Archos 405

The Archos 405 portable media player (PMP) is the value-priced (MSRP $170), stripped down version of the larger flagship Archos 605 WiFi ($230 - $400). It drops WiFi and doesn't have a touch screen, but is smaller and cheaper. It features a vivid 3.5" TFT LCD screen with a 320 x 240 resolution that is much larger than other media players at this price point like the Apple iPod Nano ($150 - $200) with its 2.0" LCD.

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Archos 405 front
MSRP $170.00
Release date August, 2007
Brand Archos
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
3 reviews
56
negative
mixed
positive
1 positive
2 mixed
0 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
inexpensive personal video player
+4agreedisagree

•
SD Flash slot for expanding memory
+4agreedisagree

•
large, high quality 3.5" screen
+3agreedisagree

•
good audio quality
+3agreedisagree

•
has a standard USB connection
+3agreedisagree

•
customizable with many plug-ins and accessories
+2agreedisagree

•
2GB of internal memory + external expansion
+2agreedisagree

•
not locked to any proprietary player
+2agreedisagree

•
good support
+2agreedisagree

•
Anti-glare screen
+2agreedisagree

•
PDF viewer
+2agreedisagree

•
Compatible with Archos' DVR Station
+2agreedisagree

•
plays many file formats including DivX, XviD
+1agreedisagree

•
SDHC compatibility
+1agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
very little built-in memory - 2 GB
+3agreedisagree

•
mediocre battery life
+3agreedisagree

•
no built-in speaker
+2agreedisagree

•
user interface / software is lacking
+2agreedisagree

•
no kickstand
+1agreedisagree

•
build quality is not top notch
+1agreedisagree

•
long battery charge time
+1agreedisagree

•
No WiFi connectivity
+1agreedisagree

•
Bulky and heavy
+1agreedisagree

•
No hold button
+1agreedisagree

•
You even need to purchase a codex to common types of files and many are not supported.
+1agreedisagree

•
Problem with the Archoslink software.
+1agreedisagree

•
Resolution is not the best.
+1agreedisagree

•
both transferring files and charging by the USB cable seemed very slow
+1agreedisagree

•
no touchscreen
+1agreedisagree

•
the screen is a traditional square format rather than widescreen
+1agreedisagree

•
does not come with a kickstand
+1agreedisagree


4 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Features

  • 3.0" TFT LCD (NOT touch-screen)
  • 2GB capacity with SD expansion slot
  • Customizable with many plugins and accessories
  • Can be used as a DVR with DVR Station Accessory
  • Includes both a standard USB and proprietary USB connection
  • Available extended battery pack that can double as a stand
  • Battery life: video - 5.5 hours, audio - 16 hours
  • dimensions: 4" x 3" x 0.5"
  • weight: 4.2 oz.

Media formats

Archos advertises that the 605 supports MPEG-4 and WMV video and MP3, WMA, and WAV audio, however it features native support for the popular DivX and XviD video encoding schemes. It does not support the open-source OGG Vorbis audio format. The Cinema plugin the 605 can be extended to play MPEG-2 encoding video (.vob, .mpg, .ps), and the Video podcast plugin adds H.264 audio/video support (used by iTunes, and podcasts).

The Archos 405 was released on August 30th, 2007 and retails for around $170. It is part of the Generation 5 product line Archos 605 WiFi, Archos TV, Archos 705 WiFi, and Archos 105.

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This report was started September 20, 2007 at 12:42 pm by Erik
with the last edit occurring May 24, 2009 at 8:41 pm by vsaxena911
This page has been viewed 3996 times, with 76 edits by 10 contributors.
See the full report history »

Competitors

Archos 405 is ranked 3rd among it's competitors.  See the top picks in MP3 Players »
SanDisk Sansa View

SanDisk Sansa View

MSRP  $149.00    Released  October, 2007
Pros
  • Great GB/$ ratio
  • MicroSD/SDHC expansion slot
  • Large screen size without being bulky
Cons
  • No DivX support
  • No way to cycle quickly through long song lists.
  • Unable to create/edit playlists away from PC
ProSCORE
37 reviews
69
Vote! (9 votes)
vote Archos 405 33% vs. vote SanDisk Sansa View 67%
Cowon iAudio 7

Cowon iAudio 7

MSRP  $250.00    Released  --
Pros
  • Fantastic audio quality
  • Very long battery life (60 hours)
  • Controls are easy after you've learned them
Cons
  • Controls take time to learn
  • Thick for a flash based player
  • Under-powered CPU - doesn't like very high bit-rate files
ProSCORE
3 reviews
73
Vote! (3 votes)
vote Archos 405 33% vs. vote Cowon iAudio 7 67%
Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen

Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen

MSRP  $199.00    Released  September, 2007
Pros
  • Ridiculously thin
  • Now plays video with a high quality screen
  • Feels just right in your hand.
Cons
  • Battery still not user replaceable.
  • The backside is very easily scratched.
  • More expensive than competitors with similar features
ProSCORE
40 reviews
60
Vote! (11 votes)
vote Archos 405 36% vs. vote Apple iPod Nano 3rd Gen 64%
Microsoft Zune 8

Microsoft Zune 8

MSRP  $199.00    Released  November, 2007

Newly introduced with the 2007 lineup of Zunes are the Zune 8 and Zune 4, flash based players that house all the same features as the Zune 80 in a smaller size. The smaller players support all the same media formats, and contain the same WiFi sharing capabilities and syncing. The screen itself has...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (7 votes)
vote Archos 405 71% vs. vote Microsoft Zune 8 29%
iriver clix gen 2

iriver clix gen 2

MSRP  $169.00    Released  April, 2007
Pros
  • FM Radio
  • Plays video (mpeg4)
  • Excellent audio support (mp3, WMA, OGG)
  • Bright, large display (/w custom background, 2.2")
Cons
  • Difficult to transfer video
  • No cradle
ProSCORE
4 reviews
80
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Archos 405 100% vs. vote iriver clix gen 2 0%

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Comments

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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

vsaxena911

avatar
May 24, 2009
ProSCORE
65
negative
mixed
positive
13 pros
7 cons
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • inexpensive personal video player
  • SD Flash slot for expanding memory
  • large, high quality 3.5" screen
  • good audio quality
  • has a standard USB connection
  • customizable with many plug-ins and accessories
  • 2GB of internal memory + external expansion
  • not locked to any proprietary player
  • good support
  • Anti-glare screen
  • PDF viewer
  • Compatible with Archos' DVR Station
  • SDHC compatibility

Cons

  • You even need to purchase a codex to common types of files and many are not supported.
  • Problem with the Archoslink software.
  • Resolution is not the best.
  • both transferring files and charging by the USB cable seemed very slow
  • no touchscreen
  • the screen is a traditional square format rather than widescreen
  • does not come with a kickstand

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

ralli

avatar
May 18, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
7 cons

Pros

  • inexpensive personal video player
  • SD Flash slot for expanding memory
  • large, high quality 3.5" screen
  • good audio quality
  • Anti-glare screen
  • PDF viewer
  • Compatible with Archos' DVR Station

Cons

  • very little built-in memory - 2 GB
  • mediocre battery life
  • no built-in speaker
  • user interface / software is lacking
  • No WiFi connectivity
  • Bulky and heavy
  • No hold button

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Yale

avatar
May 4, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
55
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
5 cons

Pros

  • inexpensive personal video player
  • SD Flash slot for expanding memory
  • has a standard USB connection
  • 2GB of internal memory + external expansion
  • not locked to any proprietary player
  • good support

Cons

  • very little built-in memory - 2 GB
  • mediocre battery life
  • user interface / software is lacking
  • build quality is not top notch
  • long battery charge time

Did you find this review helpful? Yes  /  No

Erik

avatar
September 20, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
64
negative
mixed
positive
7 pros
4 cons

Pros

  • inexpensive personal video player
  • SD Flash slot for expanding memory
  • large, high quality 3.5" screen
  • good audio quality
  • has a standard USB connection
  • customizable with many plug-ins and accessories
  • plays many file formats including DivX, XviD

Cons

  • very little built-in memory - 2 GB
  • mediocre battery life
  • no built-in speaker
  • no kickstand

Competitors

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