md user

Right, turn off monitor gives about 60Watts energy use on my PC, a lot more than 10W on my deck. I tend to use my PC a lot in daytime, so doesn't matter to me. Otherwise, for low energy use, I use ordinary freeview box, and optical out to MD deck - again, never misses! mdmad.

Can you use internet radio, on a timer-basis? I use pc-card DVB-T for BBC radio scheduled recordings [kaffeine in linux]. Never misses a recording! Then, after download, place on MD! [A little ridiculous, no?] Regards, mdmad

So, do we all conclude that the Minidisc concept was a victim of its own failings, rather than a deliberate agenda against Sony/Minidisc, for example? [i.e. Not shot-down, but crashed by 'pilot error'!] My 'research' so far is that the original SP standard, as reached by Atrac 3.0, IS hi-fi standard, and needed no further fidelity (i.e. transparent) for the MASSES. So, it should have replaced the Compact Cassette[CC] - as was its ORIGINAL purpose. Sony et al only had a limited time-window [2000-2004] to establish MD as the public digital standard for audio, and then to drop the ordinary discs when solid-state storage became prevalent above 512MB. Having Atrac as the standard would then have enabled them to take command of online music distribution instead of iTunes. Now, with high bandwidth broadband, and HiMD discs, was Sony et al 'distracted' by formats below 292kbit/s? All of which compromised quality - ammunition for criticism; and to then fail to make EASY FOR THE MASSES that which was most important: putting the music on the machine! Was the fear of copying - to protect the music distribution empire [much larger than the' machine empire'] - that which caused all the problems? After all, can we not copy iTunes around? Yet still iTunes makes money! In fact, if Sony had enabled optical out on all machines [without restriction] at SP-mode, copying would have been easy for NORMAL USE - and the fear for music sales irrelevant since after the 3rd generation quality begins to lose fidelity anyway - exactly like CC for the last 40 years! They could also have enabled the generation-degradation in NetMD/USB download - as long as IT WAS EASY. It seems to me, the RUSH TO THE MARKET actually LOST them the pre-eminence! Something for management schools methinks! My Deathwish, by a shot to the foot, indeed! My 2cents; no 1cent's worth! Regards all, mdmad

Is that an OFFICIAL battery re-juvenation technique? And there's me thinking that only 'Murphy's Law' applies .... [This technique has 'lost' two of my phones already ...] There is hope, then!

Or to fail to disconnect the psu first ...

OK. [Haven't had anything by Bose myself. A presumption like many another - "high price=HQ"]. It DOES annoy if a manufacturer is mostly hype and not substance ... Thx for your experience - it may help another. Mdmad.

Some of the obvious ... [sorry don't have an RH1, but in general: ] Battery connectors inside unit OK? Corroded? Bent? Power socket ON UNIT ok? (i.e. usually has a switchover connection, can get bent). If able and necessary, connect psu unit to battery connectors inside unit to prove battery compartment - requires insulated wires and CORRECT voltage/current rating. - AT YOUR OWN RISK. Else, prove with known functioning battery/unit for comparison (if you know someone &c.) Oh well, that's a start! mdmad

THANKS for all the info. Very useful. I'm using WM-61As via Linkwitz mod (available on web), with any of my portables at Live concerts - with surprisingly good results. (Yes, I know that this is an amateur effort compared to HHB professional equipment.) Whatever, listening to my recordings after, really does remind me of the concert - which is what it's all about, for me. Regards, mdmad.

Unlucky! Wow! I would have thought that It takes some doing to buy HQ branded phones worse than stock ones! And from Bose! [i presume that those Bose's weren't fakes?] Mind you, the M100 does deserve a good phone, perhaps the EX500,700 ... &c.? (if one can afford these!) What model were they? Perhaps they are a bad match to non-ipods? Would like to know more ... Regards, mdmad.

Yes! And what a pity! (I know, to sell more headphones ...). But really, when MD units were expensive, they should at least have RECOMMENDED (their own brand) headphones in the manual (or in an enclosed leaflet). I mean, they go on about buying their own brand rechargeable batteries ... yeah right, makes a BIGGER difference! And don't say that everyone knows about headphones - most of my friends/family still use stock phones for bought players! (Normally because they aren't bothered and/or just haven't experienced quality phones.) mdmad.

Yes, and, in the case of 'on-the-ear' types, where and at what angle they press - I find greater treble if pressing on the lobe; i.e. I am finding that there is actually a 'sweet spot'. I am actually starting to 'mod' an old pair to optimise them! (I know, a bit obsessive ... ); changing proximity, position and angle. Still, I've never enjoyed the quality of music this good ! MDs R Great! mdmad.

Thanks to you too bluecrab! Now I have three to choose from! - all of them seem good - can't go wrong can I? Thanks to everyone for the 'quick guide' to my choice. :thank_you2: mdmad.

Might be worth giving both heads a 'clean' (if you haven't already) before you give up on it totally. I bought an old Aiwa MD deck (on ebay) which kept having drop-outs in the recording. A clean up solved the problem for me. (I bought the TWO disc cleaner-set, on ebay.) I know that there could be many other reasons for the fault ... but good luck anyway! mdmad.

Thanks A440 - that's very helpful of you. With Regards, mdmad.

Following on, from your experience, what's your opinion of Koss Porta Pros? (Or another phone of similar price/quality/type.) I'm looking for a replacement of my lightweights, ones that are of good 'accuracy' (i.e. not over-enhanced bass, but yet still 'weighty') for my portables. I especially don't want too much in the very-highs (I have RP-F500s for that). $40-50 budget. [Yes, I know about EEPROM tweaks for bass, treble and X-sound - whatever I buy I will optimise to my taste.] I just wanted to check from someone who may appreciate Sony or Sharp MD amps (as most reviewers usually match to iPods, it seems.) Also, I know that there are many other makers of good quality lightweights, it's just that I've got to choose some pretty soon, and their frequency profile looks to about my taste. Thanks to anyone who knows a little to pass on. Regards all, mdmad.

Right, so now I've 'perfected' my MD setup ., my attention has now turned to Headphones! You see, it all started when I generated a test frequency pass from audacity onto MD, and then profiled my different headphones ... Then I realised that flat frequency curves and 0.01% THD are not everything. I mean, have you seen a frequency profile of some seriously good headphones? See here if not, it was a revelation to me! (It seems to me to be more about tonal balance, construction, and bespoke designing me-thinks, rather than 'cold numbers'!) This exercise certainly helped me understand the strengths/weaknesses of my (far cheaper) headphones, in comparison. Just thought I'd share this with you - this MD-thing has really started to improve my understanding of 'audiophile' quality (previously beyond my reach). Regards all. mdmad.

Explain, record mode is defeated? Sorry, don't know your model, but for general decks I would consider: dirty heads, synchro detect (setting) failure, firmware download corruption, rca lead or connector failure, hardware failure ... and testing on a known deck/portable first. for what it's worth, good luck! mdmad.

Right, so the limitation in copying is/was one of the main obstacles. But, I read on those old forums that the main (early) complaint was SOUND QUALITY* - and yet I, personally, just cannot find obvious faults in my MD recordings. My wonder is, then, was there a DELIBERATE and undue criticism of the MD concept? (Or am I just not hearing the weaknesses in MD yet? ) Just wondered, now with hindsight and since 'that war has been won and lost ...', - whether the truth about MD can be told. Regards all. mdmad. *one article in an Hi-Fi mag even 'proved' that 128kb/s mp3 was better than MD at SP! I mean, I consistently find the opposite to be true! (I can place a reference if required, but it is one of many.)

I've now been really enjoying MDs for about a year. It has come as a surprise then, that when reading around the internet old articles &c., that MiniDisc was not really that well received (except in Japan). In fact, I've come across numerous chat forum threads (elsewhere) where some were openly hostile to the format (in favour of mp3 or ogg &c.) - suggesting it has nasty artifacts &c. (Then I read articles from others and some Hi-Fi mags where they were encouraged.) Now, with hindsight, knowing how good or bad the format became, WAS THE MINIDISC CONCEPT BADLY TREATED (AND DELIBERATELY SO)? If so, why? (Just would like to know, as I didn't go thru' that period of debate. e,g, I keep recording DVB-T radio broadcasts, and they aren't as good as MD to my ears - and yet mp3 was not maligned like MD!) Just a wonder, and to know your views! mdmad.

I'm starting to get looks too ... It's just that I'm not sure whether they think I'm cool ... or way out of touch ... mdmad.

Thanks, I've had a look, but both of these are too far away for the pickup/collection offered. Still useful, though, to see what prices they are fetching. I'll keep my ebay account on a search for this kind of unit. mdmad.

Points taken. (Horrified by Point 1!). Point 2 is important to me. Looks like I'll have to start learning about these things ... and looking on ebay ... mdmad.

Presumably we've all seen minidisc.org's related comment on this: Link Personally, I'm rather bemused by Sony's 'anti-vibration' MD, especially looking at the graph on the wrapper. I think I need a 'y-axis interpretation note' ... and it still rattles when I shake it ... Anyway, given that there is a specification for MiniDiscs, there should be a minimum standard across all manufacturers, yes? I seem to remember reading somewhere about >500 recordings, maximum error rates, and long lifespans, in a specification. Oh, well, I must get back to listening to my MDs, rather than write about them ... Regards all, mdmad

Just read this (see below) on the HydrogenAudio website [website here]. I notice that the highest setting, on version 3.98.2 of LAME is 320CBR. Also, that VBR is not usually expected to be above 260kbps. If atrac is 292kbps SP, then both projects (mp3 and ATRAC), considered ~300kbps a good ratio of quality-for-size at the upper-end of the quality scale. According to the chart in this link: Chart Here ... the quality is at this bitrate is [subjectively] ~90% to the original. I guess that Sony (et al), DID optimise the ATRAC codec for the 292CBR rate by 2003. Lame can really only be expected to achieve similar results if this presumption is true - unless they have had a technological advancement (in deciding the best 4/5 of audio data NOT to put into that 300kbps). In any case, to my ears, I'm really enjoying the music from MDs, and the chase for 'audio codec perfection' is not important ... otherwise I'd buy an expensive portable CD player instead - naah!, an expensive SACD player instead. Just another 2cents worth ... The ironic thing is ... more and more audio I get to download/record is at 192kbps or less! [internet radio, DAB, DVB-T]. Makes me worry the less ... Regards to you all. mdmad. =========================================================================== REFS =========================================================================== Bitrate overview (mostly based on LAME 3.98.2 results) Switch Preset Target Kbit/s Bitrate range kbit/s -b 320 --preset insane 320 320 CBR -V 0 --preset fast extreme 245 220...260 -V 1 225 190...250 -V 2 --preset fast standard 190 170...210 -V 3 175 150...195

Right. So, do I need to test EACH record level (say 20,21,22,23 ...30) and compare? And what, specifically, do I listen for as evidence of rounding error? Particular artifacts? (or just a general clarity improvement?) Also, once established, this level should be good for all input tracks, correct? [i.e. MD-device specific not track specific?] Thanks. mdmad.