Like many of you, I like my music collection and have amassed a large collection of music CDs over the years. Because I commuted a lot and wanted to listen to a large range of my music collection I purchased a portable minidisc recorder/player. Later I replaced this with a full deck and a portable player. Now, the problem having moved to Canada recently from New Zealand it was not worth me bringing over my full deck and with my large range of music, I found it time-consuming copying audio to the MD discs at 1x speed. Recently SONY introduced the NetMD format for their new range of MD walkmans but I decided it was not what I was after. I did not like the software “checkout” system they used and heard there were problems with variable bit rate mp3 files.
I started to look at other solutions and had the Nomad Jukebox II for a short time. I found the USB copying of large number of tracks to be flakey, and the software to be full of bugs that would cause it to crash. I delved into the world of CD based mp3 players and found the iRiver iMP-350 SlimX. This unit has solved some of my issues and provided a great means of listening to my tunes.
Hardware Specs
Dimension: Approx. 135(W) X 145(L) X 16.7(H) mm
Weight: Approx. 189g (Excluding Batteries)
CD Type: CD-DA, CD-Text (8cm/12cm), CD-ROM Mode1, Mode 2 Form1, Enhanced CD, CD-Plus
CD-R/RW Readability: Packet-Write, ISO9660, Joliet, Romeo, Multi-Session
File Support:
File Type MPEG 1/2/2.5 layer 3, WMA, ASF
Bit Rate 8Kbps ~ 320Kbps
Tag ID3 V1 Tag, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0
Power Supply: AC Adapter DC 4.5V, 300mA, Rechargeable Two STICK Type Ni-Mh Batteries, External Battery Two 1.5V AA Size Batteries
Connections: Headphone Out (combined with special remote connector), Line Out, AC Adapter
Additional Features: Built in FM tuner, Backlit Graphic Display on Remote, Adjustable equalizer (5 Presets and 1 User Defined), Supports multiple languages.
Box Contents
• SlimX 350 CD/MP3 Player
• Remote control
• Bud style headphones
• Instruction Manual
• Cloth bag
• AA battery extender
• AC Adapter (I forgot to put it in the photo!)
The big thing to note about this unit is that it is slim line at 16.7mm and is currently the worlds thinnest CD based MP3 Player. It plays standard audio CDs, Enhanced CD, CD Plus, home-made CD-R and CD-RW discs, supporting the popular music formats of MP3, WMA and ASF!
There is also an 8 minute antis-shock buffer to avoid any skipping during playback and the unit’s firmware is user upgradeable. This means when future audio formats are released or features added to the player software, these can be downloaded from the company website and burnt to a CD-R. The unit is powered on and the firmware is upgraded to include the new changes. I have already successfully completed this capability twice.
Build Quality
I found the build quality to be excellent. It feels solid to hold and possibly would take a few knocks (Not that I tested that out!!) The design and look of the player is very nice.
Remote Control
Unfortunately, I found the remote to feel “squarish” in the hand, and a bit awkward to use with the small buttons. While trying to navigate the menu I often would press the wrong button. Now, having a remote is a major consideration for me for buying a portable music-playing device. I like to have the player tucked away in a bag or in a pocket and control it from my remote. I found the clip to be tight and strong. Ideally my favored style of remote control has both the wire from the headset and from the unit connected on one side, like some of the AIWA MD player remotes are designed. This enables you to clip them easier to the outside of your jacket and have the wires coming from one general direction.
It would be great if iRiver release a more ergonomic styled remote. Update, September 2002, iRiver have released a new remote with the iRiver 400 player that looks to resolve the problems I mentioned above!
Rechargeable Batteries & External AA holder
The other great feature for the player is that it uses rechargeable batteries. These are of the “gum stick” varieties that are now commonly used in many types of portable devices. (Walkmans, cameras etc). If you are out and find out you have run out of juice, you can use 2 x AA batteries in the supplied pack to provide more playback time. A great idea and concept. Unfortunately the pack does not attach to the player but dangles precariously from it by the attached power cable when used.
Support
After about 2 weeks, I actually lost the tiny spring to that holds the clip to the body of the remote. It pretty much came off when I was walking down the road and I was clipping the remote to my jacket.
I gave a quick call to the friendly guys at www.mp3playerstore.com and asked about the warranty for the unit. They directed me to the manufacturer, who I contacted at their North American web-site at www.iriveramerica.com. I emailed them explaining my plight with the remote control and after a few days without an acknowledgement of receiving my email, I gave them a call. The person I spoke to checked their email and said they had had it in their inbox. Warranty claims were dealt with another party and my email will be forwarded to them. I would expect to hear from them and receive a RMA in about 10days time. (That was over 6 weeks ago and I STILL have not heard a thing from either of them) Update – September 2002, still no word from iRiver or their warranty team.
After about 2 weeks, I called the guys at Mp3PlayerStore up and had a chat to them explaining my problem with the missing remote control spring. They said that they had received similar returns and that I could infact return it to them and they will swap it out. They promptly sent me an RMA and I sent in the remote. Within the week, I received an email stating that my remote had been shipped. (They shipped it XpressPost as well)
Needless to say, I am very, very pleased with the customer relations from mp3PlayerStore and would like to thank the guys there for helping me out when they did not really have to. (My only association with them is that I am a happy customer!)
Iriver have a great product, but their marketing/sales/team could do better. Ok, this may be one of *those* “one-off” experiences, etc but in my email to them I actually highlighted the fact that I was in the process of reviewing the player!!! Something I did not mention this to the Mp3PlayerStore guys.
That said and done, the product is great.
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/review/iriver_slimx_mp3_cd_player_review
