[Daemos]

So getting SICK of the poor battery life I decided it might be a good time to return the Zen Micro and look at alternatives.

I'm looking at the Rio Carbon. Because it's cheaper...by ~50 or so Dollars (CND)

I have some questions.

People are saying that it's quiet...now with the Zen Micro the volume never goes above 17-18 because even at that level it's loud. (with my E888s)

How is the sound quality with the EQ on the Carbon? I don't like the Ipods because they distort...will the carbon distort?

As well, for playlists, how DO you make playlists? For the zen, I use the creative media center to make the playlists. How would you do that with teh Carbon.

As well I'm not worried about customer service from rio, as I'll be purchasing the additional 3 year extended warrenty from the store I buy it from.

How easy is the UI to use on the Carbon, I really like the UI on the Zen...

Oh one more thing does the display on the Carbon display chinese characters? I haven't tried it with the Zen yet...but does it? (although I don't think that's a HUGE deal with me, as long as it displays the tags properly)

 

[rockit]

You should consult creative and let them ship you a new one.
it's probably just your micro...

 

[abitdeef]

Its an awesome unit, drag and drop flies, UI is nice and clean and makes sense. It will outdrive the micro easily, especially with the eq on. The sound is really clean , but if you jack up the eq you can get some distortion, but not till almost full tilt. Battery life is excellent even with the eq on and high volume I got 15 to 17 hrs playtime.

I can't remember if you can make on the fly playlists, but everything is sorted by tag so : album , artist, songs, genres , ect.

Nice nice unit, I am thinking about picking one up again myself, now that they fixed the static headphone jack problem. I just (finally) got a 20 gig pod and I need a little unit, (took back my mini

) because of battery life and got the micro.... but my battery life was worse and I am not a big fan of creatives sound anyways. I should have know better

I like ipod sound and Rio much better than creative , but I seem to be in the minority on that!

 

[Daemos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockit You should consult creative and let them ship you a new one. it's probably just your micro...

Well I have that 3 year extended warrenty thing with mine from the store I bought it from.

My bro's seems to be Okay...I think? I'm gonna try testing it out with his battery tommrow.

 

[Daemos]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ihatepopupads Its an awesome unit, drag and drop flies, UI is nice and clean and makes sense. It will outdrive the micro easily, especially with the eq on. The sound is really clean , but if you jack up the eq you can get some distortion, but not till almost full tilt. Battery life is excellent even with the eq on and high volume I got 15 to 17 hrs playtime. I can't remember if you can make on the fly playlists, but everything is sorted by tag so : album , artist, songs, genres , ect. Nice nice unit, I am thinking about picking one up again myself, now that they fixed the static headphone jack problem. I just (finally) got a 20 gig pod and I need a little unit, (took back my mini ) because of battery life and got the micro.... but my battery life was worse and I am not a big fan of creatives sound anyways. I should have know better I like ipod sound and Rio much better than creative , but I seem to be in the minority on that!

Wait you like the sound of the Ipod over the creative? WITH EQ on? There must be something wrong with you my friend...

Creative Zen with EQ sounds easily better, cleaner, no distortion.

I like playlists, I want to beable to make playlists. Like have all my songs on there, but just have a playlist. Rio says it supports playlists...so I'm just wondering how you would make it.

 

[mr.caliente]

Keep your Zen Micro--or at least get a new one and give it a chance. My micro consistently gets 11-12 hours...and many others have reported the same.

 

[Daemos]

@$%)@&(@$&( I'm REALLY pissed off that it only gets like 6 hours I tried that 12 hour charge thing, followed it to a T, and that's all I still got.

I'm gonna give it one more shot...doing the 12 hour charge thing AGAIN.

BTW how do you put the Rio carbon on hold...I was told there is no real physical 'hold' button.

 

[abitdeef]

Wait you like the sound of the Ipod over the creative? WITH EQ on? There must be something wrong with you my friend... Creative Zen with EQ sounds easily better, cleaner, no distortion.


I was talking about the carbons eq it's really clean.

And I do think the mini and 4 g sound better than micro. I think my u2 iaudio flash player sounds better than the micro with the eq enabled, the radio sure is better!

Back to comp usa little puppy- but it looked kinda cool. good luck!

 

[Daemos]

Whelp my Zen is defective...

My bros gets 12 hours same songs (I uploaded to his) although using his batteries (which were both put through that 12 hour test)

I'm gonna give it a test tommrow, thrusday and friday, and hope for the best

 

[cellophane]

About those Chinese tags . . . does anyone know about this? I have quite a few Chinese CD's and it would be really nice if either the Carbon or Micro could display them properly.

Also, daemos, where did you get your Micro with the 3 year warranty? Warranty is very important to me, unfortunately Circuitcity's 2-year is $65

 

[rockit]

HEY- I AM GIVING MINE A TEST RIGHT NOW...

i think mine is a little short too actually

 

[dskywalker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellophane About those Chinese tags . . . does anyone know about this? I have quite a few Chinese CD's and it would be really nice if either the Carbon or Micro could display them properly. Also, daemos, where did you get your Micro with the 3 year warranty? Warranty is very important to me, unfortunately Circuitcity's 2-year is $65

I've sold my carbon for the reason that it's unable to display all chinese characters. It only displays those characters that are also in the japanese character set correctly.

 

[Jmmmmm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cellophane About those Chinese tags . . . does anyone know about this? I have quite a few Chinese CD's and it would be really nice if either the Carbon or Micro could display them properly.

http://www.monsternet.org/features/z...mini/page9.php

scroll down to the pictures at the bottom