Cowon i9 vs Clip+ & Touch 3G Detailed Measurments & Review

[NwAvGuy]

I just posted a detailed review of the Cowon iAudio 9 on my blog with a focus on the audio performance. The measurements go beyond those made with RMAA and include the maximum power output, output impedance, and some DAC tests. I make several comparisons between the i9 versus the Sansa Clip+ and iPod Touch 3G. The results are interesting.

http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/2011/02/...i9-review.html

[CrowdAds]

[nodirectionhome]

Interesting read - with my iems I certainly didn't notice the i9 sounding any different from my Clip+ or my Sony, but the UI does take a bit of getting used to.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by nodirectionhome

Interesting read - with my iems I certainly didn't notice the i9 sounding any different from my Clip+ or my Sony, but the UI does take a bit of getting used to.

It does...I actually have referenced the manual a couple of times.....unusual for me.

[lestatar]

@NwAvGuy: Kudos! Another interesting read!

How about doing a Sony player [e.g. E series] and Creative next? You are building some nice data...

[WalkGood]

Moved to “MP3 Player User Reviews,” very comprehensive testing and a good read, thanks for posting.

[NwAvGuy]

Originally Posted by lestatar

@NwAvGuy: Kudos! Another interesting read!
How about doing a Sony player [e.g. E series] and Creative next? You are building some nice data...

Thanks. I was going to buy and test the Sony E353 but then I found some convincing posts the i9 had better sound quality and was more of an audiophile's player. Some also complain Sony players are weak on output level and don't get loud enough. I'm still curious how the E353 would measure up as it's about half the price of the i9 and a direct competitor to the Sansa Fuze.

The i9 didn't have much information at all out there, but what I found was very positive about the sound quality and the negatives were usually about the user interface and/or battery life. So I went with the i9 over the Sony.

Creative is more difficult. They have, I think, 7 or so current versions of the Zen and a few dozen more discontinued ones. I know of a plain "Zen"--which I think is mostly similar to current Zen MX--that I could run some measurements on. I'll consider that.

[lestatar]

^ I might re-consider testing the Sony E series. Of course, I am bit biased - everyone knows I am a fan of those devices, considering them an excellent player for the money.

I cannot really speak to the "loudness" of the Sonys. And not that it helps, but on my own Sony E345, using any of the IEMs in my sig, I never go higher than 12 on a scale up to 30. And that is quite loud enough for me, enough that during the loudest passages, I cannot hear myself snap my fingers from an arm's length away.

The complaints about Sony weak output levels [inadequate volume] stem exclusively from owners in the EU where DAPs are saddled with legislated volume caps [for all portable music devices] AFAIK.

No such issues exist for Sony devices outside of EU to my knowledge.

[Lagoo56]

I'm curious about the E series walkman.I remember a few years back that I bought the Sony 8GB NWZE438FRED from bestbuy for $100 but the volume level was terrible,I was using it with a pair of JVC marshmellows and even at the highest volume level it was still just barely loud at all,I could never use that anywhere but home or a quiet place with that kind of volume and I live in the US so there was no volume caps on it.Did that change in this generation of E series walkmen?

[Confispect]

Congrats, good work.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Lagoo56

I'm curious about the E series walkman.I remember a few years back that I bought the Sony 8GB NWZE438FRED from bestbuy for $100 but the volume level was terrible,I was using it with a pair of JVC marshmellows and even at the highest volume level it was still just barely loud at all,I could never use that anywhere but home or a quiet place with that kind of volume and I live in the US so there was no volume caps on it.Did that change in this generation of E series walkmen?

The E348 was actually two generations ago now...the newer models are better. I had an E345(the next gen after your old one) and had no volume issues whatsoever, and the newer E355 is reputed to be even better overall.

[tonyc]

I have nearly all the sansa range E260, fuze, view, Clip plus a couple of earlier models. I purchased the cowon i9 - and using sennheiser IE6 and IE7 I have found the Cowon a significant step up in terms of sound quality. Moving back to standard earphones and i could not tell any difference.
The fuze user interface is easy and intuitive for me (age >40) and found the interface on the cowon a bit more confusing. That said the cowon is my choice for sound, the clip is back up for sport and travel