Pros: Small size, simple operation, SD memory expansion option, efficient power usage, good FM reception.
Cons: Somewhat flimsy buttons, cheap headphones.
The Bottom Line: Affordable and tiny, the Chiba combines great features (expandable memory and FM tuner) with an easy interface to make an mp3/WMA player that's great for the active music-lover!
gamercubed's Full Review: Rio Chiba Street (128 MB) MP3 Player
Though I already own an mp3 player (see review here), I have finally become better at exercising at my university (Texas A&M) rec center, so I decided it'd be cool to have an mp3 player that I could run with. I didn't feel comfortable doing that with an HD-based one, so that meant I had to get a flash memory player. Obviously, they don't hold nearly as many songs, but they're small, light-weight, and contain no moving parts, so you can jerk 'em around all you want. I must say, I didn't do as much research about this purchase as I did my other mp3 player. I chose it because Napster.com was running a deal (still is as of this writing) that gave you the 128MB Chiba + a year subscription to Napster for just $120 (not much more than the player itself is worth). Since I was already subscribing to Napster every other month or so, I decided to go for it.
Design & Layout:
As you probably have noticed from the pictures, the Chiba has a somewhat unusual design. The button and screen layout is easy to use if you are holding it in your right hand. Unfortunately, seeing the screen and using the buttons is not as convenient when it's clipped onto your belt. Some players are a bit better in this regard, but this is nevertheless a minor complaint.
The player itself is solid and feels well-constructed, as lightweight as it is. The buttons are alright, but not great, in my opinion. They don't feel terribly sturdy, but they should last. The red directional thumb switch is well designed. It makes navigating the menus easy, and you simply push it in to make your selection. The "menu" button just above it is well-positioned also. The volume control is a tiny rocker switch that works, but is plenty small. Not much to comment on regarding the power button - it functions just as you'd expect (hold it down to turn player on and off). Finally, there is a toggle switch that locks the player's buttons. I've accidentally bumped this before, but it's generally not a problem.
The LCD is about an inch across, crisp, and has a backlight that turns on when you press a button. It provides plenty of information on a single screen: Track title, artist, album, song progress bar, battery level indicator, volume level indicator, and icons that let you know if shuffle and/or repeat modes are turned on. By pressing the action button, you can toggle between the information that appears at the bottom: time and date -or- time position of song and song number out of total on memory card -or- file type, size, and bitrate -or- song genre. The menu layout is intuitive and easy to navigate.
On the bottom are the headphone and USB jacks. These do not have protective covers, but when the carrying case is attached it covers the USB port, which is good.
Features & Performance:
Accessible through the menus are track selections, tuner selection (more on this later), a simple stopwatch, playback modes (shuffle and/or repeat), equalizer settings (including custom setting option), memory information, etc. Playback of the entire music library (or of an individual memory card) is easy to select. Finding a specific song is not difficult either, but requires that you scroll through the entire list of songs on the player. Playlists are also supported, but not through the player’s interface (only via the computer).
In addition to its primary function as an mp3/WMA player, the Chiba also features a fully-functional FM tuner. This is quickly accessed through the menu and station presets can be easily programmed with a couple button clicks. In my experience, the tuner has picked up stations well and played them clearly. Unlike on some players, the FM tuner on the Chiba does not seem to be an afterthought.
On the back of the player is a panel that conceals the single AAA battery and the optional SD memory card. As far as power consumption goes, this player is excellent. My battery status bar shows half remaining and I've already used the player for around 10 hours on the first battery. As for memory, the player has 128 MB built-in. This is enough for roughly 4 hours of audio if you encode the files in Windows Media Audio format. The mp3 format is also supported, but is less efficient for similar audio quality (WMA is always being improved whereas mp3 is not, so lower-bitrates of MWA are able to match the quality of higher-bitrate mp3 files.). Though 4 hours may be enough for some users, the Chiba is expandable. Thanks to a slot for Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards (popular formats used by many digital cameras), up to 1GB of memory can be added to the built-in 128MB. This is an excellent feature, especially if you already have this type of card from a camera. An off-brand 256MB SD card can be had for a mere $25 at some online vendors (newegg.com is a reputable store), FYI.
The Rio only supports USB 1.1, which isn’t bad for transferring a few songs, but if you significantly expanded the memory, it could take quite a while to move say, 100+ songs at once. Data may also be stored on the Chiba. Unfortunately, the Chiba requires that you install drivers (from an included CD) before you can download files to it. After that, it's a simple as dragging and dropping your songs onto the player. Once on the player, files load and play quickly, and since there are no moving parts in the player, skipping is nonexistent.
Included Accessories:
Included with the player is a molded plastic carrying case that the player can be snugly fit into. This case has a strong metal belt clip that works well (I’ve taken the player jogging several times without it ever coming close to falling off). The player also comes with a pair of cheap headphones. While their sound quality is mediocre (as can be expected), they do fit fairly well and I have been content using them when I run. I would recommend using better headphones, however, if you really want to get the most out of your music.
Conclusion:
All-around great mp3 player. Sound quality is perfectly fine for headphone use, FM tuner works well, menus are easy to navigate, and it's small! It's also quite affordable now, making it an attractive option for those looking for a small mp3/WMA player that they can take jogging. Just remember that you'll probably need to spend a bit extra for another memory card and better headphones.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 120 Recommended for: Athletes - Lightweight and Portable, Perfect for the Gym
128MB of Memory Plays Back Over 2 Hours of MP3 or 4 hours of WMA music Expansion slot to add up to 512MB using SD or MMC Cards 5-Band Adjustable Equal...More at Amazon Marketplace
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