Zune vs Cowan Iaudio x5 HELP!

[3X0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Autochthon /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why waste the time and fuel to go camping if you are going out into the wilderness to watch television? Leave the electronics at home. Listen, watch and experience the world unedited.

That's the best point I've heard in a while.

 

[shigzeo]

it is too bad you are not interested in rboxing it - that alone would sell the x5 to me

 

[rockin_amigo14]

here's what I'd recommend:

buy the Zune in a store and test it out. if you find you don't like it, just go ahead and return it and then get the X5. if you like it, then keep it. simple as that.

 

[3X0]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shigzeo /img/forum/go_quote.gif it is too bad you are not interested in rboxing it - that alone would sell the x5 to me

Honestly, yes. Once you Rockbox, you realize how much every other firmware (and I fully mean every other firmware) sucks. Apple, Cowon, Creative, iRiver, hell even Rio/Trekstor can't touch it.

 

[faichiu]

Can zune support flac? If not, go for X5.

 

[xinoxide]

all i have on my zune at the moment is MP3's but every mp3 on here other than like 6-8 of them is in 320, good enough for my standards.

 

[cutthroat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3X0 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Honestly, yes. Once you Rockbox, you realize how much every other firmware (and I fully mean every other firmware) sucks. Apple, Cowon, Creative, iRiver, hell even Rio/Trekstor can't touch it.

So true!
I love my x5l it has great battery life, and with rockbox, it's a pretty difficult DAP to top beat. I will agree thought that the line out is not the greatest, but when I listen to it throught my shellbrook mini moy amp, and the bass roll off isn't as bad. Hook it up to an amp via the headphone out and it sounds fantastic!
I'm looking foreward to comparing my x5 to the iMod when it arrives.

 

[xinoxide]

im getting ready to build a lineout cable for my zune. ordering the interface thinger maybe next week, ive already got diagrams of what pins do what. im probably going to make a whole bunch of them, so yeah.. watch for it.

 

[zip22]

have you figured out how to overcome the issue with activating the lineout?

 

[xinoxide]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip22 /img/forum/go_quote.gif have you figured out how to overcome the issue with activating the lineout?

its not going to be any different than how the zune speaker dock works.

nevermind, they jumped the gun and are still looking. but there are working zune speakers already, i dont see why they wont just disect those.

 

[Drag0n]

The reason why id watch a video while camping is when it rains and im stuck in the tent, or in the morning before anyone else is awake, or maybe if im not the driver on the trip up.
Alot of good points out there though,with formats and whatnot. I may just buy it and try it though. There has to be a return policy where i buy it,so.

I hear that theres also a hard drive mod for it to add a larger one,which is cool.
And with that other mod that makes the Zune into a portable hard drive....does that make it drag and drop without need for the Zune Program? Would i be able to just download a song off a friends PC with no prepriotary software? Thats what i thought i could do with the X5,which was a big attraction for me.
Thanks for all the replies everyone!!! In the meantime while i was thinking,i always wanted to try the Sennheiser PX100....so i picked up a pair at Circuit City for $43+tax US.
I love them,,they sound great for the money. I cant decide which sounds better,the Koss KSC75,,or the PX100.........but of course for the price,the Koss is a better buy......but the music depends on which i like better at the time. It was my first Senn purchase though.

Ok,,anyway...enough typing for the moment. Thanks!

 

[xinoxide]

id watch a video int he wilderness, if the wilderness was littered and gross. as usually is the case in the US. D:

 

[alrose312]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honken /img/forum/go_quote.gif Its a big step if you use anything but windows I presume. Anyways, I have a X5 myself and it sounds great, to me. It does have it's drawbacks though, like the line-out for instance. It just sucks, there's a big bass roll-off unless you use a very powerful amp (or so I read, I've never used an amp myself). On the other hand, the normal headphone jack is very good and can be used without problem with an amp. And yes, both the display and controls suck on the X5, the joystick feels like it's of very low quality and the screen is very small and low-res. But it pretty much plays any audio format out there (FLAC is a must for me) and it's RockBox'able (the Zune isn't?). It has a very good battery life and the hard drive is pretty big too. But in the end it's up to you, if you get the chance try them both out.

I have the X5 and I have to say that I am about to sell every piece of audio equipment I have - except my X5 because it gets so much use. The only two things that annoy me are the little subpak and the battery life (I don't have the X5L). the sound quality and the build quality are the two most important things to me and the X5 excels at both.

 

[escher]

I recently bought a zune and had to face this decision (i also included the ipod & creative zvm into the equation). I never got to play with a cowon X5 though, because it's not in the big box electrical stores nearby (best buy, circuit city, etc).

From what i've read, sound quality is basically a wash.

Zune wins on the interface: the screen is huge and the controls are quite usable. I have seen some complaints about the X5 interface although nothing major. Most people seem to like the zune interface.

X5 wins the software/features battle: rockbox ftw.

Zune wins for support - you can buy it at a local brick & mortar store and return it if you have trouble. For the cowon it's not as easy.

All in all, i think it's pretty even. You're gonna get a good player regardless. I just chose zune because it's OMGSEXY, different than an ipod, sounds good, and i could use my many best buy gift cards towards the purchase.

 

[Drag0n]

The ease of return and support is a big plus for the Zune,being i can get the thing from a local store. I have a few more weeks to decide,and the Zune is winning so far.
Im also trying to decide on an amp. Im trying to decide between an XO,Ae1,or Hornet. The XO is cheaper and looks really nice. Is the Hornet or AE1 really worth the extra money? I like slam and detail,realism, and dont want my ears drilled with an ice pick.
If i have to spend $300 or $400 ,then ok......but if i can get the sound without spending so much,then i will.
I want to get past the hype,and i dont want to jump on an amp just to be a fanboy.
Then a good cable......ohhh the controversy! Ill have to buy without a listen on that one,because theres nowhere to hear them.
So there....more decisions.