iRiver E100 MP3 Player Review - Conclusion

The iRiver E100 is expensive for the functionality it provides. In the current media player market, which is utterly dominated by iPods, very few media players choose to challenge Apple at its main price points. Archos, for example, makes high-end media players that focus on hardware superiority. Sandisk makes a lot of cost-efficient, very inexpensive players. The E100, however, has shoddy controls and an interface that's about on par with an entry-level cell phone.

The E100 had average audio qualtiy. Its frequency response is good, but has some issues towards the hgh end. The player also has minimal crosstalk and noise. The player's distortion levels are very high, however, which drags down its other performances.

Overall, if you're looking for an iPod alternative, the E100 is worth considering. If you don't care much about the basic interface and wonky controls, then you'll like the memory card slot and no need for sync software. Look for this device on sale, however, since it's listed price of $160 is about twice what it should be. Fortunately, it seems to be available on Amazon for about $80, which makes it a much better entry-level option.