dfkt
08-04-2010, 16:43
The J3 is basically the same as any other Cowon player, concerning RMAA measurements - the same bass roll-off with low-impedance phones as always, but nothing to complain about. Same as the O2 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37161) and V5 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54860) in listening tests, the J3 has no hiss at all reasonable volume levels, even with very sensitive phones. It's slightly better than the S9 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=39435) and much better than eg. the D2 in that aspect.
With difficult to drive multi-armature phones it performs very well (due to its low output impedance) - with those kinds of phones it technically beats players like the Sony A845 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56066) and Hifiman HM-801 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54879), only to be bested by the Sansa Clip/Clip+ (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48208). In reality, only the A845 couldn't properly drive those phones according to my listening tests, all other players perform basically the same.
RMAA - Cowon J3 Loads vs Clip+ (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/Cowon%20J3%20Loads%20vs%20Clip%2B.htm)
RMAA - 16 Ohm - Cowon, J3, S9, D2, i9 (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/16%20Ohm%20-%20Cowon%2C%20J3%2C%20S9%2C%20D2%2C%20i9.htm)
RMAA - 32 Ohm Multi-Armature - Cowon J3, Sansa Clip+, Sony A845, Hifiman HM-801 (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/32%20Ohm%20Multi-Armature%20-%20Cowon%20J3%2C%20Sansa%20Clip%2B%2C%20Sony%20A84 5%2C%20Hifiman%20HM-801.htm) (Different volume levels - only frequency response and crosstalk are relevant in this test!)
With difficult to drive multi-armature phones it performs very well (due to its low output impedance) - with those kinds of phones it technically beats players like the Sony A845 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56066) and Hifiman HM-801 (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54879), only to be bested by the Sansa Clip/Clip+ (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48208). In reality, only the A845 couldn't properly drive those phones according to my listening tests, all other players perform basically the same.
RMAA - Cowon J3 Loads vs Clip+ (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/Cowon%20J3%20Loads%20vs%20Clip%2B.htm)
RMAA - 16 Ohm - Cowon, J3, S9, D2, i9 (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/16%20Ohm%20-%20Cowon%2C%20J3%2C%20S9%2C%20D2%2C%20i9.htm)
RMAA - 32 Ohm Multi-Armature - Cowon J3, Sansa Clip+, Sony A845, Hifiman HM-801 (http://rmaa.elektrokrishna.com/Comparisons/32%20Ohm%20Multi-Armature%20-%20Cowon%20J3%2C%20Sansa%20Clip%2B%2C%20Sony%20A84 5%2C%20Hifiman%20HM-801.htm) (Different volume levels - only frequency response and crosstalk are relevant in this test!)