spann

Streuth. I can't believe you are all getting Image Converter three to work "smoothly"! I have tried various xVid files and different settings, and yet *every* time the conversion is upside down and reflected left to right - which is hopeless as any text is mirrored and things are simply in the wrong place. Searching various forums results in noone else apparently having this problem. It is a really bizarre problem. I know it's not going to convert correctly as even the preview pic is upside down! Are any of you guys running on Vista? Cheers, spann

>> Oh, how about avi files encoded with say divx? > You can definitely convert AVI files (with DivX Video Compression) to AVC format with Image Converter. You sure about that? As I posted on another forum here, attempts with Image Converter to transfer various DivX files unfortunately result in the file being upside down and mirrored left to right :-(. Cheers, spann

Hi. Received my NW-A805 today - great sound quality and interface, although I'll miss the noise-cancellation. Hit a strange problem when encoding video files using Image Convertor 3.0 running on Vista. When I try and transfer an xvid file, the conversion seems to work ok except that it is upside-down and mirrored left to right - thinking about it, I guess it is mirrored vertically. Anyone else had this? Is xvid a supported format? Cheers, spann

Hi, Yes, there is definitely only one gold plate - I assume related to the noise-cancelling circuitry. In reply to Zizone, it is definitely the two players I have had that are at fault, not the headphones; after the first broke, I bought another identical unit and plugged the brand new head phones into the old unit. Crackling on the left channel. Conversely, the old headphones with the new unit worked fine... until of course the new unit broke also. I haven't tried the warranty; not sure I have the patience for all the faffing around, although I should have tried it really. Some good news at least, my nw-a805 shipped today! Am interested in seeing how the sound quality compares with that I've had from the NW-S70x units, which I have to say I was very impressed with before they broke. Cheers, spann

Hi, Sadly I don't have any advice on how to fix it! I still find it peculiar that two units - purchased a couple of months apart - both developed this very particular fault in the same channel, whereby first there is crackling with noise cancellation on only, followed by crackling and intermittent output on the left channel regardless of the noise cancellation setting. Viewing the unit from behind, if one applies pressure to the headphone plug towards the front of the unit then I find the signal comes through ok which makes me think that the problem is a loose contact. Of course, this is rather tiresome, and I suspect it would break eventually anyway. I have given in on these units for now. I notice that most of the 1GB models in the NW-S* range mysteriously aren't available on sony-style uk now anyway - at least they weren't yesterday, apart from the pink unit! As I value sound quality highly, I have plumped for an NW-A805 model for now although I will definitely miss the noise cancellation. Cheers, spann

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I think turning off the noise-cancelling just defers the problem - it eventually breaks anyway. I can't help but think there's a manufacturing fault or design flaw in these players somewhere because it is the left channel that seems to be consistently breaking. It's a shame - I've had previous flash sony players and treated them in exactly the same way and they have lasted for ages. Not sure what to do next. I think that a loose connection develops somewhere in the headphone socket on the unit, perhaps it's related to the fact that the shuttle control is around the socket. I'd be interested to hear if Sony manage to fix your unit. I guess I may try one of the new budget E01* players - they have similar battery life and other characteristics, but sadly without the surpisingly effective noise reduction. *Sigh*! Cheers, spann

Hi, I bought my first NW-S703 in November - I listen to it when out walking, I carry it in my front left pocket and use the supplied phones. Delighted with the sound quality and the noise cancelling. After about a month and a half (used about an hour each day), I started getting a crackling in the left hand headphone. It disappeared if I turned off noise cancelling - but then a few weeks later the left headphone went off completely. Naturally I thought it was the headphones causing the problem - so I recklessly bought another NW-S703, plugged in the old headphones to the new unit and was suprised to find they worked fine, it was the old unit itself with the problem. Anyway, I started using the new player with the old headphones. Six weeks later and the dreaded crackling reappeared in the left channel... turned off noise cancelling, it was ok, but sadly yesterday, the left headphone has started to give up completely. I wonder if it is someway I am stressing the unit by carrying in my front jeans pocket, but that's two units I've had now and they've both failed in the same way. I wonder if it's a loose contact, but there's no way I can get into the unit. Very disappointed - there's no other mp3 player out there with the same combination of sound quality, batt life, and the very useful noise cancelling. Anyone else had this? Cheers, spann