Cowon iAudio X5 (20GB)
From the meticulously crafted iAudio U2 to the superslim iAudio M3, Cowon has created some beautiful and functional MP3 players. The newest to hit the States is the highly anticipated 20GB iAudio X5 ($300), which even plays back video. It gets major props in both the style and features departments--just check it out playing a movie--but it's not without its faults. Still, it fills a gaping hole in the large-capacity MP3 player department currently dominated by the Apple iPod.
Upside: The Cowon iAudio X5 is as rich in features as you can get, but at 4.0 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and 6.3 ounces, it's virtually the same size as a 20GB iPod. It handles MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, and FLAC audio files; includes an FM tuner and recorder; and supports line-in and voice recording. Its 1.8-inch, 260,000-color screen has a 160x128 resolution, and it displays JPEG photos and MPEG-4 video. Also available at 30GB for $350, the USB 2.0 device can serve as a USB host, meaning that you can connect a variety of popular digital cameras and transfer photos over to, then view them on the X5. Its design is silky smooth and durable, adding up to an overall sophisticated look and feel. Like most Cowon MP3 players, the X5 sounds remarkable, with a 95dB signal-to-noise ratio and a host of EQ and BBE audio enhancement options. Unfortunately for your music-browsing needs, the interface's folder-tree structure is basic; however, it's also intelligent, with lots of information and some juicy visual elements. And the player is truly reasonably priced.
Downside: We were lucky enough to tinker with a prerelease version, so the jury's still out on the quality of interface structure. While the X5's thick feature set didn't slow us down, the control buttons could be better. The main five-direction thumb stick is tactile but a bit small for our tastes. Worse yet, the play/pause button is located on the side of the X5, away from the main controller, so you'll have to perform some thumb acrobatics to reach it. Also, while the unit ships with a docking cradle that has USB, power, and line inputs and outputs, the device itself has no ports. In order to charge the Cowon, transfer files, and record through the line-in jack without having to schlep the cradle around, you must instead use a tiny--and losable--adapter that fits onto the dock connector. Here's a downer: the X5 won't be compatible with music purchased from online music stores until July, when a firmware update will be released. Even worse, the X5 won't be Janus-compatible for a while, so it can't be used with to-go services such as the new Yahoo Music Unlimited. However, the X5 has an internal clock, so it could work with Janus in the future. The rated 14-hour battery life is merely average for audio and will definitely be less for multimedia. Good news for battery fanatics, though--the X5L version is only a tad thicker yet boasts up to 35 hours of music playback.
Outlook: No matter how you look at it, the Cowon iAudio X5 is one of the boldest large-capacity players to come out in a while. It beats the former king of features, the iRiver H320, in this respect. Nice-looking and nice-sounding, this player will make potential iPod Photo owners reconsider. However, customers should keep in mind the imperfect controls, the incompatibility with subscription services, and the necessity for the I/O adapter before buying. One thing is certain: Cowon is a force to be reckoned with.
From the meticulously crafted iAudio U2 to the superslim iAudio M3, Cowon has created some beautiful and functional MP3 players. The newest to hit the States is the highly anticipated 20GB iAudio X5 ($300), which even plays back video. It gets major props in both the style and features departments--just check it out playing a movie--but it's not without its faults. Still, it fills a gaping hole in the large-capacity MP3 player department currently dominated by the Apple iPod.
Upside: The Cowon iAudio X5 is as rich in features as you can get, but at 4.0 by 2.4 by 0.6 inches and 6.3 ounces, it's virtually the same size as a 20GB iPod. It handles MP3, WMA, OGG, WAV, and FLAC audio files; includes an FM tuner and recorder; and supports line-in and voice recording. Its 1.8-inch, 260,000-color screen has a 160x128 resolution, and it displays JPEG photos and MPEG-4 video. Also available at 30GB for $350, the USB 2.0 device can serve as a USB host, meaning that you can connect a variety of popular digital cameras and transfer photos over to, then view them on the X5. Its design is silky smooth and durable, adding up to an overall sophisticated look and feel. Like most Cowon MP3 players, the X5 sounds remarkable, with a 95dB signal-to-noise ratio and a host of EQ and BBE audio enhancement options. Unfortunately for your music-browsing needs, the interface's folder-tree structure is basic; however, it's also intelligent, with lots of information and some juicy visual elements. And the player is truly reasonably priced.
Downside: We were lucky enough to tinker with a prerelease version, so the jury's still out on the quality of interface structure. While the X5's thick feature set didn't slow us down, the control buttons could be better. The main five-direction thumb stick is tactile but a bit small for our tastes. Worse yet, the play/pause button is located on the side of the X5, away from the main controller, so you'll have to perform some thumb acrobatics to reach it. Also, while the unit ships with a docking cradle that has USB, power, and line inputs and outputs, the device itself has no ports. In order to charge the Cowon, transfer files, and record through the line-in jack without having to schlep the cradle around, you must instead use a tiny--and losable--adapter that fits onto the dock connector. Here's a downer: the X5 won't be compatible with music purchased from online music stores until July, when a firmware update will be released. Even worse, the X5 won't be Janus-compatible for a while, so it can't be used with to-go services such as the new Yahoo Music Unlimited. However, the X5 has an internal clock, so it could work with Janus in the future. The rated 14-hour battery life is merely average for audio and will definitely be less for multimedia. Good news for battery fanatics, though--the X5L version is only a tad thicker yet boasts up to 35 hours of music playback.
Outlook: No matter how you look at it, the Cowon iAudio X5 is one of the boldest large-capacity players to come out in a while. It beats the former king of features, the iRiver H320, in this respect. Nice-looking and nice-sounding, this player will make potential iPod Photo owners reconsider. However, customers should keep in mind the imperfect controls, the incompatibility with subscription services, and the necessity for the I/O adapter before buying. One thing is certain: Cowon is a force to be reckoned with.
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