The iAudio 5, in living color
By Ryan Block 
posted Feb 18th 2005 7:56AM
posted Feb 18th 2005 7:56AM
In case you were (or weren't) paying attention last October, it looks like
Cowon's finally gotten around to releasing their
iAudio 5 MP3 player, which will play back MP3, WMA, OGG,
and WAV, and comes in sizes up to 1GB. We know that's nothing too special right there (especially since the unit is a
moderately sized 3.02 x 1.38 x 0.71-inches), but we have a feeling more than a few light-stick wearing pacifier
chomping types might dig the 1000 different backlight colors the 5 can produce. Wicked, mate.
[Thanks, Chris]
JetAudio/Cowon's iAudio U2 has five 5-star reviews on Amazon.com, so this product, which is around $50 cheaper, may be well worth checking out. (I know five isn't a lot of reviews - but it's not like this is a big-name manufacturer; I doubt many people know about these guys.)
See now, this is a flash player I might actually pay cash money for.
(And I say that as an iPod owner.)
Two things:
1) Does this operate as a flash drive? The specs don't specifically state that this will operate without a driver, like the iAudio 4.
2) The unit has BBE sound. I had a standalone BBE unit on my home stereo about a decade ago - it was pretty cool. Anything's better than the iPod EQ.
Andrew: the iAudio 2 and 3 (CW200 and CW300, respectively) were #1 in the rankings of Cnet and Amazon for a long time. It's not a known brand, but for those that have touched these players
Jeff: couldn't agree more... I own the iAudio 3 and it's one of the best players I've seen (and heard), no doubt they have improved from then. Features are a lot more, at least (mass storage, WMA support, better screens etc.)
Tomas: Yes, it works as a Flash drive:
http://mp3.iaudio.com/product/product_i5.php
(that's Korean, but you can see the USB Storage icon)
*scratches chin and likes the thought of carrying around my .ogg files*
yes sir, i think i like it. you can even do a shoutcast type broadcast from it. very nice.
Voice record?
Thats the coolest thing ive ever seen.
Dave: It looks like it does, this page: http://www.jetaudio.com/products/iaudio/5/info_parts.html shows a line-in plug and a record button.
I looked a bit more at some of the pictures, and it seems that it doesnt have a built in microphone, only line in. Also, whats the 1000 different backlight thing? All the pictures in the gallery have the same backlight colors for each unit.
The built in mic is beside the iAudio logo on the unit.
As an iAudio M3 owner, I can vouch for the amazing BBE effects. This will be the best flash-based to date.
Can someone please explain their JetAudio? Is this software I *have* to install on my PC to use the player? Can I use drag&drop or is this stuff worth making use of? I don't own a player and I'm curious as to how necessary their software is to use the product. Can I just use my Windows Media Player?
jetAudio is just a carrier of iAudio products for the US. You don't need to install anything, dragon drop works right out of the box. However, the included software, jetShell is nifty for transferring files if you wish to use it. It does come with a pro copy of jetAudio 6, which you could use as a media alterntitive to WinAmp or Foobar2000 or what have you. I'd embrace it; it's becomming a more and more rapidly popular player with the effects delivered from the i5. :)
informative discussion. One crucial thing for my work: Will the audio line in allow an external microphone to be plugged in and voice recorded, or is it just for ripping music from other devices? Thanks, John
I have the 1Gb version, works well with Window & Linux. Sound is superior to iPod imho, only flaw is that there is no current support for any of the major online download music sores
Yes. According to the review below you can plug in an external mic. To be exact it says "The Line-In jack can accept powered microphones, which can give recorded conversations extra clarity over the built-in microphone." :)
The review is also pretty helpful if anyone wants to check it out.
http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050513/index.html
Yes. According to the review below you can plug in an external mic. To be exact it says "The Line-In jack can accept powered microphones, which can give recorded conversations extra clarity over the built-in microphone." :)
The review is also pretty helpful if anyone wants to check it out.
http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050513/index.html
i wanted an mp3 player that could play vorbis files, since i would cringe at the fact of converting 80% of my music just so i could carry it around.
then i came across the iAudio5. i got the 2GB black model, and, well, lets just say this is a player worthy of God.
the ONLY things bad are that it cannot play vorbis files using encoders from 2001 and before, and i found the manual to be lacking when it comes to explaining menu options.