Review of Cowon iAudio X5 [Archive] - Thoughts Media Forums

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Suhit Gupta

10-10-2005, 08:00 PM

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review3131.html' target='_blank'>http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review3131.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The iAudio X5 comes in two flavors, a 20GB model that goes for $300 and a larger 30GB model priced only $50 dollars higher at $350. The 30GB version includes an inline remote control and a charging cradle. When physically compared to an Apple iPod photo, the Cowon iAudio X5 is about the same size, measuring in at 4.1” by 2.4” by .06” and weighing only 5.4 ounces. Screen size is about the same as the iPod photo at 2 inches, but other than its physical dimensions, the similarities really stop there. The 2-inch LCD screen is capable of up to a 160x128 resolution and can display up to 260,000 colors. Whereas the iPod photo uses a touch sensitive wheel for navigation and control, the X5 uses a tiny metallic joystick for getting around."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/20051006_1506331.gif" /><br /><br />This is a pretty thorough review. I like the fact the the iAudio not only works with Windows but also with MacOS and Linux. The reviewers point out the excellent sound quality and it supports multiple audio formats - , OGG, WMA, ASF, FLAC, WAV. However, it does not support online music services which is a huge let down in today's day and age. Plus one has to convert videos to MPEG4.

sneech

10-10-2005, 08:48 PM

I guess the reviewer didn't update his firmware. They created a fix for needing the adaptor to charge & upload data. You can now use the USB port on the side to connect directly to your pc, or camera.

Rumor has it another firmware update will be coming soon that will enable the use of subscription music services.

I have not had any regrets buying the 30gb X5

sojourner753

10-11-2005, 05:06 PM

This seems like a great device. Maybe a replacement for my 10GB ipod.

What's the difference between the X5 and the X5L ?

sneech

10-11-2005, 05:16 PM

I think the only difference between the x5 and x5l is battery life. with the L offering more hours.

sojourner753

10-11-2005, 08:18 PM

Thanks,

Cnet didn't speak very highly of it. Much to the outrage of some of the consumer reivews.

If you look at the editor's choice of top MP3 players its number 4 after the iPod Photo and 2 monochromes.

Is it true that you can't browse by artist?
What are the browsing options?

sneech

10-11-2005, 08:37 PM

No, not true. Thats how I currently browse.

Folders are in the tree system

Music --> Artist --> folder for each album --> songs. (thats how mine is set up)

Movies --> Shows --> episodes

Podcasts -->shows --> episodes

I have yet to try other browsing methods, this has worked fine for me. The makers of Rockbox are working on a firmware for it as well.

sojourner753

10-11-2005, 10:45 PM

Thanks.

So if I understand correctly, 'browsing' is basically navigating the filesystem?

Heres the CNET Review (http://reviews.cnet.com/Cowon_iAudio_X5__30GB_/4505-6490_7-31447897.html?tag=topprods) by the way.

Lee Yuan Sheng

10-12-2005, 02:55 AM

sneech

10-12-2005, 03:57 PM

I'd post a pic of the menu if I knew how. It really looks and works just like the windows explorer.

The x5 shows up as a removable drive when connected to the PC so adding, deleting, etc. is really easy.

sub_tex

10-12-2005, 06:41 PM

This is THE device to beat for audiophiles and DRM-haters. :D

It will definitely be the replacement to my iRiver 120.

I'm glad they got rid of the need for the add on piece for PC communication. That was my biggest issue with it.

sojourner753

10-12-2005, 10:49 PM

No, not true. Thats how I currently browse.

Folders are in the tree system
[snipped]

This is how I want my MP3 player to work! It's a simple and efficent system, and as far as I'm concerned the database driven systems of the iPods and the Zens are just annoying and require the use of software that I don't want to install on my system!

I kind of agree with you. But I do like the way the iPod and the Zen give you different views on the same data.

Sometimes like like to browse by Artist. Other times I like to browse by Album. Even rarer, I've been known to pick a genre.

Ideally a device would give me the best of both worlds. I suppose a database with proper indexing would do the trick. But I guess that brings me back to the Zen and iPod.

sub_tex

10-13-2005, 06:47 PM

Ideally a device would give me the best of both worlds. I suppose a database with proper indexing would do the trick. But I guess that brings me back to the Zen and iPod.

Not really. My iRiver lets me either use the DB (created on the PC) to browse by genre, artist, album, whatever, OR I can do the filesystem browsing too.

It's a nice setup.

sojourner753

10-30-2005, 06:05 AM

I see the iAudio has had a few firmware beta updates. Can anyone tell me what they're adding from the stock firmware?

Perhaps the id3 database for better browsing options?