Compare Prices : Cowon iAudio 7 (4GB, Silver) - Expert Reviews

Review summary: This 4GB flash media player's a doozie. Like most devices of its size, it's not so hot for video - tiny screens and tinier processors maketh not for a compelling viewing experience - but as a picture viewer and MP3 player, it's a cracker

Pros: Good sound, Stylish and easy to use

Cons: Picture quality only average

Verdict: An impressive and capable MP3 player

Review summary: Sound quality's excellent right off the bat, even with the bundled headphones

Pros: Good sound ; Stylish and easy to use

Cons: Picture quality only average

Verdict: It features a built-in FM radio, from which you can record your fave shows, and the thumb-slider is amazingly usable. A refreshingly neat player, and as a desirable gadget, it's a suitable iPod rival

Review summary: Cowon's latest flash-based portable media player, the iAudio 7, certainly looks promising on the surface. There's its sleek black design, interesting button array, and touted powerful output for high-end, power-hungry headphones. Add to this to the ...

Pros: FM radio. Radio, voice, and line-in recording. Decent file support. Excellent battery life.

Cons: Tiny screen, terrible for photos, video. Graphics look out of date. User interface confusing to navigate. Buttons easy to activate accidentally.

Verdict: Cowon's iAudio 7 flash-memory MP3 player appears promising at first glance, but the magic fades once its lackluster screen turns on.

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: The Cowon iAudio 7 beats the industry heavyweight iPod nano in price, features, battery life, and sound quality. The user interface could use some refinement, but all-in-all this is a very impressive MP3 player.

Pros: One of the most versatile MP3 players available ; plays music, video, and photos ; has unbeatable sound quality ; records line-in, voice, and FM ; supports OGG and FLAC file formats, plus DRM-protected WMA ; works in MTP and MSC connection modes for ...

Cons: About three times the width of an iPod nano ; reflective, glossy plastic found on the front and back of the player is prone to smudges and glare ; learning curve to the Swing Touch interface ; no support for Audible audiobooks, as well as a memory ...

Verdict: Cowon's included earbuds look great, but they really don't do justice to the audio quality this player is capable of

Pros: The Cowon iAudio 7 is one of the most versatile MP3 players available. It plays music, video, and photos; has unbeatable sound quality; records line-in, voice, and FM; supports OGG and FLAC file formats, plus DRM-protected WMA; works in MTP and MSC ...

Cons: As tiny as the iAudio 7 is, it's still about three times the width of an iPod Nano. The reflective, glossy plastic found on the front and back of the player is prone to smudges and glare. There's a learning curve to the Swing Touch interface, and we ...

Verdict: Editor's note: Although CNET's battery drain tests revealed that the iAudio 7 is unlikely to meet its claim of 60 hours of continuous music playback during realistic conditions, we still feel it is an excellent player worthy of the Editors' Choice ...