Cowon D2+ paired with the Phonek Audeo PFE

[leavenfish]

First post, long time lurker

I have seen posts which reference this topic tangentially, but most are over a year old and wondered what others might have to say as well as those who have had this combination for along time who might now have more experience with them now. The excellent 3 yr old review is the main reason I am considering the D2+.

For my first PMP, I have just about decided on the Cowon D2+ pairing it with a Phonak Audeo PFE. Mostly I listen to Jazz (Mingus, Miles, Coletrane, etc. not so much modern jazz) and 'trip-hop' (think Portishead, DJ Shadow, Massive Attack) though there is much more in my collection.

My main question to anyone who has this combination: Is there any hiss? I have read the D2 (actually haven't read this about the '+', but it should be the same), is a hissy player when paired with a low impedance phone. The PFE's are 32ohms. Other than that possible one, are there any issues that might make this a less than optimal match?

I had narrowed my choice to the D2+ and Sansa Fuze (close choice from what I have read) and decided on the D2 because of the BBE+ which might work good with the varied music I listen to. If anyone has another option to go with the PFE's, then I might reconsider the D2+. While a screen is nice for navigation, I am not going to use it for video. Maybe the O2?

I intend on ripping all my CD's to an external drive as FLAC...and it would be easy to just use FLAC on the player rather than convert to another format so my only real requirements are: Space - that's why I was looking at a player that takes something like a micro SDHC card and maybe a little better than average sound quality.

BTW, I've enjoyed dfkt's many posts that have touched on either or both of these.

NOTE: I accidently posted this in the main audio player forum and have asked the moderator to delete that one.

[CrowdAds]

[ultrauber]

If you are concerned about hissing the fuze (or any sansa) should be very quiet. My clip+ is dead silent, and my s9 is just a bit hissy with my 64 ohm re0s, but still not a lot. I try to imagine that the s9 and d2 hiss about the same, even though they are different hardware.

But if the d2+ is like the s9, then you shouldn't be bothered too much by the hissing, as it can't be heard when there is any background noise. I can't hear my s9 hiss with my aquarium in the same room, to give you an idea.

That said the crappy sansa express is the hissiest player i own, then my e200. the new samsas are what you should look for.

[leavenfish]

Originally Posted by ultrauber

If you are concerned about hissing the fuze (or any sansa) should be very quiet. My clip+ is dead silent, and my s9 is just a bit hissy with my 64 ohm re0s, but still not a lot. I try to imagine that the s9 and d2 hiss about the same, even though they are different hardware.

But if the d2+ is like the s9, then you shouldn't be bothered too much by the hissing, as it can't be heard when there is any background noise. I can't hear my s9 hiss with my aquarium in the same room, to give you an idea.

Yeh, I am not sure how your 64 ohm re0s (on an S9) compare to the Phonak Audeo APE's at 32 Ohm on a D2.

[dfkt]

Both phones don't really hiss, and any Cowon drives them well enough. Same goes for the Fuze or Clip+, at least for the RE0 - the PFE can be a bit quiet on the Sansas, but still loud enough, at least for my needs.

[katabatik]

I have a D2+ and PFE and I agree with dfkt. I can't really say they hiss. One word of advice: try the stock phones before buying the PFE. They are pretty good and for the music you listen to, it might not justify the money the PFE costs. See my thread on this. I know that most people will disagree, but I don't find the PFE substantially better than the stock phones. I kept my PFEs mostly because they are very confortable.

[Dreamnine]

The stock phones that come with the D2, or any Cowon for that matter are rubbish.

[katabatik]

Because "popular wisdom" say they are? Have you a made a comparison to see for yourself?

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by Dreamnine

The stock phones that come with the D2, or any Cowon for that matter are rubbish.

Originally Posted by katabatik

Because "popular wisdom" say they are? Have you a made a comparison to see for yourself?

katabatik, take a look at Dreamnine's signature in his posts......he owns three Cowon players right now, and he used to own another one in the past....so I think he might know how the stock Cowon buds sound.

[katabatik]

I was asking if he had specifically compared the stock Cowons to the PFE, since he doesn't seem to own any PFE phones.

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by katabatik

I was asking if he had specifically compared the stock Cowons to the PFE, since he doesn't seem to own any PFE phones.

OK then, your other post didn't specify that.
dfkt is the one to talk to in that regard, and I see you have already been discussing it with him.

[Dreamnine]

I don't have the PFEs, but there must be something wrong with your hearing if you think the stock Cowon buds sound anything like as good.

As stock buds go, they're the worst you can get (or at least the worst I have ever tried). I guess Cowon realises that people who want a Cowon will want decent phones or will already have something a lot better.

The stock buds that come with Sansas and Samsung DAPs are better.