If you have any inclination for using playlists, it's a big hinderance. You have to build the playlist manually on the device, and you only get one to use for music, one for movies, etc. I've mentioned this elsewhere, but it doesn't support any sort of playlists other than the one dynamic play list per media type. I'm hoping someone with an A2 and an amp can chime in here, to reassure me that it's not just my unit in particular.Ī note about the A2. At least on my A2, the line out is NOT a line out. The soundstage is gone, it's literally half-way to mono output. Third, the sound is, for lack of a better word, whacked. Second, the volume control still effects it, with the volume out of it being roughly equal to the headphone jack, leading me to believe that there's still amp-action to it. Someone correct me if I'm wrong (because that would mean it's just my unit, and I could fix that), but the line-out is garbage.įirst off, it's not a line-out per se, it's one of those 4-ringed A/V outputs. I didnt want to get an Ipod 5.5G because rockbox doesnt support it yet. My entertainment setup would be like the following:Ī2 Audio Line out -> Discreet PPAv2 -> HD650 Thanks, but i will watch some animes or videos using it now and then. a2 is a media player, if you do not want to (or better said, are not going to) use it for videos, you are paying too much for it. However, I strongly suggest that you do a listening session with different dap's before buying an a2 or any other dap, if those are easily available (in that case, I am not talking about an imod ipod or iriver h1xx+Micro Dac combination, since they are very rare). As I said, it is maybe because of a newer firmware or because of the cables I am using, I do not know. So, even there is such a thing, to me it is way in"significant". I do have a x5 and as I said, with the combinations I am using it, I cannot hear that bass roll-off. I do not own a2 so I do not know anything about its line-out, but a cable has nothing to do with the internal circuitry, that's why I did not understand what you meant by that. a2 is a media player, using it only for music won't do it justice IMHO.įor the first question, i wanted to know if the A2 Outputs a "real" audio line out signal that bypasses the internal amplifier.Īs for the X5L line out bass roll off problem, bangraman tested the unit before using a spectrum analyzer (or oscilloscope if i can recall), and there's a significant bass roll off. Well, I do not own an a2, however if you will not be using it for video, it will be an overkill for 30GB with a price of over $300. Originally Posted by artears /img/forum/go_quote.gif There is no bass roll-off I hear with this set-up, you can have 60GB of space, a very small screen for not so important video feature and again flac support.īefore anyone jumps on me because of making comments about things that I do not own, please consider that I specified the items that I do not have (a2 & imodded ipod) and did not say anything about their sound. Of course the least expensive option is x5 + ALO cryo dock (considering that you will buy quality cables with other options too).
COWON A2 HISTORY PORTABLE
The latter combination is not portable (you will need at least a small video camera bag for those), the imod+amp won't require such a big bag.
COWON A2 HISTORY INSTALL
Or: Buy an iriver ihp-140 (h140) from ebay and a Micro Dac from Headroom with a mini-to-mini optical cable from sysconcept (can be ordered with different lengths and their cables are nice) and a good mini-to-mini cable (this combination will be the most expensive option and a very good one, will give you a better sound quality compared to x5 + quality cables + amp) and install Rockbox. Buy a refurbished ipod 4th gen 60gb and send it to be converted to imod. Did you own an x5 and suffered from bass roll-off or do your comments based on what people are saying?Īnother option will be an imod (no, I do not have it), people only say good things about it. Maybe it is because of a newer firmware, maybe because of the quality of the cables or maybe because of Hornet, I do not know (headfiers with similar experiences, please comment on that). Well, I did not hear the bass roll-off people are talking about with standard dock + rnb diamond mini-to mini or with cryo dock from ALO and both cables combined with Hornet amp. I was really hoping if the line out is not like the x5's lineout (bass roll off).