Help me choose a player to replace my X5

Mrbrianmolko

Ok lads my Cowan Iaudio X5l has finally kicked the bucket after 2 years. i loved that player, had an iriver h120 before it so im only used to really really good players.

I need a player that has a radio and can play videos. Am looking to spend as liitle as possible and it must be really good sound quality.

I havent started to look into it yet and am probably a bit out of date with my knowledge of players, so what are the runaway best players at the moment in the same league as the iaudio X5? If i cant find anything,i would have no problem buying another X5

Gran Hermano

I've migrated from an Iriver h140 to a Creative Zen Vision M 60gb and am very
happy. I still use the Iriver as I like Rockbox and the gapless playback and
other features - main problem is my Iriver was full and battery was starting
to loose it's charge.

Video output is great on the Zen, playback onto a TV is brilliant and
resolution of the outputted video is the amongst the best of the mp3 players
(unless you want a large MP4 player which focuses on video over music).
Music quality is good on the Zen especially with a decent pair of Shures
- Creative have plenty of experience of quality sounds from their soundcard
days.

For the Zen:
-the video playback and vast avi/divx compatibility. Great for travelling!
-good sound quality
-good battery life
-can drag and drop files onto it (no need for itunes like program)
-No DRM hassles

Against the Zen:
-Only gripe I have is I'm used to browsing my music by folder which I
don't believe the Zen or many current MP3 players offer.

gary the great

Is the zen drag and drop? thats a feature i really want.

Also where is the cheapest place to order one of these online?I live in the Uk and tried amaxon, its telling me 200euro's which is a great price!

Hal1

My zen touch I bought about 3 years ago is starting to annoy me alot lately, its doing things like randomly selecting tracks. I was looking at the iaudio x5 myself and tought it was a descent enough player which supports flac. Mrbrianmolko what happened to your x5 that made you decide upon changing it, or is it just that you where abit accident prone with it .

Macspower

ZEN Vision M is the business!!! available from http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.aspx?sku=317053 or check out adverts.ie for a second hand one... i got one there for 140... no i-crap compares

Hal1

Komplett dont have a great range of hdd/mp3 players and I think they are a bit overpriced.

gary the great

No "i-crap" compares. The iaudio is a brilliant DAP and is probably as good if not better than the creative. I reckon these 2 are the leaders and much better than ipods and the sort

slayerking

If your looking for good sound quality and drag and drop you should look into the Cowon D2.
I recently got one and it has blown me away. Its a great little player.

Pros
+52 hour battery:eek:
+GREAT sound quality (supports FLAC lossless Codec)
+touchscreen navigation
+Video (with tv out)
+had an SD card slot (supports SDHC 8gb cards)
+Constant Firmware upgrades from Cowon.

Cons
- largest D2 is 4gb (however possibility to expand to 12 gb with sd card)

I decided to go for the D2 as I own a Cowon A2 as well and while its a surperb player, the physical size of it can be awkward...
The D2 is really the best player I've ever owned.

gary the great

4gig is nowhere near enough space methinks

slayerking

Yea, 4gb is its only letdown.
I'm gona order an 8GB sd card to bring it up to 12GB which will suit me fine.:)

Bard

*cough* ... wait and get a Cowon A3. I would*.





*: If I had any money

Macspower

ahemm..... get an i-pod.........I'm converted! they look good http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055092069

Seriously Crown A3 "drool"......... i audio "drool"

art

Macspower wrote:

Seriously Crown A3 "drool"......... i audio "drool"

What's this "Crown" A3 you're drooling over? Know it well, do you? :rolleyes:

slayerking

Anyone know when the A3 is out and what its gona cost??

Macspower

art wrote:

What's this "Crown" A3 you're drooling over? Know it well, do you? :rolleyes:

lol typo... must still be thinking of an old amp I used to use many years ago :rolleyes:

tell us about the A3......

Bard

Google is your friend... find out more about the Cowon A3 by using it.

Incidentally, there's a whole forum dedicated to it here. You'll probably find pictures, specs and release dates, etc. there.

dulpit

slayerking wrote:

If your looking for good sound quality and drag and drop you should look into the Cowon D2.
I recently got one and it has blown me away. Its a great little player.

Pros
+52 hour battery:eek:
+GREAT sound quality (supports FLAC lossless Codec)
+touchscreen navigation
+Video (with tv out)
+had an SD card slot (supports SDHC 8gb cards)
+Constant Firmware upgrades from Cowon.

Cons
- largest D2 is 4gb (however possibility to expand to 12 gb with sd card)

I decided to go for the D2 as I own a Cowon A2 as well and while its a surperb player, the physical size of it can be awkward...
The D2 is really the best player I've ever owned.

That looks all sorts of class... Maybe a bit small storage wise but thats ok... Anybody know of a bricks & mortar shop selling them? Don't mind buying online but would like to see one in action first... What sort of price should you be looking at?

art

dulpit wrote:

That looks all sorts of class... Maybe a bit small storage wise but thats ok... Anybody know of a bricks & mortar shop selling them? Don't mind buying online but would like to see one in action first... What sort of price should you be looking at?

Peats stock Cowons, the price of the D2 on their website is 269 euros

dulpit

art wrote:

Peats stock Cowons, the price of the D2 on their website is 269 euros

Sorry now, but is there any shops outside the pale? (down in cork btw)

slayerking

dulpit wrote:

That looks all sorts of class... Maybe a bit small storage wise but thats ok... Anybody know of a bricks & mortar shop selling them? Don't mind buying online but would like to see one in action first... What sort of price should you be looking at?

I bought my D2 off these guys in the UK CLICK
It came to about 240 euro and that was for the 4gb D2, an official leather case and including shipping. Good value IMO.
Fast shipping too.
Ordered it on the Bank holiday monday last and had it thursday evening.

Scubadevils

The X7 is also due sometime around June/July...I would expect that to be an interesting player. Think D2 but bigger

There is also the I8 coming which will be available in 8 & 16GB Flash memory

pleasant Co.

Yar the X7 should be good but we know absolutely nothing about it.
It is replacing the X5, is due sometime in the summer. That is all.

Of course this being cowon we could see the X7 next week, next month, or 6 months down the line...

Scubadevils

Cowon said in January that the X7 would be released sometime around August for the European market and that there was a possibility it would be a high capacity flash player - cost dependant. They also hinted that it could be along the lines of a 'bigger' D2.

pleasant Co.

never heard that my friend, would you mind supporting that because i find it to be very interesting news and strange that iaudiophile didn't report on it...

Scubadevils

Certainly, I work in this industry and when I was at CES in January I was told this by Cowon. It may or may not end up being the case as Cowon do keep info on new models very quiet until shortly before launch.

Do you require any other proof my friend?

pleasant Co.

Felixdhc wrote:

Certainly, I work in this industry and when I was at CES in January I was told this by Cowon. It may or may not end up being the case as Cowon do keep info on new models very quiet until shortly before launch.

Do you require any other proof my friend?

Well ideally I would like something other than word of mouth, do not take offense to this as it is not my intention to insult you, for example written proof... I have seen a good few videos with the two cowon reps at CES and frankly they (at least one of them anyway) didn't really seem too filled in.

What do you do in this industry anyway? I'm very interested to hear actually felix.

Cheers, Dom.

Scubadevils

PM sent, I dont get into too many personal details online!

Some other members here do know me and know my association with the industry.

pleasant Co.

Thank you very much Felix, much respect.


Dominic