iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black

by Cowon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.7 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000AYWOZU
• Item model number: X5L-20BL
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black combines an MP3 player, video player, FM radio, voice recorder, and digital photo album in one tidy package with a smooth aluminum finish. With its capacity for up to 5,000 songs, 2,000 folders, or 10,000 files, and a lithium-ion battery that provided up to 35 continuous hours of play, the iAudio X5 is the ideal way to take your digital music, music videos, and digital pictures on the road with you.

The iAudio X5 supports blazing fast USB 2.0 download speeds of up to 480 Mbps, obliterating the need to wait for your files to transfer from your computer. The 260,000 color TFT-LCD screen displays both text and image files, with text files viewable even as you're listening to your music. A built-in, high-fidelity microphone lets you record voice at the same quality level as dedicated voice recorders. Listen to FM radio and record it onto the iAudio X5 just by pressing a button, and use the preset feature to save your preferred radio stations. The iAudio X5's direct encoding technology lets you digitally record input from audio devices such as a Walkmans, mini disk, record, or TV.

The iAudio G3's JetShell software enables the creation and editing of playlists directly on the player, as well as CD ripping and file transfers. You can save non-music files to the iAudio X5 and say goodbye to clumsy floppy disks and data CDs, and the JetAudio software enables simple video conversion onto the iAudio X5. If you're on the road and need a wake-up call, just use the built-in clock's alarm function.

The iAudio G3 is compatible with Windows and both Linux and the Mac OS, and comes with superb Cresyn headphones, giving you superior sound reproduction with a balanced tone. It supports MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV files, as well as the FLAC format, which compresses files without quality loss. Up to 12 minutes of anti-shock protection ensures that you'll enjoy your music no matter how bumpy the road, and the custom-made protective leather case fits perfectly to your iAudio X5.

What's in the Box
X5L-20BL digital music player, AC adapter, USB 2.0 cable, audio cable, USB host cable, earphones, subpack, installation CD-ROM, and user's guide.

Product Description

Portable Multimedia Player

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

82 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Those in the know will buy iAudio., November 8, 2005

By 

S. Thompson "librarienne" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black (Electronics)

I've had my iAudio X5L for several weeks now -- it's been with me through two road trips (on just ONE battery charge!) and many commutes to work. I am even *happier* with this purchase then I expected to be! Highly recommended as an incredible gift to yourself or someone you know. This is THE digital music player and then some. I'm thrilled with mine.

First off, I must confess that I was also debating between an iPod or other media players. After reading the reviews at Cnet.com, PCmagazine, and here at Amazon, I went with a 30gb X5L from iAudio. Here's what you get with iAudio that you won't get on the iPod:

- listen to radio AND record from radio
- 24 radio station presets (FM only)
- a built-in mic to record lectures, poetry readings, dinner conversations (you have to be close to the speaker, though, I'm going to expirment with the line-in and see if an external mike can be plugged into that)
- a line-in jack so you can record from old cassettes, records, minidiscs, you name it ... from anything with a headphone jack
- looong battery life, it really does give 35 hours
- much stronger case, a beautiful black finish with a texture that won't scratch and show fingerprints like the iPods; I don't even have a cover over mine, I just keep it in my pocket and it does fine
- oh yeah... and you can watch videos, but I use my X5L while walking or driving so this feature doesn't even matter to me

There are some good tips to know about your iAudio:

- almost all questions can be answered at www.iaudiophile.com/forums ... a fantastic resource for all iAudio users
- sure, it doesn't have the sort-by-tag software of the iPods, but I haven't even found that I miss that. I keep my files organized in folders by Artist\Album\songs and I'm a playlist junkie ... iTunes never does auto-create a playlist that I like anyway. You don't even need to install the software that comes with the iAudio. I use MediaMonkey to organize my music, but I just use Windowns Explorer to drag 'n' drop files into my iAudio's music folder. The Shuffle mode keeps me very happy, and having my favorite radio stations just a couple clicks away is WONDERFUL.
- When you first receive your X5L, you'll have to charge it for 6 hours. Hey, long battery life requires some serious power to start with. But once it's charged, you'll find that you already have a sample song and some sample videos so you can show off your toy right away. (They're basically iAudio commercials, but they are good for showing how good this treasure sounds and looks.)
- using the little button control is pretty simple when you get the hang of it ... press it down briefly in order to see a list for your current mode (ie. list of presets for Radio, list of songs for Music, list of movies for Video...) or hold down the button for a couple seconds in order to get to the main menu. Some people didn't get that, but it really is easy.
- the power, line-in, and USB ports for the X5L are on a little supback that you plug into the bottom of the X5L; it also comes with a line-in cable that you can plug into the headphone (or line-out) jack of any other equipment. Some people complain about having these little "things" to keep with the X5L. I got the Universal MP3 Player Travel Kit from CaseLogic and it has perfect little compartments for the iAudio accessories plus a pocket for the player itself. Or you might try a digital camera case with a couple external pockets - the iAudio X5L would fit in that very nicely, too. That's what I used before my CaseLogic order arrived.
- the only problem I had was actually with my music files, not with the X5L; my songs had been ripped with a mix of id3v1 and id3v2 tags, which meant that some albums would only show on the X5L with the filename instead of the tag info while playing. I used MediaMonkey to clean off the id3v1 tags and that worked very well. Voila - tag information would show on my X5L.

So all in all - the iAudio X5L has performed beautifully. I only wish I had waited and gotten the 60gb. Being able to record from radio and old media has filled up my memory more than I anticipated.
If you're still not sure about getting any digital music player in the first place, let me give this example ... I have 500 CDs, but I was only listening to maybe 30 of them regularly because so many just weren't the kind of albums that would be listened to in one sitting. Now I've culled the best tracks from those CDs and they come up on my X5L's shuffle as a nice surprise from the past. I'm remembering just how much I like this music or that artist. It's a wonderful rediscovery of my own collection! And when I don't recognize what I'm listening to, I just look down and all the info is right there for me. I'm finally starting to tell the difference between my Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus albums (jazz fans, forgive me) but I'm also hearing nuances that I never noticed before from my Erasure and Hotel Costes albums. In some ways, this is like hearing your music for the first time all over again.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Far Better Than ipod., January 1, 2006

By 

D. Dell "Dell" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black (Electronics)

I wanted an MP3 player mostly for the Bose system in my car using an FM transmitter and occasionally in my home Bose (no, not the one made for the ipod). So, first I bought an ipod shuffle. I tried it in the car and compared the sound quality by switching back and forth between a CD and the ipod with the same song on both. The ipod sounded very muffled as if throwing a heavy blanket over the speakers. It was terrible. I then tried the same thing in my home Bose with the same bad results. I returned the ipod the next day.

I thought that maybe all MP3 players would be the same poor sound quality and I almost gave up on the idea of an MP3 player in my car. But, then I thought I would try one more time with the Cowon iAudio 20GB X5L. Again I compared the X5L to a CD with the same song in the car. I could hardly believe my ears. There was almost no difference in sound quality between the two sources. The ear buds also have a decent sound. Needless to say I kept the iAudio.

The sub-pack that comes with the X5L has jacks for DC charging, USB, line in, and line out. Some people find this annoying having to plug in the sub-pack each time to do any of the above. I also have the cradle that has the same jacks. I keep the USB plugged into the sub-pack and the DC charger plugged into the cradle. I also keep an RCA cord plugged into my home Bose when I want to plug in the player in that device. For me, this method is convenient and I do not have to move cords for whatever I want to do.

I love the EQ and the other 4 sound settings. I can customize the sound according to whichever device I have it plugged into. Also, you can store up to 5,000 tunes which is far more than I will ever use.

There is a little joystick on the front that controls volume, next or last track, fast forward or fast reverse, and pulls up menus. The play, record, and off buttons are on the side. The joystick takes some practice, but is easy to use.

Some people prefer the ipod/itunes method to put music on their MP3 player. I prefer the iAudio/Jetshell. When converting a prerecorded CD to MP3 using jetshell simply click on Code and it will get the Artist, Title etc from the internet. That way you do not have to name each track. Of course, you can still edit that information if you want. Then you can move them to the IAudio. However, I simply go to Windows Explorer then Copy and Paste all the tunes to the iAudio. The whole thing is very simple and fast. Plus, I like being able to create folders and sub-folders and name them whatever I want in Windows Explorer.

The case seems very well built, sturdy and does not look as though it would scratch easily. The long-life battery makes this player a little thick and slightly heavy. But, I have no problem with that.

I have never run down the battery, so I just assume the rated 35 hour life is close to being true. (This refers to the *L* version. The regular X5 is rated at 14 hour battery life). I can not comment on other features either since I have not used them. Like the recording or video. As I said, I only use the X5L for music in my car and home.

Pros: Sound Quality, Long Battery Life, Drag and Drop Files, FM Radio, Picture Viewer, Video Playback, Recorder.

Cons: No Speaker.

Bottom Line: Much better than the ipod.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good player, even with some flaws, I picked it over iPod, October 17, 2005

By 

Long Rifle (Philadelphia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: iAudio X5L 20 GB Multimedia Player Black (Electronics)

I had a very hard time deciding on my new mp3 player. Previously I had the Creative Zen Touch, but wanted to upgrade to a bigger capacity player.

The options at 30gb are pretty limited, so my decision came basically to the Video iPod or iAudio X5L.

I have never used the Video iPod, just the Photo iPod, but I made my decision based on what I read.

For me the video playback wasn't anything more than a plus, I was more interested in an mp3 player with decent battery life. Both players play mp3's, which are the only files I have. IPod uses id3 browsing (artist, album, song, genre), while the X5 uses directories (like on your computer). Since I use iTunes to play music, and it organizes my songs into folders by artist, this was not such a big deal. iPod has better video quality, but at such a small screen, I figured it wouldn't matter much. The biggest difference I could note was the battery life, where the X5L is significantly better.

Since most users compare mp3 players to the iPod, here are what I thought to be the pros and cons of the X5L compared to the iPod:

Pros:
-Longer battery life
-Doesn't require a program (iTunes) to transfer music/videos
-Connects to digital cameras
-Supports more music formats

Cons:
-No id3 browsing
-Slightly bigger (about the same size as Photo iPod)
-Number of folders limited to 2000
-Joystick instead of scroll-wheel
-Can't buy music from iTunes

Since iTunes organizes music into folders by Artist/Album even if the artist only has one song, this caused me some trouble with the folder limit. I fixed it by having album folders only for full albums.

So far the video playback has been much better than I expected. I wouldn't watch a movie on anything smaller than a TV screen, but I've watched several hours straight of Family Guy episodes! =)

Personally I think the two players are almost equal.
Basically, if you BUY music from iTunes, get the iPod.
If you need good battery life, get this one.
If you want to browse by album, not just artist, get iPod (although there will supposedly be a firmware update to give this feature to X5 as well).