cowon D2/D2+ plastic/metal ect.

[makosark]

Hi,
I have been looking at getting a new Cowon D2.
However i recently noticed that there is a Cowon D2+.

I am thinking of getting the D2 but i would like to know:

the D2+ can take SD and SDHC memory cards, can the D2

is there a noticible sound difference between BBE and BBE+

and would it be worth getting the D2 because it is not all plastic.

thankyou in advance.

[CrowdAds]

[curiouswonderer]

1. yes

2. only if you really try to listen for a difference

3. no clue, but probably

also, d2 is so much cheaper than d2+, with pretty much the exact same feature set. also, you can load d2+ firmware on d2, so you can get bbe+ if you want

[Flamin_Spirit]

Curious is correct, the D2 and D2+ are the exact same hardware (chips inside the unit, flash memory, SD/SDHC slot, etc) The Firmware, however is different, the D2+ firmware has an effect called BBE+ instead of the normal D2's effect called BBE, there is no big difference between the firmware otherwise. Some people prefer BBE some prefer BBE+ it's all up to the user. The good thing about loading D2+ firmware onto your player is you can revert to normal any time you would like to.

Some people would rather have the all-black or all-white D2+, but I have heard that people feel it is less sturdy than the normal D2, my D2 (not +) is like a little brick, and I like the metallic color around the unit.

I've listened with BBE and BBE+ and I don't see a HUGE difference, but it is there, and it is noticable. awhile back someone posted some useful graphs with the sound of the BBE vs the BBE+ but I can't remember who or where

[makosark]

one more thing.

i can buy the D2+ for the same price as the D2.

i will need to buy the AC charger aswell if i get the D2+, this would also even up the package.

Is the D2+ worth $20+ more?

thanks for all the help!!

[Flamin_Spirit]

In my honest opinion: No you can do everything the D2+ with the original D2 if you load the + firmware onto it

[MaximoChambonez]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Spirit

Curious is correct, the D2 and D2+ are the exact same hardware (chips inside the unit, flash memory, SD/SDHC slot, etc) ...

Are you sure of this?... BBE+ maybe is DAC chip dependant.
If this is so then DAC chip have to Wolfson WM8750 the same of S9 which also has BBE+ (and Viva!) instead of WM8985.
From other point of view: to have stock of different chips being very similar and additionally Wolfson WM8750 is less expensive than WM8985 original of Cowon D2, could make Cowon to save some costs.
Now if BBE* is strictly software (in firmware) it doesn't matter what DAC it contains.

[Flamin_Spirit]

Several members have done breakdowns of the player and all the hardware is exactly the same except for the shell that houses all of the chips. People are noticing a difference between the normal D2's BBE and the D2+'s BBE+, so it is firmware based, I personally have tested it and I think the BBE+ sounds better, though that could be just me, some people really love the BBE not the BBE+ so they stay on the normal D2 firmware

[MaximoChambonez]

Originally Posted by Flamin_Spirit

Several members have done breakdowns of the player and all the hardware is exactly the same except for the shell that houses all of the chips. People are noticing a difference between the normal D2's BBE and the D2+'s BBE+, so it is firmware based, I personally have tested it and I think the BBE+ sounds better, though that could be just me, some people really love the BBE not the BBE+ so they stay on the normal D2 firmware

Have you been able to find pictures of a Cowon D2+ open?
I've searched everywhere with no success

[Flamin_Spirit]

no, I have not found any photos, but change the FW on a d2 and see for yourself, Here's the frequency response graphs between D2 and D2+

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum...2&postcount=24

If there's a sound difference between bbe and bbe+ through firmware upgrades It seems to be firmware/software based.