Last night, at a full-capacity CNET Networks Arena, the JetAudio iAudio U2 and the Rio Forge Sport battled it out in pursuit of the Lightweight Champion of MP3.com title. This division is composed of flash-based players that hold anywhere from 32MB to 1GB of music. These lightweights take up very little pocket space, and their solid-state memory makes them the most durable of the three types of players (the three categories being hard drive, micro drive and flash). These qualities make them the most attractive option for active, on-the-go types (or simply for people who are fond of small, compact electronics).

The JetAudio U2 entered the ring looking toned and light on its feet, while the Rio Forge showed a little extra weight, yet sported some flashy features. This was a tight match; however, only one player remained standing in the end. For the blow-by-blow breakdown, check the ratings and commentary of our panel of expert judges. If you want to skip the mumbo jumbo and find out who won, scroll to the bottom.

Let's get ready to rumble! Ding ding.

Here's where we examine the menu navigation, scroll, ID-tag management, and volume-control accessibility. Our individual judge ratings are based on a zero- to five-point scale, which results in a final score of 0 to 15.

In round 2, we ask ourselves "How cool do I feel with this player?" This is where we focus on the players' size and design.

This is a subjective take on its compatibility with software and music services we personally like to use.

In the fourth round we measure the sound quality, build quality, bonus features, battery life, and any other wonders of science.

Last, but definitely not least, we consider its cost. This is for its individual value, all things considered.

What a comeback! Just when we thought the Rio was down and out in the fourth round (Sound and Science), it came back in the fifth (Wallet Factor) and won with a KO. The JetAudio is indeed a solid player, and my experts claim it's the finest flash-based player around (that's why we picked it as top contender). However, the Rio showed superiority with its crowd-pleasing navigation functions and its relatively low price tag. After the fight, JetAudio's corner commented that they felt they deserved a rematch since the ratings were so close. Well, that may very well happen in our next Flash bout.

Total points:
JetAudio iAudio U2: 53
Rio Forge Sport: 55

Winner: Rio Forge Sport

For more information on these players, check out our full reviews here - JetAudio U2 and Rio Forge. Stay tuned for our next Micro Drive Player Bout... Coming soon to a computer near you.

Let's meet the judges...

Jasmine France is an Assistant Editor for digital audio at CNET. Of the seemingly endless array of products that pass through her hands, only the strong survive. Her last review was for the Virgin Electronics Player VM-500 (5GB).

Peter Gavin is an Associate Editor at MP3.com. When he's not reviewing digital music and MP3 players, he produces his own tunes under the alias of Moped. His last article was Funky New Year!.

Eliot Van Buskirk has reviewed MP3 players for CNET since the first one came out back in 1998. His book of digital music tutorials is called Burning Down the House: Ripping, Recording, Remixing, and More!. His last story was My iPod beats satellite radio any day.

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