Help me choose a cowon.

[Diethert]

So there it is.

I don't have a smartphone.
My pretty old Ipod Classic 160gb broke down recently. Keeps pausing songs randomly and it doesn't seem to be fixable.
I also have been thinking about buying a new player all the time and I have some money to burn at the moment.

So I searched some on this and other forums but opinions differ so much that I just decided to create an own thread, therefore my excuses for any possible dupes...


So I am mainly looking for the following:

- Flac player
- good capacity (at least 64gb with or without SD card).
- Durable battery life (and charge time)
- Option for TV connect possibilty: I would also like to watch movies on it, probably avi but HD would be nice bonus. It should also have an tv connect possibility, I am often the guy who provides the movie when watching at a friends place and that would be a lot more handy then bringing my laptop all the time..
- Bonuses like wifi and cool features like BBE and jet-effect, lyric databases and stuff are cool. I don't have a smartphone and I don't have wifi-access at my house though..


So far I have narrowed it down to the following players, they are all cowon but I haven't quit explored any other brands yet.

D3:
Pro's: Great screen, great video quality, HDMI tv connect possibility, wifi-possibility, andoid OS
Cons: Little playback time, 32gb flash memory so i have to buy an SD card with it.

X7:
Pro's: Great capacity (160gb), great playback time.
Con's: Resistive touchscreen, tv-connect is there but it's AV-out don't know if people will still have that on their tv's soon..?

J3:
Pro's: Overally great. Good screen, good playback
Con's: Same tv-connect as the X7.

So any help on choosing out of the above or offering a good alternative would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advanced,

Diethert

EDIT: I have posted this thread already somewhere else but this seems to be the correct subforum as I saw a similair thread so that's why I post it here too.

Update: I have done some more search within the world of cowon and I'm now more lost then I was before, now, for example, the A5 seems pretty good...

[purequickness]

Sounds like X7 and/or the J3 would work well with you. But there are other Cowon products (like the A5) that you may be interested in. Also... you're forgetting the Z2

If you're considering the D3, you might as well go for the Z2.

[lotusbloom]

the J3 is your best cowon choice of all your options. It's actually the best device cowon has ever produced in my opinion. You will have the FLAC player, the TV out, pretty large capacity and the BBE to top it all. it shouldn't be a difficult choice at all.

[da1writer]

The z2 is only a small spec bump of the D3, the internals are nearly exactly the same (plus the D3 is $100 less than the z2).

I really couldn't recommend the z2 or D3, both devices don't do the Android OS or it's overall perception as an android device justice at all. As an audio device though both excel with the exception of battery life. It's able to play any audio file or stream just fine (especially with third party apps), sound quality is much better than the j3 (which was great already), and most news consumption works fine on the device as well as a few games. While video playback is a mixed bag with no 1080p support, HD video and HTML5 streaming are broken, 720p video files or lower only work on the z2 or D3 - which in my opinion Cowon should remove that "Full HD" label off the back of the D3 and z2 because it really can't (I will be selling my 32gb z2 later this year for $150 though if you are interested).

My advice is to go with a device supported by Kizune if you can live without a wifi enabled device . You'll get awesome UI's created by the master himself and have support as well by him and the community. If you go with the J3 or x7, you really can't go wrong with either device as they have awesome battery life and sound as well.

[purequickness]

Originally Posted by da1writer

The z2 is only a small spec bump of the D3, the internals are nearly exactly the same (plus the D3 is $100 less than the z2).

I really couldn't recommend the z2 or D3, both devices don't do the Android OS or it's overall perception as an android device justice at all. As an audio device though both excel with the exception of battery life. It's able to play any audio file or stream just fine (especially with third party apps), sound quality is much better than the j3 (which was great already), and most news consumption works fine on the device as well as a few games. While video playback is a mixed bag with no 1080p support, HD video and HTML5 streaming are broken, 720p video files or lower only work on the z2 or D3 - which in my opinion Cowon should remove that "Full HD" label off the back of the D3 and z2 because it really can't (I will be selling my 32gb z2 later this year for $150 though if you are interested).

My advice is to go with a device supported by Kizune if you can live without a wifi enabled device . You'll get awesome UI's created by the master himself and have support as well by him and the community. If you go with the J3 or x7, you really can't go wrong with either device as they have awesome battery life and sound as well.

For $100 less, the D3 looks like it's going to be phased out.

If it's a small spec bump, why does the Z2 work so much smoother than what people say about the D3?

Why waste money by selling the Z2 for 150 dollars? Might as well keep it.

Z2 produces pretty amazing video so why does it need to take off Full HD?

I don't regret buying my Z2 and I paid nearly 400 bucks retail for it.

Sure it's not a perfect player and it is expensive but I primarily bought it for its audio prowess and it's worth it just for that alone. Google Play works and I can use it to download stuff.

[da1writer]

Originally Posted by purequickness

For $100 less, the D3 looks like it's going to be phased out.

If it's a small spec bump, why does the Z2 work so much smoother than what people say about the D3?

Why waste money by selling the Z2 for 150 dollars? Might as well keep it.

Z2 produces pretty amazing video so why does it need to take off Full HD?

I don't regret buying my Z2 and I paid nearly 400 bucks retail for it.

Sure it's not a perfect player and it is expensive but I primarily bought it for its audio prowess and it's worth it just for that alone. Google Play works and I can use it to download stuff.

1. All they updated was the CPU and ram, everything else in the z2 is a replication of the D3. Like most devices by Cowon, the software on the z2 is getting updates and optimizations for at least a year before dropping support to focus on their newest device. Gingerbread was dumped on the D3 before support dropped with a few optimizations and updates before going to the z2 to further optimize the gingerbread rom they had.

2. If you were to know me on these forums, I frankly don't care about getting any sort of profit from the items I sell. I'd rather sell it to someone cheap so they can enjoy it without worrying about the costs, instead of me keeping the old device to collect dust. Whenever I upgrade or get a device to replace another, I just don't bother using the old device. I use a tablet hybrid and didn't use my laptop months ever after, sold my [$1300] laptop for $250 to buy my wife a tablet for Christmas. Some wish for profit from their sales, some just don't care and rather just get rid of what they got so it's out of their life.

3. Might I suggest something then. Go to eurogamer website and look up "The Witcher 2", find the video comparing the 360 version with the PC original but be sure it's in android/mobile mode on your browser. Try to play the video, it will stop when the knight gets cut after the dropped bridge. Why? It's HTML5, HD at that - the z2 crashes on it. Codec issue I'm guessing as no matter what 3rd party external player you try to run it through it just won't work because they are running through the same broken codec (download the file has the same problem). YouTube HD videos (or tubemate app) have the same problem. Sure, you could just download the file from another computer and place it on the device but then you are now admitting there is a problem with the z2 being not able to do it itself.

4. Glad you love it, Kizune and others do as well. I like the z2 but it has some issues to work out and my expectations of an android enabled device is MUCH higher than others due to me being spoiled by much more capable and enhanced devices that cost half or the same price as the z2. ICS, Jelly Bean, dual core, quad core android device are what I own in my home and with that in mind, it hurts that I compare a outdated device on release with the higher speced new devices from months ago but I do. I should have approached this device as my first portable android mp3 device (as that is what I primarily use it for) and overlook the bugs (which Cowon device usually have but the community usually would address but the XDA community site doesn't care for the device), dreadful battery life than what I'm use to (I blame Cowon for this spoiling = 50+ hour J3 to a barely 20 hour z2), and hand burning phenomenon I experience with the z2 (still have no clue why this happens).

Iagree with you that it's not perfect but I'm also a reviewer and Cowon fan, I nitpick because that is how I am and was a huge fan of the D2, S9, and J3 and found no faults that would make me go with some other device maker. Now that my tastes changed and I'm getting older to the point that I expect convenience and simplicity without going so far as an Apple device, again - I saw Cowon with android as a win win but was disappointed a bit due to my high expectations with android.

I still firmly stand that I can't recommend the z2 at least for people who have had and used android devices. As a Cowon fan I can only recommend it if you want an audio capable and streamable device, nothing else. I personally use my z2 with Poweramp to alleviate the missing features found in the default music app, use the dolphin browser to fix the slow default browser on the z2, use the YouTube/Friendscaster/tweetcaster to alleviate the slowness of the online browser versions, use podcast beyond/Pandora/tune-in apps for my podcast and audio streaming needs, and popped a few games on the z2 for time wasters. I accepted weeks ago that Cowon's firmware updates are getting strange to the point of not bothering to fix the issues that some of us have all with the device and that my video consumption is best laid to rest on my tablet hybrid I have which has no issues whatsoever with HTML5, HD YOUTUBE, and any HD file in general. Until a better device comes that interests me or I finally jump to a smartphone (this upcoming May 2013), I primarily will use my z2 for audio files/streams, Play a few games, browse the web (in mobile form for faster reading), and use my general news widgets along with weather checks. Swapping between the two will be necessary for me for now...

Still recommend the OP to get the J3 over the z2, loved the J3 when I had it, Kizune's support on it is fantastic! UCI'S made by Kizune are unlike anything I've seen on a device, you must have his work on your J3 to really appreciate the time he has poured on this community trying to please us with UCI's that actually fix the faults Cowon's J3 (and S9/X7) has.

[Diethert]

Interesting, I guess I narrowed it down to either the J3 or X7 now.
I do hear a lot of stuff about the x7's screen though, like it isn't that responsive/accurate and might sometimes jam a bit, is this true?

Also, I lately stumbled on this, wouldn't that be a pretty good device aswell? http://www.archos.com/products/ta/ar...try=nl&lang=en

Thanks for answering so far!

[da1writer]

Originally Posted by Diethert

Interesting, I guess I narrowed it down to either the J3 or X7 now.
I do hear a lot of stuff about the x7's screen though, like it isn't that responsive/accurate and might sometimes jam a bit, is this true?

Also, I lately stumbled on this, wouldn't that be a pretty good device aswell? http://www.archos.com/products/ta/ar...try=nl&lang=en

Thanks for answering so far!

If you keeping rounding back to android, might I suggest the Samsung Galaxy Players, you can grab a 4.0 for less than $180 (additionally you get a GPS,Compass, 2 cameras [back is a 3.2mp], and light sensor - which the z2 has none of that) and the XDA community has tons of custom roms (even an Android Ice Cream Sandwhich overclocked rom). The XDA community also heavily supports the 5.0 model as well as the 4.0 of the Samsung Galaxy Players.

If you stay with Cowon, it's a fight between the excellent J3 and X7 which is fully supported by Kizune.

P.S. That Archos was good... back then, but we've moved on to better devices (that Archos is also using nearly the same slow chipset the z2 is using as well). Samsung is top tier as ALL the google store apps actually work well on those devices (Archos and Cowon have problems with alot of apps not working/installing/or are missing from store due to not being supported). Plus once you install voodoo [apk/app], sound quality is boosted drastically.

[Diethert]

Hmm ye, I always felt that its wouldn't be good to take a smartphone because its better to take a device which MAIN focus is high-quality media instead of just an all-round device (smartphone) but there really is no difference?

[da1writer]

Originally Posted by Diethert

Hmm ye, I always felt that its wouldn't be good to take a smartphone because its better to take a device which MAIN focus is high-quality media instead of just an all-round device (smartphone) but there really is no difference?

The Samsung Galaxy Players (4.0/4.2/5.0), Cowon android devices (z2/D3), and that archos you linked actually all look like phones but they are actually a Wi-Fi enabled pmp that specialize in audio and/or video.

[Diethert]

Originally Posted by da1writer

that specialize in audio and/or video.

Exactly and can I assume that a device that does NOT specialize in audo/vid (a smartphone for example) is by definition worse in audio/vid quality then a device that does?

Also one of the main reasons why I stumbled on Cowon is because of the X7 huge storage capacity, the only reasons why I haven bought it yet are:

1. No wifi
2. TV out cable instead of HDMI
3. Bad reviews about the screen (not responsive/jams with UI).

Can you maybe tell me about point 2 and 3 whether or not they really are a problem?

If not, I'm sorry for bumping this thread around this long, i'm just looking for that ONE product that really cuts it you know..
That player should have:
1. pretty big storage capacity (at least 64 gb)
2. TV-connect option (preferably via HDMI cable)
3. preferably wifi.

Thanks again

[da1writer]

Originally Posted by Diethert

Exactly and can I assume that a device that does NOT specialize in audo/vid (a smartphone for example) is by definition worse in audio/vid quality then a device that does?

Also one of the main reasons why I stumbled on Cowon is because of the X7 huge storage capacity, the only reasons why I haven bought it yet are:

1. No wifi
2. TV out cable instead of HDMI
3. Bad reviews about the screen (not responsive/jams with UI).

Can you maybe tell me about point 2 and 3 whether or not they really are a problem?

If not, I'm sorry for bumping this thread around this long, i'm just looking for that ONE product that really cuts it you know..
That player should have:
1. pretty big storage capacity (at least 64 gb)
2. TV-connect option (preferably via HDMI cable)
3. preferably wifi.

Thanks again

I don't often do this but have you looked at the New device by Cowon called the A5? It's almost a 5"screen and in the same casing as the C2, but I believe it's an android device. Oh, maybe with the larger casing battery life has improved, might want to be on the look out of the A5...

[Kizune]

The A5 has the same design as the C2, da1.


A5:


C2:

[z2cowon]

is the new D20 any better than J3 or X7?