Rio Volt SP250 Personal CD Player
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Similar in Portable CD Players
- CD-R/CD-RW Playback: CD-R/CD-RW
- Bass Boost: With Bass Boost
- Anti Skip Buffer: 160 sec.
- Supported Formats: WMA MP3
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595
What a MP3-CD Player should be!
Pros
It does everything you'd expect a refined MP3-CD player would do.
Cons
Large, expensive.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
The RioVolt - a must have for serious music lovers on the go!
When MP3s debut, we already had MP3 encoders and decoders (players) on the PC, as this was where it orginated from. A highly compressed form of audio surfaced, and 28.8 - 56 kbps modem users rejoiced! Around 5 MB a song (and even less during times of low-birate encoding), MP3s were digestable by many modem crawlers.
Diamond Multimedia's Rio made it's debut as the first stand-alone product to play MP3 without a PC. It's small size helped, as well! Thanks to the small size of MP3 files itself, such a device was viable even with such a low capacity (32 MB to 64 MB). With 64 MB, we were conent with the CD-like amount of storage (around 60 minutes).
I, of course, saw MP3 as a way of "mass music", so I never really saw the point of such solid-state devices. I originally imagined if there was a devices that would exist to play MP3s off a normal data CD.
There was one by Genica, a first-gen product. I really hate saying "first gen", as I always believed that if you were to do something, you must do it right the 1st time - especially on a product such as this! The screen was too small for any use (just shows MP3s as "tracks"), and the unit skipped alot. There was just no excuse for skipping, for if it does so, it is not a true product that is marketable for the mass. Yet, it was the only one in the market!
The next product up to bat would be the RioVolt. The original RioVolt (now the SP100 model) is what a MP3-CD player SHOULD HAVE BEEN, if the idea was executed flawlessly (as a true product). It played without skipping, fully featured, and had a large LCD screen to display id tags from MP3s. Also, the large screen help in navigating a large music collection that such a media would provide. After all, at around 5 MB a song, it would take around 100 songs to fill up a CD-R/W! Imagine navigating thru that!
The new RioVolt SP250 is pretty much the same as the original. This is both good and bad.
The Goods
Like the original, this model played MP3s flawlessly! Without the skipping/pausing of the "older" gen technologies. The navigation firmware is there as well. However, there are a few things added that makes this unit so awesome.
First off, there is support for the WMA format. Although personally, I prefer MP3s, it is nice to know that another format is supported. WMA format was marketed as being better than MP3 in the way that WMA sounds the same as MP3 with lower bitrates. However, I find WMA the same as MP3 in the SAME bitrates.
Also in the mix is the upgradeable firmware. No doubt someone can hack it to play other formats as well (such as WAV). Although, I'm not sure if the decoding is firmware-based or hardware-based. I would think that the MP3 and WMA decoding is hardware-based (native).
Battery consumption is incredibly low! Taking a cue from it's own product-line, the SP250 pretty much acts like a solid-state player, spinning up the CD only to fill up the large memory buffer. Once filled, the player plays from only the buffer. This stops the CD from spinning, and saves alot of energy. The "spurt" of energy required from the batteries is so brief, that most of the battery life is just devoted to decoding MP3 - an electronic fuction that obviously require less current than spinning an electro-mechanical motor. The buffer is large enough for about a song (spilling over to the next song). This is why the unit is so skip-free! Rest asured that it will start filling the buffer once it gets low enough (and the unit compensate for spin-up time, so it will NEVER studder during the filling of the buffers). They even included NiHM batteries! These are not those cheap rechargables, either! The unit also acts as a charger, that also discharges and recharges the batteries so it will not have a "memory" effect. The unit also works on normal everyday AA alkaline bateries.
The unit comes with a leather carrying case, that is contoured and perfectly fits over the unit like a second skin! Buttons are clearly marked, but not exposed (as a good case allows), and a clear vinyl window goes over the LCD display. Jacks and connections are not obstructed by the case, either.
The wired-remote is very hand for the joggers and auto-listeners alike. It is actually easier to navigate with this remote than with the buttons on the unit - esp once you get used to it's conventions. The jack on the unit allows a normal earphone set to plug directly to the unit without the remote, and the remote itself has a jack on it, so you can use any earphones you'd like while retaining the full use of the included remote! Nice!
And last, but not least, the FM tuner. The feature almost seemed like an after-thought, as it seems like it is not fully integrated with the unit. Everytime you leave the FM radio mode, the unit acts if you are turning it on again for the first time (when going into the MP3/CD mode). Nonetheless, we finally have FM radio, for you radio junkies (heck, I'm one of them!). No matter how many songs are in your collection, chances are, you already heard them before!
Although the navigation firmware is awesome and easy to use, it is very hard to explain it here. It's best to check it out for yourself on a demo display at your local Best Buy or Circuit City. Bring along your own MP3 CD!
The Bad
Although I listed counter-arguments to my "good" list, they are not truly "bad". Just a little quirky. :)
One of the major flaw the SP250 holds is it's own sheer size. It is no smaller than the original SP100! In fact, choosing the best MP3/CD player has come down to either the SP250, and the TDK Mojo. The Mojo is slightly smaller than the SP250, and boast the same ease in navigation, but sans the FM reciever.
The next is the flimsy case and buttons of the unit. May have complained about this on the original, but the SP250 did it again. Although a little more sturdier than the original, it isn't much. The same plastic feel is appeareant once it is in your hand. This is something very disturbing especially plunking down $200 for such a unit. For $100, it's not bad however (prices have fallen). The TDK Mojo feels much more sturdier than the SP250. If you are going to use this for jogging and other outdoor/portibility use (as it was marketed for), you best be careful.
This unit can still "crash" or "lockup". It many cases, just turning the unit off, then back on will help. This proves that the SP250 may not be a spit-polished product, but it is as close as anyone has come in the MP3-CD market.
The Ugly
The flimsy case, of course! And the same 'ol fat style! Something slimmer would be nice. The firmware could be a little more refined as well. Nothing too major.
The Skinny
Skinny it is not, but overall, a very well-made unit for MP3-CD playback. It works very well in an automobile with a cassette adaptor. However, if you do not have a cassette adaptor, I do not advise you to use an RF converter, since the sound quality is not as great as a wired solution, or even a cassette adaptor. For those with plain-vanilla CD head units, I suggest getting a MP3-CD head unit such as the JVC KD-SH99 I reviewed. (The KD-SH909 is also out with an updated look, and a minor improvement in features).
The RioVolt - a must have for serious music lovers on the go! (Or if you really can't decide on what CD you wanna bring!)
Diamond Multimedia's Rio made it's debut as the first stand-alone product to play MP3 without a PC. It's small size helped, as well! Thanks to the small size of MP3 files itself, such a device was viable even with such a low capacity (32 MB to 64 MB). With 64 MB, we were conent with the CD-like amount of storage (around 60 minutes).
I, of course, saw MP3 as a way of "mass music", so I never really saw the point of such solid-state devices. I originally imagined if there was a devices that would exist to play MP3s off a normal data CD.
There was one by Genica, a first-gen product. I really hate saying "first gen", as I always believed that if you were to do something, you must do it right the 1st time - especially on a product such as this! The screen was too small for any use (just shows MP3s as "tracks"), and the unit skipped alot. There was just no excuse for skipping, for if it does so, it is not a true product that is marketable for the mass. Yet, it was the only one in the market!
The next product up to bat would be the RioVolt. The original RioVolt (now the SP100 model) is what a MP3-CD player SHOULD HAVE BEEN, if the idea was executed flawlessly (as a true product). It played without skipping, fully featured, and had a large LCD screen to display id tags from MP3s. Also, the large screen help in navigating a large music collection that such a media would provide. After all, at around 5 MB a song, it would take around 100 songs to fill up a CD-R/W! Imagine navigating thru that!
The new RioVolt SP250 is pretty much the same as the original. This is both good and bad.
The Goods
Like the original, this model played MP3s flawlessly! Without the skipping/pausing of the "older" gen technologies. The navigation firmware is there as well. However, there are a few things added that makes this unit so awesome.
First off, there is support for the WMA format. Although personally, I prefer MP3s, it is nice to know that another format is supported. WMA format was marketed as being better than MP3 in the way that WMA sounds the same as MP3 with lower bitrates. However, I find WMA the same as MP3 in the SAME bitrates.
Also in the mix is the upgradeable firmware. No doubt someone can hack it to play other formats as well (such as WAV). Although, I'm not sure if the decoding is firmware-based or hardware-based. I would think that the MP3 and WMA decoding is hardware-based (native).
Battery consumption is incredibly low! Taking a cue from it's own product-line, the SP250 pretty much acts like a solid-state player, spinning up the CD only to fill up the large memory buffer. Once filled, the player plays from only the buffer. This stops the CD from spinning, and saves alot of energy. The "spurt" of energy required from the batteries is so brief, that most of the battery life is just devoted to decoding MP3 - an electronic fuction that obviously require less current than spinning an electro-mechanical motor. The buffer is large enough for about a song (spilling over to the next song). This is why the unit is so skip-free! Rest asured that it will start filling the buffer once it gets low enough (and the unit compensate for spin-up time, so it will NEVER studder during the filling of the buffers). They even included NiHM batteries! These are not those cheap rechargables, either! The unit also acts as a charger, that also discharges and recharges the batteries so it will not have a "memory" effect. The unit also works on normal everyday AA alkaline bateries.
The unit comes with a leather carrying case, that is contoured and perfectly fits over the unit like a second skin! Buttons are clearly marked, but not exposed (as a good case allows), and a clear vinyl window goes over the LCD display. Jacks and connections are not obstructed by the case, either.
The wired-remote is very hand for the joggers and auto-listeners alike. It is actually easier to navigate with this remote than with the buttons on the unit - esp once you get used to it's conventions. The jack on the unit allows a normal earphone set to plug directly to the unit without the remote, and the remote itself has a jack on it, so you can use any earphones you'd like while retaining the full use of the included remote! Nice!
And last, but not least, the FM tuner. The feature almost seemed like an after-thought, as it seems like it is not fully integrated with the unit. Everytime you leave the FM radio mode, the unit acts if you are turning it on again for the first time (when going into the MP3/CD mode). Nonetheless, we finally have FM radio, for you radio junkies (heck, I'm one of them!). No matter how many songs are in your collection, chances are, you already heard them before!
Although the navigation firmware is awesome and easy to use, it is very hard to explain it here. It's best to check it out for yourself on a demo display at your local Best Buy or Circuit City. Bring along your own MP3 CD!
The Bad
Although I listed counter-arguments to my "good" list, they are not truly "bad". Just a little quirky. :)
One of the major flaw the SP250 holds is it's own sheer size. It is no smaller than the original SP100! In fact, choosing the best MP3/CD player has come down to either the SP250, and the TDK Mojo. The Mojo is slightly smaller than the SP250, and boast the same ease in navigation, but sans the FM reciever.
The next is the flimsy case and buttons of the unit. May have complained about this on the original, but the SP250 did it again. Although a little more sturdier than the original, it isn't much. The same plastic feel is appeareant once it is in your hand. This is something very disturbing especially plunking down $200 for such a unit. For $100, it's not bad however (prices have fallen). The TDK Mojo feels much more sturdier than the SP250. If you are going to use this for jogging and other outdoor/portibility use (as it was marketed for), you best be careful.
This unit can still "crash" or "lockup". It many cases, just turning the unit off, then back on will help. This proves that the SP250 may not be a spit-polished product, but it is as close as anyone has come in the MP3-CD market.
The Ugly
The flimsy case, of course! And the same 'ol fat style! Something slimmer would be nice. The firmware could be a little more refined as well. Nothing too major.
The Skinny
Skinny it is not, but overall, a very well-made unit for MP3-CD playback. It works very well in an automobile with a cassette adaptor. However, if you do not have a cassette adaptor, I do not advise you to use an RF converter, since the sound quality is not as great as a wired solution, or even a cassette adaptor. For those with plain-vanilla CD head units, I suggest getting a MP3-CD head unit such as the JVC KD-SH99 I reviewed. (The KD-SH909 is also out with an updated look, and a minor improvement in features).
The RioVolt - a must have for serious music lovers on the go! (Or if you really can't decide on what CD you wanna bring!)
