Good Quality Sound

USB 2.0 transfer is fast. For 30, 100 MB MP3, file transfer took about 15 seconds. Yet the hard drive was the same as the Archos Gmini 220, i.e. a Hitachi C4K40 at 4200 rpm with a theoretical transfer rate of 29MB/s.

Playback sound quality is excellent. It is neither distorted nor muffled. Moreover, it can be adjusted.

The Karma includes Sennheiser MX 300 headphones. This is the first time a player comes with good-quality headphones that will not need to be replaced later. The sound is full and neutral, the instruments very much present and the highs and lows well balanced. An example other manufacturers would do well to heed.

At $350, the Rio Karma is not cheap, but its price is standard for 20GB. Part of its appeal is its lightness which makes it easy to carry 20GB around with you. The form-factor is cool to look at, but its real attraction is the ergonomics and the screen. The docking station is a good idea and makes up for the lack of an FM tuner. The Karma is truly designed for music: excellent playback, recognition of the WMA / MP3 / Org Vorbis formats and good-quality headphones. It's a real shame it's not detected as a removable drive device. This is an anachronism Rio would do well to put right as soon as possible with some new Firmware.