iRiver iHP 140 40 GB MP3 Jukebox
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Manufacturer: iRiver
Price at amazon.com: $399.94Usually ships in 24 hours
- Plays over 1200 hours of digital music
- Up to 16 hours of battery life
- Supports MP3, WMA, ASF, WAV and OGG music files
- Ultra-fast USB 2.0 transfers (up to 40 times faster than USB 1.0)
- Integrated FM tuner
Product Description:
Average Customer Rating:
Comment: Answer Rating:
No it does not record from its built in radio. And it will not do that in a further firmware upgrade since there is a interference problem with the buffer.
Comment: Review of iRiver iHP140 Rating:
Brief review of the iRiver iHP 140 MP3 Jukebox
In late March, I researched portable recorders for voice, and decided upon the iRiver (1) because it has the capability of hundreds of hours of recording capacity, for recording candid conversations and daily journal entries; and (2) it can serve as a 40GB external hard drive via USB.
I was disappointed to discover that, unlike my previous recorder (a Sony MD recorder), that it does NOT affix date and time info with the files (MP3s) recorded. This means that to keep track of the date of a recording, I have to speak that information at the beginning of each track, like the old days when I used cassette tape to make such recordings.
iRiver touts "firmware" upgrades, so hopeful that this can be changed in the future, I wrote this email inquiry to iRiver Support:
"When I record using the mic, file date shows as 1/1/02. I need the date
of my recording to be associated with the file (MP3). How is this done?
(Files uploaded from my computer to my iHP-140 show their correct date and
time of origin when viewed from Windows 98se Explorer)"
A week later, the reply was simply:
"Since the player does not have a calendar or clock, you can not change the
date on the recorded files."
It seems clear to me that for a very small expense in battery life, a software clock could be programmed into the existing hardware. My digital cameras, computer, camcorder, cell phone, and MD recorder all have this fundamental capability.
There is another problem with the iRiver: Upon receiving the unit, I did a recoding test at all available MP3 compressions (bitrates), and found that objectionable audio artifacts appear. I have worked with MP3 files using a computer and have never heard such annoying artifacts. Transition sounds (jingling keys, for example), have very audible sounds introduced which sound like the old delay-line flanger units produce (intentionally!) Voice sounds also have some of this "flanger noise". The artifacts become acceptable at or above bitrates of 128kbits/sec. I wrote to iRiver about this problem, but have not yet heard their answer. Again, I am hopeful that this can be changed in the future with firmware upgrades (program error fixes). However, considering the capacity of the hard drive in the iHP140, the unit is very satisfactory using this bitrate setting.
Would it surprise you to learn that neither the hard drive nor the battery is replaceable in this recorders? Considering their projected life, this may not be much of a problem, as long as you keep original files backed up on your computer and plan to replace the unit with the latest technology in five years or so.
On the supportive side, the USB port works great (at either the old or new standard).
There IS an external stereo microphone included in the package (altho it is not included in the contents listing) and it is very good. If you use the internal microphone, it picks up a small amount of hard drive noise.
Considering this recorder cost me $470, I expected a little more, but except for the first two items listed above, I am satisfied with my purchase.
If you are considering buying one on Ebay, it might be a waste of time (since this item is so new). The effort to save about $30 may not be worth the Ebay effort. I used Amazon Marketplace synbaxp@yahoo.com and received my order only two days after placing my purchase.
If any reader finds new information regarding the iHP140 problems, I would like to hear from you.
Chick Hebert
drchick@mindspring.com
Comment: A Little Beauty Rating:
I've had mine for a few weeks and am a bit annoyed the price has dropped so considerably in that time! but what are you waiting for, this is a bargain.
In the last 4 days I've ripped 3,400 songs and I haven't even filled the IRIVER halfway yet.
The sound quality is pretty good - I'm using the OGG encoded music, but the machine can also handle MP3, WAV etc etc etc. It also has the added bonus of a Radio and a very easy drag and drop music system. It's so easy my Mom was doing it yesterday!!
Well - don't wait! come on!
Cheap as Chips as they say in Blighty
Posted at November 11, 2003 07:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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