iRiver Clix 2nd Generation

The small, sleek iRiver Clix 2nd Generation has pretty much everything you'd want in a flash-based media player, starting with a beautiful, easy-to-read display and good controls.

The iRiver Clix 2nd Generation plays MP3, OGG, and WMA song files; and it's compatible with eMusic, Napster, Sony, Urge, and Yahoo online services. Not to mention also supporting files saved in WMV or Mpeg format for video playback.

Video looks crisp and bright on the iRiver Clix 2nd Generation's 2.2in, active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display. The iRiver Clix 2nd Generation can play and record FM radio, too, and it can handle voice recordings.

The iRiver Clix 2nd Generation's entire front panel functions as a directional pad. By clicking up-down or left-right, you can quickly navigate the menus and make selections.

Unfortunately it fared poorly at handling harmonic distortion and cross-talk; our test of the latter measure assesses whether sound from one channel leaks into the other. In informal testing, we got reasonably clean sound through the accompanying ear buds.

The iRiver Clix 2nd Generation is a fine player, with a great display and intuitive controls. Its storage space can't match that of a hard-disk-based player; but if you're looking for a light, portable, flash-based device, the iRiver Clix 2nd Generation makes an excellent choice.