Cowon’s 2GB flash based MP3 player, the Cowon iAudio 5, is a tiny package that offers great audio playback and recording quality. It is featherweight (1.6 ounces) and runs on a single AAA battery, offering up to 20 hours of playback. The monochrome screen is a disappointment as readability drops in direct sunlight or dimly lit areas, although you can choose to adjust the backlight color between red, green, and blue hues. 1GB, 512MB, and 256MB versions are also available. (more below)
File formats supported are MP3, WAV, WMA, ASF, and OGG – too bad the iAudio 5 does not support lossless/protected WMA files. It can be synched with Window Media Player 10, albeit without playlist support. Standard features include a FM tuner, and voice or in-line recording. Controls are rather dodgy as the two pushable wheels on either side of the player behave differently depending on how long they are pressed. This could lead to confusion when used by a newbie, although tech-savvy consumers will get past the initial learning curve with little or no difficulty.
Sound quality isgood when dispensed through a pair of headphones. Make sure you replace the stock headphones with a better model in order to milk your money’s worth. It is a little pricey for $279 when compared with other hard drive based MP3 players; but for a small and lightweight package like this, it is hard to find something better at that price point.
• Player Type: Flash
• Radio: Yes
• Recording, Voice: Yes
• Recording, FM: Yes
• Recording, Line In: Yes
• Supported File Types: MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA
• Battery Life: 1200 min
• Battery Type: AAA
• Screen Size: 128 x 64 pixels
• Capacity: 2000 MB
• Dimensions: 3 x 1.4 x 0.7 inches
• Weight: 1.6 oz
Review at PC Mag [Via Krunker]
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