After a few long months of waiting, we were finally able to get our hands on Cowon’s D2.  Very compact (78 x 55.4 x 16.6 mm) for its 91 g, this player presents itself as a very complete multimedia station: 2.5 inch tactile screen, audio playing autonomy of up to 52 h, SD extension slot, and TV connector.  With this D2, the legendary Cowon seems to have wanted to add another solid product to its catalogue.

Tests: ergonomics, audio and video quality

Ergonomics:  With a 6.4 cm diagonal screen, the Cowon D2 is found in the credit card sized media player category.  Navigation is carried out in two ways: first there is the tactile screen and then there is the more classic method of control buttons (volume and menu) found on the face.  For easy navigation, Cowon provides a stylet (tactile controls also function with your finger) which can be transformed into a support if you insert it in the slot on the right of the device.  The only disappointment is the lack of a button to rapidly go from one audio track to another without having to take the player out of your pocket or the pouch.  The menu interface is pleasant with clear and detailed icons.  While the music library is extremely well managed, we didn’t find a French translation for menu options (could apply to other languages).

Audio:  In terms listening pleasure, Cowon has the reputation of being the uncontested leader.  So we were excited to test the limits of this player.  The standard earphones are more or less unsettling and fatiguing for the ears.  We recommend demanding users replace them for optimal audio quality.  Once this change is made, sound is quite simply excellent.  It is balanced, clear and has depth.  And if this wasn’t enough, a plethora of controls enables very minutely improving sound quality.  In short, the D2 is pure pleasure for your ears and Cowon upholds its reputation.

Video:  As we mention in the box, the Cowon D2’s video tests were cut short due to a lack of compatibility with the formats and resolutions of our files.  We only managed to read a DivX encoded in 320x128 pixels and AVI.   One good point was that rendering of this file is largely superior to what we find with the competition at NeoNumeric.  Sequences are fluid and the image is sharp.  Finishing on a rather sour note, this fine rendering is handicapped by the size of the screen which might not be the best for regular use.

The D2 also comes in 2 and 4 GB versions.