Archos 404 (30GB)

Reviewed on 8/28/06    Release date: 9/1/06    Archos's 04 series of portable video players has many components, the smallest being the pocket-size 404. This is a full-fledged PVP with all the fixings and a 30GB drive, but this one measures only 4 by 3 by 0.5 inches--that's a stone's throw from Apple iPod country. Plus the iPod doesn't have a 3.5-inch screen. Though the 6.5-ouncer doesn't record audio or video out of the box (you'll need to pony up either for the $100 dock or the $70 adapter), it's still a nice deal at less than $300. Available in early September, the 404 will replace the popular Gmini 402, which is more compact but has a much smaller screen and no ability to record line-in video.

Still, the 404's main attraction is its compactness. It's comfortable in the hand and in most pockets, though it is just a tad too tall to get the ultimate MP3 player grip on it (feels like a tank next to the 5G iPod). The 404's brushed-metal casing is extremely scratch resistant, though the overall design is boxy with sharper corners than, say, the iPod or the Cowon A2. At the same price as the 5G 30GB iPod, the 404 is so much more a video and photo player.

The Archos 404 has excellent video capabilities with support for MPEG-4 ASP up to 720x480 @ 30fps, WMV9, and WM DRM; there is no support out of the box for MPEG-2 or QuickTime files, but in our experience with the 404 and the bigger 604, many DivX files worked flawlessly (Archos will have MPEG-2 and H.264 plug-ins available for $10 soon). Video playback control is precise and responsive using the newly designed array of tactile buttons on the right side (southpaws are out of luck). Some users will miss the older 402's Game Boy-style controls.

Each button is designed to be pressed in either the left or the right direction, including the special set of diagonal buttons that act as page-up/page-down keys when browsing and can skip/reverse about 30 seconds when playing content. Like with the last version, the controls work in harmony with the GUI, with context-sensitive menus and submenus appearing on the expansive screen mapped to a specific button. The overall design reminds me of a sophisticated Swedish drum machine with its meticulous buttons and motion-filled onscreen interface. These buttons, by the way, can be difficult to control blindly or in darkness; the Click Wheel and Cowon's A2 controls are better suited for thoughtless navigation.

Though no match for the 604's display, the 404's 3.5-inch TFT anti-reflective display (320x240 pixels) is durable and scratch resistant and doesn't attract fingerprints (though you can get dust and other stuff lodged between the screen and the bezel). It is an ideal size for a 4:3 screen, as the rest of the body is so small. Next to the 604's 16:9 display, the 404's looks pixelated, and you'll definitely get the screen-door effect watching videos or viewing photos; the 604's screen is much more smooth and colorful. You'll also get three lines of menu items (slightly more confusing) than the two on the 604. It's still a good display, though.

The 404 plays MP3, WAV, and protected WMA files and includes a voice recorder and a variety of audio EQs. The 404 boasts a built-in PDF document reader, a built-in mono speaker, and an excellent photo viewer. Surprisingly, there is no FM tuner. We do like the fact that upon connecting to a computer, the 404 gives you the option of UMS (PC hard drive) or MTP (Windows device) modes. Transferring to and from a Mac (drag and drop) and Windows (autosyncing) was clean and quick.

What you won't get from the 404 is a built-in kickstand, a removable battery, and the 16:9 wide screen of the 604, which incidentally costs only $50 more (read the 604 review). Most everything is the same as the other players in the 04 series, including the beautifully revamped and customizable GUI and general overall look and feel. You'll also have to contend with the proprietary USB cable and weak set of bundled accessories (no AC adapter included, weak case, and mediocre earbuds).

For those torn between the 604 and the 404, most people will probably be won over by the nicer screen and removable battery of the 604. The 604 is slightly thicker and an inch wider but offers so much more. But ultimately, you can't deny the 404's more pocketable and manageable size.

In order to record audio or video, you need to purchase one of two optional kits. The first is the Archos DVR Station, a dock designed to fit in with your entertainment system. This $100 kit (with a nice remote control) can record virtually any video source, including cable TV, DVD player, camcorder, and so on, as well as line-in audio. It features virtually every input and output you'd care for, including S-Video in and out, component out, standard USB, and even SPDIF out. The other option is the more portable DVR Travel Adapter Kit ($70), which includes a 4-inch adapter that snaps onto the 404's dock connector. It's easy to use and transport, but it lacks the depth of ports on the dock. The AV500 actually shipped with a docking pod, making it record ready out of the box. So you're actually paying a little less (with a smaller screen of course) if you add the recording hardware--not a bad move by Archos, since you can save some cash if you don't want to record. However, recording is one of the prime features of this "DVR," and our advice is to get one of the two kits when you buy the main unit.

If you want to use the 404 as a USB host and you own an AC adapter (the 404 ships with only a proprietary USB cable), you'll have to spring for the Docking Adapter Kit ($30). For a little more cash, you can get the Archos 404 Camcorder (price TBD), which adds a 1.3-megapixel digital camera/camcorder to the mix.

The 404's revamped photo features do deserve mention. One method for browsing is the thumbnail mode, where you get 64 thumbnails, which magnify as you pass over them. Slide-show transitions are professional, and you can zoom in multiple steps. Like the 604, the 404 is a great photo viewer.

Battery life is rated for 12 hours for audio (subpar) and 4 hours video (good). Archos's latest firmware update (1.2.05) supposedly improves audio battery as well as the overall audio quality. We'll verify this claim soon. We had reported that the 604 was noisy at low volumes; while the 404 definitely sounds better (the 604 has improved as well), there is still the tiniest electrical static. Overall sound quality is very good though, just not as good as the Cowon A2's. It's very bright sounding and punchy, a sound I prefer. The built-in speaker is okay, not great. We also appreciate the addition of the set of preset and user EQs. But they don't dramatically affect the sound. We have to give props to Archos for adding true gapless playback of audio files.

The unit can pipe video out to a TV via the headphone jack (though you'll need to provide your own cable), and high bit rate video looks very good on a 20-inch screen. Recording video is simple without any headaches (you can record in MPEG-4/ADPCM/AVI at a maximum of 640x480 and 30fps). Scheduling recordings is easy enough, though we'd love a programming system that's more integrated and intelligent (Archos tried this with the PocketDish-branded versions of the AV500) in the same way the Toshiba Gigabeat S can playback Media Center recordings.

Overall, the 404 looks to be an awesome alternative to the current iPod, with its compactness, rich feature set, excellent video performance, and of course, competitive price. The 404 is a PVP in an MP3 player's body. We would recommend spending the extra $70 to $100 for a recording kit, though, as using the 404 as a DVR is what makes this device so attractive.