My review of iRiver ifp-395T (Pretty Long)

[dj_digital]

Here is the link to my review on the iRiver ifp-395T. What do you guys think?

dj_digital

 

[JaZZ]

Very nice and well written review! I agree with your findings, and although I never had a flash player before, so can't compare it to others, I'm very happy with the iFP-395T in every regard. The sound is great for such a tiny player, with deep bass, high clarity and transparency, just a bit too sleek and artificial in the mids, but considering you have to save space to get a decent number of tracks onto the ~494 MB and use not too high bitrates (~150 VBR on the average) anyway, this is no problem to me, the more so as the sonic signature of VBR encoding even seems to compensate a bit for this. Again: great player, more than just a technical toy.

 

[ProFingerSk8er]

very nicely wiritten, i have to agree with you, iriver mp3 players are the best sounding portable mp3 players i have ever heard.
clear hights and lots of pounding at the low end

GOOD JOB!

 

[blessingx]

Very good informative review. Thanks for sharing it with us. Just have a suggestion about a couple quotes. You say "I can safely say that the ifp-395T is the best equipped mp3 player on the market today" and "But rest assured, the ifp-395T has to be one of best sounding portables out there". The former is debatable depending on what you want (say more memory, WAV support, line out, etc.) and the latter is difficult to say without comparisons. Certainly the output specs while ahead of MD's are behind the more popular iPod and Zen. Perhaps it would be better to reference both quotes as best flash based player, etc.

 

[dj_digital]

Thanks for the correction blessingx because I meant flash mp3 player. Being as great as it is, it still can't compete with the zen, new ihp and maybe not ipod as far as sound quality. But if you cut it some slack for being so small, it comes pretty damn close.

dj_digital

 

[MadDog]

IFP-395T seems mighty tempting!! If iRiver does not release IFP-599 within a month I will definitely consider getting it. I am all for portable nowdays. I also need FM to listen to the talkshow.

If I am to choose a HD Mp3 player, it would denintely have to be 40GB or bigger to compromise the size. iHP-120, Karma-20 sound good but don't quite make it. Zen's too humongus and iPod sounds too medicore.

Karma-40 may be a good candidate for now but where is it?

 

[austonia]

I've had mine (iFP-390T) for about 3 months. I've done my own review (previously) and like this one, I love most things about it.

A few of the best things stick out in my mind :

- the built in Radio is top notch, even better than the dedicated Sony T-615 radio i used to have (compared them directly)
- player is unique in its ability to record line-in at up to 320kbs (the only flash player design, anyway)
- power output is enough to drive Etymotic ER4S
- voice recording is excellent, and many bitrate options
- onboard file management
- With alternate firmware, player works as mass storage device

A couple of things are not so good.

1) USB1.1 interface is just ridiculously slow. it drives me nuts loading this thing (256mb). I'll definately be upgrading to the new generation of USB2 capable flash players (like Nomad Muvo2 512mb)

2) the shape needs to be slimmer. while I do like the look (interesting design and unusual contours), the problem is that it is a little too thick for comfortable pocketing. it will fit obviously, but it looks like a well.. like a hard cylinder shape thing in your pocket. i kind of wonder how noticable that is when i have it my gym shorts. lol

3) I've gotten used to the Configuration menu, but its still a weird navigation system they are using. on each menu, to move up and down on the menu items, you move the little joystick right and left (instead of up and down as you might expect).

 

[Rizumu]

WOW, this player looks so sexy and cool, I must have one

For the price though I could get an Ipod or Zen off ebay though, so I'm not quite sure yet. 256 MB is not too much comparatively, but size/portability is really what I'm looking for, as well as the sound quality which I'm very glad is good on this player. I mean, I was going to consider the RCA Lyra Jukebox which for $150 and 1.5 gigs seems like a pretty good deal but I hear it sounds like ass so...no thanks.

I'm going to be using whatever player I get with KSC-35's and ER-4s's so I'm glad to hear the iFP-390T can drive them from your review, austonia. High capacity is the third thing I'm looking for though. I'd really want a 512 MB iFP-395T but can't find anywhere that sells them? Any suggestions?

[edit] Okay, I could order it from iRiver's site for $300, but I can't find anywhere else. iRiver's site says BestBuy carries it as well, but I don't see it listed on their site.

Are there any 512 mb or 1.5 gb players at this price that can compete with the iFP-390T?

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally posted by Rizumu WOW, this player looks so sexy and cool, I must have one For the price though I could get an Ipod or Zen off ebay though, so I'm not quite sure yet.

But of course you know that there are two things a human needs: an ultra-portable flash player for on the go and a harddisk player with ultimeate sound quality and large music archive for contemplative moments in nature. So why bother? You definitely need both!

 

[Rizumu]

Quote:

Originally posted by JaZZ But of course you know that there are two things a human needs: an ultra-portable flash player for on the go and a harddisk player with ultimeate sound quality and large music archive for contemplative moments in nature. So why bother? You definitely need both!

Yes, yes, you are of course right. Do I like I'm made out of money to you though?

Which is why I'm trying to find an all-in-one system. I bet I could get both the iRiver iFP-390T and a Zen NX or something for $400, so that might be the best way to go.