Customer Reviews

Archos 604 30 GB Ultraslim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500860)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The Archos 604 Video player is wonderful piece of electronics. It is a great update of the venerable AV500 and takes care of all of the problems of its predecessors.

Package Contained
Archos 604, 1 battery, nice ear bud headphones, 1 proprietary USB 2.0 cable used to charge the device and transfer content from your computer, setup guide and legal stuff, DVR station adapter and a storage sack.

The Great
The screen is totally amazing: Big, Bright and Beautiful in a 16:9 layout. It has a 30 Gig HD which many people will think is probably on the small size, but I find it more that enough to store 8-10 movies and 8-10 TV shows leaving more than 20 gigs for music. And how much do you really need for movies and TV. These are not like music files: once you view a TV or movie a few times you will want to delete it and put newer movies and TV shows on the unit. More space would be nice, but the 30 here is more than enough for what this unit will be used for, ie watching on the go.

Viewing angle is very wide. The unit itself is well constructed and is made up of a high density plastic and metal - a nice surprise when most people are using only plastic to save money and lessen weight. Here too the 604 has really improved the surface of the metal with a very nice brushed surface that always looks clean: no fingerprints show.

Included are a few sample files to show off the 604 abilities in the video and music areas. The manual is right in the unit in a pdf file which is a very nice feature. The 604 can view most pdf files and the screen is so nice reading and viewing them is a pleasure. I bought my 604 to watch stuff on the go, and this unit is PERFECT for that.

Archos technical support is easy to call and they pickup and give advice without putting you through the ringer or automated FAQ system - another nice surprise.

The 604 has a Replaceable battery! Don't by any product where you can't replace the battery.

Battery life is wonderful for music at over 14 hours when listening to music only. When using it to play videos, I am getting 4+ hours of use before the battery is exhausted. Looking at pictures and listening to music falls somewhere between 7 and 10+ hours.

The interface looks really cool with lots of interactive items. When connected to your computer it asks you what you want to do: charge only, sync (via Windows Media 10) or mount as a hard drive. No installation discs come with the unit as they are not needed. Only thing you need to do is make sure Windows Media 10 (a free download from Microsoft) is installed if you want to use the it for syncing files, but it is not required as you can drag and drop files on the the 604 in HD mode just like any regular hard drive.

The speaker is small but actually sounds good considering its size - perfect for office or desk listening or to share video clips with friends gathered around. The built in Kickstand is extremely cool here and makes playing videos and watching them at your desk very slick.

The built in microphone works exceptionally well and picks up even the softest sounds clearly.

The photo viewer is great and and is fun to use (slide show, rotate, etc.). You can even listen to music while you view pictures which is a wonderful feature: just start listening to music before you switch over to viewing photos.

The Not So Great
Many might be disappointed that it comes with no cables to play back video on television, but again what this unit is really useful for is watching video ON THE GO. If you want a DVR for your house, get a Tivo or something similar or get the additional add-on that make the 604 a full featured DVR, but if you go this route, I would suggest getting the 504 with the bigger HD. Although there to you will pay more for the additional storage size, and you will also have to buy the cables to enable it to record live shows.

The navigation buttons take a bit of getting used to of course, but the design is really quite simple and straight forward.

Things to do when you get your unit.
Be sure to go to the archos website and get the firmware update from the download section for the Archos 604 and update it right away. It adds functionality.

The very bad
The storage bag is useless: provides no more protection than a zip-lock bag. Don't worry, there will be many people selling skins for this unit soon.

Update on 9-20-06:
I wanted to pass along a few more things since my review. I have used the Archos 604 for the past 3 weeks now and I am even more impressed then when I first wrote my review. The unit is just so light and compact for what it offers. This is not like an iPod of course, but with that you gain such a beautiful screen for doing all the things an iPod or similar just can't do. I use the Archos to workout (cardio), currently watching LOST, and the time just flies by.

I have not had any problem connecting or transferring files to the Archos 604: it just works well.

Update on October 4th, 2006:
I have played around with the display setting for brightness and have discovered that if you reduce the brightness to the minimum level (still super acceptable for viewing IMO) you can get about an extra 1 hour of viewing of videos.

Update on October 27th 2006:
The H.264 - AAC sound plug-in was released a few days ago. I downloaded it and installed it easily. The plug-in is tied to your unit so no sharing the codex. Now there is no reason to convert iPod videos for the Archos, they play perfectly with this new plug-in. The plug in was $19.99. The DVD video plug-in also works perfectly and I installed it also without problems and have watched some wonderful DVD movies without having to convert them to a different format. This plug-in was also 19.99. I wish Archos had included these in the original price.

Update on December 5th, 2006:
The Archos 604 as of this date supports the following files types (some may require a plugin: see the Archos website for details).
.divx
.xvid
.wmv
.wma
.m4v
mpeg-4
mpeg-2
.vob
.mpg
.ps
.mp4
.ac3
.acc
.mov (H264)

Summary
This is a very cool device and is certainly easy on the eyes. This blows away any other portable video player (PMP) on the market and the price is incredibly low for what it offers. The very low price will make this a must have item for watching video on the go if you can find it for sale. My 604 is just such a joy to use. I am never without high quality TV shows or DVD movies now no matter where I find myself. The size is just perfect, any larger and it would be cumbersome, and smaller and it would produce eye strain like I had with the video iPod.

Overall, I continue to be very, very happy that I bought the Archos 604.

My co-worker and I have been considering buying an Archos for quite some time now. We considered the AV500, AV700, and whichever model was before the AV500. Until now, the prices were too high for us, but now the prices are in iPod and Creative territory, which made the decision a no-brainer. The toughest decision was whether I should get the 404, 504, or 604.

What I like:
- One reason I chose the 604 over the 504 was the size. The 504 is a little thicker, and I thought the 604 would also be too bulky, but I'm very pleased at how sleek the unit is.
- The reason i chose the 604 over the smaller 404 is the 16:9 ratio. If you're getting an Archos, it probably means you watch a lot of video, so this is a must.
- The screen is pretty nice, picture is vivid and colors bright. Decent in indirect sunlight, not really tested in direct sunlight.
- The buttons were a little on the tough side to figure out (I don't read manuals) but once I learned the features, I really like the interface.
- Fairly straightforward to get content onto the unit. Similar to the Creative players, in that you can open up the Archos as a folder and drag/drop, copy/paste, etc.
- The DVR dock (sold separately) has several output choices - component, S-video, RCA. The new, "modular" aspect of the Archos allows this increase in features, and also the ability to buy the Archos at a lower price if you are not seeking DVR capability.
- Overall, a stylish unit, and looks much better in person than in pictures.

What I don't like:
- The Archos seems to be much more limited in playable content than its close competitor, the Cowon A2. It turns out I have quite a few videos encoded with AC3 audio, and the Archos will not play this content (and apparently MP4 as well) without the purchase of their plug-in ($19.99)
- No subtitle support. I watch a lot of Asian movies w/ subtitle files, and was not considering this when I purchased the Archos. Another advantage of the Cowon A2 is that it apparently has subtitle support.
- Need to buy add-ons to use DVR functionality, as well as being able to charge through an AC outlet, but this could also be a plus for certain people who want to trim the extras and keep the price low.
- Speakers are adequate at lower volumes, but lacking at high volume.
- Picture can get a little blurry in fast action sequences.

Overall, I am very pleased with the Archos 604 and my purchase was worth the wait. If my dislikes sound like I would rather have a Cowon A2, yes, I would, to be completely honest. But this is for specific reasons and does not diminish my impression of the Archos in any way. Another testimonial in favor of the Archos is the fact that my gf, who usually ignores me when I talk about my gadgets, told she might want to use the Archos if I end up getting the Cowon, and not to get rid of it yet.

If you've been considering getting this, I would recommend the Archos, but also qualify the recommendation and strongly consider what your needs are first. If you are looking for DVR capability and playback to TV, I would go with the Archos. However, if you have are looking for a pure video player, consider the Cowon.

As a last comment, I just noticed that someone tagged the Archos with "iPod". I'm not sure who would do this, but if you're even remotely considering the iPod video as an option against the Archos, I would say you don't belong here. Blunt, yes, but this is a product some would call an "iPod killer".

UPDATE 12/20/06
So I gave the Archos to my gf and got the Cowon A2 for myself and did a side-by-side comparison. Just going to list a few areas where one is better than the other.

Archos - easier to use interface once you learn the buttons, loads videos quicker, scheduler for tv recording, a little slimmer but feels a little more solid, overall better for the typical user

Cowon - more flexibility in types of files playable and features, built in recording capability, built-in FM tuner and recorder, 'prettier' external design and menu, slightly more advanced menu interface

To confirm my earlier speculation, the Archos is probably a superior unit overall, but the Cowon might offer better features for users with particular needs and/or who are a little more technically and technologically savvy

I've had the 604 for about 3 months now and couldn't go through a complete day without it. Everynight I schedule recordings of late night ESPN SportsCenter while I sleep and watch them at my desk the next morning. I have movies, TV shows, video trailers of movies and games and also PDF manuals of my cell phone and Treo for quick access. I'm still finding new uses for it.

To clear up bad info that was written previously:
The 604 and 504 supports MPEG-2 format (.vob, .mpg and .ps extensions), MPEG-4, MP4, ac3, ACC, divx, xvid, wmv, wma and m4v & mov extensions (encoded with H264) and more to come as Archos releases new firmware and plugins.

Pros:
Portable DVR player
Record your own TV shows and movies and not have to pay for them.
Great LCD picture quality
Photo album
Kick stand
Music player
It's better than what you have. (Unless you have the av500 by Archos)
NO SOFTWARE IS NEEDED. Although it does sync with Windows Media Player, you can easily drag and drop or cut and paste files into Windows Explorer and delete them just like any other file from a PC.

Cons:
30GB for some may be small, but considering my video collection alone is well over 200gb, adding and deleting files is my best option. A larger HDD would be nice but I would eventually fill that up and wish for even a bigger one (see the stupid cycle Apple is taking thier consumers through).
It doesn't record out of the box. You must buy the DVR station to record your own shows
Archos is currently charging for additional codecs.
The battery can only be charged by USB unless you buy the adapter


All in all, Archos provided another great product for those who love portable video. If you're like me and already have a large video file collection of movies and TV shows (or what ever you watch...*wink-wink*), this is a must. If you dont have a large collection, buying the DVR station isn't a bad idea considering what networks charge to download thier shows from the internet.

oNe

Archos started making portable video players 6 or 7 years ago. It seems that they have relentlessly tried to continue to improve and evolve their basic machine. IMHO this is a great update to all of its predecessors.

The box and packaging are very plain compaired to all the fancy packaging that comes w/most digital players today - a good thing IMO, spend more on the development of the player, and not how cool the packaging of the box is.

Box contains:
Archos 604, 1 replacable battery, ear buds, proprietary USB 2.0 cable for charging the device and transfering content, setup guide, DVR station adapter and a piece of crap storage bag.

The screen is awesome: big, bright, 16:9 layout, w/a wide viewing angle. It's about as thick as my 60g ipod. Most of the surface of the player is taken up by screen. The operational buttons are well layed out and after a little trial and error, quite functional.

The unit seems well constructed, made of high density plastic and metal. The metal has a nice brushed surface that looks clean, showing no fingerprints. Even though it is similar to the AV500, I think it looks a lot more stylish, and the navigational buttons are much more intuitive.

The first thing I did while charging the unit was download the latest firmware as well as a newer version of the manual contained in a pdf file. It came w/a pdf manual already on the unit, but the one on the website is a newer version.

The interface is pretty cool, sporting animated icons for all of the basic funtions. When connecting to your computer it asks you if you want to: charge only, sync (via WMP) or mount as a hard drive. Since I pretty much hate WMP (even though 11 is a bit better), I chose the latter.

Transfer speeds were pretty quick for music, photos and some videos I already had converted on my puter's HD. I use iriverter to convert my DVD's, which works quite well and efficiently.

Through Sony headphones (don't know about the included earbuds as I chucked those as I do w/all the devices I purchase) the music sounded very good, the pictures are crystal clear and the videos very impressive. You can make slide shows w/transitions and basic effects and watch them whilst listening to tunes. Music has gapless playback.You can also load and view pdf files - haven't done that yet

The speaker is small and sounds about as you'd expect, (a little soft on volume) but should come in handy on occasions when headphones or earbuds are impractical. The built in kickstand is a nice feature for propping the unit up on flat surfaces.

Has a built in microphone which I have not tried yet.

You can record from TV, VHS, or DVD player just like a DVR but it requires an optional $99 (list) dock - which really isn't bad considering the low initial price of the unit. The dock also enables transfer of photos directly from your digital camera and I'm not sure but I think video straight from your camcorder.
I plan on picking up the dock when it becomes available.

Battery life is advertised at 14+ for music, 8+ for music w/photo slideshows, 4+ for video. I can't answer to any of that as yet.

I'll try and update after using the unit a bit more, but for now I'll summerize by saying:

This is one AWESOME machine! As stated before, the navigational buttons take some getting used to, the storage bag is a joke, has to be charged via puter w/proprietary USB.

No device is perfect, as this one is not, but I defy anyone to find a solidy built, feature packed, quality 30g unit for this amazing price.

I do want to make it very clear that this is a portable video device that also plays music very well. I say that just to alert you to the fact that it is large from a DAP stand point, but VERY sveltte from a portable video player stand point.

The screen is the size of a 30G iPod. Seriously, if you lay an iPod on the 604 it is the same size as the 604's screen. The video is beautiful. I didn't even consider the photo viewing capability when I bought this, but the screen is great for showing my family my latest pics when I visit.

The 604 is small and light enough to take back and forth to work with me on the subway, though it is not pocket-sized. It lives in my shoulder bag. On flights and long train rides the 604 really shines. The screen is bright and crisp, and playback is flawless, so I can leave my laptop at home and still get to watch movies.

For me the biggest selling point was the OSX and Windows compatability. The 604 mounts as a drive to either OS so you simply drag content back and forth, so I am not stuck with WMP or iTunes (actually, I guess I am stuck with BOTH iTunes and WMP... lol).

The navigation takes some getting used to with the dual-direction menu button, but it is intuitive enough that I haven't opened the manual yet.

Personally, I find the iPod too big for a simple music player and the video implemenation is laughable. I use a nano-sized Sansa if all I want is music on the go. I would argue that the 604 is the perfect balance of portability and usability for video and music.

This is an amazing little product. Bought it here at Amazon (best price plus I had a $25 bonus coupon from using my Amazon credit card). It arrived practically overnight even though I used free shipping. I bought the optional dvr dock to record and the plug-ins at the Archos website so it can play all my movies and clips. A couple of small issues were quickly and efficiently handled by Archos' excellent customer service and sales staff.

First off, the screen quality is perfect. I can very comfortably watch a full length movie on it. I use it mostly at the gym while I am on the elliptical machine. Makes an hour go by just like that. I have recorded from every device imaginable, including my portable 7" DVD player. It hooks right up, you put your DVD in and record it onto the 604 in real time. Plays back on the 604 flawlessly (but will not play back on a TV when the video is copy protected.) Attaching the 604 via a USB port to my PC, I simply drop in movies files (unprotected), pictures, and music from my PC. It's cool the way you can zoom in on pictures too. You can upload your pictures and then hook it up to play on tv with a nice slide show and your own music in the background. Plays your videos on tv too. Oh, and 30 GB's is more than enough space. Don't spend the extra money just to get more GB's. I put a full length movie, some clips, a couple of hours of tv, a bunch of hi-res pictures and all my favorite music and the memory hardly decreased at all. This thing would hold 85 movies and why would anyone want to store all that on the player anyway?

The bottom line is this Archos performs like a magician. Takes a bit of patience and looking at the manual to learn all the many features and buttons though but much of it really is intuitive. The hardest thing was setting up the tv scheduling to record from the tv.

I could not recommend this product more highly. They even upgraded the case everyone was complaining about. I am going to carry it in my purse so I am never without it. Yes it is expensive, and so I wish they would have included the plug-ins and the recording feature as part of the package, but I think it is worth every penny. I haven't had this much satisfaction (or fun) from an electronic gadget purchase in a very long time. If you are thinking about buying it and can handle the price (player $309, dvr recorder, $79 and plug-ins, $30 bundled), do it, you won't be sorry!

I have been an Archos AV500 user for some time. The 604 is the replacement device for the AV500 and for those of you who have not yet joined the wonderful world of portable, small screen entertainment, then the Archos 604 is an excellent choice.

For AV500 users, I'd recommend holding onto your current device. I recently purchased and returned the 604 for the following reasons:

1. Screen, while larger and supporting more colors, was not as bright, nor significantly better than my AV500 (and yeah, I adjusted the brightness levels in both devices to similar levels for comparison).

2. Lack of DVR capability out of the box (recording from a DVD player, television, or other device). While many do not want or need this feature, right now the 604 does not support as many codecs (different types of digital files like MPEG-4, MPEG-2, etc.) as the older AV500.

I was hoping for a slimmer device, brighter screen, and a kickstand. What I got for my $350 was a device essentially just as thick, a bit longer, similar screen, and a kickstand.

New users - get an Archos - definitely a high quality product. AV500 users - you might be disappointed - it's not really much of an upgrade.

I just purchased the Archos 604 about 3weeks ago. So far so good. It interfaces very easily with the computer. Though I have not tried it using Windows Media 10 yet. I recommend at least buying the Archos Docking Adapter Kit (if you do not plan on using the Archos to record programs). It allows you to charge the unit without the computer and also allows you to connect it directly to your digital camera to transfer photos.

The only negative that I have so far is that the volume, at its highlest level, is difficult to hear on an airplane. You may need some noise canceling headphones.

I don't know what these other reviews about it not working with windows media player are about, but I love this thing. I always connect it to my pc as a hard drive to add files to so maybe that's why mine doesn't crash on me. Anyway, the screen is like a little plasma tv. Not Exaggerating. Very Clear. The hard drive is more than enough space. I record movies from my dvd player (optional dvr station needed to do so, about 70 dollars at walmart) which on dvd is about 5 gigs, but when recorded to the archos its only about 1 gig for a 90 minute movie. Same when recording shows off the tv. If you are thinking about buying a ipod video, i highly suggest looking at a archos first. The only bad things about it are:
you have to pay extra for the dvr function
the protective bag that comes with it is useless
it only charges by usb unless you have the dvr station
the speaker is trash, but you can buy add on speakers

Thats about it though...everything else is very good. And also, if you want to play any video format other than avi, you have to download the plugins from their website and they charge like 20 dollars for it,,,,but if you are smart like me, all you need to do is download a free video converter from the net and just convert everything you need to avi. If you record from the dvr station (tv,dvd player,cable box,satellite,xbox 360,etc) then it automatically converts it to avi for you. I can go on and on about this thing, but my hands are getting tired. Please don't let these negative reviews about crashing with windows media player stop you from getting one..just don't use media player to sync your files. Just drag and drop like a regular hard drive. This is one of the best things i have ever bought.

Bought this device and Fell in love with it. The screen is great, The audio is excellent. It also has a bass boost which I think is cool. The only thing that I found as a problem was the $40 for the extra software it need to read mp4. After putting my pictures on it I noticed it kept freezing when I tried to view them, but it was because the pictures were too large. After changing the size to 1600x1200 it stopped gliching. As far as the static I only notice it when I playback video that I recorded, and it's so minute that you won't really even notice it. I would probably change this to a 4 3/4 stars