Stiftung Warentest 11/2019: Only one could convince – Hörbert

Stiftung Warentest looked at 13 music players for children
The Winzki factory in Frickenhausen wins the test with Hörbert, the sustainable MP3 player made of wood.

Children love music and audiobooks. However, the players they use for this are often anything but child-friendly. This was the result of a recent examination of 13 music players for children by the consumer protectors of Stiftung Warentest (“test” – issue 11/2019). In eleven of the 13 tested playback devices, the volume was not suitable for children, and one player was found to contain critical amounts of a harmful substance. Only a single music player could convince, receiving an overall grade of 1.8 from the testers.

Test winner: Examiners praise volume, handling, processing and battery life

The test winner goes by the funny name “Hörbert” and plays music from a standard memory card. The wooden player is manufactured by the Baden-Württemberg family business Winzki. Children from about two years old can easily operate the player, intuitively finding their favorite playlist via nine colorful buttons made of recyclable plastic. The device was developed by Rainer Brang, founder and managing director of Winzki. “Hörbert” impressed the testers with its volume, handling, processing, and battery life. Even at maximum volume, it remains within the green area, according to the experts. Additionally, it can be further limited by parents with a second control inside the device. According to the testers, the player is easy to operate, sounds satisfactory, and is impeccably processed. With a set of batteries, “Hörbert” plays for the longest time of all the devices examined: 57 hours. It was also highlighted that the device can be repaired by skilled craftsmen and that the manufacturer offers a repair service. Incidentally, the wood for the player comes from sustainable local forestry.

Manufacturer sets an example against cheap products

Rainer Brang also does not want to make compromises in terms of quality and sustainability in the future. “The test win validates our philosophy,” emphasizes the company founder. Almost all suppliers come from Germany, where the devices are hand-made: “We want to set an example against cheap products, which are created under questionable conditions and give up the ghost after a short time.” The robust MP3 player is available from 239 euros directly through the shop on the website www.hoerbert.com or from selected specialist dealers.

Here’s the link to Stiftung Warentest: Music Player Test