Im buying my J3 next week at the most but...

[frenchie]

I got a couple questions before getting it if you dont mind and these im pretty shure have been answered over and over but please help me out if you can:

1- Should i really change the ui on the J3?

2- What do i gain from a modded ui?

3- Wich ui (stable) is the best?

4- I hate anything and everything apple how does the J3 stack up?

5- Will i be disappointed with my purchase compared to a sony or crApple?

6- Any one uses Klipsch Image S4 and how do you find them, good or bad?

Might have a couple more questions but i dont really know being new on this forum and all if this is the right place to ask all these.

Ive been reading for over a month now reviews on the J3 but been getting some mixed reviews also...glass coming off??? So why not get all the info from the real users with the best knowledge.

Thank you for your time i appreciate all the ideas and i can get.

Frenchie

[checkmate134]

1. Yes, you should really change it. Use one of Kizu's or another developer's UCIs and you'll see that they look better/have better functionality. If you choose not to change your UI you should be fine too, though.

2. Looks and functionality. You get greater control over what your J3 looks like, and you get added functions like on-the-go playlists and many other features.

3. Ask a lot of people and they'll tell you Kizu's most recent stable UCIs (which are Lynx, Sense, Leaf v2, and his picture UI). His new beta Cheetah XT would include all these different UCIs and is much faster, but many features are yet to be implemented. Despite being called beta, it won't harm your J3 at all, it's just not finished. Personally, I also use Lunar's UCIs on the side, like his WP7 theme and his most recent Music UI (whose name escapes me right now). They just look really good, but don't really add any features to your player.

4. It doesn't tie you down to iTunes or other Apple products. You have control over the UI and can use drag and drop. The J3 is different enough from Apple that you'll probably like it.

5. If you really hate Apple that much, once again, you probably won't be disappointed. Against Sony, I wouldn't know; I've never owned or used a Sony player. However, I think the comparison mostly lies in what you think is important. The J3's main selling points are stellar battery life and sound quality, but doesn't have wi-fi or apps like many competitors. Personally, I have other devices to cover for those other features, so the J3 is the perfect dedicated music player for me. I would think that if you're also looking for a dedicated music player, the J3 would be great for you.

6. I don't use those headphones, so I have no idea. You might be better off looking for the answer to this question somewhere else on the interwebs, but you can probably get a response to that here anyways, seeing as they're quite popular and so highly rated on cnet. My friend owns a pair of those IEMs, but I probably won't get to see him in a while, so unless you can wait a week or so...

About the glass: I think it's with older models (not sure on this though). A such, I've never had a problem with the glass coming off. The build quality on the J3 is reasonably good. It's not amazing with its plastic back and whatnot, but it's certainly not lacking. The only problem I've had (besides the scratch on the screen as a result of my carelessness) is that the audio jack on mine seems to pry at that edge of the J3. That corner of the player seems to pop up a little bit, but you can't see it at all. It pretty minor; you can only feel it when you push down on the player.

This thread probably should've been in the general J3 section, but I guess it's okay here too. Haha, and don't worry about asking more questions; this forum could always use more activity ;P. Look around the forum too, there's a lot of stuff about the J3 here, from SD cards (> my 64GB micro SD came today and it works perfect on the J3) to custom UIs to disassembles, and of course, much more.

Welcome to iaudiophile.net ^^ and good luck on making your decision.

[frenchie]

Awesome thanks!

64gb Micro SD oh now you picked my curiosity. I was thinking that a 32 gb wasent enough. So a Micro Sd 64 gb would be awesome for me even more if possible. I have lots of movies i could put on.

Are you saying Micro SDXC or the Micro SDHC class 10? Ive read that you can add a 128Gb Micro SDXC...Is this true (formated to fat32 instead of exFat)???

I could probably fit 1/4 of my video files on it. That would be SWEEEETTT!!!

[Adoby]

I have 96 GB available on my J3. Well around 90 at least. Somehow 32 + 64 is less than 96 when it has been formated.

I use a class 6 SanDisk micro SDXC card. There is a thread here about it. You may have to transcode your video files for the J3. But that will most likely make them smaller so you can fit even more on the J3. There is a thread about that as well here.

I don't know about the 128GB card. Someone has to be the first and try it... I suspect it will not work.

Note that you may have to remove the 64 GB card and use a card reader when you update it. It will not work correctly with windows when inside the J3.

The ui is the weakest spot for the J3. Wierd and strange are kind words... :X A custom ui may help a little. I have tried some, but am now back using the stock ui. Will most likely try more custom ui in the future. Normally I just listen to complete albums, not individual songs or playlists, then the stock ui works fine. For playlists a custom ui is better.

[andrew_berge]

The glass issue was what worried me most when i bought my J3. I bought it almost a year ago and no problems so far.
There was a thread a while back where we talked about it, anyone who had bought it more recently didn't have the problem, so we can assume Cowon fixed it.

If you're still not sure:
If you get a chance to open the box before buying you can check the model/serial number. The model number on mine is "CWS-COWON-J3(B)", which hints that something changed in the hardware at some point. You can find the date it was manufactured in the serial number (see this post, second paragraph). Mine was manufactured in February 2011.

So there's no guarantee you won't have the problem, but if you get a more recent one you very probably won't.

[Kizune]

Originally Posted by andrew_berge

The model number on mine is "CWS-COWON-J3(B)", which hints that s omething changed in the hardware at some point.

Mine has the same model number and I do have the glass problem.

[andrew_berge]

Ah, okay then. I guess it wasn't the glass that changed, then

EDIT: Out of curiosity, mind sharing the manufacture date?

[Kizune]

Originally Posted by andrew_berge

EDIT: Out of curiosity, mind sharing the manufacture date?

It's July 2010.

[Asterix77]

The Klipsches are very good value for money...good sq, reasonable price tag.
They are not very durable though...or it's just me...I have a habit of breaking inears...somehow..

[frenchie]

Thank you everyone! So J3 it is. ill order it next week.

Im still not shure about the klipsch image S4 but for the price you get what you pay for. Ill be gentle i promise just wish i could dish out some extra dollars for in-ears or find a better set for around the same price.

May be some of you know something i dont.

My specs for in-ears:

1- good bass (i want to feel it pound)

2- good cord/cable

3- long lasting (that depends on the abuse i know but still)

4- somewhat clear sound, i dont need shure 530's.

5- max price 100$ for now

I am not a big audiophile junkie. This will be my third MP3 player first Cowon ever. Do i know what good quality music is compared to bad. well not really, i only know 128 kbps sucks and 320 sucks less and i really like bass hard hitting BASS.

Ill only be listening to 320 Kbps MP3's no fancy flac, lossless, lossy or whatever else there may be.

So if you guy's can push down a flight of stairs or in the right direction ill be a happy cripple LMAO.

Thanks again i really appreciate your help!

Frenchie

[andrew_berge]

Don't worry about your 320 kbps mp3s. They're perfectly good and few can actually distinguish them from lossless side by side. I can't.

As for your IEMs, make sure you do lots of research before buying. Headphones/buds/IEMs are probably the most important part of getting a good sound, so you don't want to get that wrong.

I know nothing of IEMs, but here's a couple links that might help:
Headphone Buying Guide (by price range). This is not a final list, but it might show you a bit what to look for.
Basic Guide to IEMs.

Both these links lead to Head-Fi. You can ask for advice in the forums there, too. Just remember to take things with a pinch of salt, there's a lot of people over there that don't understand what placebo is.

[frenchie]

Thats my major grippe right now...IEM's. I need them because of work and all, i need to know when the phone rings and the radio calls for me to get back to my post. So in-ears are a must and i cant wear the Cowon buds because they freakin hurt like hell!

Im already on to many forums right now LOL. RaptorForum for my ATV and this one so im going back and forth from one site to the other LOL. Got to entertain the buds LOL.

So IEM's, this is not an easy one! ive searched hi and low. Reviews after reviws of in ears i just cant seem to find the right pair and the Image S4 seem to be my last resort right now. Only iffy comment on these is the cord is flimsy. i got a set of over ear sonys and love them but cant wear them at work i need an ear not covered for emergency calls and what not. No im not a cop LOL i work as a security guard so you can tell i need an ear free to listen out for radio calls and the phone at my desk.

I need some help LOL descisions, descisions ahh man wich ones? Im still leanning towards the S4's.

[lupu_de_balta]

look after some (not in ear) sony xb 700... they can pull the fkn bass out of your head and body!...

now, for real, if you do really love bass, these cans are the best thing ever made...

[frenchie]

Image S4 it is. Just read some more freakin reviews AGAIN oh jeezz! Im tired of reading except this forum is really awesome and im learning a great deal.

You guys are awesome thank you so much for ansewring all my question and doubts. Sorry for the bad english im french LOL!

On another note im also buying portable speakers for my Raptor 700 some of you might like this idea of strapping hi-fi speakers on handlebars or just on your belt so everyone can listen in!

The Iluv ISP120

[Adoby]

Originally Posted by lupu_de_balta

look after some (not in ear) sony xb 700... they can pull the fkn bass out of your head and body!...

now, for real, if you do really love bass, these cans are the best thing ever made...

I got a pair. Can only agree. But the J3 has good eq so you can tame them. Then they are rather nice and comfy phones, if a bit bulky and sweaty, with very wide frequency response. And very nice low bass...

About iem below $100 - check out ue500 and ue600. I ended up with ue700, and but that is more than $100. Also don't focus too much on bass. Open and clear sound may be more important. You can easily add some extra oomph with eq and/or mach3bass.

I've got a Jawbone Jambox with bluetooth. Works nice with the J3. Usually I use it with my Motorola Xoom.