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Going from Cowon D2 to Ipod Touch queries?

post #1 of 16
1/30/10 at 1:49am
Thread Starter 
I am going to Walmart tomorrow to possibly get a 3rd gen Ipod Touch. I have been using the D2 for like 2 years and I have been very satisfied with the sound quality and level of volume. I like the idea of the Ipod Touch being a do it all device, but my only reservation is sound quality and how loud it gets, because I like my music really loud. How much of downgrade in sound quality am I looking at here? I know the Touch doesn't have vast EQ customizability of the D2, but they sound really good right? For portability I use only my Portapros, and they mesh very well with the mighty little D2.
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post #2 of 16
1/30/10 at 3:08am
I'm not terribly fond of the sound of the ipods but the only really way to find out is to test it out yourself.
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post #3 of 16
1/30/10 at 3:59am
Its hard to say, but with my old SE530's and D2+ it was the one of best combos out. I tried it with a first gen iPod and the sound was horrible.
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post #4 of 16
1/30/10 at 5:52am
do you want the Ipod touch for anything other than music? and if so is having those feature in your mp3 player really a big deal to you or maybe another question I can ask is whether getting an iPhone to upgrade your current cell is a better idea? gives you a reason to carry both lol

but personally with the way I us my Sansa Clip I can't imagine myself owning a iPod touch for music listening. and you also gotta remember that it's not just sound quality you may be sacrificing, they cost more, they have no SD slots, their EQ is far inferior, they support less formats, keeping it from getting broken may be a bigger burden and no drag and drop you'll have to use itunes to even look at your songs
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post #5 of 16
1/30/10 at 11:55am
I hope your not serious about sacrificing your Cowon D2 for an Ipod Touch and than all of a sudden wondering about SQ, sorry but I really dont think there is a match of SQ when your comparing the SQ of a Touch to a Cowon D2, I mean C'mon even people here will agree with me that the Cowon D2 and even the Sansa's sound better. People out there buy Ipod Touches due to 2 things:

1. Its a fad and a craze
2. It looks cool and good, but looks arent everything.

I dont know how loud the Touch is, but from my previous experience with Ipod classics, their Vol control is gutless and weak, dues to some EU vol limiter. I mean the Vol of my Creative Zens just crap over it.

Have you ever thought of updating the Firmware to your D2 and turning it into a D2+, just a thought.
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post #6 of 16
1/30/10 at 12:03pm
I did exactly that. The D2 was a diasspointment from the first for me though. I liked its fairly clean HPO, but couldn't find love for the player that caused my iems to boom. If you like it though, you could rockbox it.

The new touch 2G is a little more similar to the D2 in sound signature which isn't my idea of a great time, but at least it does what the D2 cannot in stock format: gapless playback. EQ is rubbish on it, but the HPO has less hiss, less distortion, better bass performance, better instrument separation. It doesn't have any warming filters though.

The only thing the D2 has on other portables is the host of Cowon EQ and effects. Its guts are pretty much cookie cutter from among the small list of system on a chips out there.

Both the iPod touch and D2 should get about the same loudness, especially with earphones, but either one will destroy your hearing even after EU volume cap in place. The D2 hasn't the power to drive earphones very well. But if you like it, why not go for a Cowon?

The new touches outclass the output of the D2 in most areas, but they lack the fun stuff.
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post #7 of 16
1/30/10 at 12:10pm
Comparing both players (2g touch) with the JH13, the sound is very similar apart the touch was a tad smoother in the highs.
Though I prefer the D2 because volume control in the touch really sucks hard, it's like going from moderate to very loud in just one notch.
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post #8 of 16
1/30/10 at 12:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
I did exactly that. The D2 was a diasspointment from the first for me though. I liked its fairly clean HPO, but couldn't find love for the player that caused my iems to boom. If you like it though, you could rockbox it.

The new touch 2G is a little more similar to the D2 in sound signature which isn't my idea of a great time, but at least it does what the D2 cannot in stock format: gapless playback. EQ is rubbish on it, but the HPO has less hiss, less distortion, better bass performance, better instrument separation. It doesn't have any warming filters though.

The only thing the D2 has on other portables is the host of Cowon EQ and effects. Its guts are pretty much cookie cutter from among the small list of system on a chips out there.

Both the iPod touch and D2 should get about the same loudness, especially with earphones, but either one will destroy your hearing even after EU volume cap in place. The D2 hasn't the power to drive earphones very well. But if you like it, why not go for a Cowon?

The new touches outclass the output of the D2 in most areas, but they lack the fun stuff.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
The D2 hasn't the power to drive earphones very well.
.

Are you refering to IEMs here or over head headphones?

I have heard the opposite and that the D2 or D2+ drives headphones quite well, infact they reckon its the loudest sounding Cowon out there on the market.
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post #9 of 16
1/30/10 at 1:43pm
Thread Starter 
I have always loved the D2, I've rockboxed it, put D2+ firmware on it, amped it, but I think it's time to move on, this has been the only player I've used for like 2 years straight. Unfortunetly, the battery life is short now, and the firmware continually corrupts, so I figured I would look around for something new. I want all the features of the Touch, my only concern was whether or not I could get a similar sound signature to the D2 as I have loved that sound signature for a long time now. I haven't even changed the EQ in like 9 months, I was very happy with how it sounded and how loud it was. I was looking at the Zune HD and Sony X series, even the S9, which I can imagine all sound better than the Touch, but by how much I wonder. From what I have read the Zune HD sounds very similar to the older Zune's, which my son has and I did not like the sound at all which right there nixes it for me also considering the Touch performs many other functions better than the Zune. The S9 sounds like a really good sounding player, but lacks many of the features of the other players in it's category, and the Sony I think would be my next choice, although just a wee bit out of my price range for a 32gb, also lacks the features of the Touch, so I guess that leaves me sacrificing sound for features, but I just wonder how much of a sacrifice. I don't get to blow this kind of money on a DAP very often, so I must choose wisely and hope I don't regret it. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that the Touch is every bit as good as the other players in terms of sound, because I already know, the Touch has all others beat as far as features and funtionality go.
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post #10 of 16
1/30/10 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albinoni View Post
I hope your not serious about sacrificing your Cowon D2 for an Ipod Touch and than all of a sudden wondering about SQ, sorry but I really dont think there is a match of SQ when your comparing the SQ of a Touch to a Cowon D2, I mean C'mon even people here will agree with me that the Cowon D2 and even the Sansa's sound better. People out there buy Ipod Touches due to 2 things:

1. Its a fad and a craze
2. It looks cool and good, but looks arent everything.

I dont know how loud the Touch is, but from my previous experience with Ipod classics, their Vol control is gutless and weak, dues to some EU vol limiter. I mean the Vol of my Creative Zens just crap over it.

Have you ever thought of updating the Firmware to your D2 and turning it into a D2+, just a thought.
Last time I checked, I bought the Touch for it's functionality, and not for the 2 reasons that you just listed. And I personally don't think the Touch's SQ is anything to sneeze at, certainly not a class below the popular players. Yes, EQ is crap (like really really crap), but the apps functionality (if you do need them, and I do) more than makes up for it.
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post #11 of 16
1/30/10 at 3:25pm
I'm in the same predicament and I would say, jump for the iTouch.

For sound quality, I've listened to a friend's setup with a Ipod/LOD/fiio E5/rockboxed to sound superior to my CowonD2/FiioE5/Rockbox with a smoother response all-around.

Personally, I'm not such a big fan of the tweakability of the Cowon. I've tried a large variety of settings, some very drastic and some not as drastic, but my ideal setting has just been the normal EQ w/ +1 to the 3D surround setting.

If you're fond of a neutral response that I believe is to be better (subjunctive) and willing to not use an EQ, then the Touch would probably be your best bet..that is with a LOD and portable amp. Even so, having tried a friend's 2G touch, I was rather surprised by the sound quality to have been much better than my old 2nd Gen 4GB Nano.

Even if it's not for the sound, the variety of apps and other functions of the Touch might make it a fonder DAP to buy.

Just my one cent
[Edit] I use the ATH-CK7s < for your reference.
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post #12 of 16
1/30/10 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
I just went ahead and got the Touch. I'll let you know what I think after I mess around with it a little.

Alright, I've about 15-20 minutes to check out the EQ and I am sorely disappointed. I don't know if my ears are sensitive or what, but the Ipod lacked bass and treble, there was simply no detail whatsoever. I guess my ears are picky, but I couldn't get any detail from the treble, even on treble booster. I simply need a custom EQ, period. Although I think the sound sucked I am still going to check out the Sony.
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post #13 of 16
1/31/10 at 1:45pm
That's a pity. I really would like to hear how some people find Apple player better sounding than Cowon, Sony or Sandinsk, really. I made several comparisons, many times, and there is no way I could agree on that.
IMHO, ipods are fun and "IN", but that's about it. I would personnaly never sacrifice sound quality to some gimmicky features.
Then, if you don't like the Touch, why not buy a new D2+? It is quite stable (not many crashes since I own one), and the sound is...well as you know it. Moreover, it is quite cheap.
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post #14 of 16
1/31/10 at 3:16pm
Well, I traded in my iPhone 3G, and Cowon D2 & S9 for an iPhone 3GS (legally I hasten to add, through cex in the UK), and I couldn't be happier...

Sometimes too much control is a bad thing, and I could never find a 'good' EQ that I could just leave alone on either of the Cowons, always fiddling, never happy...
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post #15 of 16
1/31/10 at 10:53pm
Er...did you happen to pick up the first generation model? In that case I guess the Fiio E1 would be a good(?) temporary solution a little sad that you're not pleased with your purchase. Perhaps the Walkman-X series would be good for you?
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