Rio Carbon has arrived!

[elnero]

Well I finally broke down, bit the bullet and bought a Rio Carbon. I got it last Friday and have been playing around with it all weekend. Initial impressions are quite positive, the sound quality is suprisingly good, better than I expected that's for sure. I actually don't mind the id3 tag navigation, the way Rio has it set out I can navigate in a similar fashion as I would in folder view so I'm finding it pretty intuitive. The form factor is great, I put it in it's protective case in my pocket and don't notice it there at all, it fits well in my hand and all the controls seem to be fairly well laid for easy accessability.

Two disappointments with it though, the screen had a light scratch on it right out of the box or at least it was there a couple of minutes after I opened the packaging and I didn't do anything that I could construe as causing the scratch within the short period of time it took me to notice it after I took the screen protector off so I assume it was there when I got it. The other disappointment is getting one of the older models that still has the static issue, it did come with the adapter though but that adds more bulk. Not a big issue I guess, there are various fixes for it but still a bit of a pain and rather disappointing.

Overall, I'm pretty happy. I've loaded about 60 albums which is a nice amount of variety, I could always use more space but I think this will do for the time being at least.

Now for some questions, my firmware is version 1.32 and I noticed a newer version on Rio's site but it says volume limiting has been implemented so I don't think I want to bother unless it's a necessary update, are there any other fixes or updates that would be considered essential within that update?

Also, I have a pair of Shure E4C's on the way, does anyone know if these have the type of plug that causes static?

 

[MD1032]

Is there a way to send in the Carbon to Rio to have it upgraded or fixed, or even replaced? Seems to me that you paid for it and if Rio has a fix for it and you bought it new they owe it to you to fix this.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 Is there a way to send in the Carbon to Rio to have it upgraded or fixed, or even replaced? Seems to me that you paid for it and if Rio has a fix for it and you bought it new they owe it to you to fix this.

I think the easiest way is to just put some clear nail polish on it.

The e4c's have a small metal area at the base of the connector, so it might be a problem with them.

I also recommend you getting a mindknob case. I don't know about the carbon case specifically, but his case for the karma is the best there is.

Enjoy your carbon!

 

[LFC_SL]

I think I'll hold out to see what Rio's next gen looks like. good job I'm patient.......

 

[elnero]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD1032 Is there a way to send in the Carbon to Rio to have it upgraded or fixed, or even replaced? Seems to me that you paid for it and if Rio has a fix for it and you bought it new they owe it to you to fix this.

I wouldn't want to have to send it away and wait just to get a fix for this issue, as Jmmmmm stated it's not that hard to fix on my own with some nail polish or tape it's just a pain and a bit disappointing.

edit: Oh and Rio did provide a "fix" by way of an adapter so mine is from that time in between when they found out about the problem and fixed the internals. Quote:

Originally Posted by Jmmmmm I think the easiest way is to just put some clear nail polish on it. The e4c's have a small metal area at the base of the connector, so it might be a problem with them. I also recommend you getting a mindknob case. I don't know about the carbon case specifically, but his case for the karma is the best there is. Enjoy your carbon!

Someone in another forum posted a pic of the connector and unfortunately it does look like it's one of those problem ones.

Thanks for the link to Mindknob, I actually ordered one last week, hopefully it will be here in the next couple of days. Great minds think alike.

 

[TenaciousO]

You should have gotten the carbon pearl. Looks soooo nice...

If I end up not like the X5, I think I'm switching to the carbon pearl.

 

[elnero]

Hehe, I actually debated the Pearl but the rebate offer that's on now is only available on the Carbon 5 and while the Pearl comes with a better case I thought the Mindknob case looked better but maybe you're right, it would have ended up costing about the same if I just lived with the Pearls case.

 

[mr.karmalicious]

Quote:

The e4c's have a small metal area at the base of the connector, so it might be a problem with them.

Yeah, it'll have the problem.

Quote:

I also recommend you getting a mindknob case . I don't know about the carbon case specifically, but his case for the karma is the best there is.

I have the Karma Case and I ordered the Carbon case for a friend. The Carbon case seems to be better for the Carbon than the Karma case is for the Karma... (it's very good, is what I'm trying to say). Definately good.

Quote:

Someone in another forum posted a pic of the connector and unfortunately it does look like it's one of those problem ones.

Yey, I get mentioned!