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Cowon X5 Discussion

post #1 of 12
11/10/09 at 11:05am
Thread Starter 
I might be buying a Cowon iAudio 20GB X5 2nd hand but in mint and virtually new condition. A friend of mine who was actually given this for his B'day but at the same time he already had an Ipod decided to use it once or twice, loce it away and that was it, and carried on with his Ipod. So the poor X5 just laid there growing cobwebs :-(

Its a 20Gb one and is still in A+ condition.

Questions re the X5:

1. How would you rate the SQ of this player ?

2. Does it have colour screen and what is it like, I am using it purely for music.
3. Is it loud, would you say louder than the iAudio 6/7 ?

4. Whats its interface like and how do you add music to it, is it drag n drop ?

5. Is this player quite thick, not that it would bother me because I have a
Creative Zen Nomad Jukebox already.

6. OOps forgot to ask but what DAC does it use ?
Thanks
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post #2 of 12
11/11/09 at 12:34am
1. good
2. yes it have colour screen
3. yes louder than iAudio 7 for me
4. mine is already rockboxed, can`t answer for the default firmware, i think the interface is easy to use, but i hate the analog joystick. yes, it is drag n drop
5. yes thick, its common thing for player with hardisk base
6. DAC is Texas Instrument
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post #3 of 12
11/11/09 at 5:12am
Well, I haven't used my X5L in awhile, but I'll still give my impressions.

1: Good, nothing that really made me go 'wow', but there isn't anything terrible about it and it was good for the MSRP at the time of release. I can't give anything detailed, but all I can say is that it never bothered me.

2: Yes, it has a colour screen as mentioned, but remember that it was released in mid 2005, so 4 years ago. When compared to something that was made this year, the screen is a bit lacking, and it doesn't really do anything 'fancy', but it's navigable without any issues. Even watching movies wasn't that bad surprisingly, but I wouldn't recommend it.

3: Yes, it was loud enough. I don't have a iAudio 7 so I can't compare, but I didn't have any problems with that.

4: Yes, the default firmware is drag-and-drop, one of the main reasons I bought it. The analog joystick is somewhat of an annoyance, but I find it easier to use than the iPod interface. Overall it is a bit tedious, but you get used to it.

5: Yes, this player is thick. I have a X5L that is even thicker, which is partly why I stopped using it in favour of a Sansa Fuze. However, I'm sure you know that it feels very solid. Yes perhaps it isn't the prettiest DAP, but even now it's still full featured and robust. Cowon did have reliability problems initially, but those look like they have been sorted out. Even still, the main culprit (HDD), is easily replaced anyhow.

6: No clue, so I'll defer to a_tumiwa on this.
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post #4 of 12
11/11/09 at 11:01am
Thread Starter 
Ok how about the SQ of the X5 compared to the Fuze ?
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post #5 of 12
11/11/09 at 8:35pm
The X5 has excellent sound. One of the better sounding players I have.

Get rockbox on it. It runs very well. Just as long of battery life as the stock firmware, if not longer.

You can drag and drop files onto it, yes.
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post #6 of 12
11/11/09 at 8:42pm
After retesting now, I'd say the X5L is slightly better. The Bass is better and more well-defined with the X5L, and the Fuze is a tad bit brighter and more shrill. This is with an ATH-ES7 with at least 350 hours on it.
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post #7 of 12
11/17/09 at 8:35pm
It is not as thick as the Creative Nomad. It is almost exactly the same size as an Ipod Classic. A tad thicker where the screen is. This is for the X5 of course, not the X5L.

Dimensions are 4.08 x 2.39 x 0.56 in. excluding the LCD.

As far as sound quality goes, many consider it to be the best sounding player in its price range.
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post #8 of 12
11/17/09 at 8:48pm
dfkt always said that despite the X5's abysmal performance in rmaa tests, the sound still stands far above many other players (much like tube amps). I would tend to agree. Though I have been distracted by my h120 and h320 for the past six months (other awesome players).

I'll have to charge mine up, update rockbox and put some fresh files on it. I miss it's warm yet sparkly sound.
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post #9 of 12
11/18/09 at 12:37am
@punnisher: do u use audio setting?? a rockboxed X5 has too many audio setting and make me confuse want to set which one... and in the end, i set off all audio setting...
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post #10 of 12
11/18/09 at 12:50am
I have (3) and to me the X5 is the best MP3 player I've ever used. I disliked the D2(sold), Zune(Sold) and Ipod(kept for podcast). The EQ is amazing! The screen is bright and looks fine. Just get one it's great. I use the Rock setting on the EQ.
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post #11 of 12
11/18/09 at 1:19am
I never use EQ so it's always set to off. No sound adjustments.
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post #12 of 12
1/12/12 at 12:42am

Hi, was just wondering if any of you still have your iaudio cowon x5 and are looking to sell?

 

Thanks :-)

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