Archos' 605 and 405 go on sale in the US

We already had word that the Archos 605 WiFi would be released tomorrow, but it looks like the company couldn't wait -- the 605 and and 405 just appeared for sale on the Archos website. Pricing is right in line with what we told you earlier: the 160GB 605 is $399, with the 80GB, 30GB and 4GB + SD versions coming in at $349, $299 and $230, respectively, while the 2GB + SD 405 is just $169. Still no word on all those rumored content partnerships, but at least now we can do some digging Stateside, eh?

[Thanks, Dimitri]

[TubeTop100.com @ Aug 31st 2007 9:10PM]

I don't care about the content partnership, they better hook up with a decent designer. Archos makes great products, but why do they have to be that fugly?

[E71 @ Sep 1st 2007 1:04AM]

They just need to learn where to put the audio jack, the morons.

[fischju @ Aug 31st 2007 9:18PM]

Damn, that thing is sexy

[Chris @ Aug 31st 2007 9:23PM]

Nothing compared to the iPod "Phatty." Confirmed real today, by the way: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/uniea-unveils-u-suit-case-for-unannounced-ipod/11325

Find reviews for these here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/archos-605-wifi-30gb/4505-6499_7-32477556.html?tag=cnetfd.mt
http://reviews.cnet.com/portable-video-players-pvps/archos-405-2gb/4505-6499_7-32575960.html?ar=o&tag=pdtl-list

[Xzavier @ Aug 31st 2007 11:08PM]

Advertising other website news on Engadget... Shame on you!

[pyro @ Aug 31st 2007 9:27PM]

I'd get it if archos products didn't have such bad sound quality.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 31st 2007 10:16PM]

hmm? reviews says it's top-notch, maybe it was an older generation

[Simon @ Aug 31st 2007 9:33PM]

It sounds good, but my God its fugly.

[iEnigma @ Aug 31st 2007 9:34PM]

"But you'd be crazy to buy one before Apple's announcement!"

[Michael @ Aug 31st 2007 9:50PM]

I feel the same way. I'm going to wait till next Wednesday and if I'm not happy with what Apple announces I may pick one of these up.

[Jon @ Sep 1st 2007 3:43AM]

He was being sarcastic

[Devin Hosea @ Aug 31st 2007 9:59PM]

Now I'm kinda disapointed that I waited til last Christmas to get my 30GB 404, the new ones look so amazing. It's hard to justify buying a new $300 dollar gadget when yours is less than a year old...

Oh, and for all those who have heard bad things about Archos, you should try one. I like them so much better than iPods and most of of my friends that see it end up wishing they had one. The sound quality is just as good as, if not better than any other mp3 player I've used (sound coming through headphones that is, built in speaker is awful).

Oh, and does anyone know if Gen 5 series is backwards compatible with Gen 4 DVR station?

Anyways, I want one...

[JohnTitor @ Aug 31st 2007 10:18PM]

I've heard it is, but you can't use the cool Qwerty remote to browse the web on an HDTV if you don't get the Gen5 station

[Mindfield @ Aug 31st 2007 10:38PM]

I think of all the devices that have the potential to sway me away from the iPod, this would be it. Huge screen, high resolution, nice features, lots of extras (at considerable cost, if you add them all up) and a kickstand. Still, I'm definitely waiting 'til Apple's news next Wednesday before I even consider such a move.

[JohnTitor @ Aug 31st 2007 11:48PM]

The 605 got like every feature of the iPhone except for the phone stuff, including widgets and web browsing, so I doubt Apple would create such a product to make it's own competition, not to mention add features iPods never will have, including Drag and Drop with no proprietary software, and support for Xvid/DivX videos

[Mindfield @ Sep 1st 2007 2:37AM]

It's not so much the feature set as the overall quality. The Archos is first and foremost a video player, and I expect it to be good in that area. It's audio I'm concerned about. I like the fact that it has a fully customizable 5-band EQ (Hey, Apple, are you listening? Presets are for newbies, sort it out already!) but if the playback hardware isn't up to snuff, or if the hard drive speed makes for slow track switches, Not that the iPod is the be all and end all, but I'm pretty fussy about my audio. If I'm going to go to the bother of switching my entire library over to another PMP, it had bloody well better be worth the hassle. If it is, then maybe I can stop using my Axim X50v to watch movies and TV shows.

[JohnTitor @ Sep 1st 2007 2:54PM]

If only I could use TV-Links.co.uk on the X50v, it would have been great. This 605 will hopefully do the trick on that

[Graeme @ Aug 31st 2007 10:40PM]

Ahh I am just going to wait until sept.5 then decide whether I should buy this or new the new ipod.

And i dont think this looks ugly.

What do you think ill end up buying ? =/

[E71 @ Sep 1st 2007 1:07AM]

Well Graeme, they're two completely different devices. iPod is more for music, Archos is more for video. If you're planning on watching divx/xvid movies/tv shows on the go a lot more than listen to your favorite tracks, Archos is for you.

[afiorillo @ Sep 8th 2007 3:25PM]

Watch out, this Archos isn't capable of playing back DivX videos. Only MPEG-4 and WMV are supported.

[Cash @ Sep 13th 2007 4:44AM]

The hell are you talking about? The Archos handles Divx and Xvid files natively right outta the box. Though it's not all listed on the website, Gen 4 and 5 players support .divx .xvid .wmv .wma .m4v mpeg-4 mpeg-2 .vob .mpg .ps .mp4 .ac3 .acc .mov(H264), though you have to purchase seperate plug ins for the Mpeg and H264 based codecs. The only time you can't sync Divx or Xvid files to the player is if you have it in Windows Media Player mode instead of manual drag-n-drop mode.

[Graeme @ Aug 31st 2007 10:42PM]

And i assume these come out in Canada the same day?

Anyone know?

[Catdogburger @ Sep 1st 2007 12:07AM]

Hey, I think they do, as of HotMP3Gear.com (where I got my Archos AV 500) they ship when the get them, and they are based in canada so I suppose they do.

[Helfrez @ Aug 31st 2007 10:51PM]

Hmm decisons decisions....and no none of them have anything to do with an IPod. Now I am torn between this media monster, and the dimunitive new Creative Zen. The 605wifi definately has more bang for the buck, but its not nearly as pocketable as the creative zen. What do you guys think Creative Zen VS Archos605/405...ipod whatever is irrelevant to me..I don't expect to be dropping any divx files or vobs onto an ipod anytime soon so I won't be buying one.

[K_G @ Aug 31st 2007 11:44PM]

No AC cord...no sale

[Constable Odo @ Sep 1st 2007 1:04AM]

If it works as advertised, it would seem very useful. In order to play different codecs, do you have to pay extra for them? I thought I'd heard something like that. I'd really like that WiFi feature to stream movies from my PC. Still, with a drive that size, you could really store plenty of XviD movies on it. The price isn't bad at all. From what I've seen of the display in the store, it really has nice resolution. I don't find it that ugly, but even if it was as long as it works well and is well-built, that's good enough. With the 605 model, Archos appears to have a winner so far. At least until September 5th.

[E71 @ Sep 1st 2007 1:11AM]

Uh, I'm pretty sure the new iPods are not going to be a match for the 605. Even if iPods start catering for video more than before, they're still gonna need some hefty codec support + extra abilities like browsing the net via Wifi to lay anything down on Archos.

[Constable Odo @ Sep 1st 2007 11:13AM]

I'm sure the new iPods won't have any support for DivX or XviD. Maybe third-party hacks will help. I don't think the new iPods will be as versatile as the Archos. I like the Archos recording docks, too. It's going to be a difficult decision. I've heard stories about poor quality of the Archos, but that's only from a few users and not all models may have the same problems. I hope I get a chance to check out the Archos in a store.

[SL @ Sep 1st 2007 1:24AM]

What happened to the 705? There's been zero information regarding specs, design, price or time line since the gen 5 announcement...

[1234321 @ Sep 1st 2007 2:02AM]

It will be the same design as the 704, save a bit thinner, but with the 605's Operation system

[Nathan @ Sep 1st 2007 1:48AM]

what about podcast support, does it bookmark podcasts?

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Sep 1st 2007 3:51AM]

the buttons on the side need to go...

[shamrock593 @ Sep 1st 2007 7:54AM]

Archos products are really good, their codec support and build quality are top notch. But there after sales support and firmware upgrades are crap to be honest, I sold my Archos 604 after 3-4 months of use. This thing looks awesome, but I will not buy from Archos again.

[coolant8 @ Sep 1st 2007 9:51AM]

P.S: If you want one soon, amazon already dropped the price.

[coolant8 @ Sep 1st 2007 10:00AM]

P.S: If you want one soon, amazon already dropped the price.

[Russell @ Sep 3rd 2007 10:40PM]

Seriously though... Can you put it in your pocket?

[chloe stevens @ Sep 5th 2007 6:30AM]

hi i live in uk and going to las vegas in mid september and want a 605 can anyone tell me where i can buy one i own a old archos juke box and the build quality is far superior to the ipod it might be ugly but hey its still going 8 years on i am on my 3rd ipod 60gig and am pissed off with the heap of shite

[eldian @ Sep 9th 2007 11:12AM]

Allright I've been an archos fan since the AV380series, and quite honestly they've been in the video player business for a while so when you watch movies it's great i still have my 504 model but for that one I've had to pay like 30.00 for the cinema bundle and for the podcast bundle which is worth it because you can just drag and drop any movie content .mp4 format, .vob, rss news feeds, podcasts and play it just as fine plus it includes ac3 filter for surround sound if you got the headphones that support it.

As an mp3 the only thing is that an archos does not have the battery life of an ipod granted, but it plays them better than an ipod, and the interface is compatible with the play 4 sure contents just drag and drop music, and you can browse them close to windows explorer or with the integrated archos library(which i prefer the browser since it's more familiar to looking for a song in a computer, instead of clicking six times just to play a song with an ipod, i don't have one but my two roomates do)you can actually zoom in on pictures rather than just look at a mini version, modify the background a bit(if it matters) colors, and even if the 504 is a bit bulky it still fits in my pocket.

That's just my experience with all archos players, 160gb is an insane amount of space for an mp3/movie player, and the max ipod offers is 80, albeit you can play some addictive games on an ipod I personally don't like them, and my experience from archos is that they were the first company to introduce video playing capibilities in their music players the same time ipods came out it's kind of hey, they've comed a long way touch screen was integrated with the pma430 back in 2004, but it never appealed to me because of the hard drive size it came with(30gb is not sufficient for me), I really can't compare it to an iphone, or the new Ipod "phatty". I know they are laptops and dvd players, but trust me I've been deployed with archos video players in Iraq, right now i'm over here, and I probably have the only archos in the base i'm at, it's like 1% archos 99%ipod, and i know some of my buddies have bought close to 4 personal ones because some either breaks or they just loose it, it really depends, the screen is durable and doesn't scrath that easy and it really does keep me from losing my mind, but that's just me, it boils down't to personal preference, mine is just watching movies so my first choice was to look for a portable movie player. Take it easy.

[Cash @ Sep 13th 2007 4:47AM]

They are gone on the 704 and 705. Dunno why they kept them on the 604 and 605, they aren't necessary as you can do everything through the touch screen interface.