DH Review: iRiver H340 Mp3 Player

Zardon · Aug 13, 2005, 03:36 PM

Chris "DJ_Stick" Stannard has taken a thorough look at this excellent multi format portable player.

Although this MP3 player isn’t exactly new on the market, I will be able to investigate and comment on newer features added to it via firmware updates since the initial release.
The H340 Model I am reviewing is the international one. The US model differs slightly as it supports syncing with Windows Media Player to support DRM, and lacks the USB host function that the international model has. The list of bundled accessories may differ also.

read the review here

OpusP.Gladiator · Aug 13, 2005, 06:17 PM

Excellent Review... The pictures help explain what your talking about and since I've had my h320 for a few months now I understand things a bit more quickly than maybe someone who's never actually held this in their hand!

Overall it's a great product because of all it's features! I mainly got it for the 320 bit rate line-in mp3 encoder.... As I record concerts from a board feed

As long as u don't clip your digital recordings ... they will sound as good as the source!!! and with Creative's new x-fi chip coming out they'll sound even better... supposedly hehe

I got lucky and had mine pricematched awhile back for 200 bucks so keep your eyes peeled!
Only 2 or 3 things should be mentioned...
1. for U.S. user's until or if they decide to release a new u.s. firmware... u need to upgrade to the european or korean versions which supposedly kills the drm!
2. Can be finnicky with USB issues... the front ports on my comp recognized the device but said their was an error with usb host... so Moved it to the back usb port and all is well

(some others had trouble as well according to their FAQ's)
3. Iriverter does a great job... but I think the file needs to be in the 'xvid' format before being converted...

Only because some of my soprano's stuff didn't play after converting... hehe

4. Not as slim as the ipod but value for the money... beats it hands down!

Ipod's are cool because of the whole cottage industry surrounding them... Like the linux folks... but that also means u spend more for all the accessories as well....!!!!!

pr0digal jenius · Aug 13, 2005, 06:42 PM

excellent job DJ

I have the iRiver H10, which is the DRM model in the H series of players, so it works with Napster To Go

much the same player, except mine doesn't do video....amazing little products

**dj_stick** · Aug 13, 2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpusP.Gladiator

1. for U.S. user's until or if they decide to release a new u.s. firmware... u need to upgrade to the european or korean versions which supposedly kills the drm!

that's true. Even reverting back to US after changing the firmware to kr or eu, you can't get DRM back

Quote:

Originally Posted by OpusP.Gladiator

3. Iriverter does a great job... but I think the file needs to be in the 'xvid' format before being converted...

Only because some of my soprano's stuff didn't play after converting... hehe

it doesn't matter what the source video format is, but it does save it as xvid, which is the only format supported by the player

and PJ - the US model of the H3xx series does support DRM, through the USB 1.1 port… but as you can imagine it would be pretty slow

Falstaff · Aug 13, 2005, 10:33 PM

I have heard that this is an IPOD killer....

Necrosis · Aug 14, 2005, 07:50 AM

Great review DJ.

**dj_stick** · Aug 15, 2005, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

I have heard that this is an IPOD killer....

imo even the original H140 owns the iPod

Aug 13, 2005, 03:36 PM	#1
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	DH Review: iRiver H340 Mp3 Player Chris "DJ_Stick" Stannard has taken a thorough look at this excellent multi format portable player. Although this MP3 player isn’t exactly new on the market, I will be able to investigate and comment on newer features added to it via firmware updates since the initial release. The H340 Model I am reviewing is the international one. The US model differs slightly as it supports syncing with Windows Media Player to support DRM, and lacks the USB host function that the international model has. The list of bundled accessories may differ also. read the review here

Aug 13, 2005, 06:17 PM	#2
OpusP.Gladiator '42' Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Oregon!!! Posts: 300 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Excellent Review... The pictures help explain what your talking about and since I've had my h320 for a few months now I understand things a bit more quickly than maybe someone who's never actually held this in their hand! Overall it's a great product because of all it's features! I mainly got it for the 320 bit rate line-in mp3 encoder.... As I record concerts from a board feed As long as u don't clip your digital recordings ... they will sound as good as the source!!! and with Creative's new x-fi chip coming out they'll sound even better... supposedly hehe I got lucky and had mine pricematched awhile back for 200 bucks so keep your eyes peeled! Only 2 or 3 things should be mentioned... 1. for U.S. user's until or if they decide to release a new u.s. firmware... u need to upgrade to the european or korean versions which supposedly kills the drm! 2. Can be finnicky with USB issues... the front ports on my comp recognized the device but said their was an error with usb host... so Moved it to the back usb port and all is well (some others had trouble as well according to their FAQ's) 3. Iriverter does a great job... but I think the file needs to be in the 'xvid' format before being converted... Only because some of my soprano's stuff didn't play after converting... hehe 4. Not as slim as the ipod but value for the money... beats it hands down! Ipod's are cool because of the whole cottage industry surrounding them... Like the linux folks... but that also means u spend more for all the accessories as well....!!!!! __________________ http://img52.exs.cx/img52/7799/opus.jpg AMD X2-3800 (Manchester), Oc'd to 2.25 on stock cooler! DFI Lanparty-UT-SLI-D mobo, OCZ Platinum pc3200xtc @ 2.3.2.5.1T, MSI 7800gt @440/1100, Soundblaster X-Fi Fatal1ty, 2 wd 36g raptors, 1 maxtor 250g eide, Coolermaster case with Handle Logitech g15, 20.1" Sceptre LCD, Antec neo2 500w PS"

Aug 13, 2005, 10:33 PM	#5
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	I have heard that this is an IPOD killer.... __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Aug 13, 2005, 06:42 PM	#3
pr0digal jenius Delete Me Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 14,648 Rep Power: 0	excellent job DJ I have the iRiver H10, which is the DRM model in the H series of players, so it works with Napster To Go much the same player, except mine doesn't do video....amazing little products

Aug 14, 2005, 07:50 AM	#6
Necrosis HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,838 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Great review DJ.