- #Cowon a2 sound quality update#
- #Cowon a2 sound quality portable#
- #Cowon a2 sound quality plus#
- #Cowon a2 sound quality tv#
- #Cowon a2 sound quality windows#
It can play back MP3, WMA, WAV, MIDI, and OGG digital audio files natively, and you can create a playlist on the fly, though you can't save it it also includes a top-notch FM radio/recorder. There is no remote control to be found, and there are no other accessories available from Cowon. Accessories include decent white earbuds, a USB device cable, a USB host cable, an A/V-in/out cable, an audio line-in cable, an AC adapter, a black pleather carrying case, a hand strap, an installation CD, and a user manual. One edge that the Archos AV500 has over the A2 is its removable battery, though Cowon A2 users will be pleased by the battery results (see Performance). Unfortunately, the Cowon A2 doesn't have a built-in kickstand, but the included carrying case can prop the player up for hands-free viewing. Still, not having to travel with an Archos-like hub gives the Cowon A2 an edge in full-featured portability. Identical A/V cables that come with camcorders won't work for reasons we have yet to discover.
#Cowon a2 sound quality tv#
Unlike the Archos-which requires a separate hub that enables video recording, including a higher-quality S-Video connection-the Cowon connects directly to a minijack-to-RCA cable familiar to anyone who's hooked up a camcorder to a TV however, you have to use the included cable. The graphical interface is way geeky and not a breeze to use. The radio screen is the best interface we've seen for a portable, and the recording interface is nice and simple, though we'd love sound-level meters. The A2's folder-tree file browser is PC-like, with preview thumbnails for photos and video-as with the Archos-that show up in an adjunct window as you pass over them. For example, the music-playback screen is built around a pulsating graphic equalizer, with all kinds of track and setting information populating the readable screen. The main menu gives the A2 a PDA feel.ĭespite tricky navigation (thank goodness for the well-placed Back button), the Cowon A2's solid graphics add to the player's appeal. Visually, the Cowon A2's interface is vivid and uncluttered.
#Cowon a2 sound quality update#
Cowon plans to release a firmware update that will sort music by ID3 tag. Because the device is currently a UMS device (with its own advantages), you cannot browse music by album or track unless you organize your media in such a way. The thumbstick also serves as the volume control, so you'll need to navigate back to the playback screen to adjust the volume. The tiny thumbstick takes some time getting used to, especially when selecting down on an item, but it is at its worst when trying to navigate through dozens of folders and thousands of songs. The soft keys are convenient, but we'd often look down at the similar buttons to confirm the selection.
The background image (ours was soothing blue waves) is customizable, with tiny icons for the volume, the time, and the battery in the upper-right corner, as well as three contextual choices in the lower sliver of the screen that correspond to the A, B, and C buttons. The main menu is gorgeous and very PDA-like, with menu items such as Movie, Music, Photo, Text, and Radio, each represented by colorful icons. On the bottom spine is a triposition switch for LCD, hold, and A/V out. Identifying icons for these four jacks are embossed on the inside of the latch and are difficult to read. Headphone and power-adapter jacks flank a hatch covering dual A/V-in/out and USB jacks on the left spine. On the right spine is an indented power button, and on the top spine are the widely separated stereo speakers, with the mic falling in between.
Other controls and connections are arrayed around the Cowon A2's perimeter. Both the Archos and the Creative players are slightly smaller and lighter than the 5.2-by-3.1-by-0.9-inch, 10.5-ounce 20GB Cowon, but the player's curved rectangular shape is easy on the hands and the eyes. While both the Cowon (20GB and 40GB) and the Archos AV500 (30GB and 100GB) offer 4-inch-wide LCDs and PVR capability, Creative's Zen Vision does not record video or audio, and it includes only a 4:3, 3.7-inch screen. The Cowon A2 enters a luxury PVP domain currently dominated by the Archos AV500 and the Creative Zen Vision, and it fits right in.
#Cowon a2 sound quality plus#
On the plus side, the A2, which is available in 20GB ($380) and 30GB ($420) capacities, boasts excellent audio and video playback and recording quality, as well as solid battery life.
#Cowon a2 sound quality windows#
While the A2 can play a huge number of audio and video formats, it does not currently support Windows Media DRM 10. We really dig some parts of the interface, but we were annoyed by others.
#Cowon a2 sound quality portable#
The Cowon A2 is a sleek, attractive, and all-encompassing portable video player with video-recording capability that suffers only when compared to the similarly appointed Archos AV500 Mobile DVR.
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