Rio 800 64MB Digital Audio Player

The Rio 800 comes with 64 MB of memory, enough for about an hour of MP3 music. It can also accommodate Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, which can stretch the playing time out to nearly two hours thanks to that format's high compression. If 64 MB isn't quite enough to store your daily dose of tunes, SONICblue sells proprietary Memory Backpacks (instead of standard memory cards, like SmartMedia or CompactFlash) that can boost your Rio to 96 MB or 128 MB. Unfortunately, prices are still fairly high for these Backpacks; hopefully they'll come down as Rio popularity increases.

Another great feature is the built-in microphone feature that lets you record meetings and notes to yourself, then play them back later. And if your tastes run more to spoken-word recordings, Audible.com media files take up even less memory.

The Rio 800 is powered by a rechargeable battery, which we found to be perfectly acceptable. It averaged around six to eight hours of continuous use per charge and required only a few hours to recharge. A red light let us know when the battery was being recharged, turning off when the battery was ready. The 800's carrying case is also much improved from earlier Rio models--smartly designed, form fitting, and providing easy access to all the controls.

The control buttons are centrally located, and with some practice we were able to operate the Rio's various functions without looking at it. On the unit we tested, we had to be sure to push toward the top of the volume rocker to increase the sound level, rather than where the volume icon was located, but that barely registered as a minor irritation.

Also included in the Rio 800 package is a remote control that clips onto your clothing, which was particularly handy on our afternoon jogs when it would be awkward (or, dare we say, dangerous) to reach for the unit's main controls. Another boon for frequent exercisers is the (misnamed) Hold switch, which locks the controls (but not the remote) in case of accidental bumps. The Rio also comes with a pair of folding headphones that look cool but were uncomfortable to wear for more than about 20 minutes.

The LCD screen is a bit larger than most and has plenty of room for information like the current song title, sample rate, time, track number, and volume. However, to display that much info means using a small font, so at times it was hard to read. And the circular display window put form over function; it looked nice but it was sometimes hard to see objects around the edges due to the shadow projected by the circular frame. We had to tilt the unit nearly every time to see the play indicator to find out if the music was stopped or just paused.

Overall, though, these criticisms are minor quibbles compared to what the Rio 800 offers: a portable repository for all your digital audio needs, from tunes to voice recording, with high-quality playback. --Jeff Carlson

Pros:

• Acceptable memory storage, especially using multiple file formats
• Voice-recording function
• Rechargeable battery

Cons:

• Display can be hard to read at times
• Included headphones are uncomfortable
• No Audible.com compatibility yet

This player comes with its own recharger unit so you can save on battery costs. The remote control also allows you to play, pause, advance, and rewind without removing the player from the case. The LCD display shows the song/book you are listening to, plus the artist and time. The Rio 800 supports the MP3 and WMA audio formats, and it is upgradable to support emerging digital standards so your Rio is always up to date. It's SDMI compliant, enabling you to download secure tracks from all the major recording labels.

The USB interface allows you to download songs from your PC or Mac to your Rio faster than with any other interface type. Note that USB connectivity requires a USB port and either a PC running Windows 98 or 2000 or a Macintosh G3/G4 or iMac running System 8.1 or later.

The included Rio Audio Manager software works with Windows 98 to organize your audio tracks by name, artist, and length. It turns your CDs into MP3 or WMA digital formats for playback on your Rio 800. You can also master your mix with custom playlists. For Mac users, SoundJam software is included, which works with your iMac or G3/G4 to organize tracks and turn your CDs into AIFF, WAV, or QuickTime digital formats. It allows for easy drag-and-drop transfer to the Rio 800.

The Rio 800 comes with the recharger, remote control, folding headphones, one AA battery, a USB cable, a carrying case with belt clip, and software on CD-ROM. Rio covers this player with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.