Cowon Systems iAudio G3 Review

Overall Rating

The Iaudio G3 is a great device depending on what you want to use it for. It is a 4 in 1 device: music player, recorder, FM.

Radio and removable USB Drive. So I will split my review accordingly.

Useful features
1. Backlit LCD giving plenty of information.
2. Intuitive user interface through a 5 direction button. The menus and the folder navigator are easily and intuitively accessible.
3. Uses AA batteries rather than a built in rechargeable battery. This is very important because all rechargeable batteries have a limited life after which they need to be replaced. The problem with the built-in batteries is that you would need to go to the manufacturer to get a replacement. However, AA batteries can be got anytime/anywhere in the world. With ever increasing capacities, AA batteries are the best way to power gadgets.
4. Nice transparent plastic cover.
5. Firmware upgrades are available.
6. Other features include a clock, timer, alarm etc
7. Works as a removable USB drive (USB 2.0) without the need for drivers.
8. Decent software - Jetshell, Jet audio.

Music player
Pros
1. Fantastic and powerful sound reproduction.
2. Useful equalizer features through Jeteffect - 5 band Equalizer, BBE, MP enhance, Mach3Bass, 3D Surround and Pan.
3. Useful play modes - All, Folder, Playlist, single, repeat, shuffle.
4. Dynamic play list capability.
5. Good quality earphones.
6. Multi codec support.

Cons
None

Gripes
1. The earphones though good are rather big making it useless for listening to music on the move. Otherwise the earphones are useable as they just about fit in the ear.
2. Deleting files while listening to music causes a break in the music.
3. Only 1 playlist is allowed.

FM Radio
Pros :
1. Works nicely.
2. User settable station presets.
3. Auto scan.
4. Configurable to work in several regions - Europe, US, Japan, China and Russia.

Cons
None

Recorder
Pros
1. Can listen and record at the same time.
2. User settable recording level.
3. User settable recording bitrates.

Cons
1. The bitrates are limited to either 96, 112 or 128 Kbps to all (line-in, voice and FM).
2. FM radio recording is not good. It records with noise.
3. Voice recording level is low through the built in mic even at maximum level. Does not have an external mic jack. I would recommend to use an audio editor like Goldwave to enhance the voice recordings.
4. Line in Recording has plenty of hiss.

Summary
As a music player the iAudio G3 is almost everything that you may ever want. As a recorder it is pretty much of no use.
Hopefully future firmware updates will solve the above problems. The manual (book) is incomplete (only half of the pdf version included on the CD).

Members' Comments onsanjaydas's Review

• goody123 on 7th Feb 2005

  Dear Sanjay Das, Greetings! Thanks for a nice review. I was thinking of purchasing G3 specifically for direct recording from the mic into mp3. You said that the recording volume is low. How is the quality of recording from the built-in mic? Can it record directly into mp3? It's a pity they did not give an option for an external mic. I hope you see this question. Thanks in advance.

• sanjaydas on 8th Feb 2005

  Hello,
  I bought the G3 too for recording using the mic. The recording quality is decent though the volume is low. I recommend that you use an audio editor to increase the volume and remove any hiss. The MP3 players do not have the option for an external mic because they would need to build in an amplifier which would probably double the size of the device. Most people do not use MP3 players for voice recording and hence the size is important. Hope this helps.

• pangping1510 on 26th Mar 2005

  I would like this gadget to record my lectures...so how does the recording function fairs with Samsung YP-MT6Z? Do you know anything about it? thanks...and what is the OGG support between this iaudio and Samsung?

• lantis on 31st Mar 2005

  Hi:) I have been considering to buy iAudio G3. I have used iRiver ifp700 series before and their sound is perfect and very strong(18mw power). My question is, have you ever listened iRiver ifp700 or 800 series? If so, can you compare which one is the best regarding sound quality? ta:)

• sanjaydas on 2nd Apr 2005

  I haven't. But from what I have heard the G3 is as good if not better than the iFp-800 series. The G3 has some superb sound effects which is fully customisable to your taste (you could get over a million combinations !!). The problem with the irivers are the buggy firmwares and the fact that it does not even work as a removable drive (at least at the time I bought my G3). In fact I was looking at the ifp-890 before giving up on it and went for the G3! Good luck.

• sanjaydas on 2nd Apr 2005

  By the way I did return the first G3 that I got and received another one which recorded FM much better. So I am quite happy with this.

• lantis on 4th Apr 2005

  This is a great news as I was upset when I read your words regarding its FM recording ability, which was quite negative by your words... I am happy now so that I will get one iaudio 512mb or 1gb version. I guess 13mw will be more than enough for power output and I love an MP3 player that uses AA battery;)

• Morrigan on 13th Feb 2006

  I´m searching for a good quality MP3-player. iAudio seems to have nice MP3-players for me, but what is the key difference between the iAudio G3 and the iAudio 5?

• sanjaydas on 16th Feb 2006

  You can compare the differences using the compare function available at www.advancedmp3players.co.uk. Basically the difference is the battery. G3 uses AA whereas iAudio 5 uses AAA. All other features are basically the same.

• blackdoom on 19th Mar 2006

  I am planning to buy a cowon mp3 player but my main concern is recording capability. Can you please tell me how good is its recorder? My main recording is of lectures and speeches in halls or classroom type areas or maybe in the open. SO will this mp3 player be good in these situations as compared to iRiver.

• pangping1510 on 21st Mar 2006

  Recording capability is good. no worries. =p

• sanjaydas on 22nd Mar 2006

  If you are recording using the built in microphone then you have to be placing the unit not more than a few feet from the lecturer unless the lecturer is speaking loudly. My experience is that it records at a low volume. I then step the volume up and remove any hiss using software like Goldwave the end result of which is good. The FM recording is definitely not like the original FM played. The line in recorder too is not up to the mark.