Comments on: Hands on with the COWON S9

By: Circus_Freak

Circus_Freak — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:15:20 +0000

Hey 4D Thinker, why aren’t you contributing to the ABI forums anymore?

(now about the player) This player looks cool. I am still not sure if I want this player or the Samsung P3

By: Stefan

Stefan — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:55:59 +0000

Thanks for the review!

What about the radio review? Some reviews say the S9 has a reception issue and no RDS.. Can you verify those matters?..

-1

By: 4DThinker

4DThinker — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:45:00 +0000

I have an S9. There is no way to display photos full screen with no menus or icons on top of them. Bluetooth works with headsets, but has trouble seeing bluetooth speakers. The music and video menu structures are backward, meaning you go into the player first, then have to back out to find your file lists. They are kicking out quick firmware patches for it though, with versions 2.05 and 2.06 now available.

By: Zach Epstein

Zach Epstein — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:08:18 +0000

Unfortunately the only mics I have here take XLR connections so I can’t try it out for you. COWON US support should be able to help pretty quickly though.

By: melmac

melmac — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:53:28 +0000

It says it supports line-in audio recording and I’ve been looking for a (comparatively) cheap way to update my minidisc deck…any word if it’ll take microphones, like Sound Professionals binaurals?

By: Zach Epstein

Zach Epstein — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:17:40 +0000

Awesome question Dahk, and I should’ve addressed the sizing comparison from the beginning.

I didn’t have an iPT handy so I snapped a few shots of the S9 lined up with an old iPhone. They should give you a basic idea and they’ve been added to the end of the unboxing gallery.

In a nutshell, the S9 is shorter and more narrow but slightly thicker around its thickest point (the profile is bowed so it’s obviously much thinner at its thinnest point.

By: Bill Summers

Bill Summers — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:43:09 +0000

You are an idiot if you like the zune.

By: Dahk

Dahk — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:11:00 +0000

Hows the size of the device compared to something like the iPod Touch? It seems a little thicker than the Touch, but shorter length/width. But any actual comparison shots?

By: Eraser

Eraser — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:59:18 +0000

i’m all for the sound quality. prepare for eargasm.

By: WillN

WillN — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:54:07 +0000

Thanks for the great unbiased review! I’m very tempted to get one just for the OLED screen. Cowon makes the best sounding players…perhaps when live.com CB returns.

By: Zach Epstein

Zach Epstein — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:23:14 +0000

trav, sorry I forgot to mention Bluetooth but yes:

Bluetooth ver. 2.0 + EDR
A2DP, AVRCP Profile

Dave, not sure about a 32GB model. The 16 is out in the US now and the 8 is coming but they haven’t told us anything about a 32.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 16:14:03 +0000

Any idea when the 32GB model will be showing up?

Thanks.

By: trav

trav — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:19:03 +0000

does the s9 have a2dp for stereo bluetooth?

By: BLackuLa

BLackuLa — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:22:33 +0000

Looks pretty interesting. Thanks for the review

By: Young Veyron

Young Veyron — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:01:27 +0000

It’s a great touch screen portable media player however it’s no ipod touch I’ll wait until Microsoft comes out with a Zune touch screen device or an OS with a Zune Application before I get this.

By: Sang

Sang — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:36:13 +0000

First! And I really hope S9 comes available in my area soon!