MaximumPC 2007 112

T

he Archos 604 has been one of our favorite digital media players since its

introduction late last year. Our opinion of the new Archos 605 WiFi—which

adds a high-resolution touch screen and wireless networking capabilities—

isn’t as lofty.

Although the 605 offers a screen with the same dimensions as the 604

(4.3 inches, 16:9 aspect ratio), we fully expected its enhanced resolution

(800x480 pixels compared to 480x272) to knock our socks off. After repeated

viewings of slightly washed out digital photos and videos, our metatarsals

remain firmly ensconced in argyle.

The touch screen works great—it’s a much easier means of navigating

the player’s menus than the column of buttons on the right side of the device—

so we can overlook the need to use a stylus. But if the touch screen is to blame

for the screen’s vaguely hazy look, the trade-off isn’t worth it.

The same goes for the 605’s wireless-networking capabilities, which we

assume are responsible for causing the new player to burn through a battery

charge even faster than its off-line predecessor. We got less than four hours

of play time while watching videos and making moderate use of the wireless

network feature (despite the fact that the player drops its connection after just

a few minutes of inactivity in order to go into battery-conservation mode).

Actually, the wireless feature isn’t terribly useful unless you also purchase

a special version of Opera, which adds a full 10 percent to the purchase price.

Right. When’s the last time you contemplated buying a web browser? That and

the connectivity issue aside, Opera proved to be a solid fit for the Archos player.

We had a good experience visiting many of our favorite sites without having to

rely on web pages that were optimized for use with portable devices.

We’re also not impressed with the 605’s stingy storage capacity (30GB,

just like the 604) and Archos’s insistence on using a proprietary USB cable

(they tell us this is a necessary evil, but that doesn’t make it any less of a

pain in the caboose).

—Michael Brown

Archos 605 WiFi

Too much of a good thing

88 MAXIMUMPC december 2007

reviews Tes Ted. Reviewed. veRdic Tized

archos managed to add features to one of our favorite media

players while cutting its price tag. So why aren’t we smiling?

5

archos 605 wifi

$300, http://www.archos.com

F

or many, the initials B&W will conjure images of Ansel Adams photographs

and Hollywood classics; the thoughts of audiophiles, however, will turn

fondly to the legendary speakers of Bowers & Wilkins. The idea of B&W turning

its thoughts to the iPod will blanch the cheeks of many a blue blood, but we’re

damn happy the Zeppelin has landed.

We’ve been expecting someone to knock Klipsch’s iGroove HG off its ped-

estal, and the Zeppelin hurls it to the ground, stands over it and urinates, and

then lights it on fire. Then again, the Zeppelin’s price tag is treble that of the

iGroove HG’s, so its introduction doesn’t really diminish our opinion of Klipsch’s

product.

The iPod docks to a podium that emerges from the bottom of the Zeppelin

to hover over its middle. A spring mechanism automatically adjusts the dock

so that any model iPod will rest securely against a rubber stop on the back.

Unobtrusive buttons for power and volume are embedded in a band behind

and just above the dock, but most people will rely on the wireless remote.

Composite and S-Video outputs enable you to watch videos on your TV.

Most enclosures in this class are made from simple injection-molded

plastic, but the Zeppelin’s shell is fabricated from highly polished stainless steel

lined with a thick layer of sound-damping polymer. A pair of 1-inch aluminum-

dome tweeters are mounted at each end, along with two 3.5-inch glass-fiber

midrange drivers. A 5-inch woofer is mounted in the middle.

An integrated amp delivers 50 watts to the bass speaker and 25 watts to

each of the other speakers. Our experience backs B&W’s claim that an onboard

digital signal processor automatically adjusts frequency balances in response

to volume levels. The Zeppelin delivered more than enough power to fill the

16x12-foot media room we’re now using to test audio products: We experi-

enced chest-thumping bass and crisp highs at all levels while listening to Ben

Harper’s “Excuse Me Mr.” (from Fight for Your Mind). If you can swing the fare,

the Zeppelin delivers a high-fly-

ing audio experience.

—Michael Brown

B&W Zeppelin iPod

Speaker Dock

The best dirigible we’ve ever heard

Price/performance ratios be damned! The $600 Zeppelin deliv-

ers unbelievably great audio performance.

B&w ipod speaker dock

$600, http://www.bowers-wilkins.com

9

MAXIMUMPC

KICKASS