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Cowon S9 vs Sony X1000 - Page 3

post #31 of 77
7/27/09 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Duncan View Post
Bringing this thread back from the dead...

Having both the S9 32GB and the X1000 32GB... just getting a feel for if anyone is still actually interested in a comparison of these?!?
Like to see your comparison
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post #32 of 77
7/27/09 at 4:08pm
Most interested in this.
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post #33 of 77
7/27/09 at 5:11pm
Please share your thoughts.
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post #34 of 77
7/27/09 at 5:13pm
Okay... as per my updated sig... I will do a proper review in the next couple of weeks, I have to allow the Cowon to burn in / settle down first...

First impressions (after realising the EU cripple issue) are generally positive for the S9... I will say that much
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post #35 of 77
7/27/09 at 5:55pm
Excuse a silly question, but I must have missed the EU cripple issue story here, what is that all about?

Generally (more) positive for the S9 than the X? Man, I literally can't wait for this match up.
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post #36 of 77
7/27/09 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OliverH View Post
Yes, they did. As a disappointed S9 owner--claustrophobically narrow soundstage, constant tweaking required, horrible controls, weak volume--I really would like to convince myself to stop caring, though.
That's a surprise - the S9 sounded pretty good in my opinion. I didn't think the cover flow and interface matched the quality of competitors like the Ipod Touch 2G/X1000, but it was light weight and sound was good playing WAV.
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post #37 of 77
7/27/09 at 6:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mp3 View Post
Excuse a silly question, but I must have missed the EU cripple issue story here, what is that all about?
Hi mp3...

Basically when first setting up the S9, it asks you your language selection then (at least when choosing English) it asks where you are (EU or Non EU).. If you pick EU, the volume is compromised (will stay at a constant set volume between 30 and 40, and will be more prone to distortion - so I am guessing that the limit is based on voltage..)

Same does not apply if you select 'non-eu'... blame the dodgy French legislation from a few years back
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post #38 of 77
7/27/09 at 6:20pm
Ah, yes, that I have heard of, I just thought it was French market only, but obviously it's EU wide now then.
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post #39 of 77
7/27/09 at 10:08pm
EU regulations limit the maximum output for portable players to protect against hearloss.

Back to topic. Very interested about your opinion on both players. I have a D2 and been wanting to go for something new. While I love Cowon, I am getting slightly tired of the analytical sound of the D2 and am very concerned that the S9 is just as analytical.

This morning I spent 3 minutes in the Sony shop listening to the X and I was quite impressed by the sound. Granted volume output was too high (and we all know music sounds better when its louder) and the default music on the player was not the best for a good comparison...

But I felt bass was fuller and more forefront than the D2, highs less prominant and middle (especially low middle) quite strong. Overall soundstage was 'better', not in terms of instruments separation, but rather in terms of overall harmony (maybe that's what's labelled as warmer)...

Whether or not that is worth the price Sony is asking for the X1060 in Australia ($700) is another question alltogether. While I am tempted to try a different sound, I'd go for the S9 if it's sound signature is close enough (i.e. not like the D2) because the gapless S9 is certainly worth the $440 asking price!

Looking forward to reading your review.
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post #40 of 77
7/27/09 at 10:48pm
Cowon added some pretty amazing sound enhancements to the S9, namely VIVA. Compared to my old D2, the S9 has a fuller sound, without compromising the detail level and accuracy Cowon players are known for. And to make things even sweeter, they've released a firmware upgrade which supports gapless playback for MP3. I've installed that upgrade, and it works very well.

IMO, it doesn't get much better than that.
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post #41 of 77
7/27/09 at 11:58pm
some said the DAC of D2 is better than the S9, but other components plus a newer BBE of S9 make it a little bit better than D2
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post #42 of 77
7/28/09 at 12:55am
I am non eq person, if I don't play with EQ /setting, will I feel plain, dry sound?

How about its soundsatge? As um3x is not good at this area, I don't wanna to get player worse that it
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post #43 of 77
7/28/09 at 1:06am
IMO without EQ and audio setting, cowon`s soundstage is not very wide
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post #44 of 77
7/28/09 at 4:44am
What's the mp3 gap on the X1060? If anyone listened to Dark Side of the Moon or any live recording and could comment...
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post #45 of 77
7/28/09 at 4:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by globiboulga View Post
What's the mp3 gap on the X1060? If anyone listened to Dark Side of the Moon or any live recording and could comment...
Its one of those things where it depends on how far into the second the track stops...

There are a couple of tracks where I don't even notice a gap, but others, well - nothing is too horrendous (not like when MP3 players first came out, when it felt like you could go to the toilet in the time it took for the gap to pass!!) - generally speaking, it just sounds to me as if it is no more than... oh, I don't know... 0.25 of a second...

Maybe someone has genuinely [scientifically] measured it, so - yes, with prog rock, or club mix albums, it will upset the flow... but, not excessively so...

Kudos to Apple, and now Cowon though for bringing true gapless to the masses...
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