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With the S35S, Rio steps up to the plate with a rubberized, bold-red design and a friendly, graphical interface similar to the one that we loved so much on the Rio Riot. With a built-in FM radio, a stopwatch, and excellent attachments, the Rio S35S makes a perfect workout partner.
The Rio S35S's red, rubberized case and asymmetrical, ergonomic shape demonstrate the great strides that the company has made in the design of its portable audio players. At 2.5 by 2.75 by 0.8 inches and 2.2 ounces with the battery installed, the S35S's oval shape is small and lightweight enough to be practical for active endeavors.
The backlit LCD features a similar, rounded aesthetic, with expanding text bubbles and graphical sliders that enable easy song and menu navigation via the large, circular, four-way toggle button on the front. With a design unique to Rio, the included over-the-ear headphones look a bit like Secret Service earpieces but are surprisingly comfortable and pliable. The clear-plastic belt clip is also flexible; it wraps around the back of the player like a hand for a secure fit and provides an extra layer of protection to the S35S's already durable body. Occasionally, the buttons on the player don't line up precisely with the holes in the case; you may find yourself playing around with the alignment from time to time. If you prefer, the same case attaches to your body via an included, elastic armband.
Unlike some MP3 players, the Rio S35S comes with a USB cord that actually reaches from the back of a computer on the ground to the top of a desk. If you don't own a USB hub and must therefore connect the cable directly to the back of your computer, this will save you lots of aggravation.
While this MP3 player lacks a voice recorder or PDA functionality, it does have an FM radio tuner and can play MP3s and WMAs--all that you need for the gym. For any playback situations, six preset EQs add bass or treble; you can also set your own equalization by manipulating the graphical sliders. You can also have a bookmark save your spot in a file, for a nice plus for audiobook fans. The standard repeat and shuffle features are included as well. The S35S comes with 128MB of onboard memory and has a MultiMedia Memory card expansion slot for increasing storage up to a total of 256MB.
The S35S digitally receives FM stations via a seek function, manual tuning, or eight presets. Using the presets is a good idea since the seek function often stops on empty channels and manual tuning takes too long.
The included RealOne software does a fine job of encoding MP3s at bit rates up to 320Kbps--unlike the free version, which encodes tunes at only up to 96Kbps--while the clean, simple Rio Music Manager transfers files to the device. Mac users will find that iTunes handles both functions with aplomb.
Rio also includes a trial version of MoodLogic, which fixes incorrect song information in the ID3 tags of 100 MP3s before asking you to register. Unlike the less sporty, rechargeable Rio S50, the S35S includes only a standard AAA alkaline. Battery life was just as the company claimed--slightly less than 15 hours. One caveat: Don't leave the S35S's power switch in the on position or the battery will drain. The S35S has no autoshutdown feature--just a power-save mode that slowly sucks away juice.
Using the included headphones, the S35S's sound quality did not knock our socks off but was definitely acceptable. Our Shure E3c test headphones improved fidelity, although perhaps not enough for serious audiophiles with exacting standards. Radio reception was a bit fuzzy on weaker stations, but we didn't expect perfect reception from an MP3 player.
We filled the player almost to its 128MB capacity in about five minutes, making for a better-than-average transfer rate of 0.39MB per second.
It's definitely possible to find a less expensive 128MB model, but the $200 Rio Sport S35S is worth the price for those who want a reliable, well-designed MP3 player with an FM radio. If you like the looks of the S35S but don't have the cash, try the $149 Rio Sport S30S, which offers an expandable 64MB of memory but keeps the same sporty design.
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 Pop open the back of the case to change the battery or add another MultiMedia Memory card. |
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The backlit LCD features a similar, rounded aesthetic, with expanding text bubbles and graphical sliders that enable easy song and menu navigation via the large, circular, four-way toggle button on the front. With a design unique to Rio, the included over-the-ear headphones look a bit like Secret Service earpieces but are surprisingly comfortable and pliable. The clear-plastic belt clip is also flexible; it wraps around the back of the player like a hand for a secure fit and provides an extra layer of protection to the S35S's already durable body. Occasionally, the buttons on the player don't line up precisely with the holes in the case; you may find yourself playing around with the alignment from time to time. If you prefer, the same case attaches to your body via an included, elastic armband.
Unlike some MP3 players, the Rio S35S comes with a USB cord that actually reaches from the back of a computer on the ground to the top of a desk. If you don't own a USB hub and must therefore connect the cable directly to the back of your computer, this will save you lots of aggravation.
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 The digital tuner hones in to stations perfectly, as long as the signal is strong enough. |
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The S35S digitally receives FM stations via a seek function, manual tuning, or eight presets. Using the presets is a good idea since the seek function often stops on empty channels and manual tuning takes too long.
The included RealOne software does a fine job of encoding MP3s at bit rates up to 320Kbps--unlike the free version, which encodes tunes at only up to 96Kbps--while the clean, simple Rio Music Manager transfers files to the device. Mac users will find that iTunes handles both functions with aplomb.
Rio also includes a trial version of MoodLogic, which fixes incorrect song information in the ID3 tags of 100 MP3s before asking you to register. Unlike the less sporty, rechargeable Rio S50, the S35S includes only a standard AAA alkaline. Battery life was just as the company claimed--slightly less than 15 hours. One caveat: Don't leave the S35S's power switch in the on position or the battery will drain. The S35S has no autoshutdown feature--just a power-save mode that slowly sucks away juice.
 Rio Music Manager does a fine job of transferring songs onto the S35S without getting in your way. |
We filled the player almost to its 128MB capacity in about five minutes, making for a better-than-average transfer rate of 0.39MB per second.
It's definitely possible to find a less expensive 128MB model, but the $200 Rio Sport S35S is worth the price for those who want a reliable, well-designed MP3 player with an FM radio. If you like the looks of the S35S but don't have the cash, try the $149 Rio Sport S30S, which offers an expandable 64MB of memory but keeps the same sporty design.
