[big_lou]

I need to upgrade to a new player AND to new phones (IEM's preferably). Which one to upgrade first?

My first inclination would be to upgrade the component that is less dependant on subjective preferences and then focus on the brand/model that consistently has the most favorable reviews.

To me that would be the DAP, since headphone opinions/reviews are all over the place and seem to be a much more personal choice.

Do you agree?

Since my main criterion is sound quality I am leaning towards the Cowon D2, but based strictly on specs and reviews. Then I could audition various IEM's, if possible, but since I will most likely not have that luxury then I would have to find IEM's that have some characteristics that would match the type of music I like (classical/opera). Right now I am leaning toward the Q-Jays, again, strictly based on the few reviews I have seen here.

Anybody know if the D2/Q-Jay combo is a good one?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Lou

 

[epaludo]

What is your current gear (player and phone) ... ?

 

[misterDX]

if you are into SQ, i dont see why you would go for D2, you are better off getting an kenwood mp3 player instead

 

[epaludo]

There are other things to consider. You're comparing a HD player with a flash one.
It's necessary first to decide what kind of player you're looking for, so you can filter the options to get the best solution possible ...

 

[Assorted]

I personally dislike Cowon signature for classical. The Kenwood HD30GB9 would do you very good ampless SQ for arond $400.

 

[dissembled]

I'll suggest to get players with ample soudstage to make the IEMs less closed in and sound airier. Custom EQ is also vital to make IEMs sound less thin.

Kenwood, Trekstor Vibez & the X5 are 3 good canditates.

 

[big_lou]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Assorted /img/forum/go_quote.gif I personally dislike Cowon signature for classical. The Kenwood HD30GB9 would do you very good ampless SQ for arond $400.

Please explain why you feel the D2 would not be a good DAP for classical music. In a previous post you stated it's sound was too "cold". Does this equate with "analytical"? Or do you mean too neutral, too uncolored, too "accurate"?. Perhaps, you mean too "dark", or perhaps lacking in "brilliance"?

Since I don't really know what most of the above terms mean "exactly", I am also hoping you can expand on your opinion of the D2 in terms that I may be able to relate to, such as "it sounds too hollow, or too cavernous, or too much or not enough reverb, or it doesn't reproduce harmonics very well, or it has too much emphasis at the freq. extremes and not enough in the midrange (or the other way around), or lacking in "sound stage", etc, etc.

I know you are working on a HD30GB9 review but from what I gather so far this does appear to be a better DAP than the D2. The Kenwood would also work better for me since I would be using a large number of FLAC files which would just about fit in the HD30GB9 but would require carrying a few SD cards for the D2. I am also not crazy about the lack of tactile controls on the D2.

The deal killer, for me, might be the lack of easy support for the Kenwood. I would hate to drop $400 and find little issues with the player that might require shipping it back overseas (at my expense) and perhaps have to wait weeks or months to get it back and then find another issue I missed the first time and start all over again. Perhaps Cowon is no better in this respect?

Thanks again for any feedback.

Lou

 

[cherepashka]

Total upgrade? Hmm..ah!! Forget word "DAP"!

 

[big_lou]

Sorry if this causes any duplication but I moved my last inquiry to the "Portable Audio" forum. Thanks

Lou

 

[tbonner1]

I would select headphones first and build the system around them.

 

[melomaniac]

not all cowon sound the same, some are indeed worth it. I'd go for headphones first though, the best you can afford. that will make you go for a better player soon afterwards

 

[MaloS]

I recommend against a Kenwood if you are going to use IEMs - most IEMs are too sensitive and pick-up Kenwood's hissing. I personally use Vibez, and its tonality has also similar liquidness as the Kenwood (not quite, but still very good), and the Vibez does not hiss. X5 is a good suggestion, although it has a more aggressive sound according to my sources. (I did not hear one out of sheer laziness).

Oh ya, Vibez has a pretty awesome EQ that I got into using for my phones (which lack bass audibility/impact).

As far as IEMs go for your music choice - things get weird...best recommendation for Classical/Vocals is ER4p, if you are fine without having strong bass (you can equalize it up a bit). I am not fond of any other IEMs on the market (save customs which I did not hear for obvious reasons). Hopefully Westone 3 is as good as it looks right now, still waiting for that to be released.

 

[StevenBrouwer]

Forgive my rudeness, malos, but did you hear the kenwood yourself? I have read a lot in japanese with bablefish, but there didn't seem to much problem with white noise.