Cowon: X5L vs i7

[MitchriX]

Hi,

I'm in search of a new DAP and after dozens of hours of research over forums I just can't decide whether to go for Cowon's iAudio 7 or X5L.
I have used Sony's MDPs so far (MZ-N1 & MZ-N10) with some usual buds and this would be my first step towards higher-end mp3 players/earbuds then - so I was thinking to ask more experienced users first

My choice of earbuds will be Futuresonics Atrio M5/M8 and choice of music - breakbeat, dnb, electro etc..
Main priority is SQ: for example does "rockbox" justify changes in SQ and overall how much these players differ soundwise on flat?

Any advice appreciated!

 

[Solan]

I've had X5L ... gravity killed it in the end. SQ was very good for a portable. The best I had heard when I bought it. I don't know if i7 is equally good, but i7 has the size and battery life advantage, plus it has flash memory rather than a HD, and is therefore sturdier.

 

[hardnrg]

Rockbox adds a 5 band fully parametric EQ (low shelf, 3 peak, high shelf) +/- 24dB, adjustable freq and Q factor for each band/shelf... The stock firmware on the X5L has a mickey-mouse EQ which I think is 5 fixed freq bands only adjustable in the + direction (there is no - direction lol)... I created and save EQ presets for different headphones.

This in itself is enough reason to use Rockbox over stock... but here are some more reasons:

gapless playback
way more playback formats
recording in WavPack lossless
downloadable themes (I hate the stock Cowon interface)

I don't have experience with the iAudio 7 to be able to compare the two...

 

[10068]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hardnrg /img/forum/go_quote.gif Rockbox adds a 5 band fully parametric EQ (low shelf, 3 peak, high shelf) +/- 24dB, adjustable freq and Q factor for each band/shelf... The stock firmware on the X5L has a mickey-mouse EQ which I think is 5 fixed freq bands only adjustable in the + direction (there is no - direction lol)... I created and save EQ presets for different headphones. This in itself is enough reason to use Rockbox over stock... but here are some more reasons: gapless playback way more playback formats recording in WavPack lossless downloadable themes (I hate the stock Cowon interface) I don't have experience with the iAudio 7 to be able to compare the two...

Yeah but how about the battery life? I used Rockbox on my iPod Mini for a while, and it caused the battery to burn about 200% faster. Not cool.

 

[qqbingbing]

I have the X5L but I do not like it at all compared to Kenwood D9EC, TOSHIBA F60. I will say it's the same level as the sony A808, maybe even slightly. The sound is too warm for me and not airy, soundstage is normal. I was expecting more from it but it disapointed me. Just my personal opinion.

 

[mwallace573]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sduibek /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah but how about the battery life? I used Rockbox on my iPod Mini for a while, and it caused the battery to burn about 200% faster. Not cool.

I've never used the stock firmware, but going by their battery life ratings they posted on the box, I'd say the Rockbox firmware cuts the battery life by about half. I get a little over 16 hours on a charge playing LAME v0 mp3s, which ain't bad in my book considering all the cool stuff that Rockbox comes with.

 

[MitchriX]

Hehey, thanks for the info. I think I'm more into this oldschool-flagship-veteran at this point. Way too curious about the rockbox sound fiddling capabilities and it's damn hard to give up the remote after all these years with Sony

 

[hardnrg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sduibek /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yeah but how about the battery life? I used Rockbox on my iPod Mini for a while, and it caused the battery to burn about 200% faster. Not cool.

I've never actually bothered to measure it because I use my X5L every day (about 2 hours a day at least) and charge it about every 1 to 2 WEEKS... usually more towards 2

When I flew to Vegas (something like 14 hour journey), most of the time I was listening to tunes... I didn't use my X5L while I was there, and then listened to it on the way back, got all the way home from another town like an hour away on the train, etc etc... still battery life...

I can't really think of a situation where you'd need more battery life unless you are like hiking through the desert/mountains with no electricity at all...