Plenue 2 Mk II

[twister6]

Hi! Thanks for your extensive reviews on the P2 MkII and many other DAPs, they've been guiding me a bit on my search for the proper DAP for my 2016 LCD-XC.

I've got a slew of questions to ask you regarding the MkII and/or original P2. I've been auditioning a few players, including the Plenue S, Acoustic Research M2, Calyx M, and the Lotoo Paw Gold for a few weeks each. SInce I know you own a LPG and compared it with many others, I will refer to it a few times throughout my questions...

1. On storage: You write that a 400GB µSD would most likely be read by the MkII, but on the original P2 thread people said that all cards exceeding 256GB are recognized up to the 256GB cap and clipped beyond that. Did you test more than 256GB external content with this or the original P2?
2. Were you under any impression that the added balanced power also improves factors other than loudness - like dynamics, control, tonal presence, anything like that?
3. The AKM4497 is marketed with the charms of "velvet sound", and Cowon did the same for the Plenue S (even though that still had a BurrBrown chip). With the PS, I found musical impulses unnaturally smoothed out, the softness veiled the music. Do you find the P2 overtly smooth on balanced or SE output? I really got to hear how the LPG hits hard in comparison, but there were at least two aspects to it: one its unflinching, visceral rhythmical presence, the other the dashing of notes/impulses themselves. Do impulses on the P2 (or MkII) clearly sound polite, laid-back or retreated next to the LPG?
4. Again referring to the LPG; does the P2 (or MkII) have similar depth or layering in balanced output? And very importantly, do notes sound leaner and much less present than with the LPG?
5. When you mention that sounds go faster and tighter on the MkII, was the original P2 already a bit slanted towards being fast? On the LPG, e.g., I found the roll-off and fastness of the music not very far from being questionable in that I was missing some acoustic decay from instruments I know in life (+ in recordings).
6. Probably the most difficult and subjective question: Do you (or any P2-owner) find this DAP musical? Does it just throw in all the details, or does it connect the dots as well? Is there a fluid & palpable emotional centre to the music? The LPG, in my opinion, did not achieve this, despite being absolutely amazing with sounds by themselves. The foreground-ish presentation and the undeniable drive to it give something akin to musicality on the surface, but when listening deeper, I found the LPG totally unknowing that in music the sum of its parts is more than just a job of adding them up... The Calyx M is quite the opposite in this aspect. The Plenue S at least had a distinctive idea of musicality, though I didn't always agree with it.
7. And the last question, also drawing from the LPG, do voices and instruments sound more digital or more analogue? The Plenue S painted them quite a bit more organic than the LPG, in my opinion. And I think the reason doesn't necessarily boil down to it being "warm"...

Right now I'm swaying between having the Calyx modded and calling it my final choice, or ordering the Plenue 2 MkI / MkII for comparison. I've always liked Cowon's UIs and sound specs, it was just the unrealistic, velvety feeling of the PS signature that sent me off on this auditioning tour.

Don't have 400GB card, but as you know, every manufacturer of devices supporting this card format (either smarpthone or DAP) suggests they can support up to 2TB, whenever these cards become available. So, if there is a limitation, it's gotta be firmware based.

In general, not much of a sound improvement, uniless you are dealing with headphones that need more power, and the improvement is all part of the synergy with more power hungry transducers. But relative to P2, I hear a little blacker background under the same DAC filter setting between two daps.

Not familiar with PS. with P2/P2mk2 there are 6 filters available with ak4497, you can go from digital "sharp" to a smoother "super slow". Not a very drastic change, but a trained ear with a high res IEMs can pick it up. I never found P2 to be smooth, it's neutral and more revealing.

LPG vs P2/P2mk2 have a lot of similaries in technical performance, maybe P2 soundstage is a little wider. But in terms of a frequency response, LPG has a slightly boosted mid-bass and a little more sparkle in treble. Just keep in mind, LPG sound will be as is, while P2/P2mk2 can be fine tuned by switching between filters. For some reason, I found filter changes to be more noticeable in P2mk2 vs P2.

I did talk about P2mk2 being faster and tighter, and P2 is already there as well, but P2mk2 blacker background tightens the sound (faster attack/decay). Again, keep in mind, I'm using Sharp filter, while switching to super slow relaxes the PRaT a bit, making it more musical.

Sorry, I can't related to PS since I never heard it, but remember people were referring to it as more analog, smoother. Heard the same about Calyx M. Majority of the DAPs today have neutral and more digital sound, though WM1Z stands out and so does SP1000 CU.

 

[ehaldin]

Thanks for your reply.

I think it makes sense for Cowon to embed a µSD support limit in their firmware - the additional 128GB and increased balanced power are the only real internal selling points compared to the original P2, they've got to be highlighted somehow. But the Mk2 retails at ~€600 more than a used P2 costs now, one could buy 5 or 6 256GB µSDs for all this money and just switch them inside....

So the power issue is the only thing that leaves me wondering, my LCD-XC synergizes well with additional power but doesn't straight out depend on it. If the P2 does not have LPG's mid-bass hump, I'd actually be glad for it, because the LCD-XC already thrives on the same mid-bass enhancement and things became a bit pushy with the LPG. Thank you for clarifying that it's not "smooth"... that takes a lot of my qualms away.

The Plenue S and Calyx M are very different from one another, though, not being cold-ish and digital-sounding might be the only thing they have in common. The PS (single-ended) has a very homogenic (but dynamic/detailed), soft, coloured representation... as if you're sitting in front of a bouqet and relish it. The Calyx M has a very cinematic and surrounding stage (whereas I found larger/wider soundstages at times to be more technical showmanship in other DAPs, like in the AR-M2 oder A&Ks... not really intrinsic with the music). It sounds neither smooth nor edgy - notes can seem incredibly large and transparent at the same time. But then, it has its Sabre bias with the upper midrange / treble region, while the PS has something inherently shady to it.

 

[waxiboy]

Is it possible for me to use the firmware of P2 Mk2 to P2?? Just to get the new features of P2 MK2. I'm thinking to give it a try by downloading the P2 MK2 firmware and upgrade my P2 using it..if it will allow to upgrade.

 

[twister6]

Is it possible for me to use the firmware of P2 Mk2 to P2?? Just to get the new features of P2 MK2. I'm thinking to give it a try by downloading the P2 MK2 firmware and upgrade my P2 using it..if it will allow to upgrade.

Hmm, go for it, though I'm not sure if it going to work. If fw is done properly, there gotta be some device ID checking to make sure you install the right version.

 

[waxiboy]

hmmm..... I try to go to the cowon website to download the firmware of plenue mk2 but I was surpriced they have the same firmware?? because it has the same version and same date.

 

[tienbasse]

hmmm..... I try to go to the cowon website to download the firmware of plenue mk2 but I was surpriced they have the same firmware?? because it has the same version and same date.

Then this is good news for you.

 

[twister6]

Then this is good news for you.

My bet is still on some kind of a device id checking to install only applicable parts of fw for corresponding model

 

[tienbasse]

Well, too late. With the falling prices from Sony, a nice WM1Z replaced the much anticipated Plenue 2 MK2.
More than 2 months between annoucement and availability is just useless hype, and hype usually doesn't last long when it's not followed by action...

 

[JLW654]

Bought from advanced mp3players just now with coupon AMP500 which gave a bargain 15% discount, thanks to reading headfi.
I was waiting for the new AK100 but the Cowon mk2 has 256gb and the similar dac to the ak sp1000 which is 3 Times the price, I am celebrating....!!

 

[Benvoka]

400GB SDCard works fine. No Complains. No donwsides.

But I got another issue. I Downloaded and installed the current p2 (not mk2) firmware.
So I would really love to downgrade to the last (and only) firmware of the mk2.
Could anybody please copy his MK2 system files and send them to me?
I would be eternally thankful and even help old ladies cross the street from now on (even when they insist they dont't need it).

Help me!
Thank you so much!

 

[taffy2207]

New Firmware 2.21 is out :-

http://www.cowonglobal.com/zeroboard/zboard.php?id=C08&no=623

Warning/Caution

• The battery must be fully charged before firmware upgrade.
• Do not reset PLENUE 2 Mark II during firmware upgrade.
• Backup any important files in PLENUE 2 Mark II to your PC before firmware upgrade.
• Please use firmware that COWON authorizes only.
• JetEffect values might be initialized after firmware upgrade. Please record any important values.

New features

1. AI volume initialization and AI shuffle initialization function added
2. Fixed abnormal behavior of AI volume function
3. Metadata exceptional situations in tracks added.
4. Improved ALAC file compatibility

 

[kalibur]

Price on Amazon for P2 MKII has dropped to $899

 

[RONJA MESCO]

any feedback on this new dap

so many daps from cowon, and still I think cowon plenue s is the flagship , was hoping for something to top plenue s

The Plenue S, isn't the flagship. If you look anywhere, they put the Plenue 2, 2 mkII and L series as the front and center flagships

 

[sect44]

Listened to both S and MK2. Although S is older it's still a flagship. Both are in the same level soundwise, MK2 is airier, more detailed, more powerful in balanced and longer battery life. S is slightly warmer and thicker, both are dead quiet in the background with great resolution and a joy to listen. If you are like me who hates streaming a pure DAP like Cowon is an excellent choice.

 

[taffy2207]

Firmware 2.30 is out :-

http://www.cowonglobal.com/zeroboard/zboard.php?id=C08&no=630


Warning/Caution

• The battery must be fully charged before firmware upgrade.
• Do not reset PLENUE 2 Mark II during firmware upgrade.
• Backup any important files in PLENUE 2 Mark II to your PC before firmware upgrade.
• Please use firmware that COWON authorizes only.
• JetEffect values might be initialized after firmware upgrade. Please record any important values.

New features

1. Fixed AI data error occurring when deleting files.
2. Improved FLAC file compatibility.
3. Improved ALAC file compatibility.
4. Improved DSF last frame playback.
5. Fixed errors occurring when certain corrupted melon (?)files are played.