M5 - Short of it's potential?

[enouen]

so I started reading some random page about the release date, and the mentioned what processor the M5 would use (ColdFire SCF5249). Being curious, I went to the processor manufactureres website and read a little about it.

SCF5249 Features
V2 ColdFire processor core
96 KB Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)
8 KB instruction cache
Enhanced Multiply-and Accumulate (EMAC)
Four (4) Programmable Chip Selects
Debug module - background and real time
Two (2) independent Universal Asynchronous Receiver and Transmitter (UARTs)
Two (2) independent 16-bit timers
I2C interface
Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory Controller (SDRAM)
System integration (PLL, Software watchdog)
4-channel Direct Memory Access (DMA)
Audio Interfaces
Three I2S inputs
Two I2S outputs
***SPDIF input ***
***SPDIF output ***

The last two are what I would really want to see implemented. iRivers have had this for a few generations now, and I think the M5 could use it. Along side a losses codec, this could be a "professional" recorder that would slip in your pocket, much like a mini disc player (I'm sorry but most iRivers won't just slip in your pocket).

There's my two cents.

ENOUEN

[Koolshen]

Yeah the theoretical possibility exists but that (unfortunately) doesn't mean that the optical ports are included. As far as I know these ports won't be included.

[enouen]

Anyone ever had any success in getting schematics of the M3? The way the little expansion pack looks (I don't own one yet; still researching/waiting for M5) it might be possible to build one with optical ports.

[zaphanathpaneah]

iRiver is a very serious contender for the DAP's. They currently don't have anything to compare to the M5 besides the H320 which is too bulky but......but with the intro of the H10 we might see a slim H3?? in the near future.

[taz]

is there a noticeable difference between normal and optical line in and out? not alot of players have optical do they?

i dont rekon the iriver h300 series will be changed. they probably will be developing the h10 into a bigger capacity player...obviously bigger sized players aswel..but i rekon the style of the h10 is what well see from iriver for thier new series of hd players.

neither h300's or the h10 comes with optical line in/out...as far as i know...wonder why

[bradavon]

is there a noticeable difference between normal and optical line in and out? not alot of players have optical do they?
Well it's digital instead of analogue.

So there shouldn't be in theory any quality drop from the original source to the destination. It's also better IMO at working out the end of a track so as not to have one huge file.

i dont rekon the iriver h300 series will be changed. they probably will be developing the h10 into a bigger capacity player
That is what I'm thinking. The predecessor to the H3xx range is now no more.

Technically speaking the H3xx range cannot be beaten, they have everything all these new players have BUT they are big and clunky. I can lose optical in for a smaller player.


neither h300's or the h10 comes with optical line in/out...as far as i know...wonder why
The H10 has optical in on the cradle but not the device and the H3xx (H320 or H340) has optical in on the device.

None have optical out as it's not really needed. It's a pity the X5/M5 doesn't have optical in as it is a useful feature but in reality for me I can live with the analogue line in. My minidisc player has optical in and it is useful. The crucial thing here is the H10 has line in or optical in but only on the cradle which means in order to direct record you need the cradle with you.

[taz]

unless they make a sub pack for the h10 aswel, like the m3, and even the sony hd3 now...however i doubt it as the h10 is foldable and stuff, meaning they thought about people who want to take it with them...never know they may make a smaller sub pack....

to this date i havent used line in on my m3....cant really think of why i wouldnt need it in a situation. ive tested line in once and thats becasue i never knew what it would be like...as for line out, i just use the headphone jack....although 1 question to ask, is quality better through remote jack or from the actual line out? im guessing they are both analogue so both the same?

[bradavon]

Line out as it is the raw sound unmodified or amplified. The headphone jack isn't designed to be used into speakers or a hifi. So have you used line in or not? You say you've never used it and then say you tested it. If it you did test it what was the quality like?

Does the M5/X5 have line out as well as line in?

p.s - What is a sub pack?

[taz]

i meant i have never used it for any purpose and only tested it once to see what it was like. i guess ill have to test line out with my home sounds, but im pretty sure it will sound the same as i heard it is the same, in another post. i did test it but cant really remember the outcome. i just set line in to 320kbps..sounded arite but im not a line in recording person.

i dunno bout the newer players. i presume they will be based on the m3..line in/out on cradle and sub pack...and yea the sub pack is the other connected cowon give with the m3..not the cradle but the other rectangle shaped one. it means you dont have to use the cradle when on the move.

[bradavon]

I'm not saying in the real world you will notice but technically line out is better.

I don't own an M3 how does the sub pack differ from the cradle?

[taz]

technically? how does that work then?

well basically the sub pack can be used instgead of the cradle. it has the same functions as the cradle...line in/out, charging,usb.

http://onlinestore.jetaudio.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=21

you can see the m3 in the cradle on the jetaudio page..scroll down and in accessories ull find the sub pack...the same function as the cradle but much smaller and more portable.

[bradavon]

Technically it's better quality. For example a SACD disc is better quality than DVD Audio but would the human ear notice the difference maybe not? Technically a Ferrari is faster than a Lamborghini but both are bloody fast cars (okay I've no idea if this is true but you know what I mean).

Thanks Taz.

What a cool idea, a sub pack. I hope the M5/X5 has this but what would it add? Doesn't the M3 have line in on the unit directly? I'm sure the M5/X5 does.

I can't see it happening but a sub pack with optical in would be great.

[taz]

but then wouldnt the human ear notice it with the appropriate speakers and set up?

oh yea...depends which ferrari vs lambo :) i see what you mean though.

i havent heard that the m5/x5 will be having all the bits on the unit such as charging, usb(apart from usb otg), line in/out, such as that of the iriver H series. i always thought it was going to be like the m3 where nothings on the unit, and no the m3 doesnt have line in/out on the unit. if the m5/x5 does have these features on the unit then yea there will be no point of a sub pack, nor would it be useful to bundle in a cradle...if the price of the player doesnt justify it.

i wouldnt rekon a optical sub pack would be released...but you never know

[bradavon]

I can't notice many so called poor quality DVDs but many can.

I hope you can charge it at the very least without the sub pack, that would be a pain to carry just to charge it.

Can't you charge M3 without the sub pack?

[shaka_1205]

no you can't the M3 without the sub pack

[bradavon]

Thanks. That sucks.

I hope the X5/M5 you can at least charge without the sub pack. What if you lose it?

How big would a port need to be to charge the unit? Bloody small is how big.

[shaka_1205]

Well then too bad ;) You can actually buy a sub pack separetly for around 30$ I think on an english website but I can't remember the address.

I think you can charge the X5/M5 via the USB port without the sub pack because they have an USB port on the side of the device.

[bradavon]

Thanks. That is something.

I'm not saying I wouldn't get one but it does suprise me no one else has pointed this out and is annoyed by it.

I'm just thinking if I'm travelling and I lose the sub-pack or my bag gets stolen (which has happened) I'll not be able to charge it. I guess I'd have to keep the sub pack with the player.

[Tunster]

If you want any of the official accessories.....

http://www.pleasecanihaveone.com/cowonacc.htm

The guy who runs it is very effecient. I ordered the cradle for my 40GB model (as I didn't recieve one) and came within 2 days of ordering it :D.

[taz]

well if you want battery life, buy an m3l....but 14 hour battery life should be enough, just depends how long you would use it withought being near a source of electricity.

i guess the radio can be used to conserve battery power?lol.

[bradavon]

It's not so much batter I'm thinking of but a sub pack is another thing to carry.

Thanks for the heads up Tunster. I'd have e-mailed the people I bought it from and asked they send me a cradle.

[Fido]

It really makes me mad how ALL the pictures of the M5 have been from one angle! I want to see what is on the other side!

[bradavon]

Me to. I also want to see the menus in action.

[Fido]

Well here's one. Hard to see but I don't see any jacks http://www.dapreview.net/e107_images/newspost_images/cowon8_med.jpg

[bradavon]

That's better thanks but all photos are from the right hand view point at that angle.

[Fido]

But you can't see what features it has on the right side (that's we were talking about right?) So unless there are ports on the top or bottom, there wont be built in line in/out

[bradavon]

I'd like to see the left, top and bottom views.

[Krishna]

http://www.iaudiophile.net/img/Oxygen_new.png

Hopefully that worked.

If not try this
http://www.yesky.com/Fashion/73768537310625792/20041213/1887767.shtml

[bradavon]

Thanks.

What is the bottom connector on the left hand view?

I've been meaning to ask can anyone make out the writing on the right hand view picture?

[Fido]

oh, there's a topic with a ton of pictures from the left
http://iaudiophile.net/viewtopic.php?id=259
Just a headphone jack and a USB (I think)
Thanks krishna, that's a better picture than the one I put.

You can slightly see the bottom and it looks like a square port hole for a sub pack.

[Krishna]

It says USB

[tsayin]

Look at the original KES thread. They have pictures of other angles. To compare with the M3, it looks like it lost the volume control on the right side in favor of a single button, leaving the total number of buttons on the unit (including joystick) equal to the number on the m3 remote. The top has no connectors, but the same LED indicator as the M3. The bottom has the same kind of sub-pack connector as the M3, probably for the same sub-pack. the right has the headphone jack with a remote slot that looks it should fit an M3 remote, as well as a USB OTG jack. This last is probably USB 1.1 only and likely can't be used to charge or sync with a computer, just a camera, flash drive, or other USB mass storage device.

In other words, it's an M3 with a color display on the unit and USB OTG for pulling files off other devices.

[Fido]

Can USB OTG ports still take files off computers? I don't even have USB 2.0 on my computer and if I get it I won't have use for USB 2.0 when I don't have the dock or sub pack anyways, USB 1.0 would be fast enough for any files I need to take off a computer away from home.

[Kidkirby]

i cant believe that no one in korea has got their hands on a test model of the x5 yet? i really do want to see what the menu looks like..
i am holding out for the x5 once my iriver h120 is full....please..release the x5!
i want to take it with me to mexico...so lets get the lead out cowon! release the damn thing already! lol

[Krishna]

Not really on topic but must make a plug to this very interesting information.

The iAUDIO the M5L as many as 36 hours period continuity remaking is possible with the hard disk elder brother MP3 player where the head of a family remaking hour is long from the world.

Check out the M5L thread for the rest of the article.

This information has been mirrored on many Korean sites, including mircosoft's for some reason. Just search Iaudio M5L in google.

[Krishna]

Ofcourse I don't know if its true.

[bradavon]

USB TO GO isn't meant to be used with computers, the point is so you don't need a computer to transfer files.

USB 2.0 is backwards compatible to USB 1.1/1.0 so it won't effect you.

[tsayin]

My point was that you can't use the OTG port to sync with a computer, it's just for reading off thumb drives or cameras. You need the sub-pack to hook up to a computer, just like with an M3.

[Krishna]

Wouldn't you possibly be able to read the harddrive on your computer, but not have the computer recognize the X5?

[tsayin]

No. Unfortunately, when Intel designed USB, they did it really stupidly. USB involves a host and a device. You can't use a device to talk to other devices, hence the need for OTG, which is a simplified host. You also can't use a host to talk to another host. This is the main reason why 1394 is better. Like SCSI, it's peer-to-peer. Anything can talk to anything else.

[Fido]

Stupid intel! They fail!

[zaphanathpaneah]

Intel sucks!!