Typical price: £250
What is it: Hard disk-based PMP with built-in video recorder
What we think: The most capable handheld video player we've seen to date
What you need to know
Reviewed on: 20 February 2008
Tags: Cowon, Cowon A3, Korean, recording, ripping
We like:
Price; image quality; sound quality; amazing video and audio codec support; support for DVD VOB files; direct video and audio hard disk recording and encoding
We don't like:
Mini joystick is unbearable; HD video is nowhere near as nice to use as Cowon claims; no kickstand
Also known as:
Cowon iAudio A3
You might also need:
Headphones
CNET UK judgement:
Certainly the most capable handheld video player we've seen to date. With its unrivalled screen and codec support, its direct recording capabilities and its ability to playback DVD video files without transcoding, Cowon's A3 is a well-priced behemoth for portable video lovers, despite the advertised HD video support being so disappointing
Full review:
Cowon's A3 is the brother of the Q5W -- an extremely capable portable media player, that even came with Wi-Fi and Windows CE 5.0. The A3, while very similar to the Q5W, is a very different player and costs a very different price: the 30GB A3 costs £250 instead of around £400 for the 40GB Q5W. But what's interesting is that its core functionality is very similar to its more expensive sibling. Continue Reading...
Cowon A3 History
27 Oct 2008 in Crave
Archos 5 vs Cowon A3: PMP prizefight
We put the new French Archos 5 up against Korea's Cowon A3 to find out which is the best video player. You've got front-row seats in our freshly redesigned Crave
13 Feb 2008 in Crave
Psst. Hey, videophiles. Feast your eyes on the latest gem from South Korea -- it's the Cowon A3. Get out your codec checklists because this one supports H.264
29 Nov 2007 in Crave
Cowon iAudio A3: The definitive PMP?
Cowon's new iAudio A3 has just hit the UK and it's set to be the be-all and end-all of portable media players. With huge codec support and a massive screen, could it dethrone the Archos 605 Wi-Fi?
Latest user reviews
February 25, 2008
Posted by: nopreceja
"Not that good, really"
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