Rating: 
Summary: I wish there was an option for a 0 star
Review: I was very excited on buying the new SP350 Rio Player for an extraordinary price. * NEVER GO FOR THIS PLAYER *
I tried 2-3 CD's (MP3) ... The player read it but it skipped a lot. Even the fact that the MP3 bit rate was 128 or less ...
Still it did not give me the output I needed . I am thinking of returning this piece of crap. Hopeless piece of junk...
The price drop from 169 ==> 59 is self evident of the fact of its performance ...
If anyone knows any tests which I can try to make this work , please let me know ! Thanks
Rating:
Summary: This is a horrible product-Rio knows it-New low price!
Review: This product was ill concieved and Rio knows it. They're very little help because they know they have a clinker. All of the things they tell you to do to get compatible discs are rediculous. Who's doing the work here. I thought I paid them. Just look at the price if you're not convinced. Originally sold for $169+,and it now goes for $59. This product is really not worth anything because it doesn't work. I have never seen a product that doesn't do at all what it is suppossed to. They should be out of business for selling something this bad.
Rating: 
Summary: Where on Earth do you find batteries for this thing??
Review: I ordered a new SP350 and didn't get batteries. I wrote to Rio asked for a replacement set. Mind you these are bizarre rectangular shaped batteries you can buy in a regular store! Rio told me opps, sorry we discontinued this item and no parts are available. Other than this lame BS, the player itself works fine.
Rating:
Summary: Bad service and bad product
Review: I bought this cd player because the 250 was great and i tought that the RIO brand was very good. But what a surprise, the device was failing since I put it to work... I wrote to RIO and they never reply to me and I have been waiting months for them get out any update to the firmware.
Rio is not what it used to be... you cannot trust the company anymore.
Rating: 
Summary: iRiver iMP-350 is a Much Better Choice
Review: This player is similar to the iRiver iMP-350 MP3/CD player, but a better display (4 lines instead of 2) and better accessories make the iRiver unit a clear winner. Also, my experience with SonicBlue's customer service has been less than favorable (and this is being kind.) It has now been almost a year since I sent a broken player in for warranty repair or replacement. After half a year (!) they replaced my original player with a different, lower quality, model (SP250 with SP350). But it has now been a year -- and they still not have sent me accessories for the SP350 (which is incompatible with the old accessories.)
Rating:
Summary: Biggest headache of my life!
Review: For some reason, Sonic Blue appear to state that SP350 (like the pathetic SP250) has skip free technology?
Well, I burn CDR as mixed mode (MP3 and CDA) which is useful when backing up mp3 data.
OK the machine recognises both format but when you walk with the machine it skips all the time.
When using InCD (Win98se) and "Drag&Drop" mp3 files onto a formatted CDRW, again the unit skips and takes ages to load them. I asked an Assistant of Dixons chain for an expert opinion: To hear skip free mp3 tracks on a CD you must use a "jog proof" player or a hard-drive based one. Skip free technology will only work when not running/walking/playing unit through a car stereo (when using cassette adapter). So much for a skip-free MP3 player! Ok if the machine is flat on a desk it might play fine, but these are PORTABLE Players and that means ON THE MOVE. Unless someone comes up with a MP3 CD player which is Jog Proof and you can adjust the bass treble and bass/treble boost yourself, I will be forced to move onto Creative Labs NOMAD technology. So far I have had two SP150, then two SP250 and now SP350.
Be wary of skip free - go for Jog Free.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT yet... Patience required
Review: This player at first try made me cringe as my favorite tunes were reduced to bits and blips as the player skipped. I scratched my head and decided to do some tests. My results: 1) Make sure the files are encoded at a Bitrate of 128 or less
2) Higher bit rates also work if you burn at 2x
3) Encode your own music from your own CD's for best quality
4) Downloads work best if they are high quality ie iTunes store
5) Use high Quality CD-R or RW discs, Kodak Ultra or Green base
6) You can burn at higher speeds if you are using quality files
7) On Windows always burn your CD's as data discs
8) On the Mac always burn your CD's as Mp3 discs
9) Keep your cd's clean, never put a dirty disc into the player What I like most about the RioVolt sp350: 1) Almost every feature I could ask for in an Mp3 CD player
2) Carrying case leaves functions accessible
3) Display is easy to read and fuly customizable
4) EQ is almost perfect with customized settings
5) The sound quality is amazing, even with supplied headphones
6) Batteries recharge quickly and last a long time What would I change: 1) Bigger screen with manual scroll
2) Allow use of regular batteries
3) Slot load instead of clamshell design In the end I love the RioVolt sp350, it's price can't be beat. Offers all the stuff a great player should. One word of advice I think is essential.... PATIENCE!!! If you don't have any, go buy an iPod you won't be disapointed.
Rating:
Summary: An honest review by a real owner
Review: A great concept nearly perfected in this amazingly thin and versatile Mp3 CD player. Although I do have some reservations, this is by far the better player out there for those with enough patience. And at around $100 is by far the most cost effective solution. I can fit over 1000 songs on each CD at 128kbps and even when some files are at 192kbps or higher. This unit definately likes the Kodak CD-R ultra brand or any brand using green plastic. Producing skips and bleeps on other discs, once I figured this out I have had the pleasure of listening to flawless Mp3 CD's. The only thing that bugs me is the fact that I have to start the player in a stationary position and not jar it or move it suddenly. Sure, you can pick it up and go. Just be aware the unit is recording the tracks into memory and you may find skips from moving it in the first 5 minutes. The sp350 needs to keep doing this every half hour or so which is kind of a hassel. How would I better this unit if I were in charge? That's easy, slot load instead of their clamshell design. Also I would provide a larger LCD screen with manual scroll of songs info. Oh and a better implementation of the EQ with manual settings and saved settings, the player should also auto switch to a songs Genre. for example, Jazz songs are played through a Jazz EQ setting, Rock through a Rock EQ setting... And since it can record this could offer much more, like a sample of any song as your indication sound, and the obvious recording meetings or ideas. I guess that's getting a little too James Bond. For now I am content to enjoy the Bass/Rap EQ setting for everything. It produces an impressive Bass response and really brings the drums out of any style. As a drummer this may be just how I hear it ;)... Over all this is the best CD Mp3 Player I have owned but I still want an iPod yet at those prices I LOVE THE RioVolt sp350! I do warn you though, if you have little patience buy an iPod.
Rating:
Summary: A lot less than expected
Review: This isnt as thin as you would expect. The sound quality is not as impressive as you would expect. The price is not as good as you would expect. This is the most dissappointing purchase I have made.
Heres Why
The Seek time to load an CD full of mp3's was about 25 seconds (no joke!)
Takes about 5 seconds to change a song.
Can only fast forward at 1 speed. Only about 3 times faster. That means to get to the 3 minute mark of a song would take 1 minute.
Sometimes the display would just turn into all crazy characters, forcing me to turn of the player and wait another 25 miserable seconds for it to load.
The car kit didnt work i dont know if it was the car's fault or the car kits but the sound quality was terrible.
Skips easily even though it claims "32 minute skip protection!!!!" Just dont buy it. Its plain and simple. There is not even a chance that you will be happy with your purchase.
Rating:
Summary: looks like I won the lottery...
Review: I read the many awful reviews and figured I would give it a shot anyway. I am very glad I did. I have had minimal problems with the unit. The one and only time that I had the skip problems when I brushed off the cd it quit skipping. I walk with mine to work all the time. One of the downsides is definitely the complexity of use. Once you get the hang of it, it's okay, but it's not intuitive by any means. I do wish the rechargeable batteries were not the only portable power source (ie, I wish I could use disposables!), but it doesn't take long for it to recharge the batteries. I have recorded my own MP3 cd's and have recorded above the recommended bit rate, but at the 2x speed they recommend, I haven't had any problems other than the dirty cd issue. It looks like i won the lottery and actually got a good model, I know alot of others are disappointed, but mine is great. The sound quality is superb, I actually heard minute details on cd's that I had never heard prior. Great little unit and you can't beat the price with the rebate!
| 
