lashag

Thought I ought to share my experience in this topic. For most users this might not be a big issue though? I sent the following question to the Sony Support in Sweden: "Summary: Can I expect a NW-S705F firmware upgrade, solving the static noise issue? Background: I recently purchased a NW-S705F, which I selected due to prior personal experiences with Sony’s high quality audio equipment. I am since the MD breakthrough very impressed by the ATRAC technology and was thrilled by the fact that Sony now has brought ATRAC recording capability to flash players. I’m extremely happy with the NW-S705F’s build quality and functionality. The sound quality is excellent for tight music on medium to high levels of volume. However, when listening to sparse music on low volume, a static white noise totally destroys the listening experience. This is most obvious when listening to speech or acoustic music with quiet parts, in a silent room on a low volume (1-3). Very annoying, indeed! The noise floor is constant, regardless of volume setting or type of encoding. I have disabled the following features: - noise cancellation - clear stereo - equalizer - clear bass - spatial virtualizer - volume limiter In other worlds, the tonal controls are totally flat. The noise is also present while the display is shut off, so the problem is not related to the OLED driver. The situation is the same for FM, so it is not a MP3/ATRAC decoder issue. I have also tried various headphones, like Shure’s in-ear phones. I realize I could decrease the hiss by increasing the impedance via an adapter, but that would add bulk and that would exclude usage of the NC in-ear phones. Can I expect a firmware solution in near future, or do I have to limit my listening to certain types of music and environments?" The reply (in Swedish) indicates they do neither recognize the problem, nor do they have a solution apart from sending in the unit for repair. I made a complaint at the store and got to try another unit, but as expected it had the same problem. I returned the player since the static noise is too annoying for me the way I would use it. I will keep an eye on future firmware upgrades, since I would definitely buy a NW-S700 again, if Sony could only decrease the noise floor. It is an excellent player in every other aspect. I noticed the noise was less of an issue when I plugged in my Etymotic ER-4P. The impedance is probably slightly higher on these IEM, requiring higher output which lowers the noise floor relatively. The noise was really bad with my Shure E2g, which I guess are quite easily driven. My guess is the hiss is added somewhere late in the amplifier circuit. It puzzles me why manufactures don’t make flash players as quiet as MD players. I guess they make other considerations when optimizing the amplifier, like component size, cost and battery life?