Here come the intricacies.
(02:08:13: Update to firmware V2.10 below)
The device comes in an ornate Pappschuber therefore sufficient for the Ersttransport, but not right for another. In addition to the listed manual Accessories (Player, USB cable, cloth bag, Quick Start Guide and warranty paper) a second set of surface protectors and a 2GB SD card with five high definition songs was included (FLAC sample rates: 192k, 176k and 96k - all 24-bit over 41k / 16Bit a standard CD).
Impressively beautiful shots, a Hörunterschied as clear as between Super-VHS and BluRay on the optical side. And to say at this point, the player gets everything out, what's in the record, for better or for worse. Accordingly, a maximum of many stars for the sound.
7 PC connected via USB to the Windows to the device driver from wherever it may come easily installed, but only after the player is brought in USB File Transfer Mode (in the hold mode, the player will not be recognized as a unit). The manufacturer advises caution, however, and depend on, hot plug to operate n Play and I have remained faithful to his advice.
On the internal memory there is an English-language PDF manual, unfortunately, extremely rudimentary. The manufacturer does not have many words, this applies in a row for the player software, the PC software (iRiver4, also on internal memory) and the website. Without patient Try and guess you can not get quite far. That's more than a great weakness, here the unit opens simply insufficient and incorrect operation (and frustration) follow all too easy. Also on the website are little more information to get, they also not referenced to the latest version of the player software.
The unit was shipped with firmware 1.2, although in January there were already 1.3 (end of July 2013: 2.10). To upgrade requires installing iRiver4 what succeeded easily. The upgrade process is described in the handbook and worked smoothly and quickly. Only after I have transferred songs.
IRiver4 is a special case. Although Germanized, but with tiny letters, an overloaded interface and occasionally faltering functions. iRiver eg supports ripping CDs to FLAC, but more than 48K / 16 bit is not in it. Cover are not always reliable integrated, also the updating of meta data does not work - apparently an update button has been forgotten. IRiver4 poses as a media center that integrates relevant data of the PC (and scans the AK100 like every time again), but this claim is not justified. Even with the software stability, it is not far away (verse. 1.6.4).
Addendum: Vers 1.6.5.. shows no improved behavior.
The player itself is easy to operate and is firmware 2:01 fairly quickly ready for use. The interface has been improved and is now the existence, quite tidy and functional extensive, well navigable and easy to learn. But even here there are problems. So songs are sometimes not played to the end (FW 2.10) and if connected to a hi-fi system it roars quietly between songs - the player seems to open the link. In headphone mode is heard anything about it. Very strange. Anyway, the audio output is not quite exactly brilliant.
The rest in brief:
The player increases occasionally too early songs and shortened it by a few seconds. Not reproducible. Anyway, run the same files on your PC or mobile phone without these Sperenzchen.
Gap-less it can not correct. Remain as a bypass only albums "straight" take, making it no longer is however possible to access targeted to individual songs.
Case-by-step noise during breaks. If connected to a stereo, a noise is audible during the gaps, as had been drawn the connection. The noise disappears as soon as the next piece is heard. (Does not occur in the headset mode on)
User Interface:
o Will explains only very rudimentary. Much has to be tried, and even discovered about creating a playlist.
o No store different equalizer settings (eg to make headphone adjustments).
o "Wipe" is not supported throughout.
o Embedded artwork is not always supported. (Addendum: Obviously depends on the resolution of the embedded cover - not they should be much larger than the display resolution). Otherwise, they are scaled to screen width and cut in the level below.
o equalizer adjustment inelegant.
Firmware 2:10 (2:01 ditto)
iRiver has reworked and made much more user-friendly, especially the user menu.
Somewhat hidden, namely where previously only the equalizer was to be found, the two new features are now Boost (+ 3dB volume increase) and gapless find that can be switched on or off here.
Unfortunately, the problems, especially in MP3, not off the table - here switched on gapless remains completely ineffective. As before, almost three seconds Empty - want to hear anyone who is Life recordings, faced with this strangeness. Neither the sporadic premature breaking off of MP3 tracks is besteitigt.
iRiver documented bad: The manual is still on the stand Firmware 1.1 - the handling of the new menu is therefore self-researched Also there is no list of changes that were available or corrected with the new firmware..
Conclusion: Despite many improvements since a weak development capacity.
(End Fw 2.10)
Hardware:
Switching is not unique - often must be "pushed" several times before the device responds.
No eyelet on the unit available to install as a hand strap. Also no other support, such as a hot shoe. So the device to fall down is ultimately backed only by the headset.
Apparently the connection resistance of the headphones is critical and possibly lead to sound changes. Much can be compensated for with the equalizer.
Connectivity:
USB - to load the accus, unfortunately only via PC and not via USB chargers. For firmware upgrade. To file transfer. It would be nice, would be transferred when audio streams also via USB and playback on the player. Why not a mini-USB socket is selected, remains enigmatic.
Optical In: Here is just a micro-Toslink connector, possibly as an adapter to existing Toslink.
Optical Out: Ditto.
Micro-SD: Unlike in the manual can be accessed via PC on all three memory (internal + 2 SD). Firmware 1.3 apparently also supports 64GB SD card, provided that they are formatted (on a PC) as FAT32.
Conclusion:
Sound: 5 Stars
Play robustness: almost 3 Stars (Stand Firware 2.10)
User Interface: 4 stars (as Firware 2.10)
Hardware: good 4 stars
A total of almost 4 stars, with sound, extensible data volume, battery power, compactness of the device, portability and price / performance are positively essential.
Remains exciting if iRiver will support the AK 100 times a day MP3 correctly.
