COWON Z2 - The complete Review (from Izzi going)
Nov 10, 2012 at 6:37 PM Post #421 of 542
I actually don't have such a big issue with the laggy interface. But the *******ed skips in the tracks are down right infuriating. Am I missing something? The stock player seems ok but poweramp skips like a b****. Wat kind of device can't handle 1 bloody player properly?
 
Nov 10, 2012 at 6:45 PM Post #422 of 542
Quote:
I actually don't have such a big issue with the laggy interface. But the *******ed skips in the tracks are down right infuriating. Am I missing something? The stock player seems ok but poweramp skips like a b****. Wat kind of device can't handle 1 bloody player properly?

There are settings in Poweramp you might need to look at...the audio menu in particular. "Advanced Tweaks" could help you.
 
Nov 10, 2012 at 7:10 PM Post #425 of 542
Quote:
Oh wait there's this audio thread priority setting it to highest. Let's see how this goes

The Z2 has very similar hardware specs to my Android-powered Samsung Galaxy, which runs Poweramp easily. So if the Z2 can't do it, something is wrong....
 
Nov 10, 2012 at 8:16 PM Post #427 of 542
if the Z2 can't do it, something is wrong....


That's wat I thought. It's better with the priority setting now. Did u need to set that? Anyone have any idea wat "went wrong"?

I never had to adjust it. Maybe it is from different files, with different tags...not really sure. :confused:

Sent from my Atrix via Tapatalk 2
 
Nov 11, 2012 at 4:32 AM Post #428 of 542
No doubt about that.....they should have stayed away from Wifi and Android and instead stuck to a music player, and maybe come up with a more usable UI. The menus on the iAudio 9 were absolutely maddening....I could pick up my D2 after a few weeks and operate it just fine, but the i9 was different altogether. I can only hope the other models are more usable than the i9 was. Too bad, because the i9 did certainly sound better than the old D2 did.


Wifi Hifi!
 
Nov 11, 2012 at 4:44 AM Post #429 of 542
Tracks still skip with tracks set to highest priority... I'm at a lost. My library is only 13gb. There's only poweramp running. What the **** cowon!? Ur supposed to be good with this ****.
 
Nov 11, 2012 at 7:29 AM Post #430 of 542
While were are on this topic. Anyone can explain to me what audio thread priority and audio buffer size actually does? How is it supposed to prevent skipping of tracks? thread priority is simple enough to understand but wat does audio buffer size actually do? Does it affect SQ? cause it lowers the volume on the max setting
 
Edit: Nvrmind googled the answers myself. Still Disappointed in the Z2 thou
 
Nov 12, 2012 at 11:51 PM Post #431 of 542
Hello I just bought one of these after doing my research on mp3 players, Im kinda new to this scene so I got a question.
 
I heard someone mention Neutron Music Player, does having an external software improve the sound quality? I saw it has some controls which I probably wont use but other than that does the output change vs the default player?
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 3:39 AM Post #432 of 542
Quote:
Hello I just bought one of these after doing my research on mp3 players, Im kinda new to this scene so I got a question.
 
I heard someone mention Neutron Music Player, does having an external software improve the sound quality? I saw it has some controls which I probably wont use but other than that does the output change vs the default player?


Hey Im new as well so I cant say how a 3rd party player affect the SQ especially since Ive never used neutron player. But there are other merits to using 3rd players as opposed to the default one like better interface, features like viewing track details. And the default play in the Z2 doesnt support Alac so you might wanna look into wat audio formats u want on ur player.
 
Im using poweramp now but I have run into some issues that Im currently trying to work out thou. The default player is just way too limited in its features
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 10:54 AM Post #433 of 542
Yeah Im just looking to play flac formats, and  Im not really good with android or any mobile OS really I know nothing about it so Im not really looking forward to installing third party software unless it boosts the SQ otherwise Im probably content with just playing music from my default player.
 
Thanks for the quick reply MelonPan
 
Nov 13, 2012 at 11:39 AM Post #434 of 542
Quote:
Hey everybody!
 
I'm so sorry, but I worked a lot for the last few days and almost didn't have time to read your posts and to write the review. Sorry, I'm quite new here :wink:
 
I will try to make a complete review about the new Cowon Z2 and I will also try to start from the very beginning: some facts about the Internet Site I bought it from (Exportprive.com).
Please excuse me, if my English is not that great...
 
Well guys, first of all: COWON DID IT! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
The new Z2 rocks like a king! No, I am not trying to convince myself or you guys, but I did once tried the D3 for 2 days and I immidiately sent it back! This time, the Z2 is gonna stay for few years around :wink:
 
So, first a big applause to the korean Site: Exportprive.com. I paid 270 Euro and wanted it to be ASAP in Munich, Germany, then I paid some extra 30 Euro to have 3 days after - and so it was!  THANKS A LOT FOR THAT!
 
Well, first thing I wanted to know was: The sound! I just turned this small beautifull piece and plug it to my UE-18 (Ultimate Ears 18...) and started to smile and laugh like a small kid...it sounds 'delicious'! It sounds great! The BBE and all the 'rest' of 'goodies' (all the EQ and etc..) from COWON can only promise you the best sound that someone can expect from an Mp3 player today! So to all the ones who wonder if the Z2 has a better sound then the J3 or D3 (I never tried the J3, but I did try the D3), I can only say: It sounds fantastic like the D3. I don't think I can write to much about it, since it can change from earphons to earphones and from one to another, but for all the people, who knows COWON, know exactly about the sound quality from this company...
 
Performance: Turn it on...same as a normal smartphone, it takes something around 20 Seconds to be 100% prescent 'on' and now I'm talking even with the 'scan' and etc....(most of the scan **** with the D3 cause me then to send it back!). The few seconds of scan (around 20 Giga Music I Loaded) are every time someone turn on the Z2, but it is really fast and takes 20-25 seconds untill the scan and the Z2 is ready to go! No worries about that issue. Turn it OFF is exactly like every Androis phone...takes also few seconds...
VERY IMPORTANT: When I loaded 20 Giga to the Z2, it took around 45 Minutes!!! Quite fast! Scanning the music (only once when you add a new file or more) took around 3 Minutes!!!! (WOWWWWWWWW, comparing to the D3!!). No problems with this issue as well!
Ok, now I really became to be suspicious....everything works fine untill now...let's turn on all the other features (including the music player, Internet and etc.). I tried the internet WIFI - Works fantasic. Fast! The touchscreen works wonderfull as well and has all the Android features ( I won't write here about the android system, since you can read all about it on the net, just can write it works really great!). I continue to the video peformance: Works smooth and the colors are amazing! No problem in this issue as well. Also no problems with the black levels, like it was on the D3.
I opened the music player: Listened to music, moving from file to file, song to another, Album to the other...everything works cool. smooth and I adore the fact that I can just open the Music as a file like a normal computer system.
What else? ammmm let me think, well I didn't really try to Music iwith Z2 for 20 hours, but I think that if you will only listen to Music, you will probably reach the 20 hours, but listening to music, surfing or just playing with the Z2 will slowly 'kill' the battery time, same and normal to an androis smartphone on the market.
 
Earphones from COWON? Forget it...buy yourself some nice in ear monitors... :wink:
 
So, last thing I also wanted to write is: The shape, the form and the design of the Z2 are really great. It's very easy to hold and feels quite confortable. Very solid (Plastic and Metal together!)
Power Button react like a normal android smartphone. The Z2 has also very easy buttons for the volume, play, rew-fwd.
All the rest: HDMI: Still didn't test it. Micro SD - Works wonderfull and the scan is easy as well. No problems in this issue as well.
Line out : Sorry guys, you need to help with that...should I connect it through the earphones plug to my home stereo to check it??
 
So dear fans, let summit it like that: Cowon did it at last! The Z2 works fast (yes, I can say it loud!). It is stable. The Video quality and playing is great. Sound is fantastic, same as always in Cowon's Mp3's. It looks great and it has a descent battery life. I don't want to be sound like an adverstisement or like someone who has an interest to write it but: This is (for me) the best Mp3/4 right now...
 
Well, I hope that I could help you with all the information I wrote. I am still quite excited, since it is a great change for me since the last try with the D3 and off course my good old CREATIVE Zen Xfi (can go to sleep now...).
 
Any questions??
I will try to write again tomorrow...sorry, but here in Europe it's around 2:25 AM :)
 
Cheers,
 
Izzi going
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thank you for the review. BTW, I see the pad (maybe from Tamiya)... are you a modeler?
 
Nov 14, 2012 at 4:42 AM Post #435 of 542
I have since found that the Z2 does not like music originally ripped by itunes. I now use Media Monkey. It is the only program that ensures that the Cowon recognises the artist. I have also tried Winamp but it doesn't like that either; I also tried dBPoweramp but I didn't get on with that.
Re-rip all your music using Media Monkey and all should be fine. (A long and tedious job I know but worth it.)
 

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