Reviews (5)

more memory for more songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when i first gt my rio i thought i was able to put as much song as i can. and im a snowboarder so i was going to bring it with me next time i go bt then i found out that it isnt worth it because i want albe to pt alot of songs on it. ive been lookin on the internet ad found that i can upgrade by buying a memory backpack or whatevr it is but the only hard prt is where am i supposed to find these so called memory backpacks it seems to me they dont even exist ive been having the hardest time trying to find them. ...

help!!
hello,is there anyone know how to update the rio 600 player that could play the files with .rm?

Necessary? Not really. But stylish and fun? Yes!
If you're like me, half the fun of having electronic gadgets is showing them off--and being just a *little* different from the crowd. That's why I dropped the guts of my Palm IIIxe into a clear blue plastic case, and that's why I bought this simple but stylish set of color faceplates for my Rio 600.

Easy to change with a quick snap-on/snap-off, these three faceplaces (teal, white, and pink) give your 600 a dramatically different look. No, of course they don't make your player sound better or work better, but they *do* make it look cool, and face it, isn't at least *part* of the reason you got the Rio 600 is that it's stylish and sleek? You can even spray-paint them if you don't like the colors.

(Now, if only Apple would design iMacs on which you could instantly change the color of the case...)

Getting tired of looking at your Rio?
I was kind of doubtful about buying the faceplates, just because I didn't care for the colors. But I got them and they look great! They may not look like the best color choices, but when they are on the unit itself, it looks great. It's not a necessity for the player, but it does give you a little variety.

If you like colors...
This is obviously not a vital accessory for the Rio 600. Personally, I would not buy it but if you are that determined to change the color of the Rio then go ahead. I say this because I think it is a waste of money to buy this just so you can mix and match colors. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Add more listening time to your Rio digital audio player with the Rio 64 MB Backpack. This memory module snaps onto your Rio. It adds an extra two hours of playback time in the WMA audio format and about 60 minutes in the MP3 format. The Backpack comes with rechargeable battery and power adapter for recharging. It works with both the Rio 600 and Rio 800 digital audio players.

Rio's backpacks are upgradable to current and future memory standards. The backpack runs up to 10 hours on a fully charged NiMH battery (internal). It comes with a one-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 64 MB memory module for Rio 600 and 800 MP3 players
• Get an extra hour of MP3 music or 2 hours of Windows Media Audio (WMA) format files
• Comes with rechargeable battery, power adapter
• Easy to use--snaps onto Rio player
• Upgradeable to future digital audio standards

Reviews (9)

Big Problems
Oh, great. I get my Rio 600 / 32mb and add this 64mb backpack and now after 3 weeks the thing "quits working". Now I've had this player for over a year and it has been very good. Yes I've updated the software (1.55) and tried all the other tricks listed on the web... No go.... Now I read were I'm not the only person to run into this problem....

Won't ship to England?
Great. So it's offered at $$$ but "can't be shipped outside the US". Is this bloody-mindedness or down to the fact that the charger would launch itself into space with our UK 230 volt supply voltage? (Who cares - I can buy a cheap charger here).

My alternative is to buy a "Backpack" from Amazon UK. But wait - it's only a 32Mb unit and the cost is *twice* that of the 64Mb unit!

Nah. I think I'll just buy a cheap Taiwanese MP3 player and trash this American junk. That seems to be the way the world is going.

Less than fair
Apparently, Sonicblue discontinued making this backpack for some time because it had a lot of problems-- the many serious issues were supposedly fixed.

Calibration worked easy. The only problem was the supposed 'charging lamp' didnt go on, which created a lot of confusion.

After calibration and testing, I had the battery drained and charged it up (because I thought the lamp didnt turn on because the battery was full)--It didnt go on. Battery level is entirely innacurate, and the mandatory rechargable battery doesnt last nearly as long as the ones I used before.

The only positive thing is that it works

With its bad history, my suggestion would be to buy a player from a reliable brand or one with better reviews.

Unbelievably bad history
I had the older 64 meg backpack. It worked very poorly with my RIO 800, but worked fine with my Rio 600. So I gave the 800 to a kid who didn't mind charging it immediately before every use.

I have two Rio 600's for audible.com. If it weren't for audible.com books compatiability I'd use only my Nomad IIC.

I bought one of the new 64 meg backpacks for my other rio 600. It worked great for about a week and then it died in mid sentence. Now the charger won't even turn its red light on.

But my older backpack still works fine on a 600 and with the new charger that came with the newer backpack.

The two backpacks (old and new) have different part numers, old one ending in dash 001 and the new one in dash 010. So there's some attempt at product improvement on the part of Sonic Blue, but they never let us know what they are doing.

I've had three different chargers. The first one didn't have the spur on the plug. Apparently people were plugging it into the earphone jack and zapping their Rios so Sonic Blue traded it for a new one with a spur to keep it out of the earphone jack. The dash 010 model came with a different "switching" charger. Not much explanation as to what was wrong with the old one.

This is 2002. Sonic Blue should get something like this right the first time. These things are too expensive to keep jerking the consumer around.

Works well and easy to setup!
I just recently purchased one of these. I'm not sure why these other people were having problems but I had absolutely no troubles setting this up. The battery lasts about 10 hours. Maybe calibration is the key. Make sure to upgrade the firmware on your Rio player (takes about 5 minutes). ... Read more

Features

• Plays MP3 files on CD-R and CD-RW, standard music CDs, and cassette tapes
• Digital AM/FM tuner with 30 memory presets; large backlit LCD
• Stereo RCA auxiliary input
• 120-watt, bi-amplified, stereo system with two integrated subwoofers
• Includes: Rio EX1000 executive shelf system, satellite speakers with cables, remote control, 2 power cables

Reviews (20)

The Best So Far
Out of all shelf systems that play MP3's, this is the best thus far!!!
Unlike any and all Philips products, The Rio EX 1000 reads mp3's at a fast pace and quickly displays titles.
I originally bought the FWR55 from Philips(not worth the paper the ad is printed on) and had nothing but slow reads and horrible quality not to mention poor customer service. Those factors prompted me to return it to Amazon.com for a refund. Philips needs to go to MP3 school!!!!
Then I heard about the RIO EX 1000.....and have not been disappointed..
This system has only a couple of minor drawbacks:
1.Could use a little bit more power as well as true surround.

2.Did not like the speaker connections; esp to the sub-woofer..

All in all, The Sonic Blue team is the BEST when it comes to MP3's as they make their product with firmware updates(Philips has no such thing and probably is not capable of thinking outside the box).
A major recommended system if you want to play mp3's... You will not be disappointed!!!!!!!!

Great item!
I actually went to J&R to listen to this system. It sounded great. For the price, I definitely couldn't pass it up.

You get a LOT of quality and options for an amazing price when compared to the other systems. It has a lot of power, clock/timer/alarm, high watts, powerful speakers, plays all CDs, surrround sound, etc. The sound quality is excellent; very clear and crisp, although the bass is a little muddy sometimes.

The unit is very sleek and modern looking--very attractive. The wood is a light birch/beech, with silvery/light blue speaker netting covers. The display has many different colors to choose from--I keep mine on violet.

I am very pleased with this purchase--especially with the price and quality.

Great System
This is a wonderful system to buy. It is cheap compared to many of the mp3 capable music systems. It also generates a nice crisp sound which can fill your whole room. The backlit display is also a great feature.

Great Microsystem!
This stereo is very awesome. The highs are crisp and the built in subs can't be beat. The changing lights on the LCD are spiffy too! Overall great sound and awesome looking too. I love it!

Good for the Money, but a little Chunky
If I hadn't already purchased this system, I'd be a little confused after reading the reviews. Unfortunately, it seems like there may be some quality control issues with this unit and there's a chance you might get a defective unit. When this does happen, and for most of us it hasn't (at least not yet to me), it seems to occur right away. So, if you do buy it, be sure it's from a place you can return it right away if you have problems. It seems like trying to get warranty support is a nightmare.

One issue that has not been brought up is the size of the unit. Although the main unit is not as high as most shelf systems, I was disappointed that it's fairly deep. It won't fit on a 12-in shelf for example. Check the depth if that may be an issue for you.

The stuff about the different colors on the LCD seemed to really upset some people. Unless you seem to have a bad unit, it's pretty easy to set the LCD color on one of about 5 - although someone said they get a choice of 10. Whatever. I have a soft blue color I like, a girl reviewer liked the changes, someone liked red... Just pick a setting you like. Everytime the unit is unplugged or the electric to it goes off, however, the colors will loose their setting and will switch to rotating colors again.

I've had my system for several months for a bedroom in a ski rental condo that's a little tight on space. I don't have room for the boom box and the sound is still pretty good. For the money, it's not a bad deal. My major issue is that I'd like it better if it was a little more compact. Also, you would think that it shouldn't be long before Sony and some others are making some shelf systems with MP3 playback. So, if you don't need this right away, you may want to wait. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The DDV3120 is packed with all the convenience features you've come to expect from GoVideo, like commercial-free viewing of recorded shows, and the ability to watch one video while recording another or to duplicate home movies without the hassle of hooking up a second VCR. In addition, the DDV3120 offers high-end video and audio editing features and quality. In addition to the space-saving design and dual-deck convenience, the hi-fi stereo DDV3120 also delivers flying erase heads for seamless editing, an S-video input (with S-VHS quasi playback) for high-quality video signal transfer, eight-scene automatic assembly editor/titler, and audio/video dubbing for customizing home movies.

Features like one-touch commercial-free copying let you easily record a show on one deck and copy to the other deck without commercials. Commercial Advance/Movie Advance skips ads and movie trailers on recorded programs at the touch of a button. Sequence Mode switches from deck one to deck two automatically during recording, providing twice the record and playback time. Loop Mode lets the unit play indefinitely, and Complete Program Record adjusts recording speed to fit the length of tape being used to ensure that the end of any recorded show arrives.

Other features include child lock to disable the front-panel buttons; auto setup, which automatically sets the clock and searches for channels when you hook up to a TV; and Timer Record, which lets you set as many as 16 timed events up to one year in advance--twice as many as most VCRs allow. The DDV3120 also includes a multibrand, jog/shuttle remote with glow keys, a multimedia Go-Port for PC interface and control, and an auto head cleaner on both decks to keep playback and copies looking sharp. ... Read more

Features

• Two 4-head hi-fi VCRs in one
• One-touch commercial-free copying for ad-free viewing
• Commercial Advance®/Movie Advance skips commercials and movie trailers
• Flying erase heads ensure seamless edits like the pros
• Complete Program Record automatically adjusts tape speed

Reviews (4)

***** Best Product out there Will Reccomend *****
This Is the Best Product I Ever Bought, all the funtions work and The easy it was to use, even if the Guys that say the clock does not work. They should learn how to read first.
I even used it to copy many diffrent tapes and it was as easy as saying Done,,,,
I will Reccomend it any time.
There is no Product like this anywhere.
If so let me know

Defective product, no support
Defective product - The DDV3120 cannot keep time unless a tape is in the second deck, but it is not mentioned in the owner's manual, you have to check the web site. This is a documented (online only) problem with no solution. I have tried for five months to register online or talk with tech support to register. The online registration page has changed, but still does not work. The phone tech support people are polite, but only refer you to the web site. Site surveys don't generate a response.

Super handy product
For our school, teachers need clips of videos to demonstrate cultural items to students, or to show small episodes of full length videos that we own. This machine simplifies their presentation struggle, by allowing them to place those clips of no more than one or two minutes in sequence and to present smoothly within the fast paced class time of less than a full hour.

Also, while making copies of student made video projects, student performances, teacher presentations, this unit allows copies to be made that are crisp and clean and ready to distribute with a minimum of extra effort.

For home use, it is also a wonderful way to duplicate family videos to share with other family members. And it is nice to duplicate these items in an edited fashion that is less boring to the receiving family.

I highly recommend this unit to folks still using VCRs.

Don't Buy It - The Product is Defective
I picked this product since it seemed to have good features.
I could not find any online review on this particular model, so I took a risk.

The bottom line is, this model is defective.
The defect may not affect you if you don't/don't know how to tape using the timer, but it's been aggrevating to me since I timer record to death.

I set up DDV-3120 by using its automatic set-up, but the day after, I noticed that the clock was indicating completely the wrong time (say, when it really was 8:30AM, it was showing 11:52AM). I reset the whole thing, and set up all over; same thing happened the day after. I called the Customer Service, and was told it was a known issue, that I'd have to leave a tape in Deck 2 all the time so the clock won't be messed up, and they'd contact me when they FIND a solution (DDV-3120 is a dual-deck VCR). Besides, either you chose to manually or automatically (and if automatic, change a station from which you receive the waves) set the clock, after a while, it always goes two to four minutes behind no matter how often you fixt it.

OK, I left a tape in Deck 2 and tried to live with it until the day they'll find the solution.

However, on October 27, 2002 - the day the Daylight Saving Time ended - I noticed that the VCR was not taping shows that I had programmed.

I checked the programs, and to my amazement, all the shows that I had programmed and had been taping until the day before had been changed by itself to start in December 2002 all of a sudden!!!

I somehow managed to correct the starting date after so much struggle because it just wouldn't give me October 2002, it kept jumping to October 2003 instead.

I called the Customer Service, explained what happened, and was told that it wasn't a known issue like the other issue; but the bottom line was that I was able to fix it therefore it should not be a big deal.

I was furious to their response because I didn't believe that I should have to go through this every 6 month even though I COULD FIX IT MANUALLY when that mess occurs.

I asked if I could return the product to them because the store I purchased from had a 7-day return policy (and this was the only store that carried this particular model in New York City) and it had been already 14 days. They said no and it was a problem between me and the store (maybe, but!!!!) I told them that the product was clearly defective, and at least they should provide better customer service to save this defective product. Even if I bring my VCR to a service center for the second problem, I won't know if it was fixed or not until 6 month later, and by that time, their 90 day labor warranty will have been expired.

I may be incorrect, but I have a strong feeling that the second problem has a LOT to do with the fact that the clock does not function properly (even if you leave a tape in the deck 2 - but why should I have to do such a thing to begin with??) Maybe other people hadn't figured that out yet, maybe?

I am so sorry that the Daylihgt Saving Time didn't come within 7 days after I purchased the product so I missed the opportunity to return to the store. GoVideo should recall this particular model and fix the clock issue at least. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

There are certain milestones in the progression of any technology that demand attention and praise. With its versatility, sound quality, and ease of use, the Rio Volt Portable CD MP3 Player represents such a standard-setting achievement in the world of portable MP3 CD players and has positioned SONICblue as an industry leader worthy of emulation and acclaim.

While the Rio Volt's predecessors combined solid sound with the ability to play MP3-encoded discs along with standard CD-Rs and CD-RWs, none of them took the extra step of including both WMA (Windows Media Audio) compatibility and ID3 tag support. The addition of these features to the MP3 CD formula makes this unit the most adaptable portable on the market, as well as one of the most convenient.

WMA is a Microsoft audio format that purports to offer MP3-quality sound from files one-half the size, potentially letting you cram up to 300 or so songs on a single disc. The format supports data transmission of 48 Kbps (near-CD quality) and 64 Kbps (CD quality).

ID3 tags are markers embedded in MP3 files that feed song, artist, and album names to your player. Supporting these tags means that a device can display this information, letting you find the song you want without having to remember exactly where on the disc a song sits. This proved an invaluable feature as we scavenged through the hundreds of WMA and MP3 files on our discs for tunes to match our ever-changing moods.

Moving through a song list is easy with the Rio Volt's up/down buttons, and a +10 button lets you jump ahead 10 tracks at a time--especially useful with fully loaded MP3 discs. The inline remote (part of the headphone cord) lets you operate most functions without having to dig the unit out of its carrying case and even offers a battery-friendly hold switch that prevents unwanted initiation of playback.

For those new to MP3, WMA, and rewritable CD formats, the Rio Volt includes Adaptec's Easy CD Creator Standard 4 (for PC--a Deluxe version is available separately) and SoundJam (for Macintosh) software packages for creating your own CDs. Of course, the burning of CDs does require a CD-recording burner, an expense that is almost inevitable if you want to keep up with the latest in audio technology.

Despite the numerous strengths of the Rio Volt, we ultimately discerned a few chinks in its technological armor. Most notably, its programming feature--which offers shuffle and repeat modes along with memory programming--lets you choose songs only by track number rather than by song name. In our testing, this forced us to check track numbers against the CD playlist on our computer several times (and we couldn't print the playlist for easy reference, because the software doesn't provide this option).

Another shortcoming of this portable is its earbud headphones--consider upgrading as soon as possible to headphones that better convey the quality of the Rio Volt's sound.

Along with the handiness of the unit's feature set, we were impressed by the rich, powerful sound of the unit and the consistency of sound quality across the various compatible formats. High-bit-rate MP3 files sounded nearly as crisp and full as standard CDs, and digitally copied CD-RWs (rewritable CDs) sounded just as good as their sources.

Five equalizer presets really make a sonic difference, especially the Jazz and Extra Bass settings. Throw in a choice of 10 or 40 seconds of extremely effective antiskip protection (the 40-second option consumes more power), and you've got the recipe for an easily customized aural treat that performs under almost any conditions. --Ed Noble

Pros:

• Compatibility with MP3/WMA, standard audio CDs, and CD-R/RWs
• Supports ID3 tags for easy search of MP3 files
• Five EQ presets that complement various musical genres
• Great sound

Cons:

• ID3 tag info not displayed when programming
• Hollow-sounding earbud headphones
• Awkward carrying case

Features

• Plays MP3, WMA, and standard audio CDs
• Listen to CD-R and CD-RW discs with more than 10 hours of music on them
• Can be upgraded to accommodate emerging audio-compression schemes
• Includes audio management software for PCs and Macintoshes
• Includes 8-function remote control and offers repeat and shuffle modes, adjustable equalization, and programmable playlists

Reviews (314)

It a decent player
Mmm. Until recently my opinion of my new Rio Volt has fluctuated daily.
I bought this CD/MP3/WMA player because I have all of my own CD's stored on my PC in WMA format so I don't always have to change CD's all the time etc. I was extremely annoyed when I found out that you can't play Copyrighted WMA's on the player, and as all WMA's are recorded from copyrighted CD's, that means basically that it can't play WMA's.
This is stupid. Rio seemed to push the WMA capability so much, and yet it can't play 99% of WMA files. It's outrageous, stupefying, maddening, crazy and shockingly disgraceful. Needless to say, I wasn't happy.
However, I soon discovered that the Real Jukebox software that comes with the player is excellent at ripping CD Audio into MP3's (although it won't rip WAV to MP3), so, after having a cool shower, I calmed down and converted all my CD's to MP3 format.
I recorded at 96kbps and managed to squish 18 albums (250 MP3's) onto one CD-RW, which I was very impressed with. I can carry all my music around on two CD-RW's, great.
I was also hesitant to buy the player because of some of the reviews on this site, complaining about poor sound output levels etc. This really is a load of rubbish because the sound can be turned up to louder than you'd ever need without going deaf and subsequently begging for scraps of mouldy bread on the streets of London the rest of your life.
Anyway. On to the real bad points. The wired remote is a pile of garbage. Pick it up and you feel as though you're going to break the thing, as if it's a delicate little piece of doggy turd, precariously positioned underneath an elephant herd suspended over it using a piece of fishing wire and a roll of sticky tape.
The central button is very hard to operate due to the one button having 4 operations, and it's hard not to press it in the wrong direction, especially if you aren't looking at the thing. If it's not in view, who knows which way is which?. It's a bit suspect if you ask me.
The carry case is also a pile of garbage. Throw it away as soon as you get the damn thing out the box because it is so poorly designed that the only holes in the case are for the player to fit in, and one for headphones and Lineout jacks. No space for the LCD and control buttons to poke through or anything like that. It's just ridiculous. Sony, Rio aint.

But in general, the sound is very good quality, bass is excellent, the headphones are surprisingly good for 'Supplied with goods' standards, the OSD is extremely simple to operate, firmware upgrades are easy to perform. Magic.
Buy it from Amazon because you're likely to surrender a significant amount more money on the high street.

Great So Far
After just a short time with this, I'm really happy. The warnings about this skipping have proved untrue. I made sure I had the latest software update. I will say that I haven't done a lot of jumping around to test this, but I've carried it in a fanny pack while working around the house and shop. I did find that it is a little slow to rev up with MP3s, and so gave it only 4 of 5 stars. My TDK Mojo gave up the ghost after a couple years, and I chose this RioVolt as a replacement. If I get a couple years out of it, I'll be happy.

Stands to the test of time
Bought in 2001, runs like it was brand new. Has stood up to running abuse & being dropped multiple times. Key point: Plays anything you throw @ it, cd, cd-r, vbr mp3, mp3 encoded to cd-rw...etc. Remote is worthless. Battery cover opens easily. Eats batteries (you should have some good rechargeables anyways). Excellent sound that can be tweaked w/ the equalizer. Button placement could be better as you can hit the stop or play button instead of FF/RW especially if inside your pocket.

its ok
It does everything it should although the volume is weak (hard to hear in NYC subway) and batteries run out fast.

a great gadget - the best available
I used this player for about two years. I would highly recommend it. Sound and support is great. The only problam: after using it well for a couple of years it mysteriously died. I am now using the 250 model but I bought the extended warranty. ... Read more

Features

• One-touch commercial-free copying for ad-free tapes
• Two 4-head VCR decks in one
• Complete Program Record technology automatically adjusts tape speed to record your entire show
• Rear A/V inputs
• Sequential recording for 12 hours of programs on 2 tapes

Reviews (10)

Love this Idea!!
I do not own this exact product,but a very similar model(DDV9100) and I love it!!It's so convenient!I can copy a tape at the touch of a button or tape from television(with high quality results for both) Both decks also offer high quality playback.A dual deck definitely comes in handy.I love that I am able to record my favorite tv show while simultaneously watching a favorite video!Also the front easy access audio and video jacks are great for temporary connections,such as a video game system(I can play my Nintendo 64 without pulling out the whole VCR to reach the back)The manual is easy to comprehend.It's very easy to set up(It only took me a quick 3 minutes!!) I've owned this VCR for about 2 years now and I've never had any problems whatsoever with it(even with heavy use) I definitely reccommend a Go Video Dual Deck!! They're worth the money! The only reason I gave it only 4 stars is one of the record features annoys me.When you are recording and press stop the tape will rewind itself 4 seconds so if you don't allow time for this your recording will be cut off at the end.But as long as you know to count 4 seconds before pressing stop it's not a problem.I've gotten use to that process)

Go-Video Model 2110 Dual-Deck VCR
Unless my unit is a lemon, this model is very unsatisfactory. It is difficult to use and poorly engineered. It won't record on slow speed without jitter and rollover. It doesn't always eliminate commercials. No way is provided to limit copying time so the entire tape in Deck one is copied to Deck two, which is particularly troublesome if copying is done over a previously recorded program. With Stop and Eject functions operated from the same button, it is a frustrating experience to scan.

I wouldn't take another unit like this as a gift! Also, it is unlikely I would ever buy another Go-Video product.

Dual VCRs
I was happy with my Dual VCR when I first bought it. However, after using it for a while, Deck 1 no longer worked. The fast rewind ended up rewinding so fast, it broke whatever stops the tape. Since I use the dual decks for recording, rewinding, etc., it was no longer useable.

This is the worse product and company
GOVIDEO 's 2110 and there help desk is a joke , not one of there tech has a clue on the product they supppot and they are rude and short with you when you in call for help. They are advertised as a world class help desk and thats the biggest joke and there product is even funnier , I have replace there 2110 model (4 times) and not one of the models wants to mark the commericals and that renders the Commercial Free Copy option worthless and so is GOVIDEO and I have checked the setting with a GOVIDEO tech and replace the cables and the unit (remember 4 times ) and finally tried with two diffrent TV's same results \

Good idea, poor product
I owned two of these units this year. Neither worked properly. The first one made unuseable copies on deck two. The replacement made a couple fair copies, but these still had commercials. After four or five tries it stopped making useable copies on deck two. When I finally contacted customer service I was told to take it to the repair shop for warrenty work. I have never taken a brand-new VCR in for repair, and never will. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV's 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5080 stores 80 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television--all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5080 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay $12.95 per month or a one-time product service activation fee of $299. ... Read more

Features

• 80-hour digital video recorder
• Pause live-action TV shows
• High-quality slow-motion and fast forward effects
• Networking ability lets you send programs to other 5000 Series users
• Skip past annoying ads with Commercial Advance feature

Reviews (36)

Cool Box!
I am using just about every function on the box and have been VERY happy with the product. The versatility of the audio/video connectivity is great. I use the ethernet port primarily for viewing digital photos and downloading program information. Some day if I get another replay box or if my cable company integrates the technology, I hope to be able send programs to another TV in my house. I use a wireless hub to connect to my wireless router which connects to my WiFi equipped notebook as well as to my cable modem. The network configuration is quite simple.

Contrary to what a lot of people have dinged replay for, the user interface is intuitive and given the Ethernet capability highlighted above and the automated commercial skip feature, IMHO this box is superior to TiVo. You won't be disappointed!

Five stars with held breath
I brought the box home, unpacked it and was happy to see the simplified directions for hooking the machine up. Unlike TiVo, the ReplayTV 5000 series has both a phone hookup as well as broadband ethernet. I have read many reviews that criticize the modems in the machines so if you have an ethernet connection that is the route that you want to take. Connections to the cable box, TV and audio system were easy. Once the ethernet cable was set I turned on the machine and watched it go through initial set-ups which included downloading new software (guess it could see through the router!). After choosing the correct cable box I was set to go.

The ReplayTV has worked flawlessly since I started using it. Two of the features that set it apart from TiVo are Commerical Advance and Internet sharing. I have not used Internet Sharing yet and really don't know if I will but I have used Commerical Advance while watching replays of various shows I've recorded. I would agree that this feature works correctly about 80% of the time, but even when it's not right on the money it's close enough so it's not a pain.

The ReplayTV is easy to program. Searching for your favorite shows or movies can be done from your TV as well as the internet site... The system connects with the servers nightly to update channel listings as well as downloading software updates and receive programming ...

This unit has been a joy. But that said I've read horror stories where the unit has stopped working after a few weeks or months. I think that's a risk you take with any electronic/computer equipment. As for the future of the ReplayTV I think it looks bright with Denon & Marantz. Buy it, plug it in and watch TV like you never have before.

I'll stick with my older ReplayTV and ShowStopper
Frankly this is a lousy upgrade to what could be a great machine. I have a couple of the older Replays, a ReplayTV 3000 and a ShowStopper. It was because of these machines that I took the plunge to upgrade to a pair of 5060's. Boy was I shocked by their performance. Granted they have amazing features like commercial advance, home networking, and the ability to share shows with your friends, they are lacking in the most important feature... the picture quality.
In a side by side comparison, my old replay/showstopper's are superior in color quality, contrast, and clarity, and for the life of me I didn't know why. I would have figured that the same or better components would have been used for the tuner, but alas no. Maybe it's because I'm trying to watch on a 64" television that I can see more imperfection, but I simply cannot complain with my old machines. And 480p output, my backside... the progressive out flickered like you wouldn't believe - completely unwatchable.

Anyhow, rather than send them back I sold them to a couple of people who were new to Replay's, and who were just happy to get a chance to have one. They were happy to have the machines and I was happy to be rid of them.

I may sound like a Replay hater, but I'm really not. I surely hope DNNA (the new owners of Replay) gets it together and improves the hardware in these little beauties, otherwise I'll have to keep buying old Replays. This unit does get three stars for it's original features that Tivo wished it had, and for the amazing Replay community that has sprouted up.

Good Idea, In Theory
My wife and I chose Replay over Tivo for basically one reason: the commercial advance feature. The online record requesting is also a great feature. We loved it. Then the box stopped working for some unknown reason. Luckily it was still under the store's warranty (purchased at Good Guys) and they replaced it in store, no problem. The new boxed worked as great as the old one, unfortunately, as this replacment has mysteriously stopped working as well. Now I am having to deal with customer service at SonicBlue which, while being kind, has no idea what they are doing. It has been two months as of today and I still have not been able to get a replacement sent out dispite being told it was on its way multiple times.

When things go wrong, Support is HORRIBLE!
I purchased a ReplayTV 5060 and within 2 weeks it broke. The product was absolutely amazing... When is was working. I spent 2 1/2 weeks on the phone trying to get the product returned to ReplayTV (because I purchased it directly from them) and they gave me a run-around that was absolutely insulting. When I finally did get it shipped back to them (with my own money), they sent a BROKEN UNIT in its place back. My opinion is to NOT get one of the older models, no matter how cheap the deal is because ReplayTV is awful at keeping customers with broken units happy. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Special Offer--Get a Free Rio 500 from audible.com: Sign up for a one-year commitment to either the BasicListener or PremiumListener plan at audible.com and get a free Rio 500 digital audio player. You'll also receive a free cassette adapter--a $20 value. Visit audible.com and sign up today.

Download in style! This teal Rio 500 stores up to two hours of digital-quality music and up to 32 hours of spoken audio programs. Rio 500 is also the first portable digital-audio player to support both the Macintosh (iMac and G3) and Windows 9X platforms. Access thousands of music and audio files at RioPort.com and over 16,000 hours of Audible.com audio programs. Instantly create, customize, and mix your favorite music and audio selections on your PC or Mac for playback. This lightweight unit plays skip-free music, as there are no moving parts. It's the perfect companion for active people on the go.

The Rio 500 contains an updated hardware design featuring easily accessible controls and a backlit display that shows song/book title, artist, time, and more. And it uses just a single AA battery for up to 13 hours of continuous play. ... Read more

Features

• USB interface delivers up to a 500 Kbps transfer rate
• 64 MB onboard memory is expandable to 96 MB
• Supports PC (Windows 98 and 2000) and Mac (iMac and G3) operating systems
• Skip-free design features bookmarking and preset EQ curves
• Palm-size portability that offers 13 hours of continuous play on a single AA battery

Reviews (290)

Great workout machine
Most of the important points about this machine have been made elsewhere, but I'd like to summarize and add my experience.

Ease of use: Forget the software that comes with it. I use Realjukebox and the transfer of song is a snap. USB port makes transfer speedy. The backlit screen is great and the controls are intuitive. The belt clip case is not very useful as it hard to remove the unit while exercising and difficult to press the buttons through the webbing. Its small enough to carry.

Durability: I've dropped this on a hard gym floor twice from a stairmaster and it kept on playing.

Battery life: One AA battery lasted 5-6 hours.

Quality of sound: Typical of other MP3 players. Changing headphones makes a little difference.

Memory: 64 Meg = about one hour of tunes.

The reason I love this product so much: I used to tire of my workout tapes very quickly and it took forever to make a new mix. Now that I have lots of MP3's stashed on my computer (don't tell Lars Ulrich!) I can make different mixes very quickly. This really enhances my workout experience. This product is just what I was looking for.

JPO

Almost Perfect
The Rio is overall a great product. The buttons and "interface" on the player itself are for the most part intuitive (though it took me some time to figure out the more "advanced" features) and are easy to use, even when you're fumbling around in your pocket to change a song.

The fact that the player is unskipable (it's not like MiniDisc where they SAY it doesn't skip and it really does) and extremely lightweight makes the Rio the perfect exercise companion; I take it on every run.

For 99% of purposes, 64 megabytes memory is enough (unless you're a fan of 256 kb encoding). I can almost always fit ten or more songs on the player, and changing them is easy enough. So don't worry about the memory size-it's enough.

The software (I use a Macintosh) is well done and makes it very easy to transfer songs to the player itself. The only thing I was less than perfectly happy with was the wait while the songs copy (in the scheme of things, a very small flaw). The USB interface was no problem at all, even on an older, less compatible iMac (Revision A).

The headphones included with the player are neat looking, but not great sounding. The fidelity is low, with barely any low and low-mid-range sound. Assume you will have to spend at least another $25 for decent ear-buds.

The only feature I feel the Rio lacks is recording capabilities like the Nomad. But again, no big deal.

Overall, a great product. I'd buy one for a friend.

More Rio support for XP users
This is a durable little MP3 player. I have had mine for about 4 years and it's still going strong. I also had the issue of the software not working with XP. Rio audio products are now owned by Digital Networks, but there is little to no help at all on their website for the Rio 500. Anyway, that is my only complaint. There is a great website called Rioworld.org that has several different freeware programs available that will let your Rio 500 work with XP. There is also a couple of recovery files in case you get a gray checkerboard screen (problem that can occur if there is a power failure during upload of a song).

Rio 500 and Windows XP
To the person who can't transfer music to their Rio 500 under Windows XP, check out Sveta Portable Audio from http://www.dbpoweramp.com/. I've been using it since I got a new PC with XP installed and it works great, much simpler interface compared to the supplied Rio software.

Good player, terrible company
The player is great, small, light and easy to use. You must either use a Mac (works great with iTunes), the Riositude program (freeware, google for it)or win98. I use mine whenever Im outside:running, yardwork whatever. You'll need to replace the earbuds but if you buy a used one do you really want to use someone else's earbuds? The serial number will rub off so write it down as another reviewer suggested.

Also, if you buy a used one, make sure you get the USB cable. It's proprietary and you can't get it anywhere. (Refer to rio support coments below.)

Customer support at rio (or sonic blue or whatever they call themselves this week) is a joke. I will not buy another product of any type from them ever. ... Read more

Features

• DVD player with Dolby Digital and DTS surround-sound audio and component-video, composite-video, and S-video outputs
• 4-head hi-fi stereo VCR with 19-micron heads for optimum quality when recording in EP mode
• 1-touch record from non-copy-protected DVDs to VHS tape
• Complete Program Record automatically adjusts tape speed to ensure the recording of a complete program
• CD-R, CD-RW, and MP3-CD playback

Reviews (27)

A nice unit, buy this if you can afford the 5100
This unit has performed great since day 1. I really like the combined output for DVD and VCR -- so you can set the TV to channel 3 or 4 and then play either DVD or VCR without any input changing. You can opt for seperate outputs if you want as well. The DVD player works great and the remote seems better than average also (and is partially backlit). The VCR works great and I like seeing the television while fast-forwarding or rewinding -- especially the progress meter which is shown on screen. The display is very easy to read from a long distance and has adjustable brightness. The clock has an auto-set capability which seems to be working for me using my satellite signal. The unit is very quite, despite what one of the previous reviewers indicated (the reviewer was talking about the 4400 and not the 4300 as well). I can hardly tell if its rewinding because its totally quiet. This unit also can simulate surround sound with 2 speakers and that works great. I also like the way it looks -- very cool looking silver case and the lower section with glass is very stylish. I really am impressed with this product in most ways. The menus are pretty spartan looking but they get the job done just fine and are easy to use. The product does lack commercial skip and progressive output -- but if your on a budget there are no big compromises here. If your into all the features in the world and/or progressive output then spend a little more and get the GoVideo DVR5100 instead.

Did you hear that?
The VHS player sound was perfect, but I could hardly hear the movie when I played a DVD. I bought this unit to go with my new Sony WEGA TV, but the sound output on the DVD side was low even when the TV volume was cranked up to maximum. I called GoVideo to see if this was a known problem and they were not aware of it. I checked all connections, bought new cables, and nothing improved the sound. Unable to resolve the problem, I returned the unit and am still shopping around. The DVD output volume was my only problem, otherwise I thought it was a great machine, so I can only give it an average rating.

Go Video Products
My GoVideo product was a christmas gift and I am glad that I spent no money of my own to purchase it. It just long enough not to be covered by the warranty. Buyer Beware!

LOVE IT
I'm a girl and don't understand anything techinical. I bought this unit primarily because it was the first combo unit I had seen and I had enough money on my J.C. Penney card to cover the then cost of $250.00 plus tax and shipping. My husband and I have now had this unit over a year and it has been wonderful. No noise from the machine as other reviewers have stated, the picture quality is great and so easy to use even I can handle it. I was wary of the Go Video name, as we had never heard of the company before, but we would not hestitate to buy from them again. Good quality unit in my opinion.

I'm getting a new one!
This product has had problems from the start...when the DVD plays, it makes a VERY loud whirring sound. When I tried to get it fixed under the warranty, they claimed there was no problem at all, and refused to allow me to return it. Now ten months later the whirring sound is so loud, you can't even hear some of the dialog. We're buying a new one, definitely a different model, and giving this trash away. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Go-Video DDV9700Z Dual-Deck VCR provides two hi-fi stereo four-head VCRs in oneconvenient package. This compact unit allows you to conveniently copy a tapeor record a TV show while watching a second tape. Despite having the equivalent of two VCRs inside, the Go-Video DDV9700Z is easy to set up, compact, attractive, and has intuitive controls.

It's easy to tape a TV show while watching a tape. However, because the twodecks share one TV tuner, you can not tape two different TV shows at the sametime. Copying tapes is surprisingly simple: You just pop in the tape you want to watch (as you would on a conventional VCR), insert your blank cassette into the second tape slot, and press record.

If you want to make more customized copies, the DDV9700Z features multi-sceneediting functions. You can select up to eight scenes anywhere on your original tape and copy them to another tape using only the buttons on the remote control. With appropriate multimedia software, you can even control editing and scene cataloging from your PC through the VCR's external PC control port.

With its enormous list of features, two fully functional four-head hi-fi stereo decks, sophisticated editing capabilities, and nearly perfect copying, the Go-Video DDV9700Z makes a great addition to your video setup.

Pros:

• Makes tape copying a simple process
• High-quality duplication
• Sophisticated editing functions
• Great suite of features

Cons:

• Only one TV tuner

Features

• Dual-deck VCR for easy copying of your tapes
• AmeriChrome circuitry enhances quality of copies
• Multi-scene automatic editing
• Q-Sound audio enhancement
• S-VHS compatible

Reviews (8)

Good VCR, but has problems
I have to admit that this is a very good VCR in the case of dupilicating tapes. However, this VCR comes with WAY too many features that makes the operations relatively (actually, unneccessarily) difficult. Taping from tape to tape is very easy and the result is very sharp, however, taping from TV doesn't seem that well. The picture sometimes shakes even I tape on a brand new tape (I know it is not tracking problem). However, it is not a bad VCR at all, especially a Dual Deck Super VHS at this value.

Amazing price on a fantastic machine!
Absolutely fabulous! As a former retail electronics manager I can't say enough about the value this product provides at such a low cost. Disney films for the kids, recent releases, and old favorites can all be copied with fantastic quality of picture and ease of use. This is the greatest VCR value online or anywhere else for that matter.

Like a Double Barrel Shotgun
For starters, the Go-video has enough surface area to support alarge TV directly on top of it. The value of having two decks goesway beyond bootlegging, and promulgating your edited camcorder masterpiece. Its the luxury of putting in two different movies, and deciding which one to watch at the last minute. Or rent Braveheart, put 1 and 2 in at the same time- no need to mess around at halftime. With The Godfather, you'll have two switch once. The 4 head action allows for clean slow-motion and visual fast forwarding, and it goes from "stop" to "play" in under two seconds. When copying a tape, don't be afraid to hit slo-mo for your favorite scenes (this goes especially for home videos) It will be a good laugh the second time around. The Go-video is pure horsepower under the hood. In an era where DVD's will inevitably put VHS to rest, it's one of the few VCRs out there that you will get compliments on. It may be excessive for some people, for others its really functional and HiFi, justifying the cost premium over the single-shooters.

The Best VCR available
Simply the best VCR available. My old VCR recentlyperished,and I looked to Reports for some guidance on purchasing a newone. I bought the top rated one, the Panasonic, and was immediately disappointed. The picture quality wasn't as good as my old one, nor was the quality of the copies it made. I returned it on the premise that it was defective and was given a replacement. Same problems. I talked to a technician and was told, "they don't make them as good as they used to" -- implying that I would have to settle for less. Wrong! On the advice of a friend I then purchased the Go-Video. The best VCR I ever owned. The picture quality is even better than my old VCR! The copies I make of shows are outstanding, and I can make perfect copies of these tapes to give to friends or family. Certain shows I keep but want to edit out commercials. With the Go-Video I get a copy as good as the original, but with no commercials! (editing out commercials is not automatice, but easy). You can probably tell that I really like this machine, and I think everyone should have one. Superb quality and versatility. A must buy!

Some shortcomings of the GO-Video DDV
Don't misunderstand. This is a great machine and concept; I own two. However, the product can be improved with two features: (1) commercial advance (both decks), and the ability to record two incoming TV shows on different channels at the same time. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Early Adopters Pick: December 2002. The highest-capacity digital video recorder available, with 160 hours of hard drive recording time.

A step up in broadband and home network-ready DVRs, ReplayTV's 5000 series digital video recorders let you distribute recorded programs within your home and share personal recordings of nonprotected video content with 15 friends and family members who also own 5000 series DVRs.

The ReplayTV 5160 stores 160 hours of programming while letting you pause, replay, and slow down live television--all with no tapes, no timers, and no trouble. The handy Commercial Advance feature plays recordings without advertising. This allows you to watch television on your own schedule, free from the constraints of network scheduling, which often pits multiple cool programs head-to-head.

With a cable modem or DSL, the 5160 hooks up for fast and easy broadband video transfers with other broadband-connected 5000 series users. It also lets you share video throughout the house using a built-in Ethernet port and existing home-networking equipment, and it stores digital photos and home movies, letting you see your favorite digital photos on TV. This ReplayTV provides iChannels (which lets you download video content from the Internet) and the Reply Channel Guide, downloaded daily through the broadband connection, which offers a convenient, grid-based list of shows that can be recorded at the touch of a button. It comes with an easy-to-use remote control. ReplayTV subscribers can pay $12.95 per month or a one-time product service activation fee of $299. ... Read more

Features

• 160-hour digital video recorder
• Pause live-action TV shows
• High-quality slow-motion and fast forward effects
• Networking ability lets you send programs to other 5000 Series users
• Skip past annoying ads with Commercial Advance feature

Reviews (36)

Cool Box!
I am using just about every function on the box and have been VERY happy with the product. The versatility of the audio/video connectivity is great. I use the ethernet port primarily for viewing digital photos and downloading program information. Some day if I get another replay box or if my cable company integrates the technology, I hope to be able send programs to another TV in my house. I use a wireless hub to connect to my wireless router which connects to my WiFi equipped notebook as well as to my cable modem. The network configuration is quite simple.

Contrary to what a lot of people have dinged replay for, the user interface is intuitive and given the Ethernet capability highlighted above and the automated commercial skip feature, IMHO this box is superior to TiVo. You won't be disappointed!

Five stars with held breath
I brought the box home, unpacked it and was happy to see the simplified directions for hooking the machine up. Unlike TiVo, the ReplayTV 5000 series has both a phone hookup as well as broadband ethernet. I have read many reviews that criticize the modems in the machines so if you have an ethernet connection that is the route that you want to take. Connections to the cable box, TV and audio system were easy. Once the ethernet cable was set I turned on the machine and watched it go through initial set-ups which included downloading new software (guess it could see through the router!). After choosing the correct cable box I was set to go.

The ReplayTV has worked flawlessly since I started using it. Two of the features that set it apart from TiVo are Commerical Advance and Internet sharing. I have not used Internet Sharing yet and really don't know if I will but I have used Commerical Advance while watching replays of various shows I've recorded. I would agree that this feature works correctly about 80% of the time, but even when it's not right on the money it's close enough so it's not a pain.

The ReplayTV is easy to program. Searching for your favorite shows or movies can be done from your TV as well as the internet site... The system connects with the servers nightly to update channel listings as well as downloading software updates and receive programming ...

This unit has been a joy. But that said I've read horror stories where the unit has stopped working after a few weeks or months. I think that's a risk you take with any electronic/computer equipment. As for the future of the ReplayTV I think it looks bright with Denon & Marantz. Buy it, plug it in and watch TV like you never have before.

I'll stick with my older ReplayTV and ShowStopper
Frankly this is a lousy upgrade to what could be a great machine. I have a couple of the older Replays, a ReplayTV 3000 and a ShowStopper. It was because of these machines that I took the plunge to upgrade to a pair of 5060's. Boy was I shocked by their performance. Granted they have amazing features like commercial advance, home networking, and the ability to share shows with your friends, they are lacking in the most important feature... the picture quality.
In a side by side comparison, my old replay/showstopper's are superior in color quality, contrast, and clarity, and for the life of me I didn't know why. I would have figured that the same or better components would have been used for the tuner, but alas no. Maybe it's because I'm trying to watch on a 64" television that I can see more imperfection, but I simply cannot complain with my old machines. And 480p output, my backside... the progressive out flickered like you wouldn't believe - completely unwatchable.

Anyhow, rather than send them back I sold them to a couple of people who were new to Replay's, and who were just happy to get a chance to have one. They were happy to have the machines and I was happy to be rid of them.

I may sound like a Replay hater, but I'm really not. I surely hope DNNA (the new owners of Replay) gets it together and improves the hardware in these little beauties, otherwise I'll have to keep buying old Replays. This unit does get three stars for it's original features that Tivo wished it had, and for the amazing Replay community that has sprouted up.

Good Idea, In Theory
My wife and I chose Replay over Tivo for basically one reason: the commercial advance feature. The online record requesting is also a great feature. We loved it. Then the box stopped working for some unknown reason. Luckily it was still under the store's warranty (purchased at Good Guys) and they replaced it in store, no problem. The new boxed worked as great as the old one, unfortunately, as this replacment has mysteriously stopped working as well. Now I am having to deal with customer service at SonicBlue which, while being kind, has no idea what they are doing. It has been two months as of today and I still have not been able to get a replacement sent out dispite being told it was on its way multiple times.

When things go wrong, Support is HORRIBLE!
I purchased a ReplayTV 5060 and within 2 weeks it broke. The product was absolutely amazing... When is was working. I spent 2 1/2 weeks on the phone trying to get the product returned to ReplayTV (because I purchased it directly from them) and they gave me a run-around that was absolutely insulting. When I finally did get it shipped back to them (with my own money), they sent a BROKEN UNIT in its place back. My opinion is to NOT get one of the older models, no matter how cheap the deal is because ReplayTV is awful at keeping customers with broken units happy. ... Read more

Features

• Dual VCR lets you watch one video while recording another
• Loop mode for twice the playback or recording time
• Camcorder footage editing to customize home movies
• Americhrome circuitry for high-quality VHS reproduction
• Parental lock

Reviews (3)

Love this VCR
I feel this is one of the best VCRs I have ever owned. Most VCRs don't seem to last very long especially if you use them alot. I have had this one for about 10 years and its just now starting to wear down from so much use. The only things I don't like is that you can only record on the lower deck and that the upper deck is only a 2-head.

Wonderful Duplication System
I have used this product to make copies of my store security tapes and every time it has worked as a charm.

no support from govideo
I bought this product and of course it failed right after
the warranty expired.I have not been able to find a service manual anywher.emailed govideo and sonicblue but got no help.
I am telling everybody i notice tyring to buy one not to and why. ... Read more

Features

• Two 4-head stereo Hi-Fi VCRs in one
• One-touch commercial-free copying
• Flying erase heads improve editing ability
• S-VHS quasi playback (offers near-S-VHS quality from a non-S-video tape)
• S-Video input for use with compatable surround sound receiver

Reviews (3)

Some newer information
I tried to copy a prerecorded VHS using the low speed. It came on blurry and skipped alot. I have been able to copy prerecorded tapes on high speed with out any problems. And I also copied home made tapes at low speed without a problem.

Earlier, I wrote that the remote control did not have a view last channel button. I also wrote that the display on the front of the VCR only shows the actual time and not the time of the tape. Also, I wrote that the VCR did not tell you how much time was left on the tape. I was wrong about all three. You have all those options available to you by pressing certain buttons on the remote control. So the remote control has a lot more functions than I thought. I don't know if it is because I didn't fully read the manual, or if it is that the system is just so complicated, you can't remember all the functions.

Some additional info
I tried copying a recent release (Shallow Hal) using the copy feature. You are not supposed to be able to copy movies, because they are supposed to be protected by Macrovision. It did copy at first, but the copying stopped after about 30 minutes. I restarted copying, and it stopped again after about 10 minutes. Then I tried copying the last hour of the movie, which it did. My kid was watching the movie at the time, and I don't know if she had anything to do with the copying stopping at times.

The quality of the copy was very good. I don't know if I could tell the difference from the original.

Another complaint about the remote: It doesn't have a last channel button (so you can easily flip back and forth between two channels).

The display on the units isn't great. It normally just shows time of day. You can't get the display to switch between modes. It does have a very complete on screen display. The only problem with the on screen display, is that it comes on any time you do anything with the remote, like change channel, stop a tape, at the end of fast forwarding, etc. Also, the unit does not have a time remaining on the tape display.

Very nice but not perfect, considerig the price
This is a dual deck that in most cases is better than having 2 individual decks.

Copying tapes is really easy. You just press one button on the front of the deck. The quality of the first copy is pretty good. But, once you start making copies of copies, quality goes down with each generation. On a copy of a copy, the color starts to bleed and there are ghost images.

According to the manual, this deck will not copy tapes protected by Marcovision. I am guessing that most new commericial tapes have Macrovision, but I don't know for sure. I have only tried one commercial tape, and had no trouble copying it. But, I am guessing it won't do new movies.

This unit has automatic commercial skip. Using the left side deck (it doesn't work on the right side), you record a program as normal. When the program is finished recording, the deck rewinds the tape and comes back and marks each commercial. When you play back the tape, the deck automatically fast fowards through the commericials. The TV screen turns blue and it takes about 20 seconds to fast foward through a block of eommercials. I don't know how it recognizes the commercials. It isn't perfect at recognizing the commercials. It does it about 80% of the time. I had only one incident, where it marked the middle of a show as a commercial.

You can also make a commercial free copy of a show. You put blank tapes in both slots. The show, with commercials is recorded on the left side. Then the deck transfers the show to the right side, skipping the commercials. I haven't tried it yet, but there will probably some reduction in video quality.

With this system, you can record on one side while watching a tape on the other side. You can also record two different things at the same time, if you have the proper connections. The deck has only one tuner, so you can only record one show off of the antenna or cable at a time. But, if you have a separate tuner, such as from a dish system, or cable box, plugged into the auxiliary video, you can record off that, while recording off of the antenna/cable hook up.

The deck has very nice "special effects". It does freeze frame very well. The remote control has a very nice jog shuttle for slowing stepping through frames either forward or backward. It rewinds and fast forwards very fast. But, the fast scan is fairly slow, and you have to continually hold down the fast forward button to get maximum speed.

The remote control is OK, but it doesn't have a last channel button. The play key on my remote sticks down everytime I press it.

The menus on this thing are very complicated. It is quite an effort to program the deck for recording. It is very confusing and you need to refer to the manual a number of times before you get used to it. I have made mistakes in programming it a number of times.

The programming software has a bug in it. It will sometimes incorrectly tell you that there is a conflict in the programming when you set the VCR to program record two different programs at the same time, but using the two different decks and two different video sources.

For the price, you can buy two separate VCR's with better features. But, you don't get the commercial skip or the easy copy feature. Also, the dual deck is easier to connect to your TV and takes up less space. If I had to replace this unit, I would probably buy another instead of buying two separate decks. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With Go-Video's DDV9556 hi-fi dual-deck VCR, a number of recording and playback options are at your disposal. You can watch a video while recording a favorite TV program, record from two sources simultaneously, and play two tapes consecutively with video-sequencing playback and record. (The unit contains only one TV tuner, however, so you cannot record one channel while watching another.) Expand your home video library or make multiple copies of a single tape with EZ Copy one-touch duplicating, a process in which both decks communicate with one another. Tapes are cued, copied, rewound, then ejected automatically without accidental reuse. Date/time stamping documents your recorded movies and programs. VCR Plus+ simplifies conventional cable and TV recording. The event timer can handle 16 different programs over a 365-day period.

With Q Sound, hi-fi audio is rapidly processed into a special signal that can be experienced over a standard pair of stereo speakers. Separation and depth are increased without compromising the original audio. The Go-Video DDV9556 also copies surround sound and can record from four different sources.

Digital auto tracking also helps eliminate video imperfections. You can create your own home movies with eight-scene automatic editing. Front and rear audio-video inputs let you hook up a camcorder, video game system, or Web browser for added entertainment. V-chip technology lets parents monitor what their children watch.

Go-Video offers a one-year warranty on parts, 90 days on labor. ... Read more

Features

• Dual-Deck 4-head VCR with Q Sound technology and surround sound dubbing
• Patented EZ Copy duplication allows for 1-touch recording and communication between both decks
• VCR Plus+ programs your VCR and cable box in 1 easy step
• Create high-quality home movies with 8-scene automatic editing
• V-chip technology lets parents monitor what their children watch

Reviews (10)

Great product!
This dual VCR is one of the best video purchases we've ever made. So easy to use and set up and it makes copying tapes a breeze. The picture quality and sound is very good too. The only negative I can think of is the auto eject on the remote; when you push stop twice the tape ejects. Although that's easy enough to live with.

We've had ours about two years and had no tracking or picture problems at all. Still works like the first day. The reviewer with the tracking problem must have gotten a lemon; there're out in all products.

Go.Video is Fantastic!
I recently purchased the Go-Video DDV9556 Dual Deck VCR for home use. I was looking for the ability to quickly and easily splice scenes from one video to another without additional expensive editing equipment. This unit does it all and with great ease. I am very impressed! The "sync" editing (on the fly) works great, as does the 8 scene automatic editing. With the on-screen titler, you can even label scenes. It is very easy to switch between decks for viewing. You can even watch video from one deck while recording TV on the other. The controls are very intuitive on both the console as well as the remote. I can't say enough about how pleased I am with this unit. The only complaint I have is that there are only RCA OUT (audio/video) jacks on the rear of the unit (in addition to coax (cable) in/out) - the RCA IN jacks are located only on the front of the unit. Aside from this one engineering deficiency (the only reason for 4 instead of 5 star rating), the unit is sensational!

I could have done worse
This really isn't the worst product I've ever gotten, but it has it's annoyances. My primary VCR tapes in LP, which I use frequently. However, trying to dub a tape in LP is horrible. If you put it in SP, it has this horrid red tint across the entire picture. If you put it in SLP (like the manuel suggests), it's almost unwatchable. And it also does not do well with SLP programs that either came from another VCR or are rather old. SP to SP is perfect though. I've also cut the ends of programs I'm dubbing off after pausing the tape to edit out commercials because the tape goes back 3-5 seconds. But it has come in quite handy and is easier than trying to hook up two VCRs together.

BUYER BEWARE!
From the amount of money I spent on this thing I was extremly disappointed. First of all, it won't let you copy any real movies-it will eject the tape and say "tape is copy protected".
This is the main reason I bought the thing. Second of all, the #2 tape deck became contaminated and just showed wavy lines. I tried a head-cleaner tape but it didn't help one bit. No matter how I ajusted the tracking it wouldn't work. This occured just 3 months after purchase. BUYER BEWARE!

Go Video Dual Deck Hi-Fi VCR DDV9550
I have had this VCR for a few years now without any problems. In response to the previous review, The reason you cannot watch recordings clearly on other VCR's is that you have to make sure that the "other" VCR has the same SP/SLP modes. If you are trying to watch a video that you taped in SLP on another vcr that only plays and records in SP then you are going to have trouble viewing it clearly on anything other than a VCR that can handle various play and record modes. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The ruckus over MP3s and Napster-focused copyright battles hasovershadowed the huge portability advantages of digital music. Only a few yearsago, "portable music" meant carrying around a bulky CD player and either a CDwallet or a load of plastic jewel cases. The Rio (now part of SONICblue) line ofdigital audio players pioneered portable MP3 devices, and the new Rio 800flagship model has the potential to redefine what portable audio should be.

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 theplaying 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 sellsproprietary Memory Backpacks (instead of standard memory cards, like SmartMediaor 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 asRio popularity increases.

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

The Rio 800 is powered by a rechargeable battery, which we found to be perfectlyacceptable. It averaged around six to eight hours of continuous use per chargeand required only a few hours to recharge. A red light let us know when thebattery was being recharged, turning off when the battery was ready. The 800'scarrying 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 ableto operate the Rio's various functions without looking at it. On the unit wetested, we had to be sure to push toward the top of the volume rocker toincrease the sound level, rather than where the volume icon was located, butthat barely registered as a minor irritation.

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

The LCD screen is a bit larger than most and has plenty of room for informationlike 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 washard to read. And the circular display window put form over function; it lookednice but it was sometimes hard to see objects around the edges due to the shadowprojected by the circular frame. We had to tilt the unit nearly every time tosee 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 Rio800 offers: a portable repository for all your digital audio needs, from tunesto 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

Features

• 64 MB of built-in flash memory
• First rechargeable Rio--recharger included
• Includes microphone for voice recording
• Additional memory backpacks add up to 340 MB for 9 hours of playback
• Fast USB connectivity; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (69)

GREAT player, TERRIBLE software
the rio 800 exceeds expectations on sound, ease of use, battery life, and aesthetics. i was one of the first rio 300 users, and did not finally upgrade till i saw the 800. the main features i found appealing were:

1) 64MB memory, plenty of memory for more than 12 songs

2) rechargeable battery, probably one of the main reasons...i can't even count how many AA batteries i have gone through with my rio 300

3) USB support, much faster transfers than with a serial port...too bad most PCs only come with 2 USB ports though.

4) ability to record - great for note taking, phone numbers, etc.

my main points of complaint revolve around the overengineered and hard to use software. to transfer files to your rio, you must first drag files from explorer into the player in a "database" and then drag that onto your player. with the old software, this was a one step process. also for whatever reason i can't reorder the songs on my rio. i'll probably figure it out, but with the old software all you had to do was drag the song up or down. secondly, the software is way too commercialized and is not nearly as lightweight as it should be. other than that, the rio 800 is a great upgrade. one other thing, my old rio 300 still works fine despite having been dropped many times (hey, i had it since '98)...we'll see how well the 800 holds up.

Work well when it's "working"
I owned two of these units. The first one I got had battery problems and even after callibrating it a couple of times the things would play 2 or 3 songs and then die. Back to the store where I exchanged it for another.

The next unit's battery worked but had the common discharge problem if its not used in a week. The volume control on the unit was a little finiky. If you didn't press on the control in the right place the sound just didn't change up or down.

In general I wonder about the quality control Rio has because from reading othe sites and reviews they seem to have issues.

I wrote them about getting the replacement charger, submitted my info and support never got back to me and never replaced the charger. So much for good support.

Pros
-All my MP3s splayed perfectly on the unit.
-Random and Repeat worked fine.
-The weight and size was also acceptable.
-Comes with a belt clip

Cons
-Throw out the headphones, absolutely useless and they hurt the head.

-Software that came with it sucked. Windows media player worked OK but had the occasional crash where the media player would not longer recognize the unit.
-Overall poor quality.
-Crappy support.

I gave the unit 2 starts out of 5 because over the two years I had it working I was sorta happy with it. Then recently this unit just stopped working. It's the battery the playback was messed up and all you could here was sound in MONO or something. So that's it for Rio.

I can't recommend you get one. I'm moving to a mini-disc player and recommend you do the same.

Worked great for 2 months
The Rio was easy to load and easy to use. After 2 months the fast forward button no longer worked which severly limited the ease of use. During the third month the play button stopped working turning it to garbage. I have not been able to find a number to talk to a company representative about my problem but have been able to email the company but still have a light weight, stylish and useless Rio.

Rio 800 is a pain in the butt
I got this little guy for Christmas 2002 and I was so excited to have one. Well, after figuring out that you had to calibrate the battery, I thought I was good to go. You wouldn't know to calibrate the battery until you read the directions, which I think is horrible considering most (like me) just plug it in to charge w/o the directions. Well, the battery drains itself and I have never been able to keep it running for more than a few hours. I think the look, feel, sound, and even the amount of memory (mine has 128 mb) are great, but what good is any of that if you cannot keep power to it. The night before I wanted to use it I unplugged it after a full charge... by the time I went to workout the next day, the battery in it was dead. DO NOT BUY RIO -- their product stinks! I will never buy another!

Beware - Deplorable Customer Service
...Because I enjoy listening to audio books and mp3 music, I purchased a ... Rio 800 128 MB that was under warranty. The unit unfortunately had a defective headphone jack, a problem with a simple solution. Obtain an RMA (return of merchandise authorization) number and send the unit back for repair.
... ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Rio's Advanced Digital Audio Center lets you instantly store, organize, and access a large personal CD and digital music collection. The unit's powerful 40 GB hard drive stores more than 650 CDs or 6,500 songs and enables you to find specific tracks instantly, create unlimited playlists, write custom CDs, and transfer music to Rio portables or a Rio receiver somewhere else in the home (using its convenient front and back USB ports). It features a large display, intuitive interface, and advanced search features that make it simple to locate any musical selection almost instantly.

Using the Advanced Digital Audio Center is easy: just load a disc and it does the rest. CDs are automatically cataloged as they are recorded, with artist, album, song title, and other relevant information instantly assigned to each file to make later searches easier. The unit encodes at a bit rate of up to 320 kbps MP3 for high-performance digital sound quality, and provides an optional, lower bit rate encoding option for downloading to portables. It also has a built-in 10 mbps home PNA connection for streaming music to one or more Rio receivers, and a built-in 56 kbps modem that can be used to dial out to retrieve information from the Internet. It comes with a full-function remote control, two AA batteries (for the remote), a software CD for PC, phone, USB, stereo RCA, and AC power cables. The unit supports common audio formats, such as MP3 and WMA, and can be upgraded to emerging digital standards. ... Read more

Features

• 40 GB hard drive stores more than 650 CDs or 6,500 individual songs
• Easily transfers music to a Rio portable unit via convenient USB ports in front and back
• Uses integrated CD-RW drive to write standard audio CDs and MP3 data CDs
• Large display, intuitive interface, and advanced search features
• Supports common audio formats like MP3 and WMA, can be upgraded to emerging digital standards

Reviews (2)

Just Buy A Computer And Save Money
Nice simple device, but $1.5K for this? You can buy two or three nice, small-format computers, *with* the little LCD, that have much more advanced features like a DVD burner, not a CD burner, and gigabit or wireless ethernet, not a 56K modem, USB 2.0, firewire, more format compatibility, more control over output formats, the ability to output to a TV for games, movies, etc., the list goes on.

Rio is lucky I'm feeling generous. The one star is for being able to give it to me in one package. The pricing is atrocious though.

What the heck is that?!
That's what everyone says when they see the box with the big blue screen in it. That's my music library I tell them and then I demonstrate by scrolling through the hundreds of albums it ripped the first day I got it. After about this point I'm uncertain as to whether I lose the person to the Oscilloscope visual that dances to the music or the magnitude of potential this device can have in their own home hi-fi.

It has a warehouse-size 40G computer hard-drive that will store right around 6K good quality tunes (160-192khz). You think 6K isn't allot? How many tracks are on the CD you're playing right now? Now do the math. If you still don't think thats allot, there are several documented procedures for upgrading to 120G.

Networking to your home computer is a bit tricky but can be done by anyone with a little know-how. Now you can get all those MP3s off your silly little Altec Lansings and onto your Pioneers for some real listening. If you can't network, the RADAC will take data CD-Rs as well.

The sound quality coming out of this device is better than most audio equipment these days. Which means they had the high-level audio connoisseur (tube amp, electrostatics, belt-drive turntable, etc.) in mind.

Not THAT into music? The convenience factor is super-high with this device. I've put all my CDs into the closet (for safe keeping -- I don't know) and just run the first thing that comes into my head. Graceland by Paul Simon? Sure... and it's playing.
Mixed the perfect driving music by mistake last night? The RADAC can burn you an audio CD for the commute before the coffee pot finishes.
What was that tune the wife was playing the other day? Search by tracks recently played. Forgot you had that album, didn't you?
Parties are a cakewalk. Create a custom play list where you pick all the tracks to be played or select several albums and randomize the tracks or whatever and just let it run. You're out of wine. Never out of music. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The next generation of digital music players has arrived. This special-edition Diamond Rio comes with an impressive 64 MB of storage, which holds about two hours of music copied from your favorite CDs or downloaded from the Internet. This lightweight unit can be easily upgraded to hold 96 MB of your favorite tunes.

The only real improvements over the original Diamond PMP 300 are in storage capacity and cosmetic appearance. Diamond has enhanced the case design of this compact unit with a stylish, transparent teal that distinguishes it from the stodgy, solid-black or metallic design of other portable players. As with the original Rio 300, this special-edition Rio plays MP3-encoded digital music, the open Internet standard that's shaking up the music industry.

This special-edition Rio stores your music files in 64 MB of RAM instead of on CD or tape, so it has no moving parts and won't skip during playback. About the size of a deck of cards, the Diamond Rio weighs under three ounces and can store up to two hour's worth of music encoded at 64 Kbps or about an hour's worth of files at 128 Kbps. The supplied Windows software and PC-connector cable let you upload new selections, delete old ones, change the playback order, and even create new MP3 files from your own CDs.

What about sound quality? MP3 is a compression technique that discards a lot of the information captured by normal CD encoding. True audiophiles will hear the difference. But the overall effect is surprisingly clean, and the Diamond Rio's extreme portability more than makes up for the subtle degradation.

Using the Diamond Rio is fairly simple. You connect the Rio to your PC via its connector cable, which passes through an included parallel-port adapter to your computer. The parallel adapter has a pass-through connector so that you can use the port for your printer or other parallel device. You can easily disconnect the Rio when you are ready to take it on the road. A single AA battery (included) supplies power for the device, which is amazingly lightweight.

We found software installation to be a snap. The default installation puts two applications on your system: the Rio Manager and the MusicMatch Jukebox. These are the same software programs included with the standard Rio PMP 300. You use the Rio Manager to download new selections to the Rio player, delete selections from your lineup, or clear all memory so you can start with a fresh slate. It also lets you view the size of each selection, control the play order, and see how much RAM remains for storing music.

The supplied software also lets you make MP3 files from your own CDs using your computer's CD-ROM drive. You can select 128 Kbps, 80 Kbps, or 64 Kbps encoding. The highest-quality encoding (128 Kbps) will give you the best listening experience, but it comes at a price. MP3 files created in 128 Kbps are twice as big as those encoded at 64 Kbps. If you have plenty of hard-drive space to spare, this may not be an issue. However, storage space for the portable flash-media cards can be somewhat expensive. A 32-MB flash-media card generally sells for about $100.

While this second-generation Rio from Diamond is not a groundbreaking improvement over the original, it is a cool alternative. If you are looking for the largest built-in storage capacity possible in the current wave of MP3 music players, this is the unit for you.

Pros:

• 64 MB of storage
• Compact, lightweight design
• Uses MP3, Internet's open standard for music
• Allows you to create MP3 files from your own CDs
• Near CD-quality audio

Cons:

• Requires a Windows PC to use
• Extra flash-media cards can be costly

Features

• Cool, transparent teal case
• 64 MB built-in flash memory (upgradable to 96 MB)
• Palm size for easy portability
• Expandable playback time with removable flash cards
• Skip free--no moving parts

Reviews (271)

A great portable system with a few problems.
The Rio PMP300 is a great portable system if you have access to your own computer. Some advantages are that it's very small, very light, it doesn't skip, It only takes 1 battery which runs for at least 10 hrs, and the music can be free on the internet. You can also take tracks right off your favorite CDs. The 1 problem that I have with it is that it only holds 32 MB which is about 7 or 8 CD quality songs. It could hold more if you don't mind radio quality. If you want to get more memory on this thing it's not cheap. You can double your memory from 32MB to 64MB for about $100. I am going to wait for the price to go down before I buy more memory for mine. The software that it comes with is pretty good too. I also like the overall design of the buttons and player. It has a Hold option, 5 different Equalizers, Replay and Random modes, and a cool A~B feature which is pointless fun to play with.

Well.... it's pretty good.
I bought my Rio PMP300 last fall, and it's been my primarysource of personal music ever since. I think MP3's are a great alternative to CD's when used ethically, and the Rio 300 is a fairly inexpensive option. I must say that the Rio is efficient on batteries, has very good sound with very little distortion (if it's distorted, it's probably the ripper/encoder that made the MP3), and since it's completely electronic with no mechanical parts, it obviously never skips. I run with mine and use it in the car with a cassette adapter, and I love how light it is. Despite all these pluses, there are a few things the wary consumer should know:..As for mechanics, the Rio 300 has limited onboard memory - I get along fine with the 32 MB, but at times, especially on long trips, I wish I could play more than about 3/4 of a CD at 128bps (about "CD quality"). Be ready to shell out more for that flash memory add-on. The case on the Rio 300 is relatively fragile. Don't count on putting it through a lot of abuse, and be careful with the belt clip, as it may strain the thin plastic - - mine cracked, but a little superglue fixed it and it's fine now. The bottom line: if you don't have a lot of money but you want that MP3 player, it's a good buy. As for me, I'm about to convert to a minidisc player/recorder with a USB MP3 adapter.

I love it, but...
I have one of these, and I'm very fond of it. It does a good job, and is very durable (I've had mine for years and haven't been incredibly kind to it, but it's still good as new.) The design is plain but classy, and it's easy to use. It takes almost no time to familiarize yourself with the buttons so you can fool with it without looking. There aren't any buttons or switches that are easy to hit accidentally, and in general, it can take being tossed around a little in a bag so long as it's reasonable. Don't crush it and don't spill anything on it, but it's not like it's the Mona Lisa.

As many have mentioned, it holds about 30 minutes of music, unless you can find a memory card (I'm not sure if they are even made anymore, but I have seen them for sale) which will give you a whopping hour. If you're just going to use this for walking the dog around the block, or standing in line, or a quick run in the morning, this isn't such a big deal.

The USB-type cord is primitive and weird, so you'll probably be using the parallel port adapter, which isn't really a problem, but can be an inconvenience if you have a lot of things that use your parallel ports.

I'm pretty sure the company no longer supports this device or its software, since they have gone on to bigger and better things since its debut. Caveat emptor.

Also, it is not compatible with anything after Windows 98, but you can get around that easily by downloading the free program "Dreaming of Brazil" which works with XP, NT, and 2000. (Google search for "Diamond Rio mp3 player" or "Dreaming of Brazil.")

A few pointers from my humble experience with the Rio PMP300:
If the headphones it comes with break, you can replace them with any headphones that fit the headphone jack. You should also take the battery out of the Rio when you aren't using it-- it sucks energy when it's idle. If you happen to need a little bit of misc. storage space, you can use the Dreaming of Brazil program to transfer any items that will fit, which can be handy.

I imagine this is not the best mp3 player you can buy, but if you can get it cheap, it's still a pretty good one. The main problem I have is the tiny amount of storage space and compatibility issues. Shop around for an iPod or a newer Rio or something if you're very concerned with absolute top quality.

The Diamond Rio PMP300
Think about this...[quite a bit of money] for a mp3 player that holds max. 9-10 songs. That is the most rediculous thing i have ever heard. You can get a Nomad II for [less money]with 64mb built in. I recommend getting that mp3 player. I just bought a 128mb card for the PMP300 and it doesn't work. This Mp3 Player only takes certain 32 mb cards which are [quite expensive]. When i drop the mp3 player it shuts off completely as if there was no battery in the device. Alot of times when you take the battery out and then put it back in it doesn't even register as having a battery in it. It is not a high technology device at all. Something else that made me even more mad was that there is no longer customer support for this product. I think this company should get their act together. I highly recomend buying another mp3 player b/c this one isn't worth it at all.

rio mp3 player pmp300
i brought my pmp300 brand new but moved some time ago and have not been able to find the download cables it is a great mp3 player but i am getting bored with the same mucis thats on the player if you have one for gods sake DONT LOSE YOU DOWNLOAD CABLES because you can not get them for love nor money ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

SONICblue's Rio line of MP3 players has always been top-notch--and the latest iteration, the Rio 600, proves no exception. The nifty-looking Rio 600 also offers detachable faceplates, allowing users to customize its appearance (although they are a bit pricey).

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

Features

• 64 MB of built-in flash memory
• Large, easy-to-read LCD screen
• Uses ultrafast USB port to connect to your PC or Mac
• Comes with stylish carrying case
• Can accept additional Memory Backpacks to expand memory up to 340 MB

Reviews (82)

Read this before you buy the Rio 600!
I am a 15 year old audiophile and I got this mp3 player for christmas last year. I was really excited, because of all the good things that had been said about mp3 players (this one in paticular). I hooked it up into my mac and downloaded a very small playlist; most people could fit about 30 min, but with lower quality of music (around 96 kbps), I got about 45 minutes on it. The mp3 player is cool because it is completly skip free, and it is also very durable (I dropped it from waist hight onto asphalt, and it worked fine afterwards, save a few scratches).
But after about a month or two of using it, I started experiencing glitches. The battery level would fluctuate from 100% to 50% and back again and about 3 hours after replacing the batteries, they quit on me. This thing EATS batteries like no other! Also, every once in a while, the mp3 player would automatically delete all the songs that I had downloaded onto it.
I emailed SONICblue, and after about the 5th or 6th email, they responded saying that they would replace the player. I got my second, and it had the exact same problems as the first one did! I emailed again for another or a refund, but they never replied. I went to [local store] (where we bought it), and they gave us a 3rd one. This one didn't even turn on! I couldn't do anything with it. So, about a month before the warrenty ended, I got store credit for it and bought a PlayStation 2 : ) (no complaints there).
My friends with this player have had the same problems with the player and costomer service as i have had, and so have the people on amazon. Please reconsider buying this defective product.

My Rio 600
The Rio is a pretty good MP3 player. For the most part it has great sound quality. Unfortunatally, it doesn't hold very many songs. In the instructions it said I could buy memory cards. I can't find them any where, not even on line. If you push one wrong button all of your songs are deleted. This is why the "lock" feature is awesome. You can choose some of your own settings, which is cool. It's easy to opperate, but downloading can be challenging.

If you like shoddy craftsmanship, then purchase this player
I bought my Rio 600 online at Tigerdirect (I've had great experiences with them) and I have regretted it since the end of the first 3 months of ownership.

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
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

Looks are deceiving...
Performance was very poor, battery life indicator was useless and not very good quality all around. My power on/off button broke and no one stepped up to fix or replace...I would go another direction. ... Read more