With a screen size surface three times that of similar size PMPs (portable media players), the Archos 504 ensures you can thoroughly enjoy movies and videos. This unit uses a bright, 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with over 16 million colors to provide you a crystal-clear, sharp picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixels of resolution, as well as an intuitive GUI (graphic user interface) for easy-to-use navigation. The Archos 504 not only plays your videos and movies, but lets you store over a whopping 450 regular movies or 155 DVD-quality movies on its hard drive in either MPEG-4 or WMV formats, at up to DVD resolution. You can also purchase and download optional plug-ins from Archos' website that will allow you to play H.264 and MPEG-2 formats up to DVD resolutions as well.
Not only is the Archos 504 a portable video and movie player, but a high-resolution photo viewer as well, complete with features such as zoom, music, and transition effects. You can easily download photos from your PC, or transfer them directly to the 504 from your digital camera via the optional docking adapter. This unit is compatible with JPEG, BMP, and PNG file formats, and can hold up to 1,600,000 photos at a time, depending upon file size and what else you are storing at the same time. The Archos 504 can even read and display PDF documents for on-the-fly work situations, although it may not implement all PDF features.
For those times when you can't afford the distraction of watching high-quality videos, the Archos 504 can be your music player, storing and playing up to 80,000 songs so you can keep working, walking, or doing whatever you need to with your own private soundtrack. This unit displays the track, artist, album, and album cover of whatever you are playing, and supports stereo MP3 decoding from 30 to 320 kbps CBR and VBR, as well as WMA, protected WMA, and WAV (PCM/ADPCM) formats. Furthermore, the Archos 504 can play AAC music files, and AC3 stereo sound files with the additional of optional software plug-ins that can be purchased and downloaded from Archos' web site. And just in case inspiration strikes or you want to make sure you don't forget something important, this handy media player lets you make voice recordings through its built-in microphone, or via the optional DVR travel adapter or DVR station through a stereo line-in jack in WAV format.
The Archos 504 is fully compatible with DVD-quality VOD (video on demand) and online music stores, allowing you to purchase and download new music and movies directly online rather than having to transfer everything from more traditional media sources. This media player can also record directly from TV in high-quality MPEG-4 with stereo sound via the optional DVR station, so you can take your favorite television shows with you wherever you go. And if you are at home, the Archos 504 can play back any of your movies or recorded TV programs on your television itself, also through the optional DVR station.
The Archos 504 has a built-in 160 gigabyte hard disk so you have plenty of space for anything you need, and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for transferring files. This unit features a 3.5-millimeter stereo headphone jack mini-jack and TV output, and dedicated connectors for hooking up optional adapters or the DVR station. The 504 also features a music playback time of up to 17 hours, and a video playback time of up to 5.5 hours on its built-in LCD display, all with its internal, removable lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that charges via computer through its USB port, or more quickly with the optional docking adapter or DVR station, or a separate optional power charger. The Archos 504 is compatible with both PCs and Macs with a USB port and Linux, Windows ME or higher, or OS X or higher, and requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher and Windows Media Player 10 or higher for use with PlayForSure video and subscription services. This media player allows firmware updates to be downloaded via www.archos.com, weighs approximately 11.15 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 x 3 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box
Archos 504 portable media player, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, DVR station adapter, protective case, quick-start guide, and legal and safety notices.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful: By Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Archos 504 160GB Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500896) (Electronics) 1. As a mp3 player it is still the best if you are like me who refuse to buy any music with copy protection. I bought a handheld device every 6 months and move my files all the time. The copy protected files prevent me from doing that so ipod is out of the question for me. The user interface is much better then creative lab. 2. As for pictures as other reviewer say it does not support raw format and if you need this go for creative lab and not the wolverine(very bad company will not repair under warrenty even if they admit it is their fault but they do not know why). otherwise it is great. 3. Reliability wise i have great luck with all Archos product and none have much problem. My 504 have lock up once for about 200 hours of using. I have to remove the battery to restart it. 4. The best part about the 504 is the mp4 support. I use CloneMobile to rip dvds for the 504. I actually do it mostly for music. So instead of just mp3 I have music...Read more 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful: By Jim B. "Padawan of Rhythm" (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Archos 504 160GB Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500896) (Electronics) I am ecstatic about the sound of this player. I've compared it to ipod, Sansa, and Creative. The Creative comes close, but the Archos leaves the others standing still. This is my 1st portable video device so I don't have a comparison. But a couple of people I know with video ipods love the picture quality. The 504 is also easy to use. Now, here's the warning which may or may not apply to your situation. It does NOT work with all Plays For Sure services. I have thousands of tracks on subscription from Napster & Rhapsody that I download for my old player. They are all useless on the 504. The files will transfer and play for a day or two, but then they stop playing because the Archos says the files are copy protected. Of course they are, but I downloaded new files to make SURE the liscenses were current and they still wouldn't play. (Once you start getting this error message, any new tracks transferred won't even play once.) The only workaround I've found is to format the hard...Read more 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: By MsDandy "MsDandy" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews This review is from: Archos 504 160GB Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500896) (Electronics) This is the third Archos product that I have purchased. I had the Gmini404 which I was very pleased with but I ran out of space on the hard drive. So, I couldn't wait to get the 160gb Archos 504. It is absolutely fabulous. I have spent the last three days ripping my entire collection to the Archos--about 3,000 tracks and I still have room to spare for photos, movies, notes, etc. The controls take a little getting used to, you definitely have to look at the unit to navigate around. A touchscreen would be a nice addition. That's the only criticism that I have and it's really a very small complaint. I have Shure E3 sound isolating headphones & coupled with the 504, you are transported to another place. I can't praise the player enough. If you love music, do yourself a favor and spring for the Archos 504 with really good headphones like Shure. You won't regret it. I adore my 504; why would anyone bother with an IPod????? |