I'm not sure I want to buy another Cowon product

[javi0084]

I've had a total of 4 different Cowon players, the X5, iAudio 7, D2, and A3. I've had to send back the X5 and 7 for repairs and now the D2 is completely dead. I will try the TCCtool but this makes 3 out of 4 players that have broken. Sure, Cowon's tech support has been very helpful to me but that's too many devices I've had to send back.

Is it normal to have to send devices for repair this often?

[Mr. Black]

I wouldn't say that's normal at all..just really very unlucky.

[javi0084]

And just like that it started working again.

[Acreo Aeneas]

I would agree that it is bad luck. My D2 has been great even after being dropped repeatedly on a variety of surfaces included concrete.

[Dark]

I still have my U3 (3 years back now?) All my other players I've lost

[javi0084]

It did it again. This time when I pressed the reset button it wiped out everything. My girlfriend wants to upgrade to an S9 *but I'm gonna try to talk her out of it*.

Edit: Maybe not, apparently the only PMPs that offer browsing by file and not just ID3 tags are from Cowon and Archos. I hear Archos has non-existent support.

[Thaxos]

Originally Posted by javi0084

It did it again. This time when I pressed the reset button it wiped out everything. My girlfriend wants to upgrade to an S9 *but I'm gonna try to talk her out of it*.

Edit: Maybe not, apparently the only PMPs that offer browsing by file and not just ID3 tags are from Cowon and Archos. I hear Archos has non-existent support.

Archos makes you pay for every last extra. You want anything at all beyond the basic stuff, and it will cost you more money.

[Loque]

Sure, repairs are a right pain in the bum, but take care of your device, and they shouldn't happen. From what I have seen the s9, which I own, is a bit fussy on what you do with it, but invest a little time into finding some protective products and hopefully your PMP will last a lot longer.

Maybe it's a bit of a trade-off between audio quality and durability, but the only thing I have seen with decent sounds and rock solid build quality is Minidisc players, which, as much as I hate to admit it, are outdated tech.

[pixienick]

i've had a 40gig harddisk mp3 player made by these guys and its lasted me over 5 years and it's mint! Its the best thing i own. And i dont work for them!

[Don't Panic]

Reply to Topic... ehhh what's the topic?

[Loque]

I can entirely sympathise with the OP now.

My s9 is such a flawed piece of hardware, and it's got the better of me I'm afraid; it's sat in the box waiting to go back to Amazon. It's been consistently bricking on both Windows and Mac and I've had enough. The whole idea of a portable player is ease of use and versatility. The s9 is about as versatile as a chocolate camel.

It's such a shame as the player sounds fantastic, and is a joy to use. But I just can't live with consistently spoon-feeding my player tracks, hoping and praying that it doesn't fall over, I think there has to be a time when you stop and wonder, is it really worth it.

Amazon have just dropped the price of the Sony RH1 buy close on £100, it is a lovely little player with fantastic audio quality, sure sonicstage isn't perfect, but after the experiences I've had with this player I think it will be a welcome change.

[sknight]

I've had problems with every iaudio product I've owned.

-x5 60: battery failure in under six months (common)
-x5 60: HD failure, just out of warranty (Cowon wanted over $200 for the HD replacement, so I replaced it myself for $97 shipped)
-i6: Battery failed. Cowon wouldn't honor warranty and according to "Frank" at their live helpdesk, they couldn't possibly imagine we'd pay for it because they've never seen a battery problem. So I sent it in, then got hit with a "replacement" bill of something like $40, while under warranty, so they could swap mine with a refurb (they stated "new" during the exchanges) because they can't replace batteries.
-i7- screen recently stopped working properly.
-x5: went back to my x5 in the meantime. It's been barely used since the battery was replaced back in late 07. Battery is shot again.

This is a pretty shady company, with good sounding stuff, but the execution and support absolutely sucks. Now that other companies are stepping up, including Sansa with fairly well-regarded sound quality, I hope Cowon goes out of business. Eventually they will. They've been hiding behind sound quality comparisons for too long, and that "rare and cool" factor or "kvlt" status.

[javi0084]

Originally Posted by sknight

I've had problems with every iaudio product I've owned.

-x5 60: battery failure in under six months (common)
-x5 60: HD failure, just out of warranty (Cowon wanted over $200 for the HD replacement, so I replaced it myself for $97 shipped)
-i6: Battery failed. Cowon wouldn't honor warranty and according to "Frank" at their live helpdesk, they couldn't possibly imagine we'd pay for it because they've never seen a battery problem. So I sent it in, then got hit with a "replacement" bill of something like $40, while under warranty, so they could swap mine with a refurb (they stated "new" during the exchanges) because they can't replace batteries.
-i7- screen recently stopped working properly.
-x5: went back to my x5 in the meantime. It's been barely used since the battery was replaced back in late 07. Battery is shot again.

This is a pretty shady company, with good sounding stuff, but the execution and support absolutely sucks. Now that other companies are stepping up, including Sansa with fairly well-regarded sound quality, I hope Cowon goes out of business. Eventually they will. They've been hiding behind sound quality comparisons for too long, and that "rare and cool" factor or "kvlt" status.

I hope they stay and improve (more competition is better for us) but yeah, it's a little frustrating. They want me to send my iAudio 7 back so they can look at the problem it has with locking up. It's out of warranty now but hopefully they don't charge me for repairs since it started acting up while it was under warranty, even if their tech couldn't find a problem with it.

I got the D2 back and it's better than when I bought it.

One thing is for sure, I'm never buying a refurb Cowon product again.

[lane32x]

Originally Posted by sknight

I've had problems with every iaudio product I've owned.

-x5 60: battery failure in under six months (common)
-x5 60: HD failure, just out of warranty (Cowon wanted over $200 for the HD replacement, so I replaced it myself for $97 shipped)
-i6: Battery failed. Cowon wouldn't honor warranty and according to "Frank" at their live helpdesk, they couldn't possibly imagine we'd pay for it because they've never seen a battery problem. So I sent it in, then got hit with a "replacement" bill of something like $40, while under warranty, so they could swap mine with a refurb (they stated "new" during the exchanges) because they can't replace batteries.
-i7- screen recently stopped working properly.
-x5: went back to my x5 in the meantime. It's been barely used since the battery was replaced back in late 07. Battery is shot again.

This is a pretty shady company, with good sounding stuff, but the execution and support absolutely sucks. Now that other companies are stepping up, including Sansa with fairly well-regarded sound quality, I hope Cowon goes out of business. Eventually they will. They've been hiding behind sound quality comparisons for too long, and that "rare and cool" factor or "kvlt" status.

Based on the people I've talked to over in the S9 part of the forum, I call BS on this entire post. I know several of the guys who have RMA'd their devices and either got a perfectly good Refurb model back, or they have got back brand new models instead. It *should* be a rare thing to have battery problems, unless you are severely abusive to your devices. But then again, everybody has bad luck every now and again.
I had 2, pefectly good Sansa e250's die on me for 2 different reasons, but there are tons of people online who have had those for a long time with no problems at all.

Sorry for you luck, but that's a pretty big black-eye you are trying to give to Cowon.

[weschester808]

My iaudio6 was put through hell and it survived for nearly 3 years... I think youve had bad luck.

Anyway, I recently SOAKED my S9 (in a very embarrassing way, lol) and cowon replaced it for free. I think its a brand new unit. I doubt few, if any, other companies would do the same...

So as long as cowon keeps making things, i'll keep buying them