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Rio S35S Digital Audio Player Review

Introduction

About.com Rating three out of Five

From About.com

The Rio S35S is a rugged, flash memory style digital audio player which is great for those who want to hit the gym or the treadmill. While it won't turn heads with its curved looks, good memory options and extra features like a stopwatch make it worth a look.

Product Review

The Rio S35S is a great player for those on the go. It offers many features athletic types will like. The 128 MB of internal flash memory can hold up to 2 hours of MP3 tunes recorded at a standard 128kpbs. SD and Multi-Media Cards can expand this storage capability up to 640 MB through a slot in the battery compartment, which is housed in the back of the player’s sturdy rubber casing.

The S35S is only capable of playing MP3 and WAV files which may not thrill everyone. This minor setback is more than made up for by the host of features which make this player so ideal for athletes. Besides the casing, the S35S offers a built in clock, easily viewable on the backlit LCD screen, and a stopwatch. Buttons on the sides, including the power, are recessed somewhat to prevent them from accidentally being bumped.

As is often the case with accessories, the ones provided in the box with the S35S were not that high in quality. While the firm plastic belt case was good for further protecting the player, it had a pretty cheap look. The open ear bud design headphones produced an ok sound, and the included "armclip" turned out to be nothing more than a flimsy piece of fabric with some Velcro which you looped around part of the case.

Conclusions

The Rio S35S is a decent digital audio player for the athletically inclined. While it won't win any Olympic gold medals, a nice set of features, rugged design and fast USB transfer definitely allow it to bring home the bronze.

Technical Specs

  • 128 MB of built-in memory
  • Integrated FM tuner
  • 15 hours of battery life on one AAA battery
  • Backlit LED display
  • USB connectivity

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