Features:
- MP3 Audio
- MP3 recorder/player fits in your palm
- 6 GB memory stores up to 1,500 songs
- On-the-fly recording of up to 100 hours of MP3 audio recording
- Records from any audio source--analog or digtal
- Also use as a hard drive to store data, software, images, and more; compatible with Windows and Mac
Description:
The Archos 500201 Jukebox HD-MP3 Player-Recorder is one of those rare hardware products that are surprising in nearly every way. The first surprise is its small size. You'd expect an MP3 player equipped with a 6 GB hard drive to be at least the size of a portable CD player, but the Archos Jukebox takes up little more space than a deck of playing cards. The rounded corners are covered in thick blue rubber, adding shock protection for the relatively fragile internal hard drive and providing just enough grip to keep the player from sliding off a car dash (although we recommend you leave it on the seat). Archos provides nearly everything you need to get the most out of this device right out of the box, including a USB cable for connecting the device to your PC and an audio adapter cable that lets you connect the headphone jack or input jack on top of the Jukebox to the RCA input or output jacks on your stereo equipment. This allows for all sorts of possibilities. You can easily output audio from the Jukebox to your stereo equipment, or hook the device up to a tape player and record your tapes directly into MP3 format. It's this ability to record that really sets the Archos Jukebox apart from the pack. Another nice thing about the Archos Jukebox is that you can use it as a portable hard drive as well as an MP3 player-recorder. Take it between home and work and use it to transport all your important files. Take it to the library to download files and listen to music as you bring them home. All this would be for naught if the audio playback quality wasn't up to snuff, but output is stellar. Provided the MP3 recordings you have are of high quality, the Archos Jukebox plays them back without a trace of hiss, popping, or other anomalies, and the fidelity is outstanding. The device really thumps out the low-frequency bass, while maintaining crisp, tight mid- and high-frequency output even at the limits of its amplification. The LCD display on the front of the unit makes it easy to navigate folders and load playlists, as well as control the unit's advanced features like the bass boost, balance controls, and playback modes. One of the nicest things about the display is that it is flanked by four green LEDs, which provide even backlighting without consuming much power. The pitiful headphones included with the device are about the only thing we could find fault with, along with the fact that you can't listen to music through the headphone jack when the device is connected to a PC. You can play the MP3 files stored within using MP3 playback software installed on the PC, however, and the package comes with a copy of Musicmatch Jukebox to get you started. It also comes with a driver CD, but we didn't even need it to use the Archos Jukebox with Windows XP. We plugged it in, XP instantly recognized it as an external hard drive, and we were in business. All this convenience comes at a relatively high price, but it's worth it if you need the recording abilities this device offers. --T. Byrl Baker Pros: - Excellent output quality
- Can record directly into MP3 format
- Uses rechargeable batteries that last for a long time and comes with an AC adapter
- Playlists and music folders can be copied directly from a PC to keep everything organized.
Cons: - Low-quality headphones
- Relatively expensive considering there are 20GB MP3 players on the market
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