It would be nicer if they were rounded like the balanced ports. The edges reaching out from there toward the plug are sharp and fine, and, after repeated use, are bound to get notched up. Get a case.īuild-wise, my singular complaint is with the single-ended 3,5mm port. While the D2 is full of quality metal and glass, you’ll scar it’s sandblasting if you’re not careful. Even under high magnification, the fine circular tracing surrounding the ON/OFF switch is free of debris and manufacturing defects. The metalwork and fit and finish of the D2 are top-notch. It also manages to do it mostly gaplessly.įour screws pull the metal and glass together. Of course, it supports files from MP3 to DSD. It supports most popular and audiophile formats out there, including AAC, which for some reason, Cowon didn’t list in the literature.

DSD(DFF, DSF, ISO), FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, APE, MP3, WMA, OGG, (and AAC).DAC performance SNR 130dB, THD+N 0.0004%.Under the hood, the D2 packs the following spec and cogs and stuff: As to why I put that in this section- its because what’s under the hood has to abide by the rules of what is outside and fronted to the world. That’s a hurrah for Cowon’s CNC, glasswork, gluing, fastening hardware, and more. Buying into the Plenue family isn’t a gamble. What’s important now is that Cowon quality spans the generations. The good of that is that it basically runs in lockstep with Japanese devices for quality of finish. I’m not sure if this qualifies under the heading of ‘Technology’ but the D2 is made and designed in Korea. Hell, the D2’s audio performance may well trounce your favorite TOTL DAP just the same. The original D had an amazing battery life, decent power, and good performance, but it is totally trounced by the D2. The first I fast-grabbed from e-Earphone. The Plenue-variety D2 is this year’s follow up to the D, which hit shelves in 2016. In 2007 I whinged that the then-current D2 hissed too much and was hard to use. Cowon has been in the game for about as long as anyone still in it.

Cowon a2 portable multimedia player