RIO Eigen 1.5 GB MP3 Player

by Rio

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AZVUR
• Item model number: 90260466
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a Smart Buy, March 7, 2004

By 

Corbin W Johnson (MN of the USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RIO Eigen 1.5 GB MP3 Player (Electronics)

Out of all the mp3 players out there, the Rio Eigen is top notch. Though it doesn't pack the storage power of the iPod, not many people need 10-40 gigs for their music. I will break down the basics of this awesome little unit.

It's compact and easy to use. Any problems with Rio's "Nitrus" have been cleaned up. It has a smart professional looking design, and its metallic case just adds a little more style. The display is easy to read, and simple to navigate through. The buttons...although a tad small work nicely and don't really feel tacked on like with other players.

The sound is top notch. A lot of people complain about the scratchy sounds in the background...well just make sure the files you transfer to the player are quality to begin with. The amp has decent power and can go low to blow your brains out high (if you like it that way) without distorting the music. There are 5 equalizer presets, but there is also a handy custom equalizer you can adjust to your preference.

It comes with a power supply, the unit, software, usb cable, and ear phones. Though, I really don't like earbuds...they hurt my ears, so if you suffer the same problem, consider getting some other ones. The software takes a little tweaking, but if you know how to operate a computer, the directions are painless and thorough.

All and all, this is a fantastic unit. Everything is easy to use; the storage is large but not OVERLY ambitious like some of the other juke boxes, sounds great, and looks great. My minor complaints are that the battery (although long lifespan [16 hours]) is a lithium one that you have to recharge for up to 5 hours. This is a bit of a pain for me...but that's just me. JUST BUY IT!!!!!

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Junk, Junk, Junk, June 21, 2004

By 

Rederring MacGuffin (A Cool Dark Place) - See all my reviews

This review is from: RIO Eigen 1.5 GB MP3 Player (Electronics)

I've had an Eigen for about two months now. Last week at the gym, the Eigen fell about 4 feet onto a rubberized floor. Shouldn't be a problem, right?

Wrong. It played one more song, then displayed a message, "Upgrader" on its LCD. After doing some poking around on Rio message boards, I learn that this is very common when the Eigen or Nitrus is jostled. Some fixes include upgrading the firmware, reattaching the hard drive's ribbon to the main board, or just whacking the unit against the table a few times. Unfortunately, like most people, none of these worked for me.

The Eigen is a piece of junk. I wouldn't buy it again if a comparable unit were within $100. It just isn't worth the risk.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Piece of Garbage, Lousy Customer Service, May 7, 2004

By 

DiSCO "DiSCO" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: RIO Eigen 1.5 GB MP3 Player (Electronics)

If I could give a "0" I would. I bought the Rio Eigen with high hopes that it would be a cool, convenient way to have music when I worked out. From the beginning I had trouble with the software - and I am no computer newbie. Of course it was a long distance call to India - at my expense - to try to get things fixed. Finally,it worked for a short time, but within a month the unit would not work at all. I called again (3rd or 4th call, again at my expense) and returned it - $5 or so for postage and insurance. The customer service rep had promised a replacement unit - new. The UPS package (and what a headache connecting with UPS!) said in large letters "RECONDITIONED." I refused the package and am now working with my credit card company to try to get a refund.