Cowon PD2 (Plenue D 2nd Gen) with 2.5mm Balanced Output - GOLD

Okay, I'm just gonna get this out of the way and say it. The sound quality on this device is the best I've encountered so far and I have purchased far more expensive DAPs. (Astell Kern Kann, Sony Walkman zx300 and astell kern mkii)Sound qualityI give you a brief description of why this player is so good sonically. Utilising the balanced output via a quite expensive trrs cable and sennheiser hd 660s, the player transforms the experience of listening to Normal 16 bit flacs to as if they were of 24bit 192khz quality. The soundstage and clarity achieved here are nothing short of breathtaking, its an absolute joy going back to old CDs I purchased, ripping them to flacs and dissecting them with this player.BatteryThe battery power too is something that can't be overlooked cowon claims around 45 hrs of battery which mightve been the best in the market were it not for its predecessor. I find listening to hires flacs shortens this though but it's still ridiculous if you consider how much many days of music you could listen to without charging if you only used the device for like 2 hrs a day.The Bad - is too good to be true?This player has some very important compromises which can and can't be ignored depending on the type of experience you want.Memory CardsThe first flaw (which can be a deal breaker) starts with how much memory and songs the device itself can hold from micro sd cards, if you want to use microSD cards with more than 128gb then you're out of luck as the device just ignored my 400gb microsd. The blow to this revelation is softened by the fact the device it self has 64gb built in storage and ive just had to be selective with my library of files. Also before use the microsd had to be formatted to a special format and songs had to be copied to the player while it was connected to the computer which is definitely not user friendly.FeaturesThe device also does not have Bluetooth technology which completely makes sense since wireless technology is not yet capable of outputting the same sound quality as a quality wired cable.StreamingAs with the lack of Bluetooth, this device does not have WiFi which means streaming is not supported which for the reasons stated in the Bluetooth section also make sense and also contribute to why this device has such a great battery life. This is most definitely a sign of a manufacturer that knows its audience.The device also suffers from a laggy interface which is mildly annoying, knowing what you getting in return. - Gold-tier sound, great battery and oh this device is smaller than it looks which is a definitely a positive. The price and performance is unrivalled at the moment.In short, buy it and appreciate your music library in a totally new light for a reasonable price. It like the kindle paperwhite know exactly what they offer their audiences: A no nonsense digital approach to hobbies that can transform your outview of the world.

I did a load of research before buying this product. I read various reviews and read the pros and cons. There is no point in writing a long winded review as lots of others have already done that. What i will say is that if you are looking for amazing clarity in your music then the D2 hits the spot. Beautifully balanced and warm sound. Vocals are amazing and lyrics clear like i've never heard before. I didn't want gadgets and nonsense, just a straight forward player with amazing sound. That is what you get. I'm using sennheiser HD650's. Great combination.Top tip: When it asks you if you are in the european union on set up. Say no. It restricts volume levels which is annoying.You can undo it. Search Plenue D2 volume too low and there is a quick fix by deleting system file PARAM.CFGReally very impressed with this product.

Just bought the Plenue D2 to replace my A&K Jr and generally I'm very pleased.Sound quality is excellent, and plenty loud enough through my over ear headphones without needing a separate amp. Bass heads are especially well catered for what with a custom EQ, BBE+ which boosts the bass and treble, and a separate bass boost. I find the sound generally less harsh and fatiguing than my A&K whilst still being very clear. Battery life is excellent, and the UI isn't as bad as I was expecting it to be from many online reviews, sure the text blurs when scrolling but otherwise it does the job.My only slight criticism is with the EQ, the frequency for each slider is adjustable, but the bottom end only goes down to 80hz and the top end up to 13Khz, personally I'd have liked options for around 50-60hz, and 16Khz, but it's not a major issue. Oh, and transferring files from PC is slow at around 7 MB/s, taking a couple hours for 36GB of music.

Looking to break away from my phone and to halt the personal data that's passed to streaming services on paper this was the player for me. I love the old school simplicity of just dropping files on to the unit without the need of any other software, no wifi, no Bluetooth and no data grabbing apps... perfect. Although subjective the sound quality blows away any smartphone although you need pair up the unit with a quality set of phones for your ears because otherwise, you are wasting your money. Out of the box, the sound is crystal clear and frankly mind-blowing. I use and much prefer the 2.5mm balanced output although some feel the noise floor isn't great compared to the traditional 3.5mm output. The interface is a bit meh but the sound quality overshadows this, for the money this unit is punching way above its weight.

I bought this purely for sound quality. I didn't need toothless technology as I enjoy listening direct through high quality in-ear headphones.The sound quality is fantastic - detailed, warm, excellent clarity. I have settled for the 'JetEffect5' - Rock sound setting (in tools) as this, for me, gives the best sonics.I prefer the software straightforward and basic. It does all I need - no issues with that at all.

Sound quality is outstanding although most of the EQ pre-sets are superfluous. Bizarrely, 'Acoustic' gives me the best all round sound for Rock, Blues, Prog and Pop. Battery life is excellent - hard to beat, I would have thought. User interface is disappointing - not intuitive and too crowded to always hit the right selection. The actual unit is quite short and chunky and personally I would have preferred something slightly longer and slimmer but I am being very picky now, overall this is an impressive piece of kit and I am very satisfied with it. If sound quality and battery life are your key criteria then this will be hard to beat at this price.