willcycle
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2016
- Posts
- 4
- Likes
- 1
Do you also have mp3 files on your internal memory?
I would really like to get this one, but man, is it really limited in storage? (i.e. no 400gb microSD accepted?) Or does it accept the card but doesn't index due to contents (more content) and not necessarily size? Cowon can be freaking weird! lol
Also, if I cannot scan due to using 400gb, can you actually play (shuffle) full folders? (can someone try)
And if you can't, is there another alternative with good battery life (30+) and decent sound?
Right now I'm just using a Nokia 7 as source (headphones are easy to drive - Sony MDR-AM2, Ultrasone) so I'm guessing I don't need huge power.
Thanks.
Cowon’s Case is very nice. I agree, that it’s too expensive. I was lucky to find one on eBay for $40 US from a golf shop that had 1 in stock (go figure). Probably the guys own personal one, but it was new. I had contacted JetAudio and they said they were going to stock them.Just bought a new PD2, and are now looking for a case. Cowons own seems nice, but way to expensive. Is there any cheaper cases out there? Dosen't have to be leather.
70 euors total is just too much in my opinion.
Damn, sounds great. Thanks for the detailed breakdown. I’ve been holding off but I feel my will growing weaker...Ok, I've spent quite a bit of time with it as of late, it's hard to put this thing down
With Firmware 1.02.
PROS
Reference sound
Battery Life (30- 45 hours)
Balanced Audio
Jet Effects 5
Form Factor (This can be a love hate experience though)
Power (That AMP!)
Cons
Slow UI
No streaming, wi-fi etc.
Jet Effects 5 (Why not 7?)
No USB-C, Charging time
Firmware is in its infancy
No Case / Screen Protectors
Ok here's my opinion (it's just that), I'm not an expert, I'm barely even a hobbyist
The sound is reference, it's just effortless and highly resolving. I once described the original D as having a black blackground (no hiss), I think I should have said dark grey, because the PD2's is black. It's quite forgiving of source material to my ears with only 1 album not sounding good so far (Quicksands Manic Compression (it doesn't sound good on anything)). I've tested most metal genres, electronic, rap, Jazz and acoustic and it sounds great with all of them. I haven't tested Classical as I don't have any Classical Recordings.
If you own a Cowon you know how good Jeteffects is for EQ'ing, I just wish that they had put Jet Effects 7 in the D2. I use headphones and have noticed that the Filters do change the sound (that seems to be a bugbear of many headfiers with regards to other DAPs).
It has plenty of power, though I have only used it single ended. I may experiment with the balanced in the near future as I now want a new pair of headphones thanks to the PD2. I am not a huge believer in Balanced. Hifiman Sundara may be my next purchase.
The UI is bad, same as the original D. Scrolling makes you feel like time has slowed. It doesn't bother me though, I'm used to it having used the Original PD. The screen is low res as on the PD, again it doesn't bother me.
Charging time is 3.5 hours, connection is via USB 2.0, Why Cowon don't implement USB-C is only known to Cowon but with the battery lasting 30-45 hours it shouldn't prove that much of a problem, it is what it is. I haven't tested the battery yet, others in this thread have.
There's no case or screen protectors in the box. The price for the official Cowon PD2 case is ridiculously expensive. It's currently on sale in the UK for circa £50. I believe £20 would be a much fairer price. Screen protectors are cheap enough to be included IMO.
I have noticed one bug where the PD2 states that a FLAC file is invalid then I rewind and it plays it. that's the only bug I've noticed so far and it's only happened twice. Cowon produces regular Firmware updates so I expect them to correct most bugs.
I once described the Original PD as being the perfect Commuters DAP. I also stated that if you wanted Critical listening to go elsewhere. The first still holds true for the PD but I would use the PD2 for critical listening, it's that good to my ears.
I think it's my end game DAP (Crazy at this price) but who knows that may change. I'm 48, I don't need any bangs and whistles like Tidal, wifi etc. and I can't hear Bats farting. .
I've always believed that a players job is to play music as it was intended, nothing more. The PD2 does that for me, it just sings. I'm not picking out small details in the Music, I'm just drowning in it.
For those considering switching from the original to the PD2, the annoyances of the original are still largely present with the PD2 but the things we loved about it are a lot better.
Sonically, it's streets ahead.
I'm a music fan, not a gear fan. There's a lot wrong here, but damn, that sound is something else in this price bracket.
Final thoughts, I bought this with my own money from AMP3. I'm not affiliated with Cowon, I am not here to promote the PD2, it's just my thoughts on it, nothing more. Similarly, it's your job to spend your money, not mine, so if you purchase it based on my thoughts, that's on you. I haven't tested vast arrays of DAPS or headphones, It's not my job, I'm not a reviewer and I'm not interested in finding pots of Gold at the end of Rainbows. I have set criteria, and buy according to that.
Thanks for reading the rambling thoughts of an ignorant Brit