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 |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 9-11h (Stock batteries) |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
Character 11x2 |
B&W |
6/10/20 GB |
20GB - $50 |
Recorder v1 |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
- 9-11h (Stock batteries) |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
112x64, 30x24mm |
B&W |
6/10/15/20 GB |
15GB - $70
20GB - $100-125 |
FM Recorder |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
YES |
? |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
112x64, 30x24mm |
B&W |
20GB |
? |
Recorder v2 |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
? |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
112x64, 30x24mm |
B&W |
20GB |
? |
Ondio 128 FM |
Flash |
NO |
YES |
YES |
- 8-10h (Alkalines) |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
112x64, 30x24mm |
B&W |
128MB + MMC slot |
? |
Ondio 128 SP |
Flash |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 8-10h (Alkalines) |
NO (can RoLo OF) |
112x64, 30x24mm |
B&W |
128MB + MMC slot |
? |
Apple |
iPod 1st/2nd Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 10-12h |
YES |
160x128 |
2-bit greyscale |
5/10/20GB |
$45-$200 |
iPod 3rd Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
? |
YES |
160x128 |
2-bit greyscale |
10/15/20/30/40GB |
$65-$85 |
iPod 4th Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
- 6-7h |
YES |
160x128 |
2-bit greyscale |
30/40GB |
$30-$100 |
iPod Color/Photo |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
- 6-7h |
YES |
220x176 |
16-bit colour |
20/30/40/60GB |
$55-$150 |
iPod Video 5/5.5 Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
YES (via dock connector) |
NO |
- 14-19h (30GB)
- 16-24h (60GB/80GB) |
YES |
320x240, 2.5in |
16-bit colour |
30/60/80GB |
30GB - $200
60GB - $100-$190
80GB - $240 |
iPod Nano 1st Gen. |
Flash |
NO |
YES (via dock connector) |
NO |
- 9-11h |
YES |
176x132, 1.5in
|
16-bit colour |
1/2/4GB |
$40-$95 |
iPod Nano 2nd Gen. |
Flash |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 22-24h |
YES |
176x132, 1.5in
|
16-bit colour |
2/4/8GB |
$40-$95 |
iPod Mini 1st Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
NO |
NO |
? |
YES |
138x110 |
2-bit greyscale |
4GB |
$25-$70 |
iPod Mini 2nd Gen. |
HDD |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 7.5h-8.5h |
YES |
138x110 |
2-bit greyscale |
4/6GB |
$50-$240 |
Cowon |
iAudio X5
iAudio X5L |
HDD |
NO |
YES (line-in requires subpack) |
YES |
- 8-12h
- 20-28h |
NO
(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 |
NO |
YES (line-in requires subpack) |
NO |
- 15-20h
- 40-50h |
NO
(officially) |
160x128, 1.6in |
2-bit grayscale |
20/40GB |
? |
iAudio M3
iAudio M3L |
HDD |
NO |
YES (line-in requires subpack) |
YES |
- 15-20h
- 40-50h |
NO
(officially) |
Remote LCD only |
2-bit grayscale |
20/40GB |
? |
Olympus |
m:robe 100 |
HDD |
NO |
NO |
NO |
? |
YES |
160x128 |
1-bit monochrome |
5GB |
$50-$100 |
SanDisk |
Sansa c200 v1 series |
Flash |
NO |
YES (internal mic only) |
YES |
- 11-16h |
YES |
132x80 |
16-bit colour |
1/2GB + microSD slot |
c240 (1GB) - $25
c250 (2GB) - $30 |
Sansa e200 v1 series |
Flash |
NO |
YES (only mic for now) |
SOME |
- 17-21h |
YES |
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 |
NO |
YES |
YES |
? |
YES |
176x220, 1.8in |
16-bit colour |
? |
? |
Sansa Fuze v1 |
Flash |
NO |
YES |
YES |
14h |
YES |
224x176, 1.9in |
16-bit colour |
2/4/8GB + microSD slot |
? |
Sansa Fuze v2 |
Flash |
NO |
YES |
YES |
20h |
YES |
224x176, 1.9in |
16-bit colour |
2/4/8GB + microSD slot |
$30-100 depending on model |
Sansa Clip+ |
Flash |
NO |
YES |
YES |
20h |
YES |
128 x 64, 1.0in |
Yellow and Cyan OLED |
2/4/8GB + microSD slot |
$30-60 depending on model |
Sansa Clip Zip |
Flash |
NO |
YES |
YES |
20h |
YES |
96 x 96, 1.1in |
16-bit colour OLED |
4/8GB + microSD/microSDHC slot |
$80/$129 |
Toshiba |
Gigabeat F
Gigabeat X (2) |
HDD |
NO |
NO |
NO |
- 16-20h
- 12-16h |
NO |
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 |
NO |
YES |
YES |
- 16-18h |
YES |
160x128 |
2-bit grayscale |
10/20/40GB |
$100-200 |
h300 series |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
YES |
- 16h |
YES |
220x176 |
16-bit colour |
20/40GB |
$100-150 |
h10 series |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
YES |
- 7-10h |
YES |
128x128
160x128 |
16-bit colour |
5/6/20GB |
5GB - $35-50
6GB - $45
20GB - $55-75 |
Packard Bell |
Vibe 500 |
HDD |
NO |
YES |
NO |
- 7-10h |
YES |
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.
- See also players' HardDriveReplacement prospects.
- 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]
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