Features:
- 128 MB of built-in flash memory
- Large, easy-to-read LCD screen
- Uses ultrafast USB port to connect to your PC or Mac
- Comes with stylish carrying case
- Built-in microphone
Description:
The ruckus over MP3s and the Napster-focused copyright battle has overshadowed the huge portability advantages of digital music. Only a few years ago, "portable music" meant carrying around a bulky CD player and either a CD wallet or a load of plastic jewel cases. The Rio (now part of SONICblue) line of digital-audio players pioneered portable MP3 devices, and the new Rio 800 flagship model has the potential to redefine what portable audio should be--if it can overcome a few shortcomings. This version of the Rio 800 comes with 128 MB of memory, enough for about 2 hours of near-CD quality MP3 music. (Another version comes with 64 MB of built-in memory.) It can also accommodate Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, which can double the playing time, thanks to the format's high compression. If 128 MB isn't quite enough for you, SONICblue sells proprietary Memory Backpacks (instead of standard memory cards, like SmartMedia or CompactFlash) that can boost your Rio by an additional 32 or 64 MB. Unfortunately, prices are still fairly high for these Backpacks; hopefully they'll come down as Rio's popularity increases. Another great feature is the built-in microphone feature that lets you record meetings and notes to yourself, then play them back later. And if your tastes run more to spoken-word recordings, Audible.com media files take up even less memory. The Rio 800 is powered by a rechargeable battery, which we found to be perfectly acceptable. It averaged around 6 to 8 hours of continuous use per charge and required only a few hours to recharge. A red light let us know when the battery was being recharged, turning off when the battery was ready. The 800's carrying case is also much improved from earlier Rio models--smartly designed, form fitting, and providing easy access to all the controls. The control buttons are centrally located, and with some practice we were able to operate the Rio's various functions without looking at it. On the unit we tested, we had to be sure to push toward the top of the volume rocker to increase the sound level, rather than where the volume icon was located, but that barely registered as a minor irritation. A boon for frequent exercisers is the (misnamed) Hold switch, which locks the controls in case of accidental bumps. The Rio also comes with a pair of folding headphones that look cool but were uncomfortable to wear for more than about 20 minutes. The LCD screen is a bit larger than most and has plenty of room for information like the current song title, sample rate, time, track number, and volume. However, to display that much info means using a small font, so at times it was hard to read. And the circular display window put form over function; it looked nice but it was sometimes difficult to see objects around the edges due to the shadow projected by the circular frame. We had to tilt the unit nearly every time to see the play indicator to find out if the music was stopped or just paused. Overall, though, these criticisms are minor quibbles compared to what the Rio 800 offers: a portable repository for all your digital audio needs, from tunes to voice recording, with high-quality playback. --Jeff Carlson Pros:
- Great memory storage for MP3s--even better if using the WMA format
- Voice-recording function
- Rechargeable battery
Cons:
- Display can be hard to read at times
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