Cowon S9

FDX · 12-26-2008

The Cowon S9 is finally out.

I'll receive mine in 2 till 4 days.

DusL · 12-26-2008

What does the flash-button do?

He skips the only interesting button there......

Nice player as a first impression.

FDX · 12-27-2008

I don't know what the button does (and why the person skipped it).

But when I have the S9 I'll post here how the player is, what it can do and what not etc.

FDX · 12-27-2008

Here are some pictures:

And another preview:

sere83 · 12-27-2008

from all the reviews and reports I have read it seems the S9 could be one of the best Mp3/4 players ever made, certainly in terms of sound. Video support is great too with proper xvid/divx support above the screens native resolution (something I have waited for for a very long time).

Battery looks amazing too.I was however dissapointed with the high price particularly here in the Uk and the absense of an an sd card slot and 32gb model (although I know they will probably introduce 32gb later). With the ipod touch being on the market for almost a year and a half we have still yet to see any company distributing in the west putting a web browser in a 3.5 inch or below screened player too which I find astonishing. I was hoping cowon might be first but from the rumours I have read it seems sony may be first.

Nevertheless the S9 is shaping up to be one of the best players ever for sure. I wish Meizu would stop faffing about with the M8 and realease the damn thing so they can get back to doing what they are supposed to be doing........making Mp3/4 players. The S9 is the type of player Meizu should be releasing...except cheaper.

The Torminator · 12-27-2008

Looking forward to read your experiences. Cowon has always been very interest about sound and video. Would be very interest to find out how S9 is compare to the M6.

I read rumors too that a 32 GB version will be out soon.

FDX · 12-27-2008

Originally Posted by The Torminator

I read rumors too that a 32 GB version will be out soon.

That's right, they plan to release a 32 gb version soon. But I don't know when.

I found one more picture, this time in English:

And a video review from Generationmp3.com:
Dailymotion - Test Cowon S9 par GMP3, a video from gmp3. test, cowon, s9, pmp, asie

edit:
I found that picture about the flash functionality:

I think that means the S9 can play flash games, videos and other flash based things.

taling hallenthur · 12-27-2008

Knowing Cowon this is going to be expensive as hell. I wish other companies start to make lower end touch mp3 players to speed up competition. M7 could've been a great device, too bad they wasted all the resources on M8.

gabest · 12-27-2008

on that video it looks handy, interesting becasue the pictrues show it bigger

i like it tho

FDX · 12-27-2008

The current prices for the S9 in Germany are:
8 gb: 229€ = ~321,64$
16 gb: 279€ = ~391,86$
32 gb: unknown, not yet released

I can't wait until I hold it in my hands.

The Torminator · 12-27-2008

Thank you FDX for the last video link. Just that I've have been missing.
Of cause it’s not Meizu but I like read such stuff anyway.
Overall it’s just slightly slow in interface might be only that who keep me away getting one. 32 Gb might be worth waiting for.

No M8, no M7, Touch is downgrade on sound quality so Cowon players might be my next move to throw my money away on.
I know S9 don’t have expansion slot like the D2, so you can’t extend your memory.

FDX · 12-28-2008

Yeah, it's a pity.
But for me, 16 gb is enough. I only transfer things I need (e.g. music I don't listen won't be transferred etc).

If you are interested in a German manual, at the German Cowon website you can download it as pdf.^^

btw: I found a screenshot of a movie playing at the S9 (yes, you can take screenshots of videos!) and the quality is great. O_o But I don't know anymore where, sorry^^

gabest · 12-28-2008

its screen is smaller than the M8's, right?

bmob · 12-28-2008

importef mine frome england, 16GB 220€ shipment inclueded frome www.advancedmp3players.co.uk
It is a great device, thes best I have ever tried.

DaremoS · 12-28-2008

Originally Posted by The Torminator

Looking forward to read your experiences. Cowon has always been very interest about sound and video. Would be very interest to find out how S9 is compare to the M6.

I read rumors too that a 32 GB version will be out soon.

Such comparison is not fair... there are 2 years of technology of difference:
in the middle AMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, and some other goodies appearing... H.264 liberation, non-converting videos... etc.

But most important S9 will cost twice the price of M6!!!

Just beg that Jack Wong understand that his company is not a cell phone maker but a PMP maker as Cowon have it pretty clear.

The Torminator · 12-29-2008

Originally Posted by DaremoS

Such comparison is not fair... there are 2 years of technology of difference:
in the middle AMOLED, capacitive touchscreen, and some other goodies appearing... H.264 liberation, non-converting videos... etc.

But most important S9 will cost twice the price of M6!!!

Just beg that Jack Wong understand that his company is not a cell phone maker but a PMP maker as Cowon have it pretty clear.

You right about that, thanks for clarify but just to find out if it is an upgrade in sound quality by getting the S9 may not hurt at all. S9 is for sure a lot better on most things but I haven't yet found any message how the S9 actually is on sound quality, not even to the great D2.
M6 is just still belongs to one of the best on that point you know. (Except maybe on stutter issues

)
But I think the answer will be out there to find very soon.
So about that comparison, I've just wanted to know something about sound. Just that what cares me now.

FDX · 12-30-2008

There are already user created custom themes.

And now I know what the flash button does.

SteveMB93 · 12-31-2008

Those themes are nice.

DaremoS · 12-31-2008

I have a Cowon D2, a Meizu M3, Ramos RM950, several Chinese players Onda,Teclast, etc. I had a M6, iPod Nano, iRiver X20... and I've tested lots of others players... and I agree with Sere83 about that possibly S9 is the most perfect PMP released until now. Almost perfect as its lack of SD slot is unbelievable.

Sound?... I still think that M3 sports the best sound of all my players, but very close to Cowon D2... this is very personal feeling. I have no idea about what chips is used in S9 or if it have a dedicated DAC, it seems that it's kept secret for the moment. But its sound in the reviews have been mentioned as excellent and that BBEplus is awesome.

But the most paradojic is this dream player is that I was imagining for long time that it would have been Meizu M7!!! Cowon did the trick and it will take me lot of time to buy a S9 because in my Southamerican country the price will be unaffordable during some time. And I don't want to spent lots of money easily in an expensive brand like Cowon.

Meanwhile I'll wait that Mr. Wong regain his ability and create a PMP... not a cell phone or a portable internet browser.

chengdude · 12-31-2008

Sound?... I still think that M3 sports the best sound of all my players, but very close to Cowon D2... this is very personal feeling. I have no idea about what chips is used in S9 or if it have a dedicated DAC, it seems that it's kept secret for the moment. But its sound in the reviews have been mentioned as excellent and that BBEplus is awesome.

Not secret at all: it's the Wolfson WM8750S. Quite a surprise since this is the same basic chip that was used in the Teclast T19 & C280, as well as the Oppo V3 and Onda VX858 (??!!).

Once again, proof positive that obsessively engineered firmware and elegant circuit design will always make the difference between an OK player and a great player.