of this, you will need to use the song book to search for songs.
Now looking at the song book, the glue that holds the pages isn’t that good so pages tend to come off. It’s a good to use ring binders (there are punched holes at the side of the song book) to secure the pages.
One observable bonus of the WF-220 is that it already plays video backgrounds like Mabuhay and Concerto models – but in lower quality. However, the lack of video quality compared to the more expensive WOW models isn’t that bad. It is not a big issue to most users. Also, it promotes Philippine tourism by showing different tourist spots in the Philippines.
The lyrics are well synchronized with the music so you will not notice any lag with the lyrics or the music. Also, the font is not straining to the eyes (and it doesn’t look cheap – using roman fonts “ABCD” in any kind of software user interface shows the cheapness or backwardness of the product).
Overall, the user experience on the karaoke side of the WF-220 is quite good especially when you compare the equivalent offering of the competition (entry-level portable videoke class). However, the Mabuhay and Concerto models overtake the WF-220 in terms of features and user experience. But those models are more expensive than the humble WF-220 so don’t expect too much.
Now, on to the new stuff – let’s look at the DVD and media player capabilities of the WF-220.
First, the WF-220 has an SD card slot. You can load your SD card with music and videos and play it through the WF-220. It accepts a lot of audio and video formats such as MP3 and DIVX making the humble videoke system a capable media player.
Next is the DVD player which also plays other formats such as VCD, CD Audio and MP3. And yeah, you can basically use it as an expansion for the karaoke function by buying karaoke DVDs.
Playing optical discs with the WF-220 is easy and straightforward. Just press DVD mode in your remote, press the top cover release, load the disc like you would in the first-gen PlayStation, close the lid, and then enjoy. No more special menus of any sort.
I had no problems of skipping videos or music with the built-in player. Also, it is worth noting that the A/V quality it puts out is comparable to a standalone DVD player which is good. The DVD player also has analog component out for 5.1 audio output.
Conclusion
The WF-220 is a solid effort from WOW Videoke in this price range. It is the first to have DVD and media player capabilities in the entry-level portable videoke class. While there are limitations in the karaoke function, the WF-220 is still ahead the competition. This time, I can see those who bypass the WF-210 will have a second look at the WF-220 instead of going straight to the Mabuhay series.
Packaging and Design
The design of the box follows the same theme as the other models in the WOW line which is more eye-catching than the previous models.
A carrying bag is included with the package. The quality and design of the carrying bag is not as good as the other WOW models but it is very usable. The main unit and all its accessories including the two microphones and the song list can fit inside the bag without any problems. There is even a small space to spare for your DVDs that you plan to play using your WF-220 during outings.
The main unit is made quite well and is also very compact. The top part of the unit is where you load your discs and song chips (up to 3 song chips). The top cover can be easily opened but it may be too loose in some cases especially when you put the unit in the bag. While I was getting the unit out of the bag, the cover was already open. This is just a minor gripe though. Just don’t squish the bag when the unit is in there. Also, the top cover is a fingerprint magnet.
The same front panel from the WF-210 is carried over to the WF-220. The front panel features volume and echo level dials for two microphones as well as two microphone jacks. This setup is pretty simple and straightforward. You don’t need to look for the user’s manual or look for the right buttons to set the volume and echo volumes of your microphone.
The microphone used is of adequate quality and build. One of the advantages of having two standard mic jacks at the front panel is that you can replace the microphones with any kind of microphone in case the supplied ones fail.
User Experience
While the WF-220 is purely a MIDI karaoke player but that doesn’t mean it sounds bad. Yes, it does not sound as good as Mabuhay and Concerto models but it is way better than the competition. The quality of the music is as close as it gets in MIDI terms. There are no unnecessary tones like what the competition is doing. Did I say the songs are quite up to date? Well, yes they are! Another plus for WOW.
The built in song search function is quite difficult to use though – and it only shows song titles in huge fonts. No artist name. No album name. No producer name. Because of this, you will need to use the song book to search for songs.
Now looking at the song book, the glue that holds the pages isn’t that good so pages tend to come off. It’s a good to use ring binders (there are punched holes at the side of the song book) to secure the pages.
One observable bonus of the WF-220 is that it already plays video backgrounds like Mabuhay and Concerto models – but in lower quality. However, the lack of video quality compared to the more expensive WOW models isn’t that bad. It is not a big issue to most users. Also, it promotes Philippine tourism by showing different tourist spots in the Philippines.
The lyrics are well synchronized with the music so you will not notice any lag with the lyrics or the music. Also, the font is not straining to the eyes (and it doesn’t look cheap – using roman fonts “ABCD” in any kind of software user interface shows the cheapness or backwardness of the product).
Overall, the user experience on the karaoke side of the WF-220 is quite good especially when you compare the equivalent offering of the competition (entry-level portable videoke class). However, the Mabuhay and Concerto models overtake the WF-220 in terms of features and user experience. But those models are more expensive than the humble WF-220 so don’t expect too much.
Now, on to the new stuff – let’s look at the DVD and media player capabilities of the WF-220.
First, the WF-220 has an SD card slot. You can load your SD card with music and videos and play it through the WF-220. It accepts a lot of audio and video formats such as MP3 and DIVX making the humble videoke system a capable media player.
Next is the DVD player which also plays other formats such as VCD, CD Audio and MP3. And yeah, you can basically use it as an expansion for the karaoke function by buying karaoke DVDs.
Playing optical discs with the WF-220 is easy and straightforward. Just press DVD mode in your remote, press the top cover release, load the disc like you would in the first-gen PlayStation, close the lid, and then enjoy. No more special menus of any sort.
I had no problems of skipping videos or music with the built-in player. Also, it is worth noting that the A/V quality it puts out is comparable to a standalone DVD player which is good. The DVD player also has analog component out for 5.1 audio output.
Conclusion
The WF-220 is a solid effort from WOW Videoke in this price range. It is the first to have DVD and media player capabilities in the entry-level portable videoke class. While there are limitations in the karaoke function, the WF-220 is still ahead the competition. This time, I can see those who bypass the WF-210 will have a second look at the WF-220 instead of going straight to the Mabuhay series.
Hi i bought a wow videoke and after using it for 3 times its not working already. The power on is not turning red (means its not on) and i bought a new adapter cause i thought the adapter is broken but still the power is not turning on. I contacted the wow videoke but they dont care to help you after they sold an item. Its frustrating cause i spent $$ on it and i didnt even use it for a long time. Do you have any idea how to fix it or like open the unit? Thank you and i appreciate it
ReplyDeleteHow do you insert the song chip for this model, I can only see the top loading dvd tray, can't figure out how to insert the song chip. TIA
ReplyDeletewhere can i buy the new song chip for this model: wf220
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