View Full Version : Review nearly finished
I only have another page or so to write and then I need to touch up the language, take some more nice pictures and do a few more little tests. I won't be longer than a week (I promise!)
Currently I have 14 pages pure text in Microsoft Word on font size 12. Loads of reading for you guys and girls coming up!
is it any good? Y/N
The X5 not the Review.
Yes - it's very good. I can give you the list of pros and cons if you want.
Pros
Great Build Quality
Awesome Design
Small size and lightweight
Good Battery life
Stable OS
Good Screen and nice GUI
Amazing Sound Quality
Great Equalizer and jetEffect setings
Massive Codec Support
FM Radio, FM Radio Recordings
Voice Recordings
Line-In Recording
Picture Viewing
Video Playback
Text Viewing
Clock with great alarm functionality
USB-Host functionality with high compatibility
No Software required
MacOS X and Linux compatible
Cons
No id3-Databasing
Remote implementation
Headphone-jack placement (depends on your taste really)
Gapless not perfect
Limited Dynamic Playlist Functionality
Charging, Line-in, Line-out and USB require sub-pack or cradle
Cool..
Whtt is wrong with the remote implementation?
Surely all you can expect from teh remote is similar func to the M3?
bradavon
05-10-2005, 08:30
Bar the charging not being on the main unit and the possible remote issue??? I see nothing for me to worry about (the charger really being a niggle).
Great nice on eXity btw. Thanks.
Roscoe Outlaw
05-10-2005, 10:21
cool. i'm looking forward to reading your review!
korinengell
05-10-2005, 11:06
stop pestering the man and let him finish his review will you!
shaka_1205
05-10-2005, 16:11
Cool ! So basically, the X5 is the perfect MP3 player for me since I don't care about:
"No id3-Databasing
Remote implementation
Headphone-jack placement (depends on your taste really)
Gapless not perfect
Limited Dynamic Playlist Functionality
Charging, Line-in, Line-out and USB require sub-pack or cradle"
Yes - it's very good. I can give you the list of pros and cons if you want.
Pros
FM Radio, FM Radio Recordings
Are the FM recordings still as poor as the M3?
bradavon
05-10-2005, 19:39
How were they poor?
No one is pestering eXity korinengell!
eXity,
Thanks for your Pros/Cons list. Nice summary.
Would you rather have an iAudio X5 or an iRiver H340?
Could you compare the pros and cons of each?
Muchas Gracias,
N
Also:
1) Can the X5 record with an unpowered microphone?
2) What do you think about that sub-pak? I could easily see months/years of heavy use taking a toll on it. I can also see the following scenario: The X5 is on the floor recording. A mic is plugged in to the line-in port on the sub-pak. Someone accidentally steps or knocks the microphone with their feet and wrenches the sub-pak. If that happened, would it kill the sub-pak and its conection to the X5? How fragile is it?
Thanks again,
N
nldau, u have no business leaving your x5 on the floor!! your scenario should have been: someone accidentally steps or knocks into the x5 and sent it flying to the corner of the room!
ideally, you should just keep the x5 in your pocket and leave the mic on a raised surface, e.g. a table. i think that even if u plug the mic into a hi-fi and someone manages to kick it on the floor, it might pull the hi-fi down too.
You would need an externally powered microphone.
lasers60
05-10-2005, 23:46
A correct scenario is that an iRiver lover drop kicked it out of jealousy, and sent his foot flying into thousands of tiny pieces. :P
ideally, you should just keep the x5 in your pocket and leave the mic on a raised surface, e.g. a table....
Tokens,
How could I record with the unit in my pocket and a mic on a table at the same time? I'm always sitting down when I need to be recording, so I have no pocket space. What if I moved? Wouldn't any movement jiggle the sub-pack and create potential problems? Also, how would the unit, with the sub-pack and a line-in cable attached, fit in my pocket? That hardly makes sense.
My situation is this: I'm semi-professional W. African drummer who takes many music classes. In class we all sit on chairs and everybody puts their recorders on the floor (In this environment there is NO OTHER place to put a recorder...) My real concern here is how sturdy is that sub-pack. Another concern I have is static that might develop as months/years of heavy use wear out that "friction" connection.
I'm hoping eXity will comment on this and the questions I posted previously,
Thank you Fido for your info regarding the powered mic!
N
mintcheerios
05-11-2005, 01:43
A new subpack is like 9 bucks.
DietCigs
05-11-2005, 03:19
14 PAGES?
omg
you really a good writer!
korinengell
05-11-2005, 05:49
or just really long winded :)
1) as for as I know it is not possible to use unpowered microphones on the X5. I have not tested this and am unable to at the moment.
2) The subpack is the same as the one on the M3 and that one has given me no troubles whatsoever in nearly a years of (ab)use.
About FM Radio:
I am currently working in a remote part of Australia. Sadly there is absolutely no FM Radio Station in about a 200 km radius. I will try and update this review as soon as I get into a more civilized part of the world again.
or just really long winded :)
No, just really detailed.
come to the gold coase to test the radio, and while you are here give me your X5.
tarepanda
05-11-2005, 10:27
Hi
sexyleb we could do a iaudiophile meeting around skooners of old and red back in a pub of Sydney...
Anyone interested?
Da PandA
Lelondul
05-11-2005, 11:31
I'm with you, nldau - being a traditional musician as well, alot of my learning comes from live recordings in the field (mostly other folk's houses and pubs), so the thought of the separate sub-pack to get decent recordings is a big negative for me (even with the H3xx's humongous size). Plus, I just don't like the idea of having a crucial accessory which could easily be lost (regardless of cheap relacement price). Still the overall quality of the unit is very promising!
One questions: does the cradle have all the outputs the sub-pack does?
Also, I wonder if anyone has compared recording quality with the built-in mic vs. that of the Iriver?
Cheers,
- Lee
zaphanathpaneah
05-11-2005, 12:06
The iRiver built in mic ios sooooo good that you can pick up the hard drive spining int he recordings. Pisses me off. You MUST use an external mic
korinengell
05-11-2005, 12:39
sounds like it is a pretty crappy mic to me...
.being a traditional musician as well, alot of my learning comes from live recordings in the field (mostly other folk's houses and pubs), so the thought of the separate sub-pack to get decent recordings is a big negative for me (even with the H3xx's humongous size). Plus, I just don't like the idea of having a crucial accessory which could easily be lost (regardless of cheap relacement price). Still the overall quality of the unit is very promising!
I totally agree with you. I was also wondering the exact same thing:
...if anyone has compared recording quality with the built-in mic vs. that of the Iriver?
Does anybody out there know how the built-in mics on the x5 and the H340 compare (under equal recording conditions)?
Thanks all-
Lelondul, what do you play and where do you live?
I've heard many reports about the iRiver harddrive spinning recording, I remember hearing that the M3 didn't have that problem so neither should the X5.
One questions: does the cradle have all the outputs the sub-pack does?
Damn that question pisses me off - after I have published my review (where the answer is contained) I don't want to see ANYONE asking that question any more.
YES! It has the same bloody connecters that the sub-pack does.
korinengell
05-12-2005, 05:25
But what kind of connectors does the sub-pack have?
...and what about the cradle?
korinengell
05-12-2005, 05:26
haha you see my funny joke yah? Haha...
No....don't ban me...
:D
/tries to resists urge to ban ...
:p :D
Woeberland
05-12-2005, 07:41
1) Can the X5 record with an unpowered microphone?
When I had my iriver h120 I used the line-in recording function with an unpowered microphone a lot. Mainly to eternalize band rehearsals.
It worked perfectly. Those were good quality recordings, I tell you!
I guess the x5 does more or less the same. So why shouldn't it work with an unpowered micorphone as well?!!
But hey: this is not a promise, just a guess. ;)
I only have another page or so to write and then I need to touch up the language, take some more nice pictures and do a few more little tests. I won't be longer than a week (I promise!)
counting the hours and minutes...
I'm with you, nldau - being a traditional musician as well, alot of my learning comes from live recordings in the field (mostly other folk's houses and pubs), so the thought of the separate sub-pack to get decent recordings is a big negative for me (even with the H3xx's humongous size). Plus, I just don't like the idea of having a crucial accessory which could easily be lost (regardless of cheap relacement price). Still the overall quality of the unit is very promising!
I don't know if it will be released but there shouldn't be any problems with cowon (or anyone else for that matter) releaseing a small cable that convertes the connection on the bottom of the X5 to a line in connection.
Should ease the use with an external mic when 'out in the field'.
Might even possible to do such a cable at home from a sub-pack.
Woeberland
05-18-2005, 09:22
I need to be honest. I tried to keep up with all the other x5 fans who are probably waiting for your review as desperately as me. I tried to keep the respect like everybody, not losing a single word about it. But I need to be honest: I'm watching the page very often every day. Waiting for your review to be posted because I'm just sooo keen on learning everything about the x5.
I know sometimes promises cannot be kept, and many times things take more time than expected. Happened to me quite often already. But maybe you can satisfy my desperation. Can you tell by when you will be finished?
I thanx you in advance! :D
if u are from austria just order it yourself @ netonnet.de
seems as they got in in stock ;)
if u are from austria just order it yourself @ netonnet.de
they donīt send outside their country! thatīs why p&p is stated for germany only.
Woeberland
05-19-2005, 03:48
I already ordered it! :D from amazon.de and they told me it would arrive in a week or so. Anyway, I'm not looking forward to the review in order to decide wether or not to buy it. I just can't wait to know everything about it.
Lelondul
05-20-2005, 19:43
I don't know if it will be released but there shouldn't be any problems with cowon (or anyone else for that matter) releaseing a small cable that convertes the connection on the bottom of the X5 to a line in connection.
Should ease the use with an external mic when 'out in the field'.
Might even possible to do such a cable at home from a sub-pack.
Actually tjoff, my concern is having to take the subpack with me anywhere I might want to grab some recordings. My external mic would have a cord that wouldn't make connecting to the subpack a problem. I'm simply suspect of the convenience of the X5 as a 'live music recorder' if I always need to have a plug-in accessory in addition to my mic. Requiring it for charging as well means you really don't want to lose it. Seems a no-brainer to have these functions integrated into the main unit, but that's just my two cents.
Thanks for the pointer eXity, I see clearly now form your post AND the review (nice one, btw) that all the outputs are on the cradle. Does that include the A/C charging adapter? :P
cheers,
- Lee
P.S. Nldau, I play the Irish flute and tin-whistle in the Seattle area, you?
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