iRiver SlimX iMP-350 CD/MP3 Player with 8 minutes ASP and Upgradeable Firmware

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Title : iRiver SlimX iMP-350 CD/MP3 Player with 8 minutes ASP and Upgradeable Firmware
Author : iRiver
Release Date : 20020301
Binding : Electronics
Regular Price : $199.99
Amazon.com Price : $169.99 (15 %)
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Editorial Reviews :
With its beautiful sound quality, royal good looks, and simple operation, the iRiver SlimX portable MP3-CD player sets a new standard for future portable units to follow.
The SlimX is one of the most adaptable players we've encountered. It rolls upgradeable firmware, eight-minute antishock protection, ASF (Advanced Streaming Format) and WMA (Windows Media Audio) compatibility, ID3 tag support, and the ability to play standard audio CDs, MP3-encoded discs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs into an ultratrim (0.6 inches thick) player. And the sound is deluxe, delivering crisp highs, discernible mids, and bass thick enough to make any low-end aficionado nod their head in approval.

Since we had yet to fully investigate WMA, we felt compelled to dig into the format. At first we were hesitant: how could WMA compress music files to half their size--at, say, 64 Kbps--and still sound good? After dumping an entire, 100-song playlist onto a single CD-R, however, we were humbled. The procedure was painless, and the sound was incredible. The iRiver SlimX completely fulfilled our demands; using the gorgeous inline remote, we easily skipped ahead 10 tracks at a time, used fast-scan to hear a particular verse, and made a customized playlist on the fly.

In fact, the remote lets you operate every function (save changing a disc) without having to dig the unit out of your backpack or its carrying case (included, but frail), and it also includes a hold switch that prevents accidental playback.

After the WMA-disc success, we switched over to an MP3 compilation made by a friend. While reading the different ID3 tags (MP3 file markers that feed song, artist, and album names to your player), we first played the songs whose titles intrigued us most, like 'Nannari to Naru Deshou' by the excellent Japanese female duo Puffy. That's why ID3 tags are so cool--they allow you to search by name, not track number.

Next, we took the SlimX out on a long walk to judge its portability. Unless we made silly, Pete Townsend-style windmill movements, each disc played satisfactorily. We noticed that standard audio CDs popped more than anything we burned off the Web, which was strange. We also sampled the five equalizer presets, although we noticed only subtle differences in sound at low volumes.

While listening to any Web-audio disc, the SlimX fills up its antiskip buffer with the eight minutes of music. Essentially, this means the player doesn't have to read the disc as much, which results in prolonged battery life and, ultimately, the SlimX delivered on its promise of up to 23 hours playing time. To get these results for yourself, just make sure the two flat NiMH batteries are fully charged, and pop an extra pair of AAs into the external battery pod. It's that easy.

For those new to ASF, MP3, and WMA formats, you may be disappointed by the SlimX's user's manual, which is skimpy at best. Our Guide to Making MP3 Files will familiarize you with the basics and help you turn your computer into a virtual jukebox.

For those of you who are considering upgrading to the iRiver SlimX--or are looking to pick up your first player--we highly recommend this player. In fact, we miss our test player so much, we're going to buy one of our own. --Arno Kazarian

Pros:

Upgradeable firmware
Compatibility with MP3, WMA, ASF, standard audio CDs, and CD-R/RWs
Supports ID3 tags for easy search of MP3 files
Nearly skip-free performance

Cons:

Relatively useless user's manual
Shallow-sounding earbud headphones
Frivolous carrying case

Buyer Reviews :
This is a truly world class mp3 cd player that looks as good as it sounds. It is extremely thin (16.7mm) and has a wonderfully smooth texture. The fit and finish is superb, as good as anything I've seen from Japan. The FM tuner has been greatly improved from the previous IMP-250. The new remote is easy to control and with just 3 toggle switches and two buttons you are in complete control. Fans of Old-Time Radio shows (like me) and audio books will be very happy to note that like previous iRiver players this player can fast scan at 1x, 2x, 4x or 6x! This makes finding a passage in an audio book very easy. The audible scan is excellent. True resume is another feature that is extremely useful for long shows and for lengthy musical passages as well. iRiver has listened to users more than any other company. They really pay attention to our wish lists. It plays MP3's (8-320 Kbps!) and Windows Media Audio (WMA) as well. An interesting feature is its ability to play Advanced Streaming Format (ASF.) Many videos are encoded in this format and this player will let you listen to the audio from these shows. Some reviewers may criticize this player for being overly complicated. It has to have numerous controls to satisfy the demands of the sophisticated mp3 listener and that is who this product is aimed at. This isn't any old walkman. It's a player for the new digital millennium.

(by Alfmeister)

Features/Technical Specs :
* Ultraslim design (16.7 mm thick)
* Supports audio CDs, MP3- and WMA-encoded discs, ID3 tags, CD Text, and M3U playlists; integrated FM tuner
* Upgradeable firmware (will support new audio technologies as they emerge)
* Anti-skip protection up to 8 minutes (best protection around)
* Includes 2 1400mAh NiMh batteries, velvet bag, 11-function LCD remote, earbuds, power source, and manual

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