JetAudio iAudio CW300

Reviews: Multimedia

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Kurtis Kronk
Brian
JetAudio
Sep. 22, 2003

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Taking a Closer Look

First off, the battery included is a standard AA Duracell. What's amazing is that the player was designed to get the most out of a single battery (up to 30 hours of playback!), which simultaneously allows it to remain as small as possible.

The included software comes on an attractive CD with a label which seems to be a paint stamp. The CD is found in a protective plastic, and along with it is a pair of stickers that have your player's serial number on them.

What would any electronic device do without a nifty User's Manual? JetAudio has put together a detailed manual with plenty of pretty graphics for all the newbies out there. If you want to get the most out of the CW300, you will definitely want to read the manual start to finish. This player has a lot of features that make the short read easily worthwhile.

Most CD players and MP3 players come with poor quality ear buds at best. Showing their true character, JetAudio includes either a pair of Sennheiser or Cresyn Headphones with the CW300. Both the Sennheiser and Cresyn headphones are very nice. While testing I tried to find out if one pair was better than the other, and I found them to be of comparable quality. When I am at home I prefer to use my own headphones (Sennheiser HD497). As you will see later in the review, I used HD497s for most of the sound quality testing, to see what sort of sound the CW300 is actually cranking out. Regardless of quality, ear buds will never be able to produce the same quality of sound as full headphones. With that said, the included ear buds are still nice enough to discourage you from purchasing expensive headphones if you don't own some already.

MP3 players are a great alternative for those that like to listen while they work (exercise). We all know how annoying it is to be jogging with a bulky CD player that skips with every step. MP3s are the simple solution that lets us enjoy music wherever we are, no matter what we are doing. JetAudio knows that the primary reason for most people to buy a MP3 player is so that they can work and play without destroying their music in the process. The armband case is stylish and has openings in the proper places to let you access every aspect of the player, as well as to see the LCD display through a sheet of clear plastic. To keep the player from falling out of the case, it has a strap that goes over the top of it and then snaps onto the back side of the case. The armband follows the same color scheme and stylishly displays the iAudio logo. I found it a little hard to put on the armband + case on by myself! It was easier when putting the CW300 in the case first, clasping the armband, and then putting it on. Then again, I'm an uncoordinated simpleton, so take it for what it's worth.

I like this leather case a lot. I'm not much of a jogger, or anything else that involves getting out of my chair, so I don't personally have much use for the armband. The leather case offers just about the same level of usability, the only difference being that it restricts access to the battery compartment. There is a strap that can be snapped open to reveal the USB plug, in case you need to transfer some files quickly. Like the armband case, this one has a strap over the top that snaps in place to keep your player from making travel plans without your permission.

This player also comes with a fuzzy little carrying pouch with a drawstring. You may be asking yourself, why a carrying pouch? The answer is simple, why not?! It is customary to have a carrying pouch for your cool sunglasses, so I guess JetAudio figured why not give you a pouch for your cool MP3 player? The pouch is a soft purple color with the iAudio logo displayed in a dark purple. The pouch is ideal for those who want to carry the case around with them in their pocket without getting it scratched or damaged.

The neck strap is a light purple, and consists of two parts. There is the male side of the clasp, and the female side. On the female side you will find the thing string that is meant to go into a hole in the top of the player, out, and then to put the clasp through the hole, then pull to set it tightly in place. The male side is where the actual neck strap is located, and there is also a bead that can be slid up or down to give more or less slack around your neck.

As I mentioned earlier, JetAudio sent me a remote control, which is an optional accessory with the CW300. You will have to order the remote separately from the player if you want one. The remote control can control every function on the player except for turning it on or for using the menu. The remote is powered by the CW300, and has a chord coming from it which plugs into the headphone jack on the player. In turn, you plug your headphones into the remote. The remote also has an alligator clip on it, which I found to be relatively useless. The remote is about a quarter of the player's size, and is every bit as stylish. The chrome buttons on the front face are very attractive. On the sides of the remote are ordinary dark grey plastic buttons.

Finally, what you've been waiting for, the CW300! The player itself is visually stunning. The first thing to catch my eye was the mirrored surface surrounding the LCD display with a reflective iAudio logo along with the player model. The next thing I noticed was the sleek chrome jog-dials on either side. On the top of the player is the headphone jack and microphone. A closer look will reveal a small hole between the headphone jack and microphone. This is where the neck strap would go through if you decide to use it. If you look at the bottom you will see a piece of plastic that can be pulled back to reveal the USB plug, and next to that, the battery compartment. On the back-side of the player, near the top, you will see toggle switch for the hold function. Okay, so we have taken a look at everything individually, now it's time to play with the CW300.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: Taking a Closer Look
Page 4: Using the CW300
Page 5: Quality Check & Conclusion

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Add Comment

16 User Comments

1 - Posted by m[X] on September 22, 2003 - 7:26 am

:shock: whens it being sent to my house? :D

2 - Posted by Kurtis on September 22, 2003 - 10:46 am

oo look theres a pig flying up in the sky. :shock:

3 - Posted by DnD on September 22, 2003 - 11:29 am

*grabs his shotgun and shoots it down...then grabs the barbecue* WERE HAVING PIG TONIGHT! *looks up in the air* What flying pig are you talkin about Kurtis? *rips wings off dead pig and throws them over a cliff*

4 - Posted by Kurtis on September 22, 2003 - 11:31 am

:oops: *barf* :lol:

5 - Posted by DnD on September 22, 2003 - 11:33 am

you've nvr had pig? bacon? bacon comes from pig...

6 - Posted by Kurtis on September 22, 2003 - 11:45 am

lol yeah but i don't shoot the pig with a shotgun and rip its wings off before i fry him and eat him with my eggs :P

7 - Posted by MaNiAk21 on September 22, 2003 - 2:05 pm

Well somebody had to shoot 'em and pull off their wings, no one realizes that pigs really can fly, not enough of them alive to tell, shame. :P

8 - Posted by DnD on September 22, 2003 - 3:17 pm

ahahahahahaha

9 - Posted by Kurtis on September 26, 2003 - 12:14 am

I just realized I didn't write in the review what music I tested with etc. I said it sounded great but I didn't tell you guys what sorta music I tested with and how it sounded... just that it sounds good...

Should I edit the review and add that? I can guarantee it sounds amazing... as I said in the review the sound quality is awesome. However, do you guys think I should go back and be specific about what kind of music I tested with?

I don't want people to think I didn't actually thoroughly test the CW300, I used it for several weeks... Let me know what you people think

10 - Posted by Brian on September 26, 2003 - 12:46 am

Brian Says:

Yes, put in the moosic!

11 - Posted by MaNiAk21 on September 26, 2003 - 11:31 am

Yeah, I think that would be a good idea, not only to show that you actually used it, but it will add a personal feel to the review, it may not have been the music you listen to all of the time... but atleast that way, we know what Kurtis listens to while reviewing an MP3 player. :P

12 - Posted by handrail on September 26, 2003 - 11:35 am

oh come on Kurtis, we all know that the only music you have is linkin park. :D

had to get my once a day dig on linkin park in. :twisted:

13 - Posted by Rich on September 26, 2003 - 1:22 pm

I bet some Herb Albert sounds SWEEEEET on that thing...maybe some Chuck Mangione.. :D

14 - Posted by Kurtis on September 26, 2003 - 2:29 pm

lol actually i test mainly with eminem, linkin park, george acosta, various classical crap, some salsa crap, various hiphop and pop crap...

a little bit of everything

15 - Posted by Guest on July 19, 2004 - 6:17 pm

"JetAudio is actually a branch of the parent company, Cowon Systems, Inc., and like many other tech companies, is based in California"

COWON/jetaudio/iaudio is korean and nothing else.. u make it sound like they were from the US.

16 - Posted by Guest on July 20, 2004 - 3:44 pm

From JetAudio's website:

"JetAudio is ensuing Cowon Systems' successful achievements in Asian markets and is ready to carry on the momentums into North America."

Key phrase here is NORTH AMERICA. CONWON is the parent company. JetAudio is based in the US... How difficult is that to understand?

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