Last night, at a full-capacity CNET Networks Arena in downtown San Francisco, California, the iPod Mini and the Rio Carbon went head-to-head in one of the closest Player Bouts in history*. The underdog Carbon came out flashy, with its silver chrome and red lights, while the crowd-pleasing Mini wore its fashionable green layer. It was a grueling display of technical prowess. However, like any good fight, there was only one winner.

For the blow-by-blow breakdown, check out the ratings and commentary from our panel of expert judges. If you want to skip the mumbo jumbo, scroll to the bottom to find out who currently holds the Micro Hard Drive Class title belt.

* Well, actually, this was the first Player Bout ever.

In the Build & Feel round, judges rate the players’ feel and hardware, paying special attention to the controls and headphone jacks. Our individual judge ratings are based on a 0-to-5 point scale, which results in a final score of 0 to 15.

Here's where we examine the menu navigation, ID tag management, playlists, and volume control accessibility.

In round 3, we ask ourselves, "How hip does this player make me feel?" This is where we focus on the player's design.

This is a subjective take on the player's compatibility with software and stores we like to use.

The final round considers the player's cost. This is for its intrinsic, individual value, all things considered.

The Rio Carbon dominated many rounds. However, with headgear complications early in Round 1, it didn't have the stamina to keep up with the solid build of the Mini. As a result, the Carbon lost to the Mini by a mere point. After the fight, Rio's corner commented that the team will work on the headgear issue and they want a rematch.

Total:
iPod Mini: 55
Rio Carbon: 54

Winner by Split Decision: iPod Mini

Let's meet the judges...

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 Color Me iPod.

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 Rio Forge Sport.

Peter Gavin is an Associate Editor at MP3.com and a musician of jazz-influenced electronica. His last story was Seven is the Magic Number.

Read our full reviews of the iPod Mini and Rio Carbon. Coming in two weeks: Join us for the Hard Drive Class Bout... the iPod 4G vs. the Creative Zen Touch.