Cowon iAudio A3 60GB - Expert Reviews

Review summary: Given Cowon's recent stab at a PDA and portable media player rolled into onenamely, the ungainly Q5WI approached the Cowon A3, another big-screen PMP, with some skepticism. I'm happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised. The A3 has fewer ...

Pros: Records audio, video, voice, and radio content. Sharp photo and video display. Strong file support. Excellent EQ.

Cons: Poorly designed joystick controller. Big and bulky. Mobile TV options are not available in the U.S.

Verdict: This big portable media player does plenty of neat tricks, including recording video. It also had a big, bright screen, and its navigation feels similar to that of an Archos device, but more evolved.

Review summary: cowon iaudio a3 (60gb) review: With its unrivalled screen and codec support, its direct recording capabilities and its ability to playback DVD video files without transcoding, Cowon's A3 is a well-priced behemoth for portable video lovers.

Pros: Image quality, Sound quality, Amazing video and audio codec support, Support for DVD VOB files, Direct video and audio hard disk recording and encoding

Cons: Mini joystick is unbearable, HD video is nowhere near as nice to use as Cowon claims, No kickstand

Verdict: The most capable handheld video player we've seen to date.

Review summary: The Cowon A3 is the most capable video player we've looked at to date. It has the best screen we have ever seen on any media player. Playback for most videos is smooth and glitch-free and audio quality is close to perfect, supporting multiple codecs, ...

Pros: Price ; image quality ; sound quality ; amazing video and audio codec support ; support for DVD VOB files ; direct video and audio hard disk recording and encoding

Cons: Mini joystick is unbearable ; HD video is nowhere near as nice to use as Cowon claims ; no kickstand

Verdict: Certainly the most capable handheld video player we've seen to date. With its unrivalled screen and codec support, its direct recording capabilities and its ability to playback DVD video files without transcoding, Cowon's A3 is a well-priced behemoth ...

Review summary: The A3's main rivals are the Archos 605 WiFi and the Creative Zen Vision:W, and the A3 trumps them both in most respects..

Pros: Lots of file format compatibility ; beautiful LCD display, great audio and video quality

Cons: Joystick navigation is difficult ; confusing interface ; short battery life ; no Bluetooth or WiFi

Review summary: The Gadget: Cowon's A3 portable music player, which supports about as many codecs as its bigger, beefier brother, the Q5W. The difference is the A3 can fit much easier into your pants.