Topic: Iriver experience..anyone....I just got this on datheads:

[Sterling]

Here's what He said:
The new iRiver IHP-120 has arrived and it is the first consumer (in
other words, affordable) stereo recorder that combines (almost) all of
the features the live recording community has been waiting for: a
large recording capacity (20 gig hard drive); ability to record
compressed or uncompressed audio files; a small package (60mm X 19mm X
105mm); long life built-in rechargeable battery; digital input AND
output (yes, you read that right!); fast USB 2.0 transfers to and from
a computer (not gonna happen with a MD or DAT) and, believe it or not,
a stereo microphone input with plug in power and a built-in microphone
preamp! That's right, no need for a separate preamp for recording with
a microphone! We have been waiting for this product to come along for
a long time and this is the first one of it's kind (none of the other
recorders of this type have a true mic input with plug in power). The
only downside (for now...we've been told this may change with a near-
future firmware upgrade) is that there are no recording level meters
and you can't change recording levels while recording (this is why we
say it may "eventually" replace MD and DAT:-). For now, we are working
on a module to attach to the recorder that will give you recording
level meters and the ability to adjust recording levels....stay tuned!


Correct me if i'm wrong, but if we ran a DAT side by side w/ this
thing and used optical in, which it offers, then we could use the DAT
levels to make the recording?  And, since the signal is digital out of
my UA-5 going Coax or Optical, they would be the same and thus this
thing could make a flawless .wav digital recording?
Sorry if we discussed this already, but I don't remember any
conclusion.

Thanks,

S. Garrett Bastable
College of Commerce & Finance
Villanova University '04
s.garrett.bastable@villanova.edu

[Sterling]

Sorry..I didn't search first  , but I'm checking it now.

[pfife]

The newsletter pointed out also that there are no meters on the unit, and until they build an outboard device (being Sound Prof's) it is not that useful.

Other discussions have noted that there is a very low file size limit (this was concerning the iHP-100 model) - which also could be applicable to the 120 model.  This is a firmware problem, and there is no intention by iRiver to upgrade it.

See the following:

http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=10122

<http://www.taperssection.com/yabbse/index.php?board=11;action=display;threadid=4785>




HTH-
~AP

[timP]

hey.
I've got an iriver 120, and I am going to use it to record some shows that call for a very small recorder. It is a very nice feeling unit, but has a small screen, and a touchy navigation knob, took awile to get used to it.
Now with recording, I haven't done any side by side tests, but it does only give you 75 min at a time. It takes about 25 seconds and 2 button pushes to get to the next file. Also VERY easy to move files to and from yr comp. No more tape!
I love it for carying around shows. I now have 7 whole Mule shows fromthis fall, a couple of panic shows, and a mix file of 100 or songs, all in wav, and there is still plenty of room. It is also nice to have shows to cary around and play for people, or be able to transfer a show to their computer easily....
Giong to start playing with recording with my 120 at a bands' practice session soon, and will make any and all recordings avaliable....I'm going to run it thru a MD w/ level meters and a Denecke AD. andI have AT933's... here goes............

[greenone]

Sounds like a step in the right direction, but at 75 minutes per recording and 25 seconds for a new file it sounds suspiciously like MD and even worse than that depending on your disc changing skills. Yes, no ATRAC, no compression, but still...I'm not sure I'd pay $150 more for that over a JB3.

[timP]

EDIT:  just recorded a few short little things and it only took 12 seconds each time..................

[joemango]

75 minutes?   SUCK!   There's no reason for that!  The WAV file format will go to 3 hours on a Nomad.  Hell, I went from MD standard to SP2 just to keep from flipping.

They say that the firmware is upgradeable on the iRiver site, so keep your fingers crossed, kids.

[pfife]

someone said somewhere else that the problem with the file size is not upgradeble through firmware... this was elicited from iRiver's customer support.

I have a question for everyone that is interested in this player - why is it that you guys don't want a Jb3 ?

[Nick in Edinboro]

pfife, I think people are interested in a smaller footprint for easier stealthing and what not.  The JB3 is somewhat bulky to stealth at the size of your average CD walkman..

[pfife]

pfife, I think people are interested in a smaller footprint for easier stealthing and what not.  The JB3 is somewhat bulky to stealth at the size of your average CD walkman..

My experience has been that it isn't even something you need to hide.   If you are going to see someone who is vehemently against taping, like King Crimson, sure, the security will know...

But, you can just hook up a set of headphones, and roll like you are just listening to tunes.  When I got padded down for Bob Dylan (notoriously anti-taping...) show, they found it, and I said it was just my walkman, and they didn't care...  They don't really have time to investigate it any further...  In this sense, it is actually an advantage that it looks almost exactly like a discman upon quick glancing...

This is obviously just my experience, and not transferrable to everyone's situation, but sometimes I think it is not necessary to hide everything, per se...

Peace-
Pfife

[mirth]

The iRiver has a built in limit for WAV files around 800MB. It also only supports 16/44 and 16/48, so yeah a good replacement for DAT if they ever 'fix' the size limitation.