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Wiki > Main > DocsIndex > BuyersGuide

Rockbox Digital Audio Player Buyer's Guide

Quick Feature Table

For Rockbox-supported players that are currently available for purchase.
Make Model Type In Production Recording FM Radio Rockbox
Battery
Runtime
Dual Boot Screen Size Colours Storage (1) ~Price (in USD)
Archos Studio HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 9-11h
(Stock batteries)
choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
Character 11x2 B&W 6/10/20 GB 20GB - $50
Recorder v1 HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO - 9-11h
(Stock batteries)
choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
112x64, 30x24mm B&W 6/10/15/20 GB 15GB - $70
20GB - $100-125
FM Recorder HDD choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES ? choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
112x64, 30x24mm B&W 20GB ?
Recorder v2 HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO ? choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
112x64, 30x24mm B&W 20GB ?
Ondio 128 FM Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES - 8-10h
(Alkalines)
choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
112x64, 30x24mm B&W 128MB + MMC slot ?
Ondio 128 SP Flash choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 8-10h
(Alkalines)
choice-noNO
(can RoLo OF)
112x64, 30x24mm B&W 128MB + MMC slot ?
Apple iPod 1st/2nd Gen. HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 10-12h DONEYES 160x128 2-bit greyscale 5/10/20GB $45-$200
iPod 3rd Gen. HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO ? DONEYES 160x128 2-bit greyscale 10/15/20/30/40GB $65-$85
iPod 4th Gen. HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO - 6-7h DONEYES 160x128 2-bit greyscale 30/40GB $30-$100
iPod Color/Photo HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO - 6-7h DONEYES 220x176 16-bit colour 20/30/40/60GB $55-$150
iPod Video 5/5.5 Gen. HDD choice-noNO DONEYES (via dock connector) choice-noNO - 14-19h (30GB)
- 16-24h (60GB/80GB)
DONEYES 320x240, 2.5in 16-bit colour 30/60/80GB 30GB - $200
60GB - $100-$190
80GB - $240
iPod Nano 1st Gen. Flash choice-noNO DONEYES (via dock connector) choice-noNO - 9-11h DONEYES 176x132, 1.5in
16-bit colour 1/2/4GB $40-$95
iPod Nano 2nd Gen. Flash choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 22-24h DONEYES 176x132, 1.5in
16-bit colour 2/4/8GB $40-$95
iPod Mini 1st Gen. HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO ? DONEYES 138x110 2-bit greyscale 4GB $25-$70
iPod Mini 2nd Gen. HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 7.5h-8.5h DONEYES 138x110 2-bit greyscale 4/6GB $50-$240
Cowon iAudio X5
iAudio X5L
HDD choice-noNO DONEYES (line-in requires subpack) DONEYES - 8-12h
- 20-28h
choice-noNO
(officially)
160x128, 1.8in 18-bit colour dithered 20/30/60GB 20GB X5 - $80
30GB X5 - $175
60GB X5 $200-350
20GB X5L - $85-160
30GB X5L $250
iAudio M5
iAudio M5L
HDD choice-noNO DONEYES (line-in requires subpack) choice-noNO - 15-20h
- 40-50h
choice-noNO
(officially)
160x128, 1.6in 2-bit grayscale 20/40GB ?
iAudio M3
iAudio M3L
HDD choice-noNO DONEYES (line-in requires subpack) DONEYES - 15-20h
- 40-50h
choice-noNO
(officially)
Remote LCD only 2-bit grayscale 20/40GB ?
Olympus m:robe 100 HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO ? DONEYES 160x128 1-bit monochrome 5GB $50-$100
SanDisk Sansa c200 v1 series Flash choice-noNO DONEYES (internal mic only) DONEYES - 11-16h DONEYES 132x80 16-bit colour 1/2GB + microSD slot c240 (1GB) - $25
c250 (2GB) - $30
Sansa e200 v1 series Flash choice-noNO DONEYES (only mic for now) ALERT!SOME - 17-21h DONEYES 176x220, 1.8in 16-bit colour 1/2/4/6/8GB + microSD slot e230 (1GB) - $?
e240 (2GB) - $40
e250 (4GB) - $45
e260 (6GB) - $60
e270 (8GB) - $70
Sansa e200 v2 series Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES ? DONEYES 176x220, 1.8in 16-bit colour ? ?
Sansa Fuze v1 Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES 14h DONEYES 224x176, 1.9in 16-bit colour 2/4/8GB + microSD slot ?
Sansa Fuze v2 Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES 20h DONEYES 224x176, 1.9in 16-bit colour 2/4/8GB + microSD slot $30-100 depending on model
Sansa Clip+ Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES 20h DONEYES 128 x 64, 1.0in Yellow and Cyan OLED 2/4/8GB + microSD slot $30-60 depending on model
Sansa Clip Zip Flash choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES 20h DONEYES 96 x 96, 1.1in 16-bit colour OLED 4/8GB + microSD/microSDHC slot $80/$129
Toshiba Gigabeat F
Gigabeat X (2)
HDD choice-noNO choice-noNO choice-noNO - 16-20h
- 12-16h
choice-noNO 240x320, 2.2in
240x320, 2.4in
16-bit colour 10/20/40/60GB
20/30/60GB
F10 - $40
F20 - $50
F40 - $90
F60 - $115
iriver h100 series HDD choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES - 16-18h DONEYES 160x128 2-bit grayscale 10/20/40GB $100-200
h300 series HDD choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES - 16h DONEYES 220x176 16-bit colour 20/40GB $100-150
h10 series HDD choice-noNO DONEYES DONEYES - 7-10h DONEYES 128x128
160x128
16-bit colour 5/6/20GB 5GB - $35-50
6GB - $45
20GB - $55-75
Packard Bell Vibe 500 HDD choice-noNO DONEYES choice-noNO - 7-10h DONEYES 160x128 16-bit colour 20/30GB $50-100

Prices last updated on February 6th, 2008 using eBay as a reference. See also the DeviceChart page for more detailed information on the players' hardware.

  1. See also players' HardDriveReplacement prospects.
  2. The Gigabeat X was released in limited markets and may be difficult to find.

Subjective Discussion

  • Of the currently available targets where recording is working, only the iriver h10, h100 and h300 series and the Sansa e200 and c200 series support recording without additional hardware. The iAudio X5 and M3 can record from radio/internal microphone out of the box, but line-in can only be connected through the subpack which is included. The iAudio M5 also needs the subpack for a line-in connection but here the subpack is not included, other than that one can record from the built-in microphone. The iPods have line-in via the dock connector and a custom cable is required to access it. In addition, the iPod recording code is still in an early stage in Rockbox and is not suitable for serious use.
  • The best screen available is probably that on the iPod 5.5 generation. The ones on the Gigabeats look good too, but are completely black with the backlight off.
  • The Gigabeat X was sold primarily in Asia and Australia, and is rather difficult to find in the United States and Europe. However, it is (hardware-wise) similar the easier-to-find Gigabeat F. The only differences are a slightly larger LCD, ZIF connector for the hard drive, and smaller body style.
  • The iPod Video 80GB is going to get you the most bang for your buck in terms of storage size.
  • The listed storage sizes for the Sansa e200 and c200 series is for the internal flash; the storage on these players can be expanded with a MicroSD card. Both players support MicroSD and MicroSDHC cards up to 32GB in size.
  • The M5 L gives you the best runtime and contrary to the X5, the iAudio M5s do not depend on the subpack for copying data or charging. It has a standard USB port there where the USB host port on an iAudio X5 would be (hence no USB host function).
  • Of all the models, the iriver h100 series has the most (standard) audio connections.
  • The iriver h100 series is also the only player with optical connections, having both input and output.
  • Sansa e200/c200 v1 and v2 models are distinguished by the System > Info, Version number: v1 version 1.x.x, v2 version 3.x.x.
  • Some of the iPod runtime statistics come from this page: http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodRuntime, which hasn't been updated regularly since the improvements to power management were implemented on 2008-02-10.
  • The HDD based Archos models use 2.5" HDDs, so disk capacity can be upgraded quite easily, up to 160GB as of today.
  • The HDD based Archos models use standard AA NiMH batteries. Stock batteries are 1500mAh, can be changed for higher capacity. The new NiMH generation with very low self-discharge can be recommended.
  • The Ondios run from standard AAA batteries. They're designed for alkalines (no charging circuit), but NiMH cells can also be used (external charger is required).
  • Archos recorder v1 has coaxial S/PDIF input and output.
  • The Archos FM recorder's FM tuner is quite poor. The Ondio FM exists in versions with the old (poor) Samsung tuner and the new (good) Philips tuner.


CategoryFrontpage: Overview of Rockbox Digital Audio Players currently available for purchase [Misc]

r91 - 02 Apr 2021 - 20:46:06 - UnknownUser


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