Cowon iAudio 7 review roundup

The Cowon iAudio 7, a topic of a good deal of gear-lust, has safely found its way into the eager hands of a number of reviewers, thus warranting the patent-pending Engadget review roundup. The 4GB or 8GB PMP seems to have received fairly high marks from most of the critics, though a few take issue with the "swing touch" interface used to control the player, which they say can be too sensitive and confusing, and the device's lack of AAC playback, which might put on a hurting on the iAudio's appeal as an iPod alternative. On the flip side, there's a lot of praise for its FLAC and OGG support, long battery life, and sound quality, which is regarded as excellent -- or as CNET bluntly puts it, "better than the iPod." So, minor potshots notwithstanding, almost all of the critics give it high marks -- but don't take our word for it, hit the links.

Read -- CNET (8.3 out of 10, Editors' Choice)
Read -- TrustedReviews (8 out of 10)
Read -- Gadgetaholic ("If you are looking for an audiophile-quality audio player in a small package, stop looking...")

[LordFarkward @ Jul 23rd 2007 4:37AM]

unsurprising verdict... i-audio has always had extremely good sound quality (not only the i-audio 7, but the ones that i've tried (G3, U3, X5L, A2, 6) are all easily better than the ipods (shuffle, mini, nano, 5.5G vid) in terms of sound quality), it just never made it 'big' i guess cuz of the 'not so sexy looks' and a much smaller marketing department

best sound quality (for its class. imo the i-audio 7 would only have inferior sound quality to the D2, X5(L) and A2, which are all bigger i-audio's anyways) + excellent battery life + drag and drop music files (acts as external HD) + OGG&WAV = FTW

[Marian @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:25AM]

Here we go again...
Yet another player that is better than iPod, too bad people don't understand and continue to buy those beautifuy functional iPods that do exactly what you expect from them instead of these better products that are ugly, cluncky and have a horrific interface!

[Jesse S @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:57AM]

Because style, design, and UI is more important than sound quality, amirite?

Design + UI > main function of device.

[Jesse S @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:59AM]

Oh, and I should add, design and UI are highly subjective. I find iPods ugly, and I can't stand the clickwheel, whereas I think this looks cool, and I like the interface on my X5.

[Jesse S @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:03AM]

Cowon's iAudio products have the best non-optical, non-modded sound output out of any other DAP or PMP. I sincerly hope that the X7 will be able to keep up, and if the X7 has an optical out, I will buy one right away.

The only DAP that can even hope to matching the X5 is the iMod (of course, ruling out iRiver's DAP's that have Optical line outs for use with external DAC's), but the iMod is the cost of an iPod + $200 for parts and labor, so it may be out of the price bracket. Honestly, I have not heard an iMod, so I cannot comment on it, but there are many happy owners.

Bottom line: Optical Out > iAudio/iMod > *

[Matt @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:23AM]

I have the iAudio 6, and I find it excellent. The music-library based menu system is clean, good looking and easy to use.

[DutchGuy @ Jul 23rd 2007 5:51AM]

I have an U3 in addition to a 5G Ipod 60gb and a 4Gb Ipod Mini. Yes, soundquality is higher than on the ipods. User experience and UI are way subpar though. It's a device made by engineers. I'll take pleasure of use, a comfortable UI and painless firmware updates (Cowon's fw procedures are a joke, and a risky one at that) over a tiny bit of extra audio quality and Ogg any day.

Until Cowon hires a couple of designers and usability experts it's Ipod for me.

[Miles @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:07AM]

What do you mean sound quality is better than the ipods?

iPod is better all around, it looks beautiful and intuitive, as is the UI, the audio quality is unmatched, and he just. works.

I'd like to see this piece of crud even sell 2 units.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 23rd 2007 6:56AM]

Pedestrians, please keep to the right.

Thank you.

[Michael @ Jul 24th 2007 12:11AM]

Huh? What's an i-pod? Is it like a plant or something I can store letters in? Sounds cool!

Seriously though, that is some of the most uninformed bull I've read here. I love my X5L and honestly don't think anything better exists. And no, the iPod does not "just work" when it won't play half my FLAC collection without serious time and effort to convert my music over to ALAC, which would mean securing a Windows machine since Apple doesn't support Linux.

Sound quality unmatched? In your dreams, bud.

[DutchGuy @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:05AM]

"It's actually Cowon's unofficial fansite"

Hmmm.. that sounds like a really unbiased source for a review. As we all know: for real information you turn to the fanboys.

[Argot @ Jul 23rd 2007 7:53AM]

@DutchGuy
Well, that's what they do with Apple products...

[gflasck @ Jul 23rd 2007 9:24AM]

I bought an iPod about four or five months ago - at the time I'd seen this was coming out soon-ish & would have been willing to wait on it if it had more than 8gb max.

Seriously - 4 or 8 gigs for something with flac support?

Nothing but a tease.

[EnzoTen @ Jul 23rd 2007 1:56PM]

You for got a review.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2007/07/cowon-iaudio-7-review.php

I think it is a very different and more in depth take on it than the other reviews. IMO minus any bias and Cowon fanboyism. ...but then again i could be biased since i wrote the review. =)

-grahm

[kadajawi @ Sep 13th 2007 9:24AM]

Hehe, check out this review.
http://www.pcwelt.de/start/audio_video_foto/mp3/tests/93644/index.html
Ok, it's German, but basically they are saying the sound quality is average, the radio is great, and they forget to mention battery life and Ogg Vorbis/FLAC support. The conclusion is that it's still way too expensive and that comparable players cost half as much.

Ps: Great review you've written there :)

[sinead @ Aug 9th 2007 6:17AM]

It bares a striking resemblance to the LG U400.

[Caspar @ Sep 27th 2007 4:37PM]

Hiya,
I had the D2 but sold it as soon as possible.
Dynamic playlist doesnt work for me. Only 256 songs (?) and deleting is song by song? I had 12GB = 3500 songs and managing this playlist is undoable. Why not complete folders in the playlist instead of single songs and why not the old G3 play this folder now (and all underlying)? Also constant switching between the DPL and folderview is really too much. How about the 7? Also the .@& DPL? Please give me a single AA 16GB G3!!!
Cheers.