| Brand Name: | Rio |
| Number of Items: | 1 |
Product Specifications
Technical Details
- 64 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
- Can accept additional Memory Backpacks to expand memory up to 340 MB
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
Amazon.com Review
SONICblue's Rio line of MP3 players has always been top-notch--and the latest iteration, the Rio 600, proves no exception. The nifty-looking Rio 600 also offers detachable faceplates, allowing users to customize its appearance (although they are a bit pricey).
But it's not the aesthetics of the Rio that we liked so much (although the über-trendy, over-the-ear headphones make another nice touch). What really makes the Rio unique is just how simple it is to use. From installation to manipulation of the player interface or the Rio Audio Manager software, it's as easy as MP1-2-3. Intuitive on all counts, the Rio rarely forced us to consult the manual--whether we were in the middle of setup, switching songs on the road, or transferring MP3s.
In addition to the nearly ubiquitous MP3 format, the Rio 600 also handles the new Windows Media Audio (WMA) format, and SONICblue says it will be software upgradable for upcoming formats.
This version of the Rio 600 ships with 64 MB flash memory, which can handle over two hours of WMA-formatted material and about an hour of MP3 playback. One knock on the 600 is the fact that it is only expandable using Rio's proprietary memory backpacks (which literally snap on the back of the player). This system, unfortunately, takes away the ability to use cheap flash memory cards (such as SmartMedia and MultiMediaCard) to expand the possibilities of the player.
The USB-only interface proves to be another double-edged sword. On the one side, you need to be running Windows 98 or later to hook up the Rio to your PC. (For the Mac, you'll need a USB port and Mac OS 8.51 or later.) On the other, the transfer rate is like a hare compared to older tortoise players using parallel ports. It took only around 10 seconds to move a 4-minute MP3 song from our PC to the Rio.
The Rio 600 is not a perfect player--64 MB just doesn't seem big enough anymore and it lacks a belt clip--but the other players on the market aren't earning perfect marks either. But it is nicely light and highly portable--perfect for working out or taking on trips. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Well priced
- Easy interface
- Changeable faceplate
- Only 64 MB memory and not expandable with flash memory cards
- No belt clip
Amazon.com Product Description
With even more memory (64 MB), the Rio 600 will give you even more music with customizable features and high-end audio you can't get from other players. Capture and play back up to two hours of digital-quality music from the Internet or your CDs. Seize your audio, master your mix, retool your memory, even select your faceplate color--it's complete freedom of choice.
The Rio 600 supports the most popular audio formats--MP3 and WMA--and can be upgraded to support emerging digital standards so your Rio is always up to date. SDMI compliance means you can download secure tracks from all the major recording labels. Also, upgrade your Rio 600 with separate snap-on Memory Backpacks--up to 340 MB for up to nine hours of music playback. The USB interface allows you to download songs from your PC or Mac to your Rio faster than with any other interface type.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Read this before you buy the Rio 600!,
By Jared Sartee (Cambria, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rio 600 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)
I am a 15 year old audiophile and I got this mp3 player for christmas last year. I was really excited, because of all the good things that had been said about mp3 players (this one in paticular). I hooked it up into my mac and downloaded a very small playlist; most people could fit about 30 min, but with lower quality of music (around 96 kbps), I got about 45 minutes on it. The mp3 player is cool because it is completly skip free, and it is also very durable (I dropped it from waist hight onto asphalt, and it worked fine afterwards, save a few scratches). But after about a month or two of using it, I started experiencing glitches. The battery level would fluctuate from 100% to 50% and back again and about 3 hours after replacing the batteries, they quit on me. This thing EATS batteries like no other! Also, every once in a while, the mp3 player would automatically delete all the songs that I had downloaded onto it. I emailed SONICblue, and after about the 5th or 6th email, they responded saying that they would replace the player. I got my second, and it had the exact same problems as the first one did! I emailed again for another or a refund, but they never replied. I went to [local store] (where we bought it), and they gave us a 3rd one. This one didn't even turn on! I couldn't do anything with it. So, about a month before the warrenty ended, I got store credit for it and bought a PlayStation 2 : ) (no complaints there). My friends with this player have had the same problems with the player and costomer service as i have had, and so have the people on amazon. Please reconsider buying this defective product.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Cheaply made,
By "jyokubaitis" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rio 600 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)
I admit - when I got the RIO, I was excited! I thought it was a good size, light, and worked just fine, despite having severly limited memory. Well, that's all changed. The thing must have been made from the cheapest materials available. My power switch broke after 2 weeks, and I wan't even flipping it that often. The battery indicator gives NO accurate indication of the juice you have left. Every time you look, it says there's plenty of power left, yet the thing can die at any time. The software is clunky and buggy. Also to top it off, when you get that "memory backpack," it's still a disappointment, because it's treated as a separate player. Suppose you have a bunch of MP3s that are around 4MB, and you use all but 3.6MB of your player's internal memory. Adding a backpack is like adding a hard drive - it just gives another location, and it's a real pain to have to switch your "source" back and forth to juggle the tracks so that you can make THESE ones fit on THIS memory part, and THESE others fit on THAT one. Couldn't the software try to calculate where to put the tracks so that it wasn't so tedious, and was easier not to waste space? This turned out to be a real turkey, and I have 3 friends who also have had the things break on them within two months.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Initial comments -just got it 2 days ago,
By Phillip Franklin (Solana Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rio 600 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)
This is my second MP3 player. My previous one was a Samsung. As for this Rio 600 here's my initial thoughts. It looks real nice. It sounds as good as any I've heard so far. The battery drain is very low. It is easy to use with Windows Media Player to load it up. (Get the WMP driver off the Rio site.) I personally hate Real Jukebox (comes with this player). Most of Real software is Real Bad. And it has a very nice belt clip pouch. Also it has good ID tags and a very easy to use back lit menu. Those are its strenghs.Weaknesses - Instead of using removable flash media cards it is upgraded via a special backpack which is hard to get right now. It does not seem to be as rugged as I would like. So I keep it in the belt pouch for protection. I have yet to call Rio (Sonicblue) customer service. I've been told that they are very weak in service. I hope I don't have to find out. This of course is my initial review. I will try and update this review in about a month.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
