Archos 704 WiFi reviewed

We've already had our hands on Archos' 704 WiFi "portable" media player, but the thing's also been making the usual rounds, recently landing in PC Magazine's lap for a full review. All in all, they seem to have been pretty impressed with the player, especially by its big and bright 7-inch display and, of course, its titular WiFi capabilities. On the downside, they not surprisingly found the player to be big and heavy, and they were less than impressed with the need for a docking station (sold separately) to do any recording with the unit. That wasn't enough to stop the 704 from snagging a 4 out of 5 rating, however, with PC Mag saying that the player is "worth all of its $550 price."

[Via dapreview.net]

[paloooz @ Mar 16th 2007 1:47PM]

The only thing holding me back from buying this is it's lack of support for OGG and various video formats. AVI? DivX? Xvid? Come on, no one uses WMV. Why support WMV? I can't remember the last time I downloaded TV shows and movies in WMV format. Oh, that's right. I never have.

If there were a player that supported DivX, Xvid, h.264, Mpeg-2 (specifically for VOB and only VOB so I can straight rip a DVD, instead of having to transcode it), Mpeg-4, and those strange mkv files, I wouldn't care if the thing cost $1,500, I'll pay it.

These people just don't seem to get it - It's a video playing device. It should be able to play all sorts of types of video.

[Kev50027 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:20PM]

I'm pretty sure it does support Xvid and Divx there, buddy. Every Archos device I've ever had has played every single Xvid/Divx video I've thrown at it. Seriously, get your info straight before posting.

That's a pretty good price too.. their first wifi enabled device was over $700

[Kev50027 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:20PM]

I'm pretty sure it does support Xvid and Divx there, buddy. Every Archos device I've ever had has played every single Xvid/Divx video I've thrown at it. Seriously, get your info straight before posting.

That's a pretty good price too.. their first wifi enabled device was over $700

[Kev50027 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:20PM]

I'm pretty sure it does support Xvid and Divx there, buddy. Every Archos device I've ever had has played every single Xvid/Divx video I've thrown at it. Seriously, get your info straight before posting.

That's a pretty good price too.. their first wifi enabled device was over $700

[Kev50027 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:20PM]

I'm pretty sure it does support Xvid and Divx there, buddy. Every Archos device I've ever had has played every single Xvid/Divx video I've thrown at it. Seriously, get your info straight before posting.

That's a pretty good price too.. their first wifi enabled device was over $700

[Olivier @ Mar 16th 2007 1:54PM]

I agree palooz. If they are going fo rhte high-end of the market with a $500 device, they shouldn't skip on paying the $20 licensing fees for Divx etc..
WMV blows. These guys should have spent the money on popular codec licences instead.
The product manager at Archos need a good beating with an ugly stick for once again falling short of everyone's expectations.
I'm French, and so is most probably this person at Archos (French company) so let me give him the message loud and clear: "Tu es un(e) gros con(ne)".

That should do it

[pyro @ Mar 16th 2007 2:00PM]

I wouldn't trust this review. It says that the audio quality is excellent like all archos players. From what I've heard, most archos pmps have pretty bad audio quality. The size of this player just seems too impractical to be named a pmp and I'd rather just get a UMPC if I was going to get something that size.

[Veritas II @ Mar 16th 2007 2:00PM]

"With optional software plug-ins(available on www.archos.com):
- H.264 up to DVD resolution and AAC sound.
- MPEG-2 MP@ML up to 10 Mbps (up to DVD resolution) and AC3 stereo sound."

[Kev50027 @ Mar 16th 2007 2:21PM]

DAMN ENGADGET AND THEIR POSTING SYSTEM!!! Sorry for the quadpost there, it kept telling me that the post failed.

[anonymous @ Mar 16th 2007 2:30PM]

you could always check the thread to ensure your post made it or failed before you repost. If you know the problem already exist, you should already have a plan to prevent multiple postings.

[gibschan @ Mar 16th 2007 2:22PM]

I have a 604 wifi...i have both XDIV AND DIVX playing on my player. You can download optional codecs via the website...so yes..you can get the formats you want.

I don't know why everyone wants an ipod....expensive and no functions...

604 wifi, worth every dollar spent. You can even find sales if you look.

[itsMattohNO @ Nov 8th 2007 2:22AM]

Agreed, I have constantly been arguing to anyone that minds enough to indulge into the conversations, that free ware capabilities is important. That is the one reason I absolutely HATE ipod/phone/touch/etc. It requires the itunes compatibility... Its a hassle, waste, and not very open ended.
Over a year and a half ago I bought the Neuros 442, It was very open on both audio and video. But there were constantly hardware problems, and not much to do with the player.
Im about to purchase this Archos 704 Wifi... over time I would save up money for the docking station, player plug-ins, and the helmet cam. Im very positive that this product would last me a long time!

[PostScript @ Mar 16th 2007 2:22PM]

Well I am not sure about the 704 but I have the 604 wifi and it supports DivX, Xvid, h.264 out of the box. For Mpeg2 and AC3 audio you do have to buy additional plug-ins. They are approximately $15 each. Within my household we have archos 404, ipod nano, 60gb ipod video, zen vision M, sandisk e250, Sony HD3, olympus mr-500 and a PSP. Of all these video/mp3 devices the 604 wifi is hands down the best I have ever used (ie screen, capabilities, plug-ins etc.).

[ciscoguerrero @ Mar 16th 2007 2:35PM]

Three comments (from an owner of the AV700)

- Navigation: Without buttons it seems MORE difficult to navigate the 704. It seems one's fingers will have to be the stylus or use the attached stylus (but nowhere to put it!). I use my AV700 in my car/gym and the buttons are easier to get along with.

- Form Factor: the thing is wider than the AV700, which really shouldn't be so. Plus the plugs are all over the place on the side and the bottom, which makes it a mess when actually hooking it up and almost forces you to buy the cradle. The AV700 had all its plugs neatly tuckered in the upper right corner.

- Unfortunately, it seems like DviX .Avi files are NO longer supported in this archos (saywha??) The website does NOT list the codec as available as it is not on the downloads either. It has either gone 'unnanounced' or even worse, it could really be gone. (Though remember recently Archos liberated their code, so perhaps an enterprising sould will add .avi support back) Most of the stuffed I ripped is on .avi format, so if it is gone, there is no way I would get one. Plus I need at least 120GB.

[The Big Fudge @ Mar 16th 2007 3:45PM]

I play divx on my 604 all the time.

[neozoic @ Mar 16th 2007 5:05PM]

Archos 704 product page:

"MPEG-4* (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution)
WMV (MP@ML, up to DVD resolution).

*MPEG-4: ISO standard by Moving Picture Experts Group ; AVI: audio/video file container by Microsoft) without GMC and Quarter Pixel...*"

MPEG4 ASPL5 = Divx5

[klik2001 @ Apr 13th 2007 5:50PM]

The 704 i have plays divX just fine. I think people should get there facts straight before posting.

Also, I can understand why a 700 owner would think their system was better than the 704. I'd be pretty mad if I'd forked out for a 700; especially now that the more sleek and slick 704 is here. Sour grapes!

[An actual 704wifi owner @ Jun 28th 2007 7:12PM]

Here, here. Most of this page is full of sceptical and negative comments from people who have only seen a 704 wifi on the Archos site or You Tube.

I'm pleased to say that I actually own one. And I think it's great.

I got a 504 and sent it back.
I got a 604 and sent it back.
I knew straight away that they weren't for me.

But the 704 wifi is much more like it.
The picture is great. The sound quality is perfect. I've fed the output through my TV and AV amp and I have no complaints. It still depends what you put in - what you put in is what you get out. My source media is high quality and the playback I get is high quality. I tried it with a lower quality video source file and it struggled with lip sync - as I would expect.

The touch screen is responsive, you simply need to wait sometimes for the operating system to catch up and do what you just asked it to.

I am having some issues with browser plug-ins. It runs Opera for devices (in fact on the Opera site it even demos the 704 wifi) but support is from the device vendor. I've updated the firmware but it doesn't have flash player installed and also won't display some particular picture format (it shows gifs and jpegs).

It plays divx and avi's (I purchased the cinema plug-in, it's not expensive so it should be considered a necessity).

The included wallpapers are good, as are the themes. I had to convert my wireless PSK to hex but that's easily done online.

Okay, it's chunky and heavy. But it's not deep, the width and height are needed to house such a big screen and the chunkiness feels good and sturdy. Nice, strong metal casing. Weighty, maybe, but again it actually feels right at the weight that it rolls in at.

I think it's great. And I won't be sending it back.