iRiver H320 review (20GB)

Many moons ago, the iRiver H120 was dubbed one of the first "iPod killers," thanks to its petite form factor and a bevy of extra features. Today, its replacement, the 20GB H320 ($330), is consistently one of the first high-capacity MP3 players to be mentioned in the same breath as the iPod (the 40GB H340 is also available at $440). Thanks to a major interface overhaul that includes a photo-friendly color screen, the feature-rich H320 is a legitimate choice for those who require lots of storage, multiple-file-format compatibility, and extra features that the iPod lacks, such as recording and FM tuning. Still, the H320 has some weaknesses, including confusing navigation and slow photo loading that may discourage prospective buyers searching for another iPod killer.

Editor's note: We have changed the rating in this review to reflect recent changes in our rating scale. Click here to find out more. Measuring 4 by 2.4 by 0.9 inches and weighing 6.4 ounces, the durable, black plastic-encased H320 is neither a design marvel nor a sleek iPod-like device. It's noticeably thick, not to mention heavier than it looks. (In the world of gadgets, a few ounces or fractions of inches make a difference.) The overall look is utilitarian although the color screen does add some style points. We like to call the H320 the "Soviet iPod."

Instead of the scrollwheel or touch pad that we've recently become accustomed to, the H320 is operated by pressing a series of tactile buttons, which are clustered together underneath the 2-inch TFT 260,000-color display. These buttons are clearly marked, but some have double functions, so a careful read of the informative user manual is a necessity.

The center Navi button serves as the primary Select key, and the surrounding four buttons are navigation, volume, or forward and reverse controls, depending on what screen you're on. Additionally, the Navi button serves as the Menu button when held down for a couple of seconds. It gets more confusing. To the left of the navigation controls are the on and off buttons, which also serve as play/pause and stop buttons. To the far right are the record and A-B loop buttons, which also serve as function and EQ buttons, respectively--again, when they're held down.

As confusing as that sounds, once you've used the H320 for about a week, all the controls become intuitive, especially for those who grew up tinkering with computers. It's just not as out-of-the-box simple as the iPod. If this all sounds discouraging, just remember: the H320 does so much more than the iPod.

Holding down the Navi button opens the setup menu, which includes a deep set of tweakable options for General, Display, Timer, Control, and other items. The function button will give you a choice of Music, Radio, Record, Text, Picture, and Browser. The interface is well organized, and icons and graphics pop off the screen--certainly a plus for the H320. For example, in Play mode, the screen cleanly and efficiently displays tons of info, including track number, a battery-progress bar, level meters, and playback time, as well as track name, file type, bit rate, EQ, and sampling rate. Those who love info-packed interfaces will warm to the H320.

Moving back to the hardware, the top of the H320 features separate line-in and line-out ports as well as a headphone jack and a smart jack for the optional wired remote. You'll find a nice big microphone on the left side and a Hold switch on the right. Underneath is a power port plus two data ports: a USB 1.1 port best used for media and a USB 2.0 port for data.