Available in 512MB (red) or 1GB (blue) capacities, the chunky iRiver T10 boasts a colour screen and most of the features found in iRiver's popular 700/800 series. Listed at AU$299 for the 1GB and AU$229 for the 512MB, the T10 is a tad pricey. Although the feature-laden iRiver T10 sounds good and has rocking battery life, it unfortunately suffers from some design issues.
Features
Like most iRiver MP3 players, the T10 lets you browse for audio files using folder-tree navigation -- nice for customisation but not good if you want to browse by album, track, genre, and so on. The iRiver T10 supports playlists but not on-the-go playlists. We really like the T10's cool screensavers, which include a sound spectrum, a graphical waveform, and the iRiver disco dancer. As an extra, the T10 can display 24-bit BMP images, but they must have the odd resolution of 128x256 pixels.
The iRiver T10 plays MP3, OGG and WMA files. The T10 works well with Windows Media Player 10 for music transfers. The FM tuner has excellent reception, and its 20 presets can be automatically filled and individually deleted. You have your choice of three MP3 quality levels with voice (via the built-in mic) or FM programming recordings. Voice recording is a tidy process, thanks to the prominent red record button, but try not to touch the T10's body during recording as the mic picks up on the noise. Strangely enough, iRiver has omitted a line-in recording feature, though if we had to choose either FM or line-in, we'd go with FM for sure.
Performance
The iRiver's good sound quality (90dB signal-to-noise ratio) improves further with the five-band user EQ and the SRS features turned on. The play mode menu, an important option in folder-tree-style players such as the T10, is accessed by pressing the record button during playback. A long hold of the A/B button opens the EQ window, and you can preview your selection in real time.
Since we prefer not to buy batteries, it's nice to know that the T10 surpassed the company's claims of 45 hours per AA battery. CNET Labs got 47.8 hours, which is definitely impressive. Transfer rates over USB 2.0 came in at an average 1.9MB per second. The iRiver T10 ships with decent earbud headphones, a standad USB cable, a neck strap, a plastic carrying case, an AA battery and software.
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Jairo
25/06/2008, 08:40 AM
rating
10/10
Ipod is a farse compared to this one!
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PseudoComplexity
11/02/2008, 04:25 PM
rating
10/10
The bestest of the best MP3 players! Excellent bass response, long battery life, a very well-thought graphic interface, colorful LCD. Fantastic, I've been using it for 2 years and for all this time.. had no problems with it whatsoever. Very durable, by the way.
Pros: Superior sound quality!!!! With an adjustable EQ, it's truly an ideal choice for audiophiles. And that's all you should care about. This little sucker can make virtually any earphones sound great, just play with the EQ a bit.
Cons: At times.. the LCD screen seems to run a bit too slow.. not the highest framerate, but come on, you won't be staring at it all time! Playback sound is where it shines.
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tazzles
18/01/2008, 11:18 PM
rating
10/10
Easy to use and transfer files to (2gb)
Pros: I love the fact that it uses AA batteries and that I don't have to rely on a computer to charge my mp3 player, making it the perfect option for taking with you when you travel. Music sounds great, the earphones are comfortable and it fits in your pocket.
Cons: If you use Explorer to transfer files, they don't always go in the order you expect. Even with track numbers, they seem to go alphabetically. But not always.
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Canadian
17/04/2007, 05:40 AM
rating
9/10
Everything I could want. Especially the fact that I am not forced to use propriatary software (down with itunes!).
Pros: Battery life is great. No need for chargers (ideal for travellers). Easily navigated.
Cons: It was a bit of a pain updating the firmware. I thought I had bought a faulty unit, but eventually, I got it to update.
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misticriverman
25/02/2007, 07:32 PM
rating
10/10
I almost love my T10 more than my H340, the battery life is incredible.
Pros: long battery life
good sound clarity
large range of menu options
Cons: Odd placement of headphone jack
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Pebble
10/01/2007, 10:55 AM
rating
9/10
I've got the yellow 1gig version & compared to my old Sony NW-E105 this thing is fantastic!
Pros: Sporty
Can clip onto anything - perfect for clipping onto my camelbak when MTBi ridng
Stock earphones sound great
Software it came with is good but I can also click & drag using windows explorer if I want.
AA battery - more capacity & cheaper than AAA's
Love the locking feature - no sliding buttons that are prone getting clogged with dirt & mud
Very easy to use & I haven't found it awkward in design as yet, button placement seems to be good for me.
The clear protective case that it came with is nice.
Really classy looking neck strap, no expense spared it seems.
Cons: Don't think much of the arm band it came with, really the player is a bit bulky to wear on the arm. I do like the little clear case that it comes with but unfortunately that's got to go with the arm band.
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anonymous
02/01/2007, 05:10 PM
rating
9/10
I recently took this beast to Nepal for a 3 month climbing trip. I would highly recommend it to other adventure travellers.
Pros: AA Battery - essential for travel to remote areas.
Temperate tollerence - Rated to -5 which I can confirm.
Robust - mine lived in the lid of my pack and took all sorts of knocks and even a small rock fall.
Cons: A larger capacacity would be nice.
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Jerzy
21/12/2006, 11:26 PM
rating
10/10
I've bought 1GB some time ago for $280 - recently I've bought 2GB for $170 - will buy next version, hope for 4 or 8Gb or more and pay any money! - use it for audio books, recording lectures - GREAT PRODUCT !!!
Pros: feel, size, robust, battery life,
Cons: The socket position bad for the pockets,
Why not to add the AM radio as well,
You may charge for it more but give us bigger flush memory iRiver! - 8Gb or more on T10 - why not? and a nice coverbag (leather) would be nice add too!
After the above still 10/10
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Nick
19/10/2006, 09:23 PM
rating
8/10
Kick Arse buy one
Pros: Im a window cleaner and have been through a couple of players. They were weak and feeble compared to this. None of them could be controlled though a t shirt up a ladder with one hand, the T10 can. Great sound quality, The supplied earphones are better than the $50 AU headset that I already bought.The radio picks up really well, up ladders, in alcoves, roof gullys ect. The software is dead easy to use, and how good is programing the radio presets from the computer keyboard! AA battery gives great playtime and all for $155 AU.
Cons: None. see above
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allankey
19/10/2006, 02:33 AM
rating
9/10
In love with my iRiver T10 2Gb
I am an old bloke (49) from Perth, and have never had an MP3 player before, and the rave reviews I read on this very page helped me choose this make and model.
I have had it for two weeks now, paying $199 for it from Dick Smith Morley, and now could not live without it. I listen to my favourite book, 1.3 gigs of it (over 100 hours) every day, I listen to FM radio, and I have begun recording my first novel I am writing onto it, and between proof reading and listening, I am tweaking it very effectively. The quality of the recording is wonderful, let alone the songs - I, oh forgot to mention the hits of the fifties and sixties that take up much of the remaining 700 Mb.
It runs from my Varta 15 minute rechargeable AA batteries, and in two weeks I have only changed the battery once.
I just love the fact that I can drag and drop onto it in Windows Explorer, and drag and drop out of it onto my hard drive. Windows just treats it like another hard drive, and my old USB 1.1 port only slows it down, doesn't stop it. So while it might take 45 mins to fill 2 gigs, I can go out and do some gardening. You young folks, if you had only USB 1.1, could paint your nails or SMS your friends.
There are features I haven't used yet, like the A-B function, and alarm, but plan to.
Congratulations iRiver, I am sold on your T10, and already have helped my father in law with some funds to buy himself one the day after me (back to Duck Smuffs), and he listens to audio books and records as well, and he is 76! I have recommended a friend to buy one, and she is about to do so.
The robustness of this gadget is most appealing to me. A young friend has an ipod thingy that looks like it would break with a sneeze.
iRiver, how about putting me on your payroll?
Pros: Oodles! See my detailed comments below.
Cons: Yes, it has some, but I couldn't be bothered to record any. Well, yes, I do agree with others, the earphone jack could be angled better.
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