The Rio 500 - A True Classic
Written: Mar 03 '02
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Pros: Sleek design, firm recessed buttons, bright backlight, jog-dial/button, equalizer, USB interface, On/Off Switch, Ergonomic
Cons: Battery leads flimsy - easily fixed, proprietary software
The Bottom Line: The Diamond Rio 500 is a pure gem; a TRUE legacy product of Diamond Multimedia.
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| taleron's Full Review: Rio PMP-500 (64 MB) MP3 Player |
I bought my Rio 500 off of eBay almost a year ago at an incredibly cheap price. It was a refurb, but from SONICblue themselves, so I trusted the auction. I was not to be disappointed.
When I first got my Rio, I was more surprised than what I had been led to believe. The box it was shipped in was the size of my CD player! When I finally saw the Rio, its sleek, silver, no-nonsense looks and small size drew me in immediately. I read the booklet carefully, and tried out everything over time.
First, let's look at the cons (I don't know why people list the good news first).
-When I received my Rio, I found that I had to install the RioPort Audio Manager software. This proprietary software from SONICblue was the only way to transfer MP3s to and from the Rio. Like quite a few PDAs and some MP3 players, I had sync problems from the beginning. I later found out that all the Rio needed was a firmware update from SONICblue, and to update the RioPort software, and all was well. I haven't had any real problem with it after that.
-Second, after using my Rio for several months, I discovered something. The Rio would skip! I would simply drop the Rio into my pocket as it was playing, and it restart itself. It perturbed me a little, as I had bought an MP3 player so I wouldn't have to worry about skipping. I later found out that the metal parts that connect the battery to the Rio and give it power had come a little loose. The two leads for the negative (flat) side of the AA battery overlap slightly. Over time, they become depressed and flatten out a little. A simple fix is to bend the leads back out with a needle or penknife. A permanent solution I use is a tiny roll of tinfoil under the two leads. This keeps them well puffed up, and doesn't interfere with the power transfer.
Now, having gone into detail about the cons, the pros:
- Design. I'm an art student; not only does something have to have function, but it's gotta have some form. Some style. The Rio 500 does not disappoint. It's small and slick, and with a silver casing, making it look expensive and tough. "Rio500" is engraved vertically on the case, and the case itself and all its buttons are softly rounded out and placed ergonomically. In EITHER HAND, I can access all the buttons and the dial on the Rio without having to use both hands (it works well for righties and lefties, as my left-handed brother will attest).
- Buttons. A nice piece of equipment has to be sturdy, and I don't want to be losing buttons on a nice piece of hardware. The Rio's buttons are recessed, and while quite easy to press, they are firm enough to feel stable, yet silent. There's no loud, audible clicking like there is on the Rio One (PMP300).
- Backlight. The backlight is VERY bright, and is a nice aqua color. I have an Indiglo watch, and the colors and brightness are EXACTLY the same. I get a nice, bright reading, and with three options, "Always On," "Always Off," and "Delay: 00 (seconds):" I can always choose how long I want to use it. Even with the backlight Always On, the AA battery lasts surprisingly long.
- Jog-Dial/Button. The Jog-Dial is the most important button on the Rio. It is used to control the volume, and pressing it brings up the menu for the backlight, information, Equalizer, and other submenus. Again, it's sturdy, and is shaped like a cog, so it is easily grippable, with large clicking teeth, unlike the finely-grooved side like a quarter has.
- Equalizer. The EQ is no-nonsense again, giving you a choice between Normal, Classic, Jazz, Rock, and Custom. In the Custom menu, you can turn the bass and treble up independently via two settings. I will note that using the equalizer does not decrease battery power, unlike a CD player with activational EQ does.
- USB. USB is great, and is very common. The Rio 500 has its own tiny port on its body, so it needs a special cable, but the cable's fairly cheap, and well constructed; if you buy one, you probably won't have to buy another for awhile. Transfer rates are smooth and quick, transferring more than 1 MB a second. I can transfer my entire Pink Floyd: The Wall album to my Rio in about 4 minutes.
- On/Off Switch. Most people don't point this out, but I've noticed this little godsend. On the first Rio, the One/PMP300, you have to push the Play button to start it. On the 500, though, it's new. A sliding switch on top has three settings: On, Hold, Off. I've noticed that this decreases the risk of the Rio accidentally turning on or off because something in your pocket touched the Play/On button. Also, with my headphones inserted into the jack, which is right next to the sliding switch, when in the "Off" position, the switch is closer to the headphone leader. The leader protects the switch itself from being brushed and turned on! A brilliant little piece of engineering, I think, albeit perhaps serendipitous.
OVERALL:
Overall, the Rio 500 is a gem. With 64 MB, all the basic features, and many added ones, not to mention slick and conscious designing, the Rio is well worth the money of comparative MP3 players. It can expand with 3.3v SmartMedia cards, which can ALSO be used in digital cameras (hint hint, I love this feature ;). One 64 MB SmartMedia card can hold about an album's worth of MP3s at 160 KBps, so it works well. I can carry 4 SmartMedias inside one old gutted CD jewel case, so it's much less strain on my pockets.
My recommendation: If you want a good, dependable, no-frills, stylish MP3 player but don't have the money for a big 6-20 GB player, go for the 500. It aims to please, and shines.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 35.00
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Epinions.com ID:
taleron
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Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
About Me:
Teenager techy philosopher geek!
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