Should I get rid of my J3 for an iPod?

[sz1999]

Quote:

The only thing sound wise the J3 has over an ipod is the EQ. I actually like the sound of the recent ipods better when everything is flat and using low impedance phones. There really isn't an upgrade or downgrade in sound.

Kind of agree, I am surprised to see many members here likes EQ so much. Put in this way, without EQ, J3 is tap water, by using 30+ EQ Cowon gave you food colors, sweet'LO and artificial flovors to make tap water taste and smell like juice, soup, spirit whatever you like. That is the essense of J3 I understood. The power of HO amp doesn't turn tap water into anything better, just more volume.
I don't have ipod because i dislike itune.

 

[Dobrescu George]

i think all of you miss the most important part!... the sater of the thread already said that he will keep the cowon j3...
so this thread makes no sense any more, right?....

 

[scannon18]

Quote:

i think all of you miss the most important part!... the sater of the thread already said that he will keep the cowon j3...
so this thread makes no sense any more, right?....

Well, as it happens, I'm a bit torn between getting a Cowon J3 and and iPod Classic 7th gen.  So I've been following this, and am prepared for more

 

[Inks]

Yes the topic is still helpful as seen above. Itunes is something to consider since some hate it. As for size they're about he same in terms of practicality, the Touch is thinner but weights more but the differences are small I've had them side by side. Sound wise I have to agree with sz1999 while the newer Ipods are sounding better even the Wolfson DACs are supposedly making a comeback for the upcoming models. 

 

[Dobrescu George]

scanon, do you want audio quality?.... or do you want internet and games?....
ipod can do internet and games, j3 can do sound quality....
 
never underestimate cowon j3's sq.... or mighty ipod's wireless connection....
 
i would not recomend ipod, because of itunes.... because you will never be able to get an mp3 from a friend, who doesn't have itunes.....

 

[Redmetal1897]

Expandable memory and battery life are a consideration as well, though if you buy a 64GB+ ipod you pretty much pass cowon J3 at that point. Personally on flat setting there was very little difference between the ipod (6th gen) and the J3, though I was able to tell the difference and preferred the sound of the J3. The fun stuff kicks in when you use EQ at which point its not really a contest for me 

 I would be interested to see how the parametric eq on the touch works though

 

[Mad Max]

 
Quote:

scanon, do you want audio quality?.... or do you want audio quality?....
ipod can do sound quality, j3 can do digititis and coloration....
 
never underestimate cowon j3's sq.... or mighty ipod's "line-out"....
 
i would recomend ipod.... you can always get an mp3 from a friend, who doesn't have itunes.....

Dem nasty typos.  fix'd

 

[scannon18]

Between the Ipod touch and the J3, I would choose the J3.  The touch has a disappointing camera, and too many things besides music.  I realized that I wanted an ipod touch that had as many features for music as it did for everything else.  And then I realized that the J3 is very much like a touch with features for music as opposed to everything else.
 
And I further realized that the Classic is the one for me. All around (sufficient sq, massive hd, long battery life) it's the best mp3 player out there, at least for me at this time.
 
EDIT:  Also, rockbox is in the works for Classic, so maybe a good eq in the future as well?

 

[Achmedisdead]

Quote:

Expandable memory and battery life are a consideration as well, though if you buy a 64GB+ ipod you pretty much pass cowon J3 at that point. Personally on flat setting there was very little difference between the ipod (6th gen) and the J3, though I was able to tell the difference and preferred the sound of the J3. The fun stuff kicks in when you use EQ at which point its not really a contest for me 

 I would be interested to see how the parametric eq on the touch works though

 
It's awesome. I have the Cowon i9(same sound as J3 and S9 I believe) and a Touch 4G with the two popular EQ apps, and I can get great sound out of either one.

 

[Brooko]

While I don't have a J3 - I do have an iAudio7 with all the Cowon EQ/BBE goodness.  It's an amazing DAP - sounds fantastic.  I never would have given the touch a second thought - basically read a lot about Ipods being rubbish when compared to the Cowon sound - and believed the comments without actually trying it.  Was all set to buy a J3 - then I got gifted a 32Gb Touch.  Big change of heart ......
 
Can't comment on previous generations, but the new Touch is really good.  SQ is great, interface is fantastic, and at the moment, the Cowon is gathering dust on the desk.  The EQU and Equalizer apps make a lot of difference - but to be honest, I'm just enjoying the SQ with no EQ most of the time.  I spent a few days converting my FLAC to ALAC - and I've currently got 79 full alac albums loaded on the Touch.
 
I have a LOD and E7 ordered - and am looking forward to seeing if there is much difference.
 
To be honest, Itunes hasn't been that bad.  The only thing I'm really using it for is to access the Touch, and deleting or loading albums.  And this is from someone who prefers Linux!
 
They're both great players - you'd be happy with either one.

 

[scannon18]

Quote:

I have a LOD and E7 ordered - and am looking forward to seeing if there is much difference.
 

Good buy, Brooko, I know I've noticed a difference since grabbing the same setup (off Amazon).   I'm sure your Shures will benefit

 

[kargi]

I have read somewhere in head-fi, J3's headphone out (with max volume) is as good as a line out, without work of an headphone internal amp doesn't mess with quality. Something like that... People who know will explain better.
 
J3 wake me up from apple bs after dealing with an ipod for last 2 years, and buying an iphone. Now waiting for new generation adroids before selling my last apple product.
 

 

[kargi]

I have read somewhere in head-fi, J3's headphone out (with max volume) is as good as a line out, without work of an headphone internal amp doesn't mess with quality. Something like that... People who know will explain better.
 
J3 wake me up from apple bs after dealing with an ipod for last 2 years, and buying an iphone. Now waiting for new generation adroids before selling my last apple product.
 

 

[Dobrescu George]

yes, i know enought about that....
 
j3's is particularry same as the line out of the ipod.... that is just a thing that happens to be, because the ipod haves no true pure line out, and it;s line out is not that great....
using j3;s headphone out will make sense, for some can be even better than ipod line out...
 
with the j3 and an amplification, some iems and headphones will sound louder, and sometimes better....
same way works for the ipod.... the matter is that if you really love your music, and you have some expensive headphones(more than 100$).... you may consider j3.... it sounds great without amp, even with mighty headphones and iems.... that is the way it goes.....
 
take this consideration!...
 
as for me, the ipod touch, could be in my collection for internet and gaming, because it has might and power over gaming.... but for music, is just not dedicated to that....
a thing cannot be the best at all, or at least is needed more effort....
ipod is great to have all around, i would enjoy playing on one for hours, but is just not the same simple as drag & drop, and it will NEVER have bbe....
j3 is more dedicated to simple best music, than other applications.... 

 

[scannon18]

I just bought the Classic off amazon this morning, but I'm almost wishing I had gotten the X7.  100 battery life, 160gb music playback, 4.3" capacitive touch screen. . .  pretty nice package