iAudio CW300 MP3 Player

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Julie

December 08, 2003

Product Requirements:
Device:
Windows 98, 2000, ME or XP

Early this year, I reviewed JetAudio's iAudio CW200 MP3 Player. I found it to be a great small form factor player, that had enough extra features to overshadow the fact that it was not expandable (no memory card slot) and could not play WMA files. JetAudio's latest model is the CW300. What new features and / or upgrades does this model have? Read on...

Hardware Specifications

Bit Rate Supports - MPEG1/2 - Layer 2/3 (MP3)Supports whole range of 8Kbps ~ 320Kbps and VBR
Memory - 128/256/512MB according to model
PC Interface - USB
File Transmission Rate - Maximum 6M bps
Battery - 1.5V (AA) 1 unit (maximum 30 hrs of continuous playback)
LCD Display - 128 x 16 Bitmap
S/N Ratio - 95dB
Audio - 8mW + 8mW (16 Ohm earphones)
Output Frequency Band - 20Hz ~ 20KHz
Size - 1.57 x 3.25x 0.73 inches (40 x 82.5 x 18.6 mm)
Weight - 1.48 oz (42g) : without battery

Like the CW200, the CW300 is small. However, the new CW300 has slightly increased in both size and weight. This increase mainly due to the fact that instead of using a AAA battery, the CW300 uses a AA battery. This change is actually the biggest feature difference between the two models. Instead of getting 9-12 hrs of battery life from one battery, the CW300 can play for up to 30 continuous hours! Wowza!

The CW300 feels good in hand. It is solid, and has a quality weighty feeling. It passes the Gadgeteer creak test with flying colors. No squeaks or flexing.

It is made of plastic and aluminum. The main shell is made of charcoal colored plastic, while the front and back have a silver aluminum shell.

User interaction is achieved by two spring loaded rocker buttons, a sliding hold switch and a record button. Either side of the player has a silver spring loaded rocker button. The left button controls Volume up / down and activates the Menu when pressed in. The button on the right side controls Previous, and Next tracks, as well as Play and Pause. This button also is the power switch. By holding it in, the player will toggle power.

The hold switch is located on the back of the device. When slid to the lock position, key presses will have no effect on the player. This keeps the player from inadvertently powering on in a pocket or purse.

The LCD display is virtually identical to the CW200 in size and clarity. With the blue backlight, you'll have no problems queuing up your favorite tunes in dim light or total darkness.

On the bottom of the player is the battery compartment and USB cable connector (small format).  The included USB cable is slightly longer than 4 ft. Since the CW300 has no memory card slot, this cable is needed to transfer MP3s directly to the device. This is accomplished using the included JetAudio software which has an easy drag and drop interface.

A voice record button is located at the bottom front of the player. Not a great location in my mind, since the microphone is located at the top of the device. A more natural position for this button would have been on the left side, under the volume control rocker switch. Not a big deal though...

Located next to the microphone is a lanyard strap attachment point, and the earphone jack. The CW300 can be purchased in two packages, with Cresyn AXE 599BL ear buds, or Sennheiser MX 400 ear buds. The Sennheiser packages are $10 more than the former. My review package included the Sennheiser ear buds. For me, the choice of ear buds doesn't matter as the majority of them are uncomfortable to me.

The CW300 has all the same software and hardware features as the CW200, as well as a few extras. One such added feature is the ability to save files other than MP3 files into memory. This allows you to use the CW300 as a storage device as well as an MP3 player. The CW300 also comes with a nice assortment of cases. Included is a small suede like drawstring pouch, a silver play through belt clip case, and a smaller play through case that can fit on the included adjustable armband. The armband is a great accessory for people that like to run, jog, etc. with their MP3 player.

Of course, the most important feature of any MP3 player is the sound quality. Like the CW200, the CW300 is excellent in that respect. There is even a built in equalizer with presets such as Normal, Rock, Jazz, Classical and User. The user setting allows you to individually adjust the bass, treble, loudness, and dynamic bass. Speaking of bass, for a little device, this player has a nice thump to it!

Bottom line, the CW300 is a nice upgrade from the CW200, if only for the huge gain in battery life. That alone is pretty much the main selling point for this new model. At only $10 difference for each memory configuration, it is worth it in my opinion. That said, this player will never usurp my iPod, but it makes a great player for active people who want a very small player with a built in radio and voice recorder.

 

Price: $149 - $299 depending on memory capacity. Check for lowest prices here.

Pros:
30hr battery life
Included arm band and belt cases
Built in radio and voice recorder

Cons:
No memory expansion slot