I've tried looking through the FAQ, but I couldn't seem to find my answer. Most of the Rio Empegs I've seen mention of are the 10gig models...what is the deal with the 12gig models I've seen around as well?

Thanks for any info. I should have my Rio Empeg in about two weeks - getting excited. Any other owners in Canada on this forum???

The 12 gig models are the original mk2. You have a mk2a which used fujitsu drives instead of the ibm 12 gig ones. The mk2 had 12MB ram vs mk2a's 16MB. And theres some other production tweaks and small things.

Sean

There used to be 12GB models sold. They just had a different size hard drive in them. I believe that that capacity had been discontinued by the time they became RioCars. Probably at the exact same time.

So did any actual "Rio" players come with the 12gb drive? I'm a little confused here. The one I purchased off of Ebay CLEARLY stated the unit had 16mb of memory and shows it as a Rio unit. The picture of the box also has a Rio sticker on it...

The player went through several hardware revisions, and was released with various amounts of disk drive space through its history. At one time, I think that 12gb drives did in fact get shipped.

Whether or not you get a unit with a 12gb drive or a 10gb drive is largely irrelevant. The important thing is to grab any player you can while you still can, and worry about upgrading its disc capacity later.

You are confusing MB with GB. The ram in Rio's is 16MB. The hard drive is either 10GB, 20GB, 30GB, or 60GB.

Is this your empeg?

No, it's probably this one.

That is the one...I emailed the seller and he says he bought it from Sonicblue in January of 2002. He also gave me the serial number: 010101299

Can someone tell from the serial number?

DOH! Sorry everyone should have read the FAQ first!

01 month (jan), 01year (2001), serial # 01299

This should be a Mk2a then, no?

The box is an Empeg box. Rio boxes look different. The unit you bought could be an Empeg Mk2 or RioCar Mk2a. It is most likely IMHO that it is an Empeg Mk2. That means it has 12MB of RAM. This is not a bad thing... yet.

The Mk1 had only 8MB of RAM and it can do anything the Mk2 and Mk2a can do. The official Empeg software will likely never require 16MB, so it's not a big deal. 3rd party efforts in the future (such as GPS, etc.) may require the extra RAM but it's unlikely.

I have an Mk2 and a few Mk2a's. I use the Mk2 daily with no desire to upgrade. If however, you're put off by having the Mk2, i will swap you for an Mk2a 10GB if you want.

Rob, I just PM'd him telling him to take you up on that offer, but now I think he got a RioCar Mk2a, not an empeg. I know a lot of Rio's shipped with older boxes and manuals. Besides, unless the seller is full of it (on eBay!??! ), if he bought it in Jan. of this year - it would have to be a Rio. Besides, if it was really an empeg, then that means he would have originally paid over a grand for it. Now, I paid $1299 for mine, and I wouldn't sell it for any less than $800 IF I sell it.

GOING TO BED! G' NIGHT!

Well, if it's an Mk2 and he doesn't want it, my offer still stands.

Well guys...looks like it's a Rio...the seller told me the remote had "Rio" on it. He even offered to send me some pictures if I didn't believe him! How's that for Ebay service?
BTW thanks for all the help....feels great to be a part of the Rio/Empeg community!

Sounds like its one of the first mk2a ones then. If you are lucky, it may have a free drive upgrade from 10gig to 20gig.

Sean

Hmm, that's interesting. I received my Empeg in the white box too. It was supposed to be a 10GB but turned out to be a 20GB. So then I can assume that it is one of the first MK2As with the free drive upgrade? If yes, then what's the story behind that? Serial #010101453 btw.

Howdy all - I am also new to the boards/Empeg world. I diligently read the FAQ (Tony would be proud ;^) ) and (small
world) slammed2001sc2 I think we are both dealing with scott_lee off Ebay. I am actually looking to purchase two of the units and he emailed me with your concern asking for help.

From reading this thread and info from the seller this it what I can assume - anyone - please correct me if I am wrong:

1) The units in question are in white, square Empeg boxes (blue Empeg logo printed on box) but have a Rio label pasted on them.

2) The units were built in January 2001 (0101 as already posted). This makes them early "Rio Cars" but there are conflicts in this thread whether *all* units after the Nov 2000 buy of Empeg are MK2a and at one serial number they switched.

3) Per the sellers info they have the newer Rio remote (which given the info from Tony's *wonderful* FAQ is the better one to have - Thanks Tony!

4) Although the drive size per the seller is 12Gb it seems they might actually have 20Gb drives (per the post that 01011453 was a 20Gb?

Sooooo, my amazing Sherlock sleuthing here comes down to three specific questions:

1) At what serial number/month did MK2s roll to MK2a (assuming from the FAQ and info that they did NOT restart the numbering)?

2) At what serial number/month did the they roll drive sizes 10->12->20 ?

3) At what serial number/month did they start shipping the newer Rio remote?

Confuscius say - wise Empeger that answers these questions will reveal all !!! ;^) and may have good fortune of
getting an elusive Radio tuner (my next conquest!) I can bear to pay double for the Empeg because my crazy work schedule screwed me out of noticing the fire sale earlier this year but I am blown away by folks on Ebay paying $300 for just the tuner. Of course my hat is off to all you "old" timers that paid the real price for what I hope is the finest little toy I have bought in quite awhile!

I would prefer the latest unit possible (MK2a for some of the tweaks and the Rio remote for the features).

Someone please put this to bed...

-Walt

I'm not sure of the dates things started to ship, but here's the story.

The first batch of Rio Cars were wanted quickly. That left little time for sorting out new packaging and so on. We also had a small stock of IBM drives to use up.

The early players were sold as 10GB units, but some people got 12GB units. They were in the original packaging, with the empeg user guide, plus a 4-page addendum, mainly to cover the new remote. All Rio-branded players have a Rio remote.

You can tell the difference betweeen the first and second batch of players by looking at the print on the rear of the player. If you have an unused space marked for a serial number label, then your player is from the second batch. Other than that, the hardware is identical.

There was no official free drive upgrade, not sure what the story was, maybe it was some kind of mistake. No complaints though.

010101437 here

Dont worry about serial numbers and dates of production. Just buy it! If it comes in a box with a rio remote and a rio sticker on it, then its a mk2a. If it comes in a empeg box with a kenwood remote, then its a mk2. I think jan 2001 was the 1st run of mk2as.

I should add that I'm not sure about the 20GB players. If the box says 10 or 12, then that's what it should be. If you got a 20, the factory probably just got the drives mixed up. Of course, if the box does say 20 and you ordered a 10, then the eStore just sent you the wrong one.

It's very easy to tell the difference between a Mk.2 (empeg) and Mk.2A (Rio) player.

The Mk.2 has an "empeg car" sticker attached to the top.

The Mk.2A has Rio printed on the top in large type.

Rob

For pictures showing the differences, look here.

And, yes, I really do have that many car players on my desk .

Oh yeah, good idea!

To waltz, yes we are both dealing with the same scott_lee from Ebay. Speaking of which, were you the one who outbid me on that first auction at the last minute? I'm almost positive my unit is a Mk2a...all signs point to this fact now. David from Empeg emailed me and told me if it was originally purchased from Sonicblue then it will be a Rio Mk2a. Honestly, I'm happy just being able to get my hands on one, but I do like receiving the same item I assumed I was bidding on. waltz, keep us posted when you receive your unit as to what size drive yours is...mine won't be here until next week sometime but I will let everyone know since interest seems to be running high!