Cowon D2 4 GB MP3 Player Review - Performance
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Surprisingly enough, this player performs pretty well in every aspect. I say surprisingly because you never know what to expect from these relatively unknown companies. The sound quality is pretty good when using the included ear buds. Like most ear buds, though, they may feel uncomfortable to some people so aftermarket headphones may be necessary for some. But if you don't mind ear buds, then the included ones perform great with a nice bass response and clear highs. The signal-to-noise ratio in this player is at a very respectable 95 dB which means that this player will produce crystal clear sound without much hiss. Videos play very smoothly on the 2.5 inch LCD screen. The screen is very bright and colorful. The maximum resolution of the D2 is 320 x 240 pixels. Video clips upload fairly quickly into this player, and the playback is great.
The processor in the D2 is just okay, because there is sometimes a few seconds' delay when navigating through the menus and choosing certain options. I think the user would get used to the delay, though, so I don't think it is that big of a deal. The D2 really excels when it comes to battery life. The manufacturer rates the battery life under optimum conditions at an astounding 52 hours. When
viewing video, that number drops to about 10 hours which is still very good. Of course, battery life can very greatly depending upon how you use the device, but these numbers seem to be pretty accurate.
In order to recharge this huge battery capacity, it takes about 3.5 hours with the included charging cable. The D2 really performs well, and it does hold its ground against the iPod and the iRiver Clix. In my opinion, it performs just as well as the competition if not better, and if you are looking for a player with exceptional
battery life then the Cowon D2 may be the one for you.
Final Thoughts
I must say that this player really surprised me, because I was not expecting such a well-built device with such great performance. Cowon has done a great job of separating itself from the competition simply by adding the touch-screen capability available in the D2. If not for the touch-screen, I would definitely recommend the 4 GB iRiver Clix over the D2, but the touch-screen adds another great element to the D2 which differentiates it from the competition. In a way, Cowon has carved out its own niche in the MP3 player market with the D2. To the best of my knowledge, there is not another player currently in the market which offers the same features of the D2 at a similar price.
I love the large variety of formats which are compatible with the D2, as well as the exceptional performance of the sound quality, video playback, and the battery life. This player will not overtake the iPod, because iPod is such a big name. I think that smart shoppers will realize that the Cowon D2 is strong competition for the iPod and will see that the D2 offers some features which the iPod doesn't.
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