Down to the final two: A2 vs. AV500... - Page 2

dOoBiX · 05-10-2006, 20:51

I think the AV500 would be better for recording video. All the videos I recorded with the A2 has a static line thing at the top

View this small sample

Gators300 · 05-10-2006, 21:11

Does everyone else have the same problem as above when recording video on the A2?

Chris

epaludo · 05-10-2006, 22:10

Never notice on my recordings ...

buddywoof · 05-10-2006, 23:54

I have both. Build quality-wise, AV500. Functionality-wise A2. They are both winners but I got the A2 (my wife has the AV500). I like the A2 because it can do subtitles and AV500 can't (at least I haven't figured it out yet).

Gators300 · 05-11-2006, 00:18

Buddywoof - can you tell me how the highest recording settings are for each player?

Which one is better?

Also, does your wife have the 30gb or 100gb version?

Is the AV500 much smaller than the A2, like is there a noticeable difference?

Sorry for all of the questions, but I really want to know these things before I make my purchase. Thanks!!

Chris

colinmcc · 05-11-2006, 04:29

Approx 1 minute on google:

AV500: Dimensions

30GB 76 x 124 x 18 mm
100GB 76 x 124 x 24 mm
100GB with battery pack 76 x 124 x 32 mm

30GB Weight: 255 grams
100GB Weight: 315 grams
100GB with battery pack weight: 430 grams

Plus ... for recording you have to add the extra TV Pod onto that.

A2: Dimensions

87 x 133 x 28 mm
Weight: 298 grams

eric3a · 05-11-2006, 08:49

Quote:

Plus ... for recording you have to add the extra TV Pod onto that.

You don't HAVE to have it. Archos sells (too expensive!) a similar cable to the one for the A2 so you don't have to carry the pod around on trips.
Eric

epaludo · 05-11-2006, 11:53

Gators300,
here's some good link for you to read:

Comparison part of Cowon A2 review by dapreview.net - I suggest you to read the hole review. dapreview.net ranked the Cowon A2 as the best PMP on the market. Notice that the review was done a long time ago, before a lot of firmware upgrades ...

Cowonamerica PMP comparison

Hope it helps ...

Gators300 · 05-12-2006, 18:29

Well, I went to CompUSA today and low and behold they had an AV500. I was blown away by the quality of the screen, (its brightness as well) and the build quality of the overall device. At this point, I have a feeling that I am leaning towards a 100GB version of the AV500. Things that are holding me back: lack of firmware updates, (last one was in EARLY February - MONTHS ago!) price, (A2 more for the money at least for the $379 newegg.com price) and size, (I have yet to see a 100gb AV500 in person, though the 30gb version was remarkably small/thin).

There is still a possibility I pick up an A2 though. As I said, I am not yet all the way convinced that I need 100gb. The idea of having all 30gb's of my music, all of my pictures, (6gbs) and loads and loads of videos is certainly very enticing though. Not to mention the addition of the camera you can get for it, (for a cool $150 more!) I guess the decision to be made is whether or not I need 100gb's. If not, and I go with 30gb's, I am going to get the A2. Maybe someone here can write up a convincing reason to get both! Lol. Oh, I don't know what to do! Thanks though, for all of the helpful responses thus far.

Chris

taxxon · 05-12-2006, 18:56

which produces better sound quality, A2 or AV500 ?

Krelyan · 05-12-2006, 19:24

I believe the general consensus is the A2 (plus it has better sound enhancements) but as always it's hard to prove statistically.

Tostino · 05-12-2006, 19:43

I will record a clip from tv with my A2 in a few hours and stick them on my server. Then you can see the reccording quality from the A2.

Tostino · 05-13-2006, 00:44

Here is the test reccordings I just took.
http://70.125.0.176/a2 reccordings.rar

Sorry I didn't have time to do them with the same exact video part, but you will get the picture from that.

One of them is at 368 by 272 at 800 kbps.
And the other is at 640 by 480 at 1 mbps.

colinmcc · 05-13-2006, 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gators300

I have yet to see a 100gb AV500 in person, though the 30gb version was remarkably small/thin

Well .... if you look at the dimension stats I already posted, you'll see that the 100gb version is about 30% heavier and 30% fatter than the 30gb version. Width and height are identical.

If you add on the extended battery pack though, it starts getting too chubby IMHO.

Although I appreciate that actually seeing these things "in the flesh" can make all the difference.

Nattawat · 05-13-2006, 09:32

Support is the key. There are firmware updates frequently, over a year had passed since Cowon A2 came out, and it still keep updating, VERY OFTEN! Not just some normal bugfix, but it's some major features updated which will make your life as Cowon A2's owner become easier.

What you think that is impossible with A2 right now, it will be possible sooner or later. For examples MPEG file was not supported at the first release, and now it support MPEG file. Same goes with subtitles and album arts, and more!

Frequent firmware update is what make me think Cowon A2 is better, it keeps upgrading itself! ;-)

05-10-2006, 20:51	#16
dOoBiX Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 100	I think the AV500 would be better for recording video. All the videos I recorded with the A2 has a static line thing at the top View this small sample __________________ I love my Cowon A2 and D2, too!

05-12-2006, 18:56	#25
taxxon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 272	which produces better sound quality, A2 or AV500 ? __________________ Computer: Dell Inspiron E1520 with personalized Dream Theater skin Cellphone: Iphone 3G PMP: Cowon S9 16GB Guitar gears: Jackson DK1 Bengal Tiger, Jackson KE3 skulls, Randall V2 head with 2x12 cab, Vox Tonelab ST Camera: Canon Powershot SD700

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05-10-2006, 21:11	#17
Gators300 Bad Bizatch Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 53	Does everyone else have the same problem as above when recording video on the A2? Chris

05-10-2006, 22:10	#18
epaludo Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 164	Never notice on my recordings ...

05-10-2006, 23:54	#19
buddywoof Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 132	I have both. Build quality-wise, AV500. Functionality-wise A2. They are both winners but I got the A2 (my wife has the AV500). I like the A2 because it can do subtitles and AV500 can't (at least I haven't figured it out yet).

05-11-2006, 00:18	#20
Gators300 Bad Bizatch Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 53	Buddywoof - can you tell me how the highest recording settings are for each player? Which one is better? Also, does your wife have the 30gb or 100gb version? Is the AV500 much smaller than the A2, like is there a noticeable difference? Sorry for all of the questions, but I really want to know these things before I make my purchase. Thanks!! Chris

05-11-2006, 04:29	#21
colinmcc Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 54	Approx 1 minute on google: AV500: Dimensions 30GB 76 x 124 x 18 mm 100GB 76 x 124 x 24 mm 100GB with battery pack 76 x 124 x 32 mm 30GB Weight: 255 grams 100GB Weight: 315 grams 100GB with battery pack weight: 430 grams Plus ... for recording you have to add the extra TV Pod onto that. A2: Dimensions 87 x 133 x 28 mm Weight: 298 grams

05-11-2006, 11:53	#23
epaludo Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 164	Gators300, here's some good link for you to read: Comparison part of Cowon A2 review by dapreview.net - I suggest you to read the hole review. dapreview.net ranked the Cowon A2 as the best PMP on the market. Notice that the review was done a long time ago, before a lot of firmware upgrades ... Cowonamerica PMP comparison Hope it helps ...

05-12-2006, 18:29	#24
Gators300 Bad Bizatch Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 53	Well, I went to CompUSA today and low and behold they had an AV500. I was blown away by the quality of the screen, (its brightness as well) and the build quality of the overall device. At this point, I have a feeling that I am leaning towards a 100GB version of the AV500. Things that are holding me back: lack of firmware updates, (last one was in EARLY February - MONTHS ago!) price, (A2 more for the money at least for the $379 newegg.com price) and size, (I have yet to see a 100gb AV500 in person, though the 30gb version was remarkably small/thin). There is still a possibility I pick up an A2 though. As I said, I am not yet all the way convinced that I need 100gb. The idea of having all 30gb's of my music, all of my pictures, (6gbs) and loads and loads of videos is certainly very enticing though. Not to mention the addition of the camera you can get for it, (for a cool $150 more!) I guess the decision to be made is whether or not I need 100gb's. If not, and I go with 30gb's, I am going to get the A2. Maybe someone here can write up a convincing reason to get both! Lol. Oh, I don't know what to do! Thanks though, for all of the helpful responses thus far. Chris

05-12-2006, 19:24	#26
Krelyan Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 72	I believe the general consensus is the A2 (plus it has better sound enhancements) but as always it's hard to prove statistically.

05-12-2006, 19:43	#27
Tostino Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 117	I will record a clip from tv with my A2 in a few hours and stick them on my server. Then you can see the reccording quality from the A2.

05-13-2006, 00:44	#28
Tostino Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 117	Here is the test reccordings I just took. http://70.125.0.176/a2 reccordings.rar Sorry I didn't have time to do them with the same exact video part, but you will get the picture from that. One of them is at 368 by 272 at 800 kbps. And the other is at 640 by 480 at 1 mbps.

05-13-2006, 09:32	#30
Nattawat Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 98	Support is the key. There are firmware updates frequently, over a year had passed since Cowon A2 came out, and it still keep updating, VERY OFTEN! Not just some normal bugfix, but it's some major features updated which will make your life as Cowon A2's owner become easier. What you think that is impossible with A2 right now, it will be possible sooner or later. For examples MPEG file was not supported at the first release, and now it support MPEG file. Same goes with subtitles and album arts, and more! Frequent firmware update is what make me think Cowon A2 is better, it keeps upgrading itself! ;-)