Cowon iAudio 7 (8GB, red)
Manufacturer: Cowon Systems, Inc. Part number: I708RD
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Cowon iAudio 7 beats the industry heavyweight iPod Nano in price, features, battery life, and sound quality. The user interface could use some refinement, but all-in-all this is a very impressive MP3 player.
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CNET editors' review
Cowon iAudio 7 (8GB, red) price range: $102.99 - $104.00
- Reviewed by: Donald Bell
- Edited by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on: 07/19/2007
- Updated on:08/15/2007
The good: The Cowon iAudio 7 is one of the most versatile MP3 players available. It plays music, video, and photos; has unbeatable sound quality; records line-in, voice, and FM; supports OGG and FLAC file formats, plus DRM-protected WMA; works in MTP and MSC connection modes for use on both Mac and PC; and has an unmatched rechargeable battery life.
The bad: As tiny as the iAudio 7 is, it's still about three times the width of an iPod Nano. The reflective, glossy plastic found on the front and back of the player is prone to smudges and glare. There's a learning curve to the Swing Touch interface, and we would like to have seen support for Audible audiobooks, as well as a memory expansion slot.
The bottom line: The Cowon iAudio 7 beats the industry heavyweight iPod Nano in price, features, battery life, and sound quality. The user interface could use some refinement, but all-in-all this is a very impressive MP3 player.
Editor's note: Although CNET's battery drain tests revealed that the iAudio 7 is unlikely to meet its claim of 60 hours of continuous music playback during realistic conditions, we still feel it is an excellent player worthy of the Editors' Choice distinction.
While the Cowon iAudio 7 is cosmetically indistinguishable from its previous life as the iAudio 6, it still proves to be a significant upgrade. Under the hood, the 4GB microdrive technology found in the iAudio 6 has been transplanted with up to 8GB of faster, leaner flash memory and an improved battery life. We still feel that Cowon's Swing Touch interface takes some acclimation, but with the 4GB player selling for $170 and the 8GB selling for $220, the iAudio 7 is one of Cowon's most competitively priced and full-featured MP3 players to date.
Design
When we heard that the latest iAudio player would toss out the microdrive in favor of flash memory, we presumed the result would be a slimmer player. Thus, it was a bit of a letdown to find that the iAudio's dimensions went unchanged. Granted, the iAudio 6 was small to begin with, but it's certainly not as slim as the iPod Nano. Side-by-side, the iAudio 6 and iAudio 7 are indistinguishable aside from the iAudio 7's screen being slightly offset and the back cover changing from a matte to a glossy plastic. The good news is that by resisting the temptation to go skinnier, Cowon was able to fit a higher-capacity battery into the iAudio 7.
One of the most notable design elements on the iAudio 7 is Cowon's unique Swing Touch user interface. While we admit it does take some getting used to, the iAudio interface is an effective and novel way to quickly navigate through files. The diagonal bar can be used to scroll through lists in three ways: swiping your finger up or down, holding down one corner, or just tapping a corner. The Record and Play buttons on each side of the scroll strip also serve to take you in and out of file directories.
Features
Cowon players are seldom light on features, and the iAudio 7 is no exception. Cowon packed this little dynamo with an audio player, a video player, a photo viewer, an FM radio, a line-input recorder, a voice recorder, a radio recorder, and even a text reader. With support for an exhaustive array of file formats, including MP3, WMA, OGG, FLAC, and WAV, the iAudio 7's music player is really the crown jewel of this device, especially given its exceptional sound quality (see Performance). While support for purchased and subscription WMA is great, we wish we could have seen format support for Audible.com audiobooks.
Using the included Cowon Media Center software, adding and optimizing photos and videos for the iAudio 7 is mostly painless. We quickly converted AVI, MPEG, and XVID movies for playback on the iAudio 7's small screen without any audio or visual artifacts. You also have the option of adding cover artwork for your music, which displays as a background image during music playback.
The Cowon iAudio 7 has an exhaustive array of customization settings that make it a gadget-tweaker's delight. Beyond the adjustable 5-band EQ, users can also enhance the player's sound by adjusting BBE settings to add clarity, Mach3Bass settings for low end, MP Enhance to compensate for harmonics lost in music compression, and 3D Surround to improve stereo separation. Users with hearing loss will appreciate the iAudio 7's panning control for balancing the volume from one ear to the other.
If you're looking for a flexible MP3 player that can be used on Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems, the iAudio 7 can jump between MSC and MTP USB connection modes for maximum compatibility. Linux users will be especially happy that the iAudio 7 supports open file formats such as OGG and FLAC.
While we're happy to see Cowon finally making the jump to 8GB flash players, we would have been excited to see a memory expansion slot on the iAudio 7 as well.
Performance
Cowon consistently produces some of the best-sounding MP3 players on the market. No other manufacturer offers so many useful and customizable sound enhancement features. Does it sound better than an iPod? No question. Listening to Timbaland and Magoo's "It's Your Night" with a dash of Mach3Bass enhancement made the kick-drum thick and snappy--not just louder. A live recording like Gillian Welch's "I Want to Sing That Rock & Roll" presents a great stereo soundstage right out of the box, but with the MP Enhance setting switched on and the 3D Surround setting turned up halfway, the live sound becomes much more vivid.
The photo viewer is colorful and sharp and allows music to be played simultaneously without slowing down. All the recording functions of the iAudio 7 encode to a WMA file with a Kbps resolution that can be adjusted between 64, 80, 96, and 128. By default, the voice recorder encodes to a 64Kbps WMA file and does an adequate job despite common issues of background hiss and rumbling created by handling the player while it records. FM recording encodes to a default 128Kbps WMA file, making a very clean recording. Line-input recording also encodes to a 128Kbps WMA file, and allows for volume adjustment, autodetection of pauses between songs, and real-time monitoring of the recording through the headphone jack.
Our CNET labs found that the iAudio 7's battery life is realistically capable of 41 hours of audio playback and 22.6 hours of video playback. While 41 hours of audio playback is still remarkable for an MP3 player, it does differ dramatically from Cowon's claim of 60 hours of playback time. To test the possibility of the iAudio 7's capability to reach the 60-hour mark, we performed an unofficial retest using Cowon's less-realistic playback scenario: volume set at 15 (out of 40); screen brightness set to its lowest setting; and all audio enhancement turned off. Using Cowon's test conditions we were able to coax 56 hours from the iAudio 7, but we believe these playback settings are unlikely for most users.
Final thoughts
The Cowon iAudio 7 delivers an unbeatable combination of size, features, sound quality, and battery life. But if you're looking for a MP3 player with a bigger screen for your videos, the Cowon D2 may be a better option.
User reviews
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iAudio 7 not for everyone
by Sirocco777 on August 12, 2007
Pros: 8 gig capacity
Cons: Tiny display, hard to use interface.
Summary: I had to return my iAudio7 a few days after receiving it. I waited over 2 weeks to receive it in the mail! Of course my "initial" impression was good, ...
Summary: I had to return my iAudio7 a few days after receiving it. I waited over 2 weeks to receive it in the mail! Of course my "initial" impression was good, and I don't buy these things without extensive research and study. I'm not biased in favor of iPods - I don't own one. I do own a Samsung YP-T8 and Pogo, which only have 1 gig and 512MB respectively, so I?ve been waiting patiently for something with more capacity.
So, regarding the iAudio 7:
Cons:
1) The sound options are, quite frankly, overly complex. Anybody who tends to fuss will be driven crazy by the options. Why not just 2 knobs for treble and bass? Remember them?
2) The fonts used in the display, though colorful, are WAY TOO SMALL! It not really scaled for human eyes. There?s some verbiage above one graphic that I didn?t even realize was text at first. High contrast isn?t enough! The fonts are at the threshold of human sight. The fonts are smaller than newsprint, and impossible to read while driving, which is, quite frankly, a fatal flaw, since people use these things while driving, biking, jogging, etc, since in their homes most people use their regular stereos. Even under ideal circumstances the display is *hard to read*.
3) It does have a bookmark feature, something which I absolutely need for listening to long recorded radio programs. But it?s unuseable. Bookmarks need to indicate both the relative and absolute position of a file (such as ?1:22:54 DM show?). With relative position you know where the last bookmark is in a file, where there are several bookmarks for that file, so you can either go to that point, or delete the others. The absolute position tells you where the bookmark is in the file. If there are 5 bookmarks for a file, in the iAudio 7 they all say ?DM show? (as per my earlier example), so it?s impossible to know which is first, last or the position it marks. The user manual states that when you create a bookmark, existing ones for that file are deleted. If this were true, you wouldn?t have the ?relative position? issue. But existing bookmarks AREN?T deleted as advertised, and this creates the ?relative position? issue. So it?s impossible to manage bookmarks. Another fatal flaw.
4) The slider bar is hard to use, it?s hard to zero in on items in a list. It?s hard to calibrate your finger to the slider mechanism ? that?s the problem with these ?slider? interfaces, also found on the iPhone. It?s so sensitive that it responded to my finger even when it was suspended ABOVE the plastic! For a moment I thought I had supernatural powers! Fortunately users can adjust this sensitivity.
4) a minor gripe is it?s ?brick? form factor, which makes it a little awkward to simply put in your pocket. Though not a deal breaker, I doubt anybody will love this feature. It should be less deep, but wider and longer, so the display is bigger, and fit in the pocket better.
Perceived ?pluses? are it?s 60 hr battery life and sound quality. It has a few other nice features like FM radio, which has good reception (a high S/N ratio, which is good).
Speaking of font sizes, I noticed the iPod displays are, at least, easy to read. So I bought one! The Nano 2nd gen, 8 gig. The all aluminum black case is nice. OK, that?s just an initial impression, which can be misleading. I don?t really need FM, but it does record voice with the separately purchased mic accessory, which in turn has a line-in jack (I have to study this further). There?s even something called ?iFill? that fills the iPod with free internet radio! The ?Quick Search?, new on the 2nd gen Nano, is *real nice*. It also has a new artist/album search feature that has a virtual keyboard. Enter ?mon? and every album, artist, or track that has that character string is displayed. Cool. I?m breaking it in now, but the sound is good for both music and recorded radio show files (196 and 96 kbps respectively) using it?s 27 presets, which is ?nice and simple?. Files in the ?Audiobooks? folder can be bookmarked (con: they have to be converted to a certain file type first) but I don?t know if this feature will be as convenient as the bookmark feature with my Samsung YP-T8, so I might actually keep the YP for my recorded radio shows. I also considered the Zen Vision M, but portable devices with hard drives spook me ? a little too fragile, possibly.
On the other hand, if you don?t need bookmarks, like to fuss endlessly with sound controls, and like to read very tiny print while driving or biking with a bulge in your pocket, you just might like the iAudio 7.12 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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It's a Winner!!
by micahb18 on August 3, 2007
Pros: NOT AN IPOD
Cons: no case, armband or necklace
Summary: I've had my IAudio 7 for a few days now and I just can't let go of it. From top to bottom it's a winner.First it'...
Summary: I've had my IAudio 7 for a few days now and I just can't let go of it. From top to bottom it's a winner.First it's NOT an EYEPOD and belive me I'm relieved because I hate buying things that the whole world seems to have...variety and choice is key and this little wonder really packs it in. The interface is cool and the touch is smooth. It had a really delicate touch at first but as I'm getting used to it I can scroll through things pretty quick now. The player feels very solid in my hand and I have no problem with the size...the ipod nano always seems so flimsy and light...this is smaller and more compact, and it has weight which I like...
Most of all though, the sound...it's amazing...I'm not using the headphones it came with rather I'm using my new v-modas and man does it sound clear and deep. I love that thereare so many ways to set the sound and it really works, not like some crappier mp3 players that have some sort of equalizer that never really sounds like anything. It's really loud too...I'm playing at about 22, 21 where as my previous Iaudio U2 I played at 27 or 28 I like the screen although I have not really watched anything except the sample movies and to be honest it's a really small screen. What you could possibly watch and get any pleasutre out of is beyond me. This is a music player and one should purchase it, I think, with that as the priority. I have not seen any pictures as of yet. How small do we all want to go here anyway. It was not too long ago when I was walking around with a seemingly big sony walkman. It's amazing to have every record or song you could ever want in your possesion at all times. The screen and is bright and colorfull . I ve yet to customize it but it's really easy to do.I also like the dedicated buttons like the hold button which is necessary, and this is a slight, because if it's not in the hold position and if you tap or touch the screen it will stop and start and cahnge traacks etc...but the hold button seems sturdy and once it's slid on the player does not skip a beat. Connection was easy to the putey and I dragged and dropped about 20 records, as it were, in about 5 minutes.The battery by the way came charged and I have not needed a fill up since...one week so far...it saves it's power well...when you are interacting it lights up but when you've chosen your song and push play the screen goes dark almost immediately and the whole thing goes black which is really cool cause it looks off and hidden, but with a tap, it pops back on. The unit promises 60 hours so we'll see
Negatives: there is no,case,cover,armbad or bracelet or anything really to protect the little wonder or carry it around. On the Jet mall accessory page I found a case for about 12.99 and a necklace for 5.00. Oh, I found the IAUDIO on the Cowan website and there is a link to JETMALL which was the ONLY place that had them in stock. I would get this as quick as possible because it's really great and it's not an IPOD!! AND it's not available at any store I know, like Beast Buy or Circut City which is another reason to like this item.
I hope this has been helpful. I love my new player thus far...who knows maybe it will turn to crap in a month!8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Most 8GB bang for the buck
by tvphil on September 1, 2007
Pros: Video looks good, even though it's 15 fp, music and FM radio sound great.
Cons: Video conversion software only works on Windows.
Summary: I'm a former I-Pod Nano owner, it sounds better than the Nano, plays video, has a radio and at just under $200, has double the memory of an I-pod ...
Summary: I'm a former I-Pod Nano owner, it sounds better than the Nano, plays video, has a radio and at just under $200, has double the memory of an I-pod Nano for the same price. I know it's a matter of preference, but I-Tunes wasn't a good fit for me either. I love I have a choice of drag and drop (UMS style) or using Cowon's player control software. The key word here is choice.With Apple, it's their way (I-Tunes) or the highway.
5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent for certain users.
by zzzZZZzzz on January 27, 2008
Pros: Excellent sound, excellent quality, excellent value, small/compact, superb battery, packed with features, fairly nice display
Cons: Smaller display than most are used to. Not exactly ideal for video in more than one way, can be difficult to use initually.
Summary: As stated previously, this is an excellent player overall with many features. Recording, FM radio, multiple sound options, completely customizable sound options, great sound quality, everything the current Ipod Nano ...
Summary: As stated previously, this is an excellent player overall with many features. Recording, FM radio, multiple sound options, completely customizable sound options, great sound quality, everything the current Ipod Nano has plus more.
On top of this the battery is amazing. I've gone over a week without charging the battery. My cousin has an Ipod nano 3rd generation whcih i am in constant contact with. While it is slimmer and arguably better looking as well as having a better display, the Iaudio 7 is better where it counts. Both are small, but the Cowon has better sound quality, much better battery life, and more features. All in all the cowon is a better deal than the ipod nano 3rd geneartion.
However, the controls can be difficult at times, unlike the Ipod nano. As well, the display is not suited for movies. The included software will allow you to convert and upload videos and they look decent, but the video oftentimes will have these... (im not a video professional please forgive me) lines of sorts in them sometimes. Nevertheless the video playback is decent overall, though it isnt something i normally watch videos on.
The controls, as mentioned, can be difficult. They require a bit of use before one can master them and become comfortable. After a few days of use I figured out basically everything the player is capable of and how to control them. The same should be the case for most people.
I like to consider myself a smart electronics shopper, and this player is quite excellent. Though it is not nearly as easy to use as the Ipod nano, it is better in almost every single way possible to it. This is something people who are more ready to take on something more complex than average should buy, but those people will be rewarded with a great player.
Don't buy this for your 7-year-old, they will not know how to use it. Don't buy this for your 70-year-old grandmother, she will not know how to use it.
If you are confident that you will not become frustrated with the controls and do nto mind a smaller screen than is usual, 100% go for this player.
btw buy some better headphones the included ones are not that bad (comparable to Ipod headphones) but they dont represent (as Cnet stated) the excellent sound quality the Iaudio 7 has to offer.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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stopped working first week switches stopped working.
by mark levitt on February 21, 2009
Pros: records with line input , large flash memory
Cons: would not stay working. The menu & volume down stopped working the first week.
Summary: Seems to have good software & line input for recording but was flimsly built & did not live thru the week. I've used many of these & this seems ...
Summary: Seems to have good software & line input for recording but was flimsly built & did not live thru the week. I've used many of these & this seems to be a common poroblem. I would stay away. I'm disappointed.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good... but could've been better
by Timtropolis on December 1, 2008
Pros: Sound, equalization and sound enhancements, battery life
Cons: Lack of playlist capability, VERY slow xfer/update, does not read ID3 tags properly.
Summary: I picked this up in July and have been using it now for almost 6 months. Its a good little player but for me, there are a couple of glaring ...
Summary: I picked this up in July and have been using it now for almost 6 months. Its a good little player but for me, there are a couple of glaring omissions that have only led me to give it a 3 star rating.
The battery life is amazing. I'm currently getting about 45 hours of play time per charge which is just amazing. The sound quality is excellent and was one of the reasons I picked this player as I had used the PC media player by Cowon for years now. Not only do you get your normal equalization, but you also get BBE, bass boost and mp3 enhance (very similar to WMP).
The player is designed to work two ways when it comse to loading music and finding music to play. There is the traditional file tree and then there is the music mode which is supposed to take advantage of ID3 tags. Problem is.. it doesn't. I used several ID3 tag generators to update the tags once the music was loaded onto the player and for some reason, it would recognize all my changes. So music mode was a limited option. This leads me to the next issue which is file xfer speed along with update speed. When I would attempt to update ID3 tags, it would take forever!! Its a flash player!! It should be wicked fast.
The big glaring ommision from this product is the lack of playlist support. How a company can make a mp3 player without it is beyond me. To me, this is the core of any good mp3 player, .... having the ability to place songs in the order you want or group them anyway you want. Unforunately, Cowon was not very clear on this. They do have a 'favorites' which acts as an on the go play list but its not even close to having true playlist capability, which is what they claim on the product descritpion
Bottom line, if you can live without playlist functionality, the player will probably be a good fit for you.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great little player with great battery life
by wpchamp04 on July 11, 2008
Pros: Battery Life, Compact, Nice (but small) screen, Great Sound Quality
Cons: Small Screen, Sensitive Navigation
Summary: I've had this player for 2 weeks now and I have no complains whatsoever.
The battery life was a big factor in buying this particular mp3 player because my ...Summary: I've had this player for 2 weeks now and I have no complains whatsoever.
The battery life was a big factor in buying this particular mp3 player because my past players have had terrible battery life, and it's perfect. I haven't had to recharge it once yet and I use it about 5 hours a day at work.
I like the screen. It's small and all, but it's bright and crisp. I don't plan on using it for video but it could work. I also really like the menus and navigation.
I would definitely recommend this mp3 player for anyone needing one with great battery life, good sound quality, and compactness. May not be for you if the small screen would bother you.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Fantastic Little Player
by bwahaha on February 3, 2008
Pros: Phenomenal Sound; No proprietary Software; Excellent Battery Life
Cons: Small Screen; Thick
Summary: First off, a little bit about myself and my mp3 player purchasing so you can properly evaluate whether this review will suffice your needs. I am a self-described audiophile who ...
Summary: First off, a little bit about myself and my mp3 player purchasing so you can properly evaluate whether this review will suffice your needs. I am a self-described audiophile who likes to listen to things with the best possible sound. I originally started out in the mp3 player market with a Creative Nomad Jukebox (had a 2.5" 6gb hard drive and ran on 4AA batteries for about 4 hours). I later upgraded to a Cowon iAudio G3 in 2004 or 2005. The play button no longer registers on the G3, so I started searching for a replacement.
Design
The device is similar in dimensions to a bic lighter, just a little wider and a little thicker (about as thick as a AA battery). I like the fact that the device has some dimension but weighs very little. The controls on the front of the device are touch sensitive. People have complained that it's too sensitive. I so far have not found this true, however when I keep it in my pocket, I use the hold button, which prevents accidentally skipping tracks. The cover over the USB port feels solid. As for the screen, it is small. Probably about the size of a postage stamp. I would not this device for video purposes. Also, the device is very glossy, which is very fingerprint prone. I have no case for the device, and I still have no scratches (although realize I have only been using for about 2-3 weeks at this point).
User Interface
This is the area where there are lots of differences between users. As mentioned above, the touch controls are sometimes rated to be too sensitive. However, one nice feature is that the user can adjust the hold button to permit the buttons on top of the player to continue to adjust volume as well as play/pause.
As for file searching, I tend to use the folder mode, for two reasons: (1) I previously had the iAudio G3, and that device was only folder mode, so my music is organized in folders in a very easy to search way and (2) for whatever reason, Cowon does not have a way to use DPL (Dynamic Playlist - the ability to create a playlist on the fly) when using ID3 searching.
Features
This device has many features beyond just audio playback, but even with audio playback, it can playback more than just mp3 and wma. It also can playback ogg and flac. It can play video files (I hear that a conversion is required to put it on the device, but I have yet to use this for video). In addition, it can record both voice and line-in. I hear that the line-in recording (wire not included) will automatically start new tracks when there is a gap in the music. There is also a radio with decent reception and, if you are listening and hear a song you like, you can record.
Performance
Music Transfer is purely drag and drop. No need for any proprietary software. And all very good is that the device uses standard mini USB, not a proprietary software.
First off, let's get this out right here - I have NEVER opened the earbuds that came with the device. I am listening to is using my Sennheiser PX100 (entry level portable headphones). One of the main reasons I purchased this device was my level of satisfaction with the G3. It sounds absolutely phenomenal. It's almost like having a portable stereo system. Between BBE, Mach3Bass, and customizable EQ, this device sounds amazing.
As for other playback features this device has (video, pictures, text, etc.), I have not used tested this device. As mentioned earlier, the screen is very small, so it probably is not the greatest device for these other options.
Summary
If you are looking for a device for quality audio playback, look no further. This device sounds phenomenal, especially when paired with a good set of headphones.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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COWON MP3 are all about quality
by F.F. on December 29, 2007
Pros: Excellent sound, powerful sound, tons of options
Cons: can't see anything wrong
Summary: don't get fool by Sirocco's review.
His first comment is that the device has too many options. I like the options. When I bought my Ipod (huge mistake) ...Summary: don't get fool by Sirocco's review.
His first comment is that the device has too many options. I like the options. When I bought my Ipod (huge mistake) I had no options.
His second comment is about says that the 'fonts are hard to read when you are driving, biking or jogging'. What? A book is hard to read doing those things.
The third comment talks about problems with multiple bookmarks. Is he joking now? He complains about too many options and now he wants multiple bookmarks. I have one list of bookmarks and feels more than enough.
The fourth comment talks about his difficulties to control the slider, but ends his comment with "users can adjust this sensitivity". This shows he is just complaining because he wants to complain.
The fifth comment talks about the thickness of the device. Cowon install a bigger battery for a longer life. If you want thinner buy thinner, but don't complain about an advantage that is good for all users: more hours between charges.
Is obvious that Sirocco777 has an interest in making possible buyers to re-think their interest in buying a Cowon (Steve Jobs in disguise?). I made Ipod users listen to my Cowon and they were blown away by the quality. There is no comparison. They are not even close. With a Cowon you will listen the same quality you have if you were using a CD player, because of the propietary Software Cowon has. You can listen drums and listen to the fingers against the strings in a guitar.
Make yourself a favor: buy a Cowon.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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"Good hardware...horrible software!"
by scaryslocuda on August 30, 2007
Pros: Small, FM recorder, great battery life.
Cons: No support for album art, no "shuffle mode" on the fly, poor DRM support, etc.
Summary: I'm really bummed out with this player because it has SO much potential. The review from CNET was great, and the info I got on the iAudio 6 was ...
Summary: I'm really bummed out with this player because it has SO much potential. The review from CNET was great, and the info I got on the iAudio 6 was all pretty positive. Unfortunately, this player was a massive letdown for me.
I've used a number of players in the past, including my long time favorite, the Zen Micro, a brief stent with the Toshiba Gigabeat (which was returned due to manufacturing problems) and my girlfriend's iPod. Compared to all of these players, the iAudio 7 has some clear advantages (on paper). The FM recorder is huge, and its even better because it has the ability to set the time you want it to record. The bummer is that the reception is horrible, and if you're not wearing the device (coiled up headphones sitting next to the player) the reception isn't even listenable.
The iAuio 7 also boasts great sound quality, but personally I found that my Zen Micro sounds just as good (if not better) and it took a TON of tweaking with the EQ to even get that level of performance. I guess if you're REALLY into playing with an EQ then it is nice. But if you're just looking for a simple, great sounding player, this one probably isn't for you.
One of the BIGGEST problems I had with this player was getting my DRM music to sync. I use URGE through Windows Media player, and was unable (despite many emails back and forth with URGE) to get my music to sync. I'm still not sure what the problem is (as iAudio claims to have "Playforsure" capability), but even when I tried to duplicate the problem with my Zen Micro I found that the problem was specific to the iAudio only.
Lastly, I was never able to get any album art to show up on the player's screen (which is a nice color screen). When I spoke with Cowon about this, they said that the current version of firmware DID NOT support album art yet, but that a fix would be out soon. Not sure why they would release this player WITHOUT that, but it was definitely a major bummer.
Also, if you haven't dealt with Cowon before, I would heavily advise caution. I was unable to register this device with them, despite many attempts. I never was able to successfully create an account with them because they refused to email me the activation codes, and the support staff kept me waiting for minutes (sometimes up to 15 minutes) before being able to answer my questions. Personally, I probably not going to buy another Cowon product again...or at least for a long time.
Guess I'm stuck waiting again for an adequate upgrade from my Zen Micro...3 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Cowon Systems, Inc.
- Part number: I708RD
- Description: Meet the Extreme MP3 iAUDIO 7 with enhanced EQ filter to unleash the creative potential of the Jeleffect, up to surprisingly long 60 hours of continuous play, and spacious storage space. Stylish Glossy black finish on the top makes iAUDIO 7 look even more elegant and silver/red color in the middle gives iAUDIO a modern trendy look. With its intuitive UI, Swing Touch, and alert beep helps you navigating through your music folders at the comfort of your fingertip. You would never have to take your player out of your pocket to skip to a next song.
General
- Device Type Digital AV player
- Key Features FM tuner, Voice recorder, Digital audio player, Digital photo viewer, Digital video player, Digital audio recorder
- Width 1.4 in
- Depth 3 in
- Height 0.1 in
- Weight 2.1 oz
- Color Red
- PC Interfaces Hi-Speed USB
- Features Alarm, Clock, Text viewer, FM recording, Auto power off
Display
- Display Type TFT 1.3 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Built-in
- Display Features Contrast, Brightness, Sleep mode
Memory / Storage
- Integrated Flash Memory 8 GB
Still Images
- Supported Still Images Formats JPEG
Digital Audio
- Supported audio formats MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis
- Sample rate 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz
- Signal-to-noise ratio 95 dB
- Microphone Built-in microphone
- Digital audio features 5 band EQ, ID3 tags support
Video
- Video Capture Formats MPEG-4
Connectivity
- Connections Hi-Speed USB - USB Type A, Audio line-in - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, Headphones - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Battery
- Required Qty 1
- Rechargeable Battery Rechargeable
- Battery Enclosure Type Integrated
- Included Qty 1
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Recharge Time 3.5 hour(s)
- Battery Life Details Audio playback - up to 60 hour(s)
Software
- Software Included JetAudio
System Requirements
- Operating System MS Windows 98, MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, Apple Mac OS 9, MS Windows 2000, MS Windows 98 SE, Linux 2.2 or later, Apple Mac OS X 10.0
- Peripheral(s) CD-ROM
Miscellaneous
- Firmware Upgradable Yes
- Included Accessories AV cable, USB cable, Stereo headphones
Product series
-
Manufacturer: Cowon Systems, Inc.
Specs: Digital AV player, 1.4 in x 3 in x 0.1 in, TFT 1.3 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, 2.1 oz
-
Manufacturer: Cowon Systems, Inc.
Specs: Digital AV player, 1.4 in x 3 in x 0.1 in, TFT 1.3 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, 2.1 oz
-
Manufacturer: Cowon Systems, Inc.
Specs: Digital AV player, 1.4 in x 3 in x 0.1 in, TFT 1.3 in - Color, MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, 2.1 oz
Manufacturer info
- Cowon Systems, Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Cowon Systems, Inc. products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.cowonamerica.com
- Address:
448-2 (STX bldg 7F) Dogok-dong, Seoul - Phone: 82-2-3460-8282
- Email: service@cowon.com
- Fax: 82-2-3460-8222
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