(Old thread, I know.)
My old Cowon player has given me some problems of late, so I was considering using the N9 as my music player
No contest against the Cowon--N9 sounds so dull. To my surprise my old N900 is a much closer race (though still loses). I could--and probably will--settle on theN900. The N9 sounds clean but really lifeless--kind of 2D. I am surprised so many people think the N9 sounds better.