Element Electronics, SoniqCast, Aireo… These three aren’t names you necessarily know well, but we expect by the time we’re done with this review you’ll remember them – and want to know more!
After reading this review, see our for the latest on this great player!
The Element Electronics brand was launched this year by Petters Group to deliver great new consumer electronics to the marketplace, with the trademarked tagline: “get to the fun faster”. The Aireo, “powered by SoniqCast”, is their premiere product – a very unique MP3 player that should easily stand out from the rest of the market. Let’s take a quick look at the specs sent along with the Aireo (which I’ve typed up and reformatted a bit) to give a preview of the device and just what makes it tick:
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Product Specifications:
- Size: 2.8″ x 4.5″ x 0.9″
- Weight: 6.8 oz
- Capacity: 1.5GB hard drive
- Power: DC 5V
- LCD Display: 2.2″ 128 x 64 pixel resolution blue LED backlit display
- Battery:Rechargeable Lithium Ion battery provides up to 8 hours continuous playtime
- Playback formats: MPEG Audio Layer 3 (MP3), Windows Media Audio (WMA)
- Equalizer: 7-band customizable
- Connectivity: USB, 802.11b
- FM Stereo: Receiver and Transmitter, full-band (88.1 - 107.9)
- Signal to noise ratio: Up to 96dB (headphones)
- Channel Separation: Up to 75dB (headphones)
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Harmonic distortion output: <0.1%
- Operating system/firmware: Reprogrammable
- Headphone out: two 1/8″ stereo mini-jacks, 100mW
- Included accessories: Stereo behind-the-neck headphones, USB cable, AC power adapter, deluxe carrying case
- Documentation and Support: User manual and quick start guide
Some major feature areas aren’t covered well in the basic specifications, and I want to call them out before cracking open the box and taking a deeper hands-on look. First and foremost, the Aireo has built-in 802.11b WiFi connectivity, meaning that you can sync music to the device from anywhere within your local WiFi network’s range, without the need to plug directly into the PC. Another major feature that I quickly added to the Specifications list but deserves a further callout is the FM Stereo features, which includes a digital FM tuner for listening to radio, and a full-band FM transmitter that allows the Aireo to broadcast MP3 playback to a local FM radio/tuner (home stereo, car stereo, etc.) without need for an add-on accessory. Finally, it has an SD/MMC slot, so you can quickly grab music you already have ready for another device and incorporate and play it immediately on the Aireo – we only wish they’d have included the ability to copy files on the SD card to/from the Aireo’s hard disk, making the Aireo a more useful portable ‘backup’ device.
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Ah the price of the SoniqCast- Aireo 1.5gb is only $199 on bestbuy.com so that even makes it a better value and not $299 as expressed on the site. Great review. I loved it and planning to get the mp3 player this weekend at my local bestbuy store
Thanks for the tip!
I just got one last week and the updated software and firmware make a big difference over what is in the box.
I’ve just ordered the in car charger from Amazon, so I can wire it into my lockable glove box. That way I won’t have to take it until the battery goes south.
This is a great device.
This is one cool device. It even won my wife over. Now it is the first thing she asks for when we get in the card. I have a few lock ups but other than that I have no complains.
This mp3 player does what i need to do, without wires!
I’d like to know abot the hard drive, I want to see if it can be replaced.
In theory it might, it’s likely just a CF-II style drive. The Aireo 2 (if it ever ships) is specced with a 20GB drive, and is actually smaller and lighter. But if you need the features now, and like the unit, get one now…
Check ebay currently they are going for $99/US + $10 shipping!
I just ordered one!
Do not buy this unit. It broke in 6 weeks and now Soniqcast will not issue an RMA. One huge disaster. Customer service just spews endless pre-approved scripts that are no help. Save your money.
do not buy this system it broke after 5 months and then i paid to get it fixed and i recieved it back and it worked for 5 minutes then broke again. this is a very terrible system. do not buy it.