adam917

Would the RM-MC40ELK (it's used on some of the Hi-MD players like MZ-EH1 & the MZ-NH3D downloader/player) work well? I really like this style of remote, as I'm used to iRiver's offerings (I never used the 'tube' ones from Sony, but they look a big unwieldy)...

I want full functionality via an LCD remote, but these models don't come with one and the high-end ones in the D-NEX30 series still aren't out yet. I was wondering iof any of the previous years models' remotes from the MP3 CD players will run well on the D-NF430. If so, let me know. Thanks very much for letting me know... PS: Is G-Protection as good on these newer models as on previous ones? Excellent anti-skip would be my major reason for buying any other MP3 CD players (this is the _only_ place where my iRiver iMP-550 falls short - no G-Protection). Or did they skimp on that to provide higher headphone wattage?

From the looks of that table on the page linked, it seems that at last one of these portable DVD players to be launched in Japan on 1 June 2006 will play MP3s on DVD discs! Yay!

Does this apply even if the model in question comes with an LCD remote only in certain world regions?

The question is can you plug an LCD remote in that same jack and have the LCD run?

Yes it does, but the remote included is a non-LCD remote.

Oh the international versions do have an LED remote? So can you buy the remote and just use it too?

So where's the review of the D-NE900? I'm interested in reading this one...

Well, my aunt's D-NF430 (silver version) has 15 mW/channel (still has the sticker pointing it out on it too!). It sounds like it has 15 mW/channel too, considering my iRiver iMP-900 has 18 mW/ch and the Sony D-NF430 sounds almost as loud as my iRiver iMP-900 in the same headphones on the same CDs. Unfortunately, that unit doesn't have decent fast-forward and I don't know if it resumes from shutdown or CD removal either. :-( Strange that the track number is 3 digits yet it only shows the track number _within the current folder/album/group_ and not of the CD. (So there may be 25 tracks numbered '001' with this player if you have 25 folders on the CD.) It would be nice to be able to change this so that it shows the track number relative to the disc itself. Did anyone else get a carry case or mains/AC adaptor with their D-NF430? My aunt got only a non-LCD 'flat' (non-stick) remote. I'm guessing that an LCD remote wouldn't even work on this unit either. I'm surprised that Sony decided against including a carry case and at least a mains adaptor. Where can she get the carrying case for the D-NE430? I'd say the unit's decent for 60 USD, but any more and it may not be worth it, considering that you would need to puchase the case and mains adaptor separately (if you use it a lot at home like my aunt does).

You may wish to add that the silver D-NF430 is available from J&R now. http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=4082980 is the URL. It's probably similar to last year's model (FM/TV radio, same remote) but looks similar to D-NE330 and has its headphone wattage (15 mW/channel). Plus, the MP3-only units you meant to mention that were released before any ATRAC models were the D-CJXXX series, such as the clear/silver D-CJ01 (Sony's first MP3 CD player, adn it was a terrible model). The D-NE005/006 is another, more recent model that only plays MP3 (Not as bad as the D-CJ01, but could be better for 40 USD).

Did you try to speak to Sony about these issues? iRiver gave in after me pressuring them daily for a year with my unit being in their repair centre on a very big firmware problem on their iMP-900. I wonder what Sony would do should someone do the same to them for a year about some issue like this...

I could've sworn that power doesn't always directly relate to actual loudness you will get. My iRiver stuff is at least 12 mW/channel (and my iMP-900 is 18 mW/channnel) and it's not much louder than my old Sony D-EJ711, which has 5 mW/channel. The headphones I'm using are Sony MDR-A35G, but even when I try different models out, it's the same. Only when I use my Boostaroo do I notice a an actual increase, but it's not much still. Straneg considering that the MDR-A35G has a limit of around 50 mW and the iRiver iMP-900 + Boostaroo combo brings total mW to around 24 mW/channel and only at that point does it sound like we're reaching decent potential. I would like to audition some old (pre-1999) Sony units, as well as this new D-NE330 or any very new units that have the 15 mW/channel one day. What's anyone here think about all this? PS: I'm starting to think that it's actually me and my tolerance level. Perhaps I'm becoming more tolerant to louder sounds? Going from Sony's 5 mW/channel -> iRiver iMP-150's 8 mW/channel, to iMP-550's 12 mW/ch, to iMP-900's 18 mW/channel, than adding the Boostaroo on... Could it be just ME that think's it's too high just because I often attempt to block out outside sounds by just cranking it up?

Yuck! I thought that the Japanese models were the only models these deivces were available in and that what's exported is usually a choice between the colours or the 'default' colour. Those shades of green look terrible on them players. YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!

Isn't the Walkman phone a niche product?

I thought the D-NE10/D-NE900 was second-generation and the D-NE20/D-NE920 was third-generation. They did came out in different years (I believe, 2003--early 2004 and 2004--early 2005).

Wow. What a disgrace for their 20th-anniversary model. I can't believe all them problems occurred. I was wondering if Sony's ever going to give up the 'tube' one-line remotes in favour of something more like what iRiver offered (four line 'flat' remotes with sturdy clip). It seems like you realy _do_ need a screen on the Sony units to make full use of them, as one line can't cut it when you got menus, indicators, options, submenus, directories on the CDs, etc. What a shame. I once saw a different remote in a Japanese Sony catalogue being used with their new MD products that looks not too different from later iRiver remotes (multi-line screen, 'flat', etc.). Anyone have any clue on whether they finally decided to make a significant switch in their remote design?

Yes. I heard that the European market gets the D-NE7XX and '8XX, but only in one colour (usually whatever Sony's 'default' colour is (like silver :-( )). Perhaps it's way too early for us to be thinking about the D-NE30 and D-NE930 if those are to be the flagship and 2nd-place models of 2006? When does the North American market usually get these flagship models? Spring? I don't know much about hoe they do this stuff now, as the last Sony stuff I paid close attention to was when they came out with the D-EJ01, D-EJ915, D-EJ815, D-EJ715, and D-EJ615 (all were given slightly different model numbers in Japan) in autumn, 1999 in the US. The last Sony CD player I was interested in getting was perhaps the flagship model from 2000 (the one right after D-EJ01, perhaos D-EJ1000 was the one?) I briefly looked at the D-CJ500 (I think that was the 100-USD blue MP3-CD player that Sony has out in 2002 (_not- that crap D-CJ01!)), but dismissed it in favour of iRiver stuff from late 2002 to the current day. Sony has a long way to go to get back into the game they should be leading: portable audio. They'r enot leading it anymore thanks to their crap DRM policies (not to mention rootkit problems) of the early 2000s.

What was this bug? Perhaps this one of the many reasons Sony should start allowing firmware upgrades and start doing them, like iRiver and others have already. Currently, the only hope of a problem getting fixed is a replaced unit or another model, or even waiting another year for a new model!

Did you typo that 800-series model? Shouldn't it be D-NE830? I wouldn't expect that the D-NE830, '730, and '330 were all they are releasing for the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if abroad, them cheap PoS plastic stuff like D-CJ001 aren't even available. Or if they are, they're probably _given_ away as freebies. LOL D-NE005 is another piece of junk not worth even 20 USD, let alone the 42 USD I paid for it. The D-NE30, '930, '830, and '730, plus a unit or two with a screen on the main unit, should be the next models in Sony's US line-up, but I bet they're gonna clobber it again below the '930 line with all cheap plastic ones with 'blind' (screenless) remotes. Oh India got D-NE30 and '930? Or at least the D-NE730 and '830?

Are they due out yet or we have to wait until spring or so? When do the new CD models for a new year come out in the US? Since December of 2005, I been seeing some new models such as the D-NE830 and D-NE730 on the Sony Japan site that may or may not make it to the US (well, the previous 700- and 800-level models for the last few years didn't, anyway). Anyone have any clues yet on the full lineup besides D-NE830, D-NE730, D-NE330 (recently released in the UK and some on Head-Fi said they can get it in their local Wal-Marts now), and D-CJ002 (or whatever that new '002 model is that looks like the current '001 but wiht a round remote)? Thanks...

Yes. I have an '005 and there's not even an alpha-numeric screen or any way to see what files (or tags) you're listening to besides a total track number & group number. The hissing noise when the unit's volume is high at low passages is very annoying too. This thing shouldn't be higher than 25 USD, if that even. STAY AWAY. I regret spending 42 USD on mine (direct from Sony).

OK so it appears you answered my questions with the Sony stuff. I'm probably better off keeping what I have (iRiver iMP-550/900/150) for as long as I can and waiting until something really nice (either in HDD stuff like Neuros III or a future Cowon/iAudio device; or CD/DVD stuff like a CD-sized DVD player that can handle multiple digital formats and actually do a lot too). Thanks for the info...

Yes. Like their crappy D-CJ01 that didn't fast forward or rewind (how the hell do I get through my DJ mixes on such a device?!)...

This is something I want too. I would like to at least see photos of all 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place (if available) models prior to 2001, particularly of units prior to G-Protection. For MiniDisc, minidisc.org is the best place for all MD photo needs & info. I want to see a similar site for CD-Walkman/Discman/portable CD players, as well as even tape players & old computer digital audio ('MP3') players...