Author Topic: Cowon V5: To Buy, or not to buy? (Read 6763 times)

killazys · « **Reply #40 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:31:02 AM »

that post made very little sense.
but from what i got, wireless don't matter?

Klocknov · « **Reply #41 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:35:17 AM »

Yeah, I don't much utilize wireless of my Zune since it is much quicker for me to plug it in and move stuff, plus it charges it for me.

killazys · « **Reply #42 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:35:49 AM »

how is zune, anyway?
i might look at that.. maybe..

Klocknov · « **Reply #43 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:39:07 AM »

Well minus I still hate there program and it seems to be just getting more and more bloated... Past that it is okay, for someone looking for quality I would probably go with a different one. Though I am still on a classic one and not the new HD series.

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #44 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:42:42 AM »

Quote from: killazys on April 15, 2010, 01:35:49 AM

how is zune, anyway?
i might look at that.. maybe..

the Zune HD is #9 on ABI's top 10 of '09. And it looks great in person (my buddy has one). My problems with it are a lack of file support (no *.flac) and that it's HDD instead of solid state.

killazys · « **Reply #45 on:** April 15, 2010, 01:56:40 AM »

native.. mkv.. playback..
not even archos 5 + buying all the plugins provides for mkv, huh.

Klocknov · « **Reply #46 on:** April 15, 2010, 02:08:05 AM »

Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 15, 2010, 01:42:42 AM

Quote from: killazys on April 15, 2010, 01:35:49 AM
how is zune, anyway?
i might look at that.. maybe..

the Zune HD is #9 on ABI's top 10 of '09. And it looks great in person (my buddy has one). My problems with it are a lack of file support (no *.flac) and that it's HDD instead of solid state.

Yeah lack of support has been one of my problems for awhile, hated converting all my music to MP3 from flac and the other codecs it couldn't handle. I guess I just got use to it with doing it now for a couple years. I will warn you the program will more then likely get on your nerves, and unless you run windows you will have a ton of problems getting it to work.

mgz · « **Reply #47 on:** April 15, 2010, 02:29:25 AM »

Quote from: Klocknov on April 15, 2010, 01:29:19 AM

If the PMP handles well everywhere and doesn't have wifi like I could be bothered. I have not a single time yet used the wifi on my Zune, so why would I need a pmp on a new player to upgrade form the Zune with?

bigger screen more file support and better quality sound

fohfoh · « **Reply #48 on:** April 15, 2010, 02:35:51 AM »

My comparisons (physical comparison) for 2009 were the Cowon S9 (after a year of owning mine)

Samsung P3 (spiffier default GUI than S9, but afaik, about the same sound, has a sort of cheap plasticy feel instead of a nice sturdy feel like the S9)

and the Sony NWZX1060B/1050B (In real life, the granite feel is actually cool and spiffy. Great GUI, and the sound is amazing. Gives the Cowon BBE a run for its money, but damn money runs fast. Overpriced as hell, but damn it's nice. I like the GUI better than Apple products and it far exceeds that of S9 and P3 in that area as well. Sound far exceeds that of iPods. But file support afaik is about the same as the iPods but for sure superior to that of the iPods. Touch screen as well, but the GUI isn't as clunky as the iTouch) This directly fights against he iTouch and even though Cnet makes fun of the smaller screen, this pmp easily defeatsthe iTouch imo since it's actually a pmp and not a media player like the iTouch.

I really hope to get a hands on for the i9. That one interests me for playback in a car. It has its own built in speaker so thus using an aux cable and whatnot and taking up the headphone jack. It also has the right amount of GUI etc to not really be something I'd feel bad leaving in a car and not having as a main pmp(Like my S9). Price is also right as well.

There's another pmp thread that compares pmps. It's a few months old, but many of the discussions are still valid.

killazys · « **Reply #49 on:** April 21, 2010, 01:02:43 AM »

Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 14, 2010, 03:43:20 AM

Did it.

Bought the Cowon V5 32GB, a 32GB SDHC card and a pair of Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones.

Phew.

I love quasi-impulse shopping ^_^

Shameless self-bump. And, did you receive it yet? Does it PLAY BACK SUBTITLES (ASS + SRT) under MKV/AVI/whatever containers? I guess subtitle support is the only issue still standing between me and this slightly overpriced beauty ^^

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #50 on:** April 21, 2010, 01:11:26 AM »

Quote from: killazys on April 21, 2010, 01:02:43 AM

Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 14, 2010, 03:43:20 AM
Did it.

Bought the Cowon V5 32GB, a 32GB SDHC card and a pair of Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones.

Phew.

I love quasi-impulse shopping ^_^

Shameless self-bump. And, did you receive it yet? Does it PLAY BACK SUBTITLES (ASS + SRT) under MKV/AVI/whatever containers? I guess subtitle support is the only issue still standing between me and this slightly overpriced beauty ^^

I haven't gotten it yet (mail is sent to San Diego, then Yokosuka and then follows the ship to whatever port we're in or waits for a replenishment at sea) but the specs say it supports SRT.

killazys · « **Reply #51 on:** April 21, 2010, 01:17:52 AM »

But how much of our anime is ASS, and how much SRT?
Guess we'll have to wait and see. Thanks for the response, though

zzaccheu · « **Reply #52 on:** April 28, 2010, 04:43:09 AM »

Yea, i would like to know if the current new animes which are in .mkv and .avi format (the subtitles are encoded in the video itself, i duno if u call it a hardsub or softsub) are playable in v5 or not.... thanks guys..

killazys · « **Reply #53 on:** April 28, 2010, 12:20:54 PM »

Directly subbed into the video, or hardsubs, are playable on virtually all PMPs or video players. What I was talking about are softsubs, or subs that you can turn on and off (and extract from the video), eg "Stream 3 ASS" in MediaInfo or similar..

mgz · « **Reply #54 on:** April 29, 2010, 04:32:59 AM »

Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 21, 2010, 01:11:26 AM

Quote from: killazys on April 21, 2010, 01:02:43 AM
Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 14, 2010, 03:43:20 AM
Did it.

Bought the Cowon V5 32GB, a 32GB SDHC card and a pair of Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones.

Phew.

I love quasi-impulse shopping ^_^

Shameless self-bump. And, did you receive it yet? Does it PLAY BACK SUBTITLES (ASS + SRT) under MKV/AVI/whatever containers? I guess subtitle support is the only issue still standing between me and this slightly overpriced beauty ^^

I haven't gotten it yet (mail is sent to San Diego, then Yokosuka and then follows the ship to whatever port we're in or waits for a replenishment at sea) but the specs say it supports SRT.

damnit proin post and tell us you got it and its amazing

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #55 on:** April 29, 2010, 07:35:30 PM »

Quote from: mgz on April 29, 2010, 04:32:59 AM

Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 21, 2010, 01:11:26 AM
Quote from: killazys on April 21, 2010, 01:02:43 AM
Quote from: Proin Drakenzol on April 14, 2010, 03:43:20 AM
Did it.

Bought the Cowon V5 32GB, a 32GB SDHC card and a pair of Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Earphones.

Phew.

I love quasi-impulse shopping ^_^

Shameless self-bump. And, did you receive it yet? Does it PLAY BACK SUBTITLES (ASS + SRT) under MKV/AVI/whatever containers? I guess subtitle support is the only issue still standing between me and this slightly overpriced beauty ^^

I haven't gotten it yet (mail is sent to San Diego, then Yokosuka and then follows the ship to whatever port we're in or waits for a replenishment at sea) but the specs say it supports SRT.
damnit proin post and tell us you got it and its amazing

We're doing a RAS (replenishment at sea) tomorrow and will be getting mail. If I don't get it then I might get it in Hakata (next week).

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #56 on:** May 02, 2010, 02:31:29 AM »

Update Bump.

Got the Cowon V5. Love it!

Bad news first:

Does NOT support styled subs, only plain, which means most anime soft-subs don't work. However, it shouldn't be too hard to convert the soft-subs to a supported format. Definitely easier than trying to convert .mkv w/ softsubs to .avi with hard.
Cannot change the background image in the player software (at least, I didn't see the option with the preloaded pics).
Does not utilize meta-tag sorting. So no "all rock" or "all techno" options.
Combined HDMI/USB slot means specialty cables for USB (included) and HDMI (not included).
The not-quite stylus that comes with (and attaches to the charm ring, no built in stylus slot) sucks. Luckily you don't really need one for the Media software, the screen is sensitive but not overly so. It's a bitch to manipulate Windows CE 6.0 with your fingernail, thought. I'll probably just start carrying around a DS stylus in my UE headphone's case along with the headphones.

The ~~good~~ awesome:

The BBE+ enhancements are amazing. Better than the X-Fi enhancements on the Zen X-Fi2 (though not as good as the X-Fi enhancement on the X-Fi Fatality Pro audio card).
Runs on Windows CE 6.0 and gives you full access to it rather than hiding it from you. This is just asking for you to haxxor the fuck out of it for the lulz.
Screen is beautiful, with crisp, sharp, clear images. No problems playing 720p video whatsoever.
Where most media players I've seen have a 0 to 20 volume range the Cowon V5 has a 0 to 40, this increased control is nice.
Built in Flash player. Now I can take the Dead Ale Wive's Dungeons and Dragons skit featuring the cast of 8-bit Theater and the Knights of the Round Table song (featuring the same) anywhere I go.
Utilizes the folder architecture for music and video. You can choose to play all songs in the Folder, all songs in the Folder and all Sub-Folders or just "Favorites." I've been using Favorites less as "favorites" and more as "on the fly playlist." The Favorites tab comes with a nifty "delete all [songs from favorites]" button so that you can clear your queue super fast.
Not just a PMP, but also a UMP (ultra mobile PC) and/or PDA (personal digital assistant), depending on your views on both. Has the ability to take notes and read documents (.txt at least, haven't tested .doc)
Weighty with potential. Has some nice heft to it (feels durable) without being "heavy."
Fits comfortably into the back pocket of jeans and shorts. No promises with skinny jeans.

I put the "awesome" second because that's what you should leave with, that this thing is awesome.

sungman · « **Reply #57 on:** May 02, 2010, 02:43:01 AM »

I heard some things about the menu and interface that wasn't so pleasant....how did you like it?

killazys · « **Reply #58 on:** May 02, 2010, 03:07:18 AM »

Thanks for the response man, it's sounding better and better^^

EDIT: movie player specs don't mention AAC audio support. is it included?

Proin Drakenzol · « **Reply #59 on:** May 02, 2010, 10:09:36 AM »

Quote from: killazys on May 02, 2010, 03:07:18 AM

Thanks for the response man, it's sounding better and better^^

EDIT: movie player specs don't mention AAC audio support. is it included?

I think so.