adam917

Here's some release dates for most recent G-Protection models, including ATRAC models: CD-DA-only models: D-EJ01/E01, '915, '815, '715, '615 (first G-Protection models; 20th-anniversary Walkman / 15th-anniversary CD-Walkman models): 1999-07-24; D-EJ1000, '925, '825, '725, '625 (first CD-RW models; 2nd G-Protection models, these feature two G-Protection settings): 2000--2001; D-EJ2000, other models: 2001--2002 MP3-CD-only models: D-CJ01, D-CJ500 (?), D-CJ9(xx) (?): 2001--2002 ATRAC/MP3 models: D-NE1, '9, possibly other models: 2002--2003 (first ATRAC unit is D-NE1) D-NE10, '900, etc.: 2003--2004 (first Parametric EQ) D-NE20, '920, etc.: 2004--2005 (second Parametric EQ, new backlight on some units and remotes; 25th-anniversary Walkman & 20th-anniversary CD-Walkman models) D-NE830, '730, probably D-NE30, D-NE930, and others: 2005(--2006?)

I don't think this is entirely true. I believe their first ATRAC CD player, the D-NE1, from 2002, didn't have MP3 support.

Thanks. I'll be writing the review after more testing of different discs, in early January. Thanks again...

Regarding anti-skip, this is where on my iRiver stuff, it lacks. Nothing like my old Sony D-EJ711 with the G-Protection. I always was able to get the iRiver units to skip easily - especially on CD-DA discs and MP3s above 192 kbps. I don't require WMA & Ogg Vorbis (or even ATRAC, for that matter!), even though it would be nice to play my handful of WMAs on a new unit (not going into Ogg Vorbis, as iRiver units have crap Vorbis support anyway), so this isn't much of a loss if I were to get a new high-end Sony. Battery life of all these Sony units beats iRiver big-time and I would look forward to only need the battery adaptor on trips of over 16 hours (the longest I've run my iRiver stuff was just over 12 hours with the supplied NiMH batteries on the iMP-900 (pretty much the same as the '550 except bigger headphone amp, more glitches in the EQ & resume feature, and better (feeling) remote than the iMP-550). On this particular day, to listened to the unit on full-blast for about half that time total, and varying volume levels (mostly 'easy listening'/background/I-can-talk-to-my-friend volume of around 8 to 16/40). As soon as it started to get a little dark, I turned the backlight on and the batteries then gave in the remaining charge in a few minutes. I guess it was good timing, as I only needed to switch CDs then (and it was at a convenient place, too). I currently have a Sony D-NE005 thinking it would replace my ageing iRiver iMP-150, but it looks like the iMP-150, from 2001, is far better except in anti-skip & battery life. This D-NE005 is bad-sounding (has an annoying hum on all low-passages on all MP3s (even L.A.M.E. --alt-preset insane)), has no dot-matrix display, and very slow (about 4x playback!) FF/REW. This unit is very barebones. It shouldn't cost 40 USD. It's worth only 20 at most, IMHO. A major question about all Sony units with backlights: Can you set it to stay on all the time? This is a feature I'm used to on iRiver stuff since late 2002, upon buying an iMP-150 and upgrading firmware. It's important to a degree. How fast do the high-end Sony units FF/REW through MP3s? ATRAC files? CD-DA? Thanks for the report. PS: I thought I remember you from somewhere.

OK. I'll share whatever I can. Are you willing to provide server space & bandwidth for my 2-MB snapshot files?

It's not an ATRAC device. Besides, I'm not an audio professional and can't write a full-length review I just bought... :-(

I'm getting the D-NE005 (white vesion) in a few days. I can't stand it when they don't do simultaneous releases world-wide, let alone changing model numbers and even leaving features off different territorial versions of the same model. Games & DVDs should be region-free. Our Sony MHC-GX555 had no karaoke or CD+G feature due to it not being either 'Latin American' or one of the Asian models...

Strange that they're cutting back. Even though I wouldn't use ATRAC (I have hundreds of MP3-CDs), I find it odd they are dropping their own format on the CD players... Perhaps they're doing this to try to make the most money off their Hi-MD devices?

Are these out in territories outside Asia, like Canada, Europe, & the US?

Wow! Those are very nice for what I believe are their 3rd- and 4th-place models. I really wonder what the D-NE930 & D-NE30 will look like and feature...and, of course, how they will sound!

Oh yes! I forgot about this (old) thing (with poor battery life). It was the only walkman-sized device to play MP3s of a DVD-R! I wonder how much they want for it now and if it's even worth getting. How's navigation of directories on this?

I wish a new version of this came out that was audio-geared that would play DVD-Audio & lossless / other digital audio files on DVDs. I'm dying for a good MP3/WMA/Vorbis/FLAC/WAV-DVD player...

For those of us who have used iRiver stuff in the past will know that until they stopped making MP3-CD players, they just had it all on their devices. Six menus of customisable items for a boatload of personalisation. I never saw this with Sony devices and it looks like after reading their manuals that they are still pretty far behind. Anyone want to point out to me whether their devices play WMA & Ogg Vorbis files, cache last 8 or more CDs played (for resuming), have adjustable-speed FF/REW, sort order changing (I only use [path/file name] on my iRiver), next-file queueing, backlight that can stay on all the time, charging _and discharging_ whilst playing a CD, _upgradable firmware_ and more unique features that set the device apart from the mainstream? After I started using iRiver the only complaint of mine was lack of G-Protection that I loved on Sony's older D-EJ711 that I had in 2000--2002. When I heard that the D-CJ01 was junk (no FF/REW through an MP3!!!), I decided to go iRiver after seeing their great reviews. I have three of their devices (iMP-150, '550, and '900), and the '150 is getting old now, my '550 is still being used, and my '900 is in their shop either getting repaired or replaced. They sure do a whole lot more than any big-name manufacturer-device I ever tried. Now, since iRiver stopped making MP3-CD players, I want the same level of versatility on a new device. Sony looks to be the best for now, and I am very curious about what their next flagship will feature. I will really miss firmware upgrades and all these features come the day I have to replace my '550 with something new, and I would hope that what I'm looking for is either out or around the corner. So, anyone know what Sony's D-NE930 and D-NE30 will have? Thanks...