Bad playpack quality on OGG Vorbis files :(

Fluff · 01-31-2007, 16:00

Hi everyone.

I recently got my iAudio F2 plus Sennheiser CX-300 earphones. Playback Quality is awesome on MP3's. Crystal clear and brilliant.

But on OGG Vorbis files playback quality is very bad.

There is always a louder swoosh than on MP3 files.
In particular basses sound really annoying.

First I thought this depends on my Sennheiser earphones, but MP3 files sound alright. I tried to convert Audio Tracks using many different OGG codecs. I even converted some OGG tracks to MP3 and voila...
Sound was awesome again. So it must have to do something with the playback of iAudio F2.

I've got the latest firmware. I would like you to test it for yourself and tell me if you experience the same.

Hopefully this can be fixed with future Firmware updates.

Greetings

exec · 01-31-2007, 18:11

Well, I also have the CX300's and have no problems with ogg playback. Which encoders/settings you used?

Fluff · 02-01-2007, 03:22

Basically my whole collection is encoded with Foobar2k using OggEnc (LibVorbis 1.1.2). Quality Mode 2 -> 96 kbps.
On my computer and also on my previous portable player they sounded alright.
Mainly it's on basses. You should try a song for instance where you can here bass in the beginning only.
But as I said also tried other quality modes, programs and encoders like aoTuV b5.
I also reconverted from Ogg to MP3 and playback was just fine, so it's not a problem with my OGG files.

Maybe I'll try to rip the output of my player with one song @ OGG and the same @ MP3.

exec · 02-01-2007, 04:46

I was using EAC and Oggenc2 (-q 6).

Perhaps you can attach such a "broken" ogg file to your posting...

Fluff · 02-01-2007, 05:56

Well, awrite.

This is "Massive Attack - Angel" grabbed directly from CD using Exact Audio Copy, Oggenc2 (LibVorbis 1.1.2) at Quality -6. Just as you do.
It gives me the same result. So I also compressed it using the build in LAME Codec at 224 kbps VBR.

Massive_Attack_-_Angel.zip

Please check it out and compare them... I think this track is one of the best examples.
If you still say sound's the same for you then I'll try to grab the output of my player.

Thank you for your help, and I hope I don't get no trouble for posting the song. =/

exec · 02-01-2007, 08:29

Yes, you're right: there are artifacts in the ogg. Some "clacking" noise. I can't hear it when playing it on my PC, nor on my X5L.

Really seems to be an issue of the player.
Perhaps you try to encode it in a higher quality.
Or have you tried a downgrade of the firmware (I'm nor sure if this is possible at all)?

I've never heard these kind of artifacts on my ogg files (rock/metal - usually nothing with so much bass). But I have to admit that I only ripped some CDs to ogg for testing purposes (mainly using FLAC).
If you have problems with many of your ogg files, then I would recommend to contact the cowon service.

PS: any other F2 owners with the same problem?

Fluff · 02-01-2007, 11:07

I can't sign up/in on their website, so I can't access the Q/A Board.

I tried to sign up with different eMail Adresses but I don't receive a response with my Password.
Basically this is why I came here anyway.

I tried it via "Contact us" now but I don't have much hope because there they stated:

Quote:

Business proposals only. (When you want to ask about products, you must submit a question to the Q&A board.

I asked them to not ignore my message and also attached a copy of our conversation.

EDIT: I got it now, ^^ I successfully registered to Cowon America Website.

Greetings

Psyraver · 02-01-2007, 13:08

I have notice the same problem. I have another thread about this problem. I listen to bass heavy music so it REALLY annoying. I think it can be fixed with a firmware upgrade. But im glad that some one else has notice this problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by exec

Yes, you're right: there are artifacts in the ogg. Some "clacking" noise. I can't hear it when playing it on my PC, nor on my X5L.

Really seems to be an issue of the player.
Perhaps you try to encode it in a higher quality.
Or have you tried a downgrade of the firmware (I'm nor sure if this is possible at all)?

I've never heard these kind of artifacts on my ogg files (rock/metal - usually nothing with so much bass). But I have to admit that I only ripped some CDs to ogg for testing purposes (mainly using FLAC).
If you have problems with many of your ogg files, then I would recommend to contact the cowon service.

PS: any other F2 owners with the same problem?

Ogg at any bit rate still has that annoying tinging sound in the bass.

Fluff · 02-01-2007, 13:43

Yeah, I've tried every Bitrate possible.

Well, I've contacted Cowon and sent them a detailed description of the problem.
Hopefully this gets fixed.

I'll be really really happy then.

exec · 02-01-2007, 15:02

Would be nice if you could keep us informed if something new arises in this case...

MaxSt · 02-01-2007, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluff

Massive_Attack_-_Angel.zip

Please check it out and compare them... I think this track is one of the best examples.

I tried it on my U3 and can hear the problem too...

Fluff · 02-02-2007, 17:46

Hi =)

I got an answer from Cowon.

Quote:

Sorry for delay in response. Takes a while to listen for issues and compare. I listened to your files and then made some up with DP Power AMP. I used some Cake songs that are bass centric. Was able to replicate and demonstrate the issue to our service department. By the way, I used 96 and 500 kbps OGG files to show the issue is not the compression. They will be forwarding this info to the developers in Korea. Since looking for issues like this and improving on them is not something that has a simple fix, it may take some time for this to be implemented into an update in furture firmware. Hopefully this is just a software issue, if not, it will be the chip set and may take a lot longer to resolve.
Thank You,
Technical Suppport Staff
Cowon America Inc
"Digital Pride"

Psyraver · 02-03-2007, 01:12

^ Thats good to hear. I hope it can be fixed in the next firmware update.

garbel · 02-15-2007, 08:46

Hi,

is the OGG soundproblem only related to the F2 and U3 Player or are other Players affected too ??

Psyraver · 02-26-2007, 06:24

Is there any new news on this problem?

01-31-2007, 16:00	#1
Fluff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	Bad playback quality on OGG Vorbis files :( Hi everyone. I recently got my iAudio F2 plus Sennheiser CX-300 earphones. Playback Quality is awesome on MP3's. Crystal clear and brilliant. But on OGG Vorbis files playback quality is very bad. There is always a louder swoosh than on MP3 files. In particular basses sound really annoying. First I thought this depends on my Sennheiser earphones, but MP3 files sound alright. I tried to convert Audio Tracks using many different OGG codecs. I even converted some OGG tracks to MP3 and voila... Sound was awesome again. So it must have to do something with the playback of iAudio F2. I've got the latest firmware. I would like you to test it for yourself and tell me if you experience the same. Hopefully this can be fixed with future Firmware updates. Greetings Last edited by Fluff; 05-01-2007 at 13:02.

02-01-2007, 08:29	#6
exec Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 35	Yes, you're right: there are artifacts in the ogg. Some "clacking" noise. I can't hear it when playing it on my PC, nor on my X5L. Really seems to be an issue of the player. Perhaps you try to encode it in a higher quality. Or have you tried a downgrade of the firmware (I'm nor sure if this is possible at all)? I've never heard these kind of artifacts on my ogg files (rock/metal - usually nothing with so much bass). But I have to admit that I only ripped some CDs to ogg for testing purposes (mainly using FLAC). If you have problems with many of your ogg files, then I would recommend to contact the cowon service. PS: any other F2 owners with the same problem? Last edited by exec; 02-01-2007 at 08:35.

02-01-2007, 15:02	#10
exec Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 35	Would be nice if you could keep us informed if something new arises in this case... Last edited by exec; 02-01-2007 at 17:33.

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01-31-2007, 18:11	#2
exec Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 35	Well, I also have the CX300's and have no problems with ogg playback. Which encoders/settings you used?

02-01-2007, 03:22	#3
Fluff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	Basically my whole collection is encoded with Foobar2k using OggEnc (LibVorbis 1.1.2). Quality Mode 2 -> 96 kbps. On my computer and also on my previous portable player they sounded alright. Mainly it's on basses. You should try a song for instance where you can here bass in the beginning only. But as I said also tried other quality modes, programs and encoders like aoTuV b5. I also reconverted from Ogg to MP3 and playback was just fine, so it's not a problem with my OGG files. Maybe I'll try to rip the output of my player with one song @ OGG and the same @ MP3.

02-01-2007, 04:46	#4
exec Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 35	I was using EAC and Oggenc2 (-q 6). Perhaps you can attach such a "broken" ogg file to your posting...

02-01-2007, 05:56	#5
Fluff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	Well, awrite. This is "Massive Attack - Angel" grabbed directly from CD using Exact Audio Copy, Oggenc2 (LibVorbis 1.1.2) at Quality -6. Just as you do. It gives me the same result. So I also compressed it using the build in LAME Codec at 224 kbps VBR. Massive_Attack_-_Angel.zip Please check it out and compare them... I think this track is one of the best examples. If you still say sound's the same for you then I'll try to grab the output of my player. Thank you for your help, and I hope I don't get no trouble for posting the song. =/

02-01-2007, 13:43	#9
Fluff Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 14	Yeah, I've tried every Bitrate possible. Well, I've contacted Cowon and sent them a detailed description of the problem. Hopefully this gets fixed. I'll be really really happy then.

02-03-2007, 01:12	#13
Psyraver Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 24	^ Thats good to hear. I hope it can be fixed in the next firmware update.

02-15-2007, 08:46	#14
garbel Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1	Hi, is the OGG soundproblem only related to the F2 and U3 Player or are other Players affected too ??

02-26-2007, 06:24	#15
Psyraver Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 24	Is there any new news on this problem?