iRiver N10 review (512MB)

For several years now, iRiver has been churning out sweet MP3 players, and the company's tiny, pendant-style N10 flash device is no exception. Although the player lacks many of the features of its iRiver brethren, it boasts an appealing design and good sound quality. We just wish the battery life was better and it cost less; the 128MB, 256MB, and 512MB models sport list prices of $140, $170, and $240, respectively, placing the players well above the current market average. Luckily, however, you can find them online for less.

Smaller than a cigarette lighter (1.1 by 2.5 by 0.5 inches and 0.8 ounces), cased in black metal with silver accents, and bearing a mirror-finish OEL screen, the iRiver N10 is the most attractive pendant-style MP3 player you'll find. Indeed, it's designed to be worn around your neck like a high-tech piece of jewelry. To that end, the N10 includes a lanyard with integrated earbuds that use a proprietary connection. The earbuds are better that most prepackaged sets, but if you want to go with your own headphones, the package includes an alternate adapter that accepts standard ones--simply push the Eject button, and lift the adapter off the top of the unit. The N10 is too small to hold even a single AAA battery, but the player's internal lithium-polymer cell charges through your computer's USB connection. Unfortunately, there's no option to charge via a wall outlet. The hypnotic screen displays blue text on a black background.

The N10 supports MP3, ASF, and unprotected WMA files, so you can't play songs bought from online stores such as Napster. Though iRiver has garnered critical acclaim for making its products feature-rich, it has also inspired its share of disdain for stuffing them with a dense interface that only techies could love. Among the many features in the N10, you get eight EQ presets, such as Xtreme EQ and Xtreme 3D settings; an EQ limit function to prevent distortion; timers to power the player on or off; variable playback speeds; and a variety of screensavers, including depictions of a level meter and lightning bolts. There's also a built-in mic for taking voice notes. The interface isn't as confusing as that of some other iRiver products, but users may still find the navigation a little frustrating. For example, you activate Xtreme EQ and 3D in one submenu but make adjustments to those settings in another one.