Now being sold in Japan is another audio player from Siren. Considering no more than the design of the DP350 it doesn’t appear to be the most versatile of media players. This is mainly due to the 0.6-inches of width and 128×160 pixel 65k color 1.8-inch LCD, but in the same way as the DP250 (also released since iriver’s acquisition of the company), this is a DAP which provides an impressive amount of functionality when compared competing players.

Most of the popular lossy audio formats are taken care of as the DP350 will playback MP3, WMA (DRM10), Ogg Vorbis, and AAC (unprotected), in addition to video and pictures in MPEG-4, WMV, JPG, and BMP file formats. Both MTP and UMS (MSC) transfer protocols can be used and recordings can be made in WAV and WMA from direct line-in, FM radio, and built-in microphone.

The DP250, First Siren DAP from iriver

Siren

DP250

Following the acquisition of Siren earlier in the year, the first DAP released by iriver under their new brand will be the DP250. Holding a simple design which is nevertheless characteristic of iriver the player presents a number of functions that very few others do in its class.

Two approaches are taken to free your music from your headphones and share it about, by having a 400mW built in speaker in addition to acting as an FM transmitter. The DP250 implements three methods of recording: voice, FM radio, and line-in. It will go on sale September 7 in white and black colors with 1GB for 9,980 Yen ($85) and 2GB 13,980 Yen ($120).

[Press Release]

abi Editor's Choice

Samsung P2

The Samsung P2 has been gaining quite a following lately and rightfully so. If you are looking for something well designed, innovative, and feature packed; you should look into this full touch screen wonder. The Bluetooth feature set is what I find to be the most intriguing, with the ability to tether to your phone to make calls or wirelessly transfer with no restrictions to other P2s. Check out the review or stop by our ever growing P2 forums to get the latest info.
Toshiba Gigabeat T400

The Gigabeat T400 is without a doubt my favorite flash player at the moment. It does have one major setback in that it only comes in a 4GB, shame on you Toshiba. What makes me love this player is it's ultra slick sexy design, very easy- just pick up and use interface, and killer sound quality that would make Cowon users envious. This player is a must buy for anyone who sports a premium set of headphones. Full review to come but you should really just buy one.
SanDisk Sansa Clip

The Clip has a fantastic little form factor; cheap in build quality but very rugged. The interface is simple and relatively straight forward. The features on the clip are more or less average, mostly identical to the Sansa Express. However, what earns this player a spot in Editor’s Choice is the superb sound quality; you will not find another player at this size and price that can match it. Read the full review or go ahead and buy it.
Cowon iAudio D2

The D2 is a fantastic sounding PMP with a very nice looking screen and a tone of features. One of the best features of the D2 is the SDHC slot allowing you to add another 32GB to this small wonder. The touch interface does not lend well to on the move operation, but it is not enough to keep it from being an editor’s choice. You can find usually find it at Amazon for the best price and before to check out the review.
JAYS q-JAYS

The q-JAYS are great in ear phones. They offer excellent clarity, silky treble, realistic midrange, and a nice bass response. They're comfortable, incredibly tiny, and come with a huge selection of accessories. While they certainly are analytic phones, they're still fun to listen to. The q-JAYS respond well to EQing, and can be tweaked to fit almost anyone's sound preference. Recommended for anyone owning a good sounding player and well encoded audio files. Check out our review.