juli_

I'm amazed they're discontinuing it so soon, especially as it's so good. Wasn't the HD5 discontinued because of the issue with the cracked buttons? Now the HD5's are almost like 'collectors' items - maybe the 706 will go that way too. What a shame On a different note, can anyone who's reading this please tell me where to post a query about the new docking cradle with wi-fi etc? I had the original Sony CPF-NW001 Cradle Audio Speaker and sold it. I then bought the 'new' model which is supposed to be exactly the same but with added features. But with the previous model you could flip albums from the remote control, with the new model you can only flip tracks, not albums, which means I have to change albums via the player. I haven't set up any of the software as I never plan to use the wi-fi, I just want to use it in the same way I used the previous model. I can't get help from the Sony site and I don't know where I should post this, anyone? Thanks

OK, I just remembered they only have 12 hours playback, no good to me. Five years ago I would have rejoiced at 12 hours. . . but now it seems almost primitive. Funny how expectations change so fast

Where??? Not that I need any more players, but I like to know what's new

Thanks Zizone, the diagram shows exactly the method Markey described - now just waiting for the post

Thank you. So I push, not pull. Will try tomorrow

I've given in and re-bought the 706 because I miss it but I'm keeping the 808 as I can put lossless classical on it, and the analytical tone should complement it nicely. What I'd like to know please, is how to pull the shuttle switch in and out on the 706. When I had it before, I was never able to access that mode because I couldn't see how it 'pulled' out. Do you click/pull/twist - how does it come out? I saw a post here before about pulling the jog switch out - but for the life of me I couldn't work out how to do it! As it's coming tomorrow, I'd like to know how to 'pull' it out. Thank you

I've imported CDs in atrac format (SS 4.3) in order to play gapless live albums, but there is always always a slight hiccup before going to the next song. Does anyone else have this problem?

Yes, I've been on a quest! But I've either been able to sell, or return all the headphones I've tried. Plus the 310s I have now were a gift, so once I decide between those and the 210s, I'll sell the extra pair and my quest will finally be over. It's taken a few months, and it's been very very interesting to have the opportunity to try out different sets and see which ones make the music come alive for me. I don't regret it for a second, it's been frustrating at times, but also huge huge fun.

They cost a bomb now since they went up from £80 to over £140 on Amazon! I bought them when they were at the lower price. I think a lot of people took advantage of that for the few weeks Amazon was selling them for £80!

I sold my E4Gs because although I loved the detail, especially with acoustic and vocals - I found they were too bright at louder levels. The SE310s that I'm using at the moment don't suffer from that so I can listen for longer. I do prefer the E4Gs clarity though, but the 310s are a good compromise

I still have the set I bought from Amazon a while back. I did use them for a while and liked them a lot with rock, but only about 20% of my music is rock, and I found them too heavy for more delicate stuff like acoustic and classical etc. I got them for £14.99, a real bargain when they cost so much more elsewhere. I still like them with rock especially now I've grown more accustomed to the 808 EQ. Without EQ I found them quite overbearing but reducing the bass helped make them sound more balanced.

They certainly do. Do you know if the normalizer only works for tracks within the same album? I have one Jean Michel Jarre album, 'Aero' that is about twice as loud as everything else. I have to reduce the volume from around 18 to 10 just for that album. I have taken it off for now as it's too much of a shock on my ears, is that because only individual albums are normalized? And can anyone explain how the dynamic range is lost when the normalizer is on? I thought the range was lost if the tracks were actually recorded using volume levelling, not just if the normalizer on the player was activated. Have I confused anyone? I have confused myself. . .

If it's artificially boosting the volume at the quiet parts, wouldn't I hear distortion? I still don't quite understand the normalizer, I've turned it off for now just to see if I can hear a difference, but so far I've only noticed I have to turn it up a bit more - I don't want to lose the dynamic range even if I can't hear that I lost it, it's my dynamic range and I want it back!

I find the opposite is true. If I turn off the normalizer, all the songs are much quieter, when it's on, everything is a lot louder. My ears don't hear any decrease in quality so I keep it on. If it's off, I have to turn the volume up by another 3 or 4 notches

Oh, hahahaha, yes it was and no I wasn't impressed at all. I sold them on eBay. I worked out I've tried 8 different headphones with the 808 in my quest to get the best match for it, and I also pointed out in the Amazon review that iLounge had said there was virtually no difference between the 210s and 310s, but actually I can hear a difference now I have them both here. The 210 is very very good, some editorial reviews claim it has a nicer sound than the 310, and for some styles it's true. But as I got the 310s for free, I'm trying to convince myself they sound better than the 210s. They're definitely more detailed, but the 210s have that analoguey feel that makes the 808 sound a little more like the 706!! I'll probably keep the 310s and sell the 210s. All this hassle trying to find headphones was simply to get my 808 to sound like my (sold) 706. . . isn't that just sad??? I regularly used the E4Gs with the 706 but found they sounded quite different with the 808, too cold - hence the search began

i haven't tried the E2Cs, but I read that the 210s are a very worthy upgrade to the E2Cs with more bass response and more clarity. Plus they're half the price of the 310s. The 210s are really good and that's what I was using until I was given the 310s. But if you're coming from an E2C, I'm positive you'll notice a huge huge difference, and they sound beautiful with the 808. I can't say theres a noticeable difference between the 210s and 310s and definitely not enough to pay twice as much for them. And the 210s are a nice match with the 808.

Yes yes yes, I agree. . . but I still miss my 706 though. I loved the bass on that, well, I loved the whole sound of it better than the 808, but I'm getting more used to the 808 the more I use it. 706 is my most favourite player in the whole world and the 808 is my second most favourite player

Oh yeah, I think you're right. Didn't someone mention something about 808s made in China had better sound than ones made in Malaysia? (or maybe it was the other way round). Either way, my made-in-China one has no volume problems at all

Mine's made in China too, I think the 808s made in Japan stay in Japan, and the rest are made in China and shipped off elsewhere. I can't understand why you'd be having a problem with the volume though. It really does play loud. I'm listening to 'Dark Side of the Moon' (256kbps atrac) right now with the Shure SE310s and 20/30 is the loudest I would ever have to set it to achieve the loudest I would ever want to hear it. It's really loud (and has no distortion) but it's much louder than I would ever need for any musical style. If I use the stock buds, I'd have to go to 30/30 to get the same loudness that I get with the 310s at 18/30. Your E2Cs should be fine with the 808, unless there's something wrong with the player. . . As for the E500 vs SE310, I don't know what your listening preferences are. Obviously the E500 is considered to be far superior to the 310, but the truth is I did not enjoy them on my 808 or 706. 'Appreciated the detail', yes - 'enjoyed', no. Like I said, it depends what you're looking for

I didn't think it was available in the US either. As for volume, with the stock buds I listen around 22 if I want it 'loud' and around 18 for casual listening. With my Shure SE310s, it's set to around 17/30 for casual - and anything above 20 is painful. Are you sure it's genuine???

I know, I've got one. Was just seeing how it had been listed at Amazon uk

Oh I see, or I guess it would be called an mp3 player? Amazon.co.uk list the NW-A808 as a 'video walkman' rather than an mp3 player, whereas I only use it for music. I would really love an 8GB Sony dap with the 706 sound chip. . . is it manufacturer's policy not to release information like this or something?

OK, another stupid question. What do you mean the M70s are classified as mp4s? And does Sony Japan manufacture better-sounding daps than Sony China? I'm very confused. . . it's late

Of course it isn't. Thanks for prodding my brain back to life!

Are you sure? If I wasn't so lazy I'd get up and check, I'm sure I've connected mine to the hi-fi, but you have to switch something in the 808 menu - or am I thinking about the 706? Someone help my brain come back to life please