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

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.

Product Description
Rio shatters the personal sound barrier with customizable features and high-end audio you simply cannot get anywhere else! Capture and playback up to 2 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 radical freedom of choice.Rio 600 supports the dominant audio formats like MP3 and Windows Media, and can be upgraded to emerging digital standards so you can keep your Rio up-to-date. It holds 2 hours of digital quality music (64MB). Rio 600 features the following play modes: repeat one track, all tracks, or random play. Rio 600 has no moving parts so you can take the Rio anywhere and it'll never skip a beat. Featherweight ergonomic design and large, easy-to-read LCD make it perfect for extreme listening activities.

I bought the 32MB version with the extra 32MB backpack upgrade... it worked for about three months, and then it simply stopped working. It would not turn on, or display anything on the screen. After several e-mails to rio's customer support, I finally convinced them that my player really was broken, and that it was not a firmware problem. They finally sent me a replacement, which lasted about three months and is now broken again, exact same problem. I will not buy an mp3 player or anything else from Rio or its affiliates. I got this as a deal for about $70; at least that's all I paid. You get what you pay for, so save up for an iPod.


it's pretty good   December 6, 2003
Beverley (Canada)
for the reviewer who wrote "This is an excellent player! (if your one of the lucky 10% who actually gets one that works). Even if your one of the lucky 10%, I'll give you three months before it dies on you..That's what mine did." - I wouldn't trust this grammatically incorrect review. I've had my mp3 player for over a year and it works perfectly fine. And if I, along with all the others who have reviewed the product, got it to work for much longer than 3 months, obviously it was the user's use of the product that caused its downfall.

The only complaint I have about the product is that the battery indicator is inaccurate. It will be at 60% and then a second later, will just be dead. So be sure to have an extra battery with you when you get under 75%.

I am not sure about the validity of the mp3 draining the battery even when it's off, but I find my battery lasts pretty long even if it's been off for awhile