MDX-400

Mod for the JE440: http://www.minidisc.org/sony_mdsje440_optical_out_mod.html Mod for the JE770: http://www.mtsu.edu/~hhw2b/470mod.html I didn't see one listed for the JE480 but note that the above two are very similar as a lot of the JE4x0 JE7x0 and JE6x0 (where x is = or > 4) units used similar internals; all you really need is +5V, GND and the digial output signal (all of which are either found in the above or the service manual) and the parts and you're set. Drill a hole in the back panel, assemble/solder the parts as required and you've got your self a $100 or so MD deck that has digital out.

If you have some electronics and soldering knowledge, you can even add the JE440, JE470 and JE480 to the list of MDLP playing decks and optical output--those units can be modded for a few dollars in parts and a little time, to have optical out! Also, 1Kyle, nice find of a JB980 for $100 USD! Back in the day (like 2-3 years ago now maybe) I found a JB920 at the same price on eBay which was a great price for back then. There are often good deals like that to be found on eBay! But I'm thinking the $100 JB980 is a little more exception than the rule, no? Because I'm still seeing lesser decks go for quite a bit more than that and JB980s bidding up pretty high, especially when they are in places like the UK (where stuff is more expensive to begin with). Only omissions I never liked with the JB980 were the dropping of Control-A1/A1-II (and therefore the RecIt feature which I find very useful in my own experience), and the dropping of one optical input. But I guess the NetMD features were supposed to make up for that. Nice that it has the standard keyboard input still, I didn't realise that. I thought with NetMD they would have omitted that too.

I'm wondering is this actually an extension or revision to SCMS or is the reviewer just using "SCMS" as a catch-all/blame-all for the uploading restriction? Because SCMS as I remember it would not make this restriction... SCMS allows unlimited 2nd generations to be made from the 1st generation (original) recording but copies of the 2nd generations are prohibited by SCMS. Unless SCMS has been updated or revised it sounds like the problem is "courtesy of" some other copy management system which has been implemented in Hi-MD/SS...

Your unit is doing what it is supposed to be doing. Part of the original MD specification required that when the player sees a certain data type on the disc it will mute it's audio output. This was a "reserved" function up until the advent of MDLP. This, incidentally, is also why LP2/4 have extra data bits in their stream that do not carry audio--they are used to mute the audio if pb is attempted on a non-MDLP unit. However, it seems this [Panasonic QC-MRX7000] unit (and perhaps others as Sony warns about it in MDLP documentation IIRC) doesn't follow the standard and accordingly mute the output. Instead it just tries to throw it through the ATRAC (not ATRAC3 compatible) decoder and the result is the "fuzzy sounds" that are experienced. In pre-MDLP days it might not have been seen as a necessary inclusion on the part of designers--a mistake of course, in hindsight.

The TrProt error is an interesting and a sometimes strange one. I think the original reason for it being there was the whole check-in check-out business that the original NetMD units and SS 1.0 were limited to and the whole SDMI nonsense. Also interesting is how pre-NetMD units handle this. Track protecting seems to be a what used to be a "reserved" function of the MD standard/format. Some non-NetMD devices ignore any TrPROT flags the disc has and can manipulate the tracks regardless of whatever they come up as. However there are exceptions... I recall that the R900 had this "problem" as well--somewhat like Sony planned it some time ahead of its actual use. I think the R90 (which was pre-MDLP even) also had this "feature". Units like the R900 will give the TrPROT error on tracks made via NetMD, despite the fact that they are not NetMD devices. However discs that were not recorded via NetMD should never really have the TrProt flag set on ANY track. Furthermore the unit *should* return a "Protected" error instead of "TrPROT" if trying to edit a disc where the physical write-protect tab is open. To the person experiencing the error on the R500: If you did not make the tracks via NetMD (on another unit) and have made sure the write protect tab is off (closed) and the unit is still giving the error, I can only guess that there is something wrong with the unit or disc--you'll have to try it on another unit to be sure...

Wow it certainly has to help! This is an invaluable resource for Service Manuals. I don't know how many are on there but it seems like a lot! I've never come across something like this on the net before--very nice to be able to download them just like that, for free The denom.net one is a good addition too. Definite thanks goes out to the posters of these links! Should be stickied!

Hmm booting from Hi-MD eh? Interesting that it can be done... I'm curious as to know what you set the BIOS at to boot from it... Can you also boot from a USB flash drive on your PC? Just asking becuase my PC has a few USB boot options, including USB-FDD, USB-HDD and USB-ZIP and also a "Boot Other Device" option at the end (either enabled or disabled). I tried before to boot from a flash drive (a Sandisk Cruzer Mini) but none of the options ever worked for it. I'm wondering if some BIOSes allow for booting from USB Mass Storage (what flash drives usually show up as) and/or what the Hi-MD shows up as, as a USB device to the computer. (I don't have a Hi-MD unit to try myself but I was just curious that's all ).

Well using headphones is probably against the law in most places, but there are several way to get MD sound in-car. You should try a search as I'm sure it has been covered before. Quickly I can think of the following: Dedicated MD unit/MD changer; or you can use a portable or (controller+changer) with the following... AUX in on HU, AUX in adapter for HU (either factory or aftermarket HUs), cassette adapter, FM Modulator and an FM "Trasmitter" (wireless thingys). They pretty much go in that order of preference, IMO. Though having a dedicated unit would not be possible for Hi-MD at current time as there are no mobile Hi-MD units released/announced as of yet. (Even the most current model MD HU that just came out from Sony is not Hi-MD ). Other thing is even MDLP is hard to come by in car units, though there are some that offer it. Personally I don't use MDLP and I'm probably not going to Hi-MD anytime soon either. I use my in-car MDX-400 MD changer for playing MDs in car Old skool? Yeah but works great for me There are, as discussed above, other options to suit your needs though.

Is this referring to the article featuring Steve Jobs and his dumba$$ comments on MiniDisc? (I didn't read the article myself because I didn't want to "register" for the lame NY Post website.) Anyway nice letter Mike, but I fear you may be wasting your breath (or ink or keystrokes :smile: ). I mean ppl keep telling the media stuff like this over and over and over again, but they continue to produce MD-bashing or MD-ignorant articles. Particularly in the USA... I mean MDCP's been here and has been going strong for over 10 years now. Every other day someone is talking about how MD is either dead or "failed"/"never was" and really it is all nonsense talk. Obviously MD inventor and front-runner Sony has never given up on MD and it is obviously profitable for them (otherwise they would have given up by now). As we proceed into the next generation of MD (Hi-MD) I'm not sure if it will significantly increase in popularity, but you know what? I realised a while ago that while I'd like MD to become a lot more popular (especially here in Canada--if you think it is unpopular in the US, boy...) but it isn't really necessary. So long as people (current users I mean) don't drop MD altogether there is always going to be the same MD community there always was. Sony seems to support us/MD to a good extent and while I can't be 100% sure, I'm pretty sure that Sony is a much larger company than the ever-lame Apple Computer You know thinking of that one quote of Steve Jobs' as displayed on the main page, I'm thinking jeez of all ppl he should know better. I mean where does he think he's going with Macintosh anyway? In terms of personal computers the [iBM] "PC" has long overshadowed the Mac and continues to gain market share every day, in pretty much every application. Despite MDs poor perceived popularity I think that (percentage wise) MD probably has a greater percentage of market share in personal/portable music devices than Macintosh does in the realm of personal/home computers. Of course he's going to toot his own horn (the Ipod) but c'mon now, really, he should know better. :whatever:

Paul welcome to the forums. First of all be advised that the MDCP and forums (minidisc.org) is not run by or directly associated with Sony. It's just us MD users (the Community in "MiniDisc community") working together to bring MD related news/help to everyone. I can assure you that 'Rick (who is responsible for bringing us this indispensable MiniDisc resource on the net :smile: ) and Chris (responsible for running/maintaining the forums)--they do not work for Sony! :laugh: As for questions, you're welcome to ask pretty much any questions you want about MD but (here's the qualifier) it has to be in the correct forum! Your post/question was likely not deleted but rather moved to another forum... Please do a search for your posts using one of the several available methods (main page "search for your posts" feature; search feature on the forum; or the "find all posts..." feature under you own profile) to find out where your post went. If you're still having trouble, let us know and we can either find your post or re-address it if need be The reason your post was moved was likely because it isn't relevant to this Forum of the board--that is "Find Your MiniDisc". This particular forum is for new users (or old users) asking for opinions/advice on purchasing a new MD unit ("Finding" the right MiniDisc for them). If your post was not related to that topic it was likely moved to the appropriate forum (perhaps "Technical Support" or "NetMD"). In the future remember to post in the correct forum on the board, if you don't your post may be moved (without notice) to the correct one. If you think the post was moved or deleted in error, let us know. Roland M.

Well the 50mAh difference is nothing and under "nominal" differences in the cells they might have been very similar at the time of manufacture anyway. The batteries are completely interchangeable. You could use any of the NC-6WM (600mAh NiCd), NH-9WM (900mAh-1200mAh depending on year), NH-10WM (1000mAH), NH-14WM (1200mAh-1400mAh depening on year), or any of the equivalents (GP 1450, Sanyo, Panasonic, etc.). But I mention time for good reason. Though the difference you are experiencing is quite strange/odd (as in it shouldn't be happening), a possible explanation might be that the older battery isn't capable of delivering as much current simply because it is older. Usually when a battery ages enough to make it no longer useful it simply won't accept a charge or plays for only a short time before cutting off, after a full charge. However what may also happen is the internal resistance of the cell may rise and therefore limit both the charge and discharge capability of the cell. Meaning that the MD unit might be calling for more current to power the optical pickup than the older battery can deliver, and that might spell out that the useful life of the old gumstick is just about up. Also note that if the R900 was having a tough time reading discs on an apparently-good-otherwise battery the R900 itself might be drawing more current than normal to power the laser enough to read the disc reliably. What this means is that the laser might be getting weak in the R900... It isn't likely the problem is solely with the R900 though, I think it is simply time to give up on the older gumstick and purchase a new one

LOL, haha :laugh: Majestic, are you on the T-Board as well? My comments above were actually a joke--while I don't have a signature here (haven't made one yet), if you see my sig on the T-Board (if you haven't already) you'll see what I mean... :rasp:

Not too bad a fix, Modernaire, but perhaps more of a workaround at best, unfortunately As for the original post, them's my words! I'm pretty sure they are at least! LOL, I can't believe they are reappearing here. Well they *might* not be my words, but it sure does sound like something I typed regarding the N1... Anyway, despite the fact that Modernaire has a fix it certainly shouldn't be like that--that you have to "format" a disc as he puts it. Also that may not apply to all units. As for the N1 being simply an R900 (you guys above put N900 but I'm guessing you meant R900) with NetMD features I would disagree somewhat. The R900 and N1 use entirely different mechanisms, LSIs/system controller ICs/ATRAC implementations. For one thing the R900 isn't even Type-R that is the first tip off... They also use different pickups. The R900's main IC is the CXD2671-201GA whereas the N1 is a few revisions ahead--the CXD2677-202GA. (Info as per minidisc.org). I thought perhaps the R909 would be a closer match but actually the R909 is closer to the R900 than it is to the N1 from what I can tell. Looking at the service manuals, all three use entirely different mechanisms, but the R900 and R909 share the same pickup: the LCX-4R. The N1 uses the LCX-5R which I don't think is used in any other unit. However the R910 *may* use that pickup but I can't tell as the S/M is not available for it. So I'd say that the closest unit to the N1 would be the R910 and at that you can't really say the N1 was based on the R910 because, quite simply the opposite would have to be true--the R910 was released a while after the N1 was. However curious, I decided to investigate further... To my shock/surprise I found that the N707 also uses the LCX-5R!!! And guess what? So does the N505 So now what I thought was a flawed pickup might have been too quick a statement. Not many ppl have noted as many problems with N707s and N505s. I mean sure some of them have had optical pickup failures, BUT not nearly as frequently as N1s... This is becoming quite a curious "investigation" if you ask me... It seems the S1 may also have the same pickup but I can't tell--there is no S/M available for it. The Nxx10 units, I can't tell either--none of their S/Ms are up on minidisc.org either... It seems the N1 is plagued by optical block problems for some other reason. Either that or N1 users in general put more use on their units than do N707 or N505 units, but I find that hard to believe. Perhaps the Japanese-made, early N1s had problems for some other reason. And also perhaps why Sony started making them in Maylay where the N707 and N505 were being manufactured. Very strange. Especially to think that the Maylay plant was making units better than in Japan! My theory now, is that of the above; and also that perhaps the OWH in the N1 is a problem area. Perhaps not many OWHs have been replaced in N1s as the problem area, but, I wonder if the OWH might have a bearing on the laser life instead? There's also the ribbon-cable business which is quite weird as well. Perhaps it is all in the ribbon cables? Perhaps they are much more easily damaged inside the chassis of an N1 than of the "lesser" units? I wonder if Sony truly knows the reason/source of the problem with the N1 or if they just keep replacing the pickups without wondering why they are going bad???

A good deal indeed As for the model numbers, the US/Canada releases should be as follows (in order of price/level): 1. MZ-NH1 (top model, using Li-Ion internal has charge stand, etc.) 2. MZ-NH900 (2nd from top, only model using gumstick batteries it appears) 3. MZ-NHF800 (only Hi-MD model with the radio tuner, uses AA cells only.) 4. MZ-NH700 (same as NHF800 but no radio.) 5. MZ-NH600D (low-end Hi-MD unit, dowloader only--cannot record from other sources. No line in, no optical in, no mic in. No remote port AFAIK!) Other new released MD units that are NOT Hi-MD capable are: X. MZ-N920 (high end std. MD model, follows up from the N910--nearly the same unit). [Edit: Actually on 2nd thought, I don't think the N920 is going to be released in NA, sorry about that mistake...] 1. MZ-NF520D (like the N510 but with tuner remote but, unlike the N510, it's a downloader only ) 2. MZ-N420D (lowest-of-the-low right here... Downloader only, no edit functions, no inputs, no radio, no remote port, no nothing! Pretty much an NE410 with a different shell/colours.)

As Kurisu suggested, downloaders can be okay/satisfying for some. No doubt it isn't an NH1 but it certainly *is* a high end unit, comparitavely speaking. The NH3D is indeed not scheduled for an NA release, and I think it is Japan only (though maybe it will get released in other countries?). I think it is like the NE810--in fact it pretty much is the replacement model for the NE810. And that unit was also Japan-only, AFAIK. I'd much rather have an NH3D than an NH600D, that's for sure. It also uses the Li-Ion internal like the NH1 does. So despite it being a "downloader" it is really the closest unit to the NH1 in terms of high-endedness. Probably the reason why the NH1, NH3D and EH1 were in the same press release--they are the high end Hi-MD units for this generation of units...

Yep, agreed :grin: You're way to eccentric, Chris! You have too many units! Even enough to have collector's items! :rasp: I guess some people just get addicted to buying MD units! Strange indeed! :grin: LOL hahaha...

I agree with jay_zhead's analysis--it is pretty much spot on, IMO I'd just add that the radio was taking up more power than playing of an MD on the previous units and just about the same power as recording at LP2. So if you think about it, even on the older (non-Hi-MD) units recording from the radio might give you such a short record time it mightn't be funny! On those units, I'd imagine (if the feature were actually available) that you'd get maybe a disc or two's worth of recording time if you were lucky. On the new Hi-MD units, the power consumption of the unit during recording is very high. Add that and the radio together at once and you're in some real trouble in terms of battery life! So though it might sound cool to be able to record from the radio, the battery would really get taxed during such an operation...

Pretty much. You can use any one, but the quality varies by adapter. Some of the Sony ones have cross-talk adjustment; and, some Panasonic ones out there actually had Metal tape EQ (70us) which, if you have metal tape selection on your car deck, can improve sound quality. Again, as with the cigarette lighter power adapter, you can probably find the Sony one on eBay for cheap as well. Really you'll probably be able to find both in one auction, from one seller, which will simplify things

Practically speaking any cig lighter adapter that has selectable voltages and an appropriate plug (i.e. a "universal" adapter) would be useable, provided it had a 1.5V connection. However since a lot of "universal" adapters aren't really well regulated or sometimes go a bit out of the selected voltage I'd recommend a genuine Sony adapter to be on the safe side. What you should look for is a Sony DCC-E23 or the newer model DCC-E345. These work with cigarette lighters of most vehicles (12V, negative ground) and output any of [selectable] 1.5/3.0/4.5 or 6V for use with the appropriate Sony portables. (Note: The DCC-E23 doesn't provide 3V output but does do the other 3 voltages). A DCC-E345 fetches usually around $5-$10 US on eBay plus shipping, on eBay.com that is. I dunno about your area but perhaps they have them there too. Buying from Sony, the adapter would probably be a bit expensive so your best bet would likely be to find an eBay.com seller who is willing to ship to Maylaysia...

LOL nice requirements But don't you think your chosen username is gonna look weird if you continue to post here? Haha... Anyway it'll be funny for those who remember your first post! Hopefully there will be a JB or ES Hi-MD deck released and that would fulfill the timer feature. As for now, as KJ noted, the LAM might indeed be equipped with that feature. But it's gonna be a. expensive and b. probably not worth what it costs.

Drivers? Usually there are no drivers for USB sound devices, though there may be in older versions of Windows like Win95 or something...' Perhaps the DG2 has drivers, but I don't think it does. As for WMP9, try using WMP8 if you can do a co-install I don't know. I do know the DG2's discrete mode will not work under WMP9. It does work on version 8 and earlier though. It is supposed to work minus discrete mode on WMP9 (so it shouldn't be locking up) but it might be worth a try to use version 8 and see what happens anyway... Well this is a bit late I guess, but it seems the posts in this forum are pretty static--posts from March are still right up on the first page!

Well I see this is pretty old but still on page one of this forum, so I'll put in my thoughts here anyway. This simply won't work. You (original poster) must have a JE780 or a JB980 deck because they are the only two to have a USB connection. However it won't work because the USB port is a "device" port, i.e. it uses a USB "B" plug which is meant to connect to a USB hub/host like a PC which would use an "A" plug. USB was designed with the A and B ends for good reason. For making it simple to determine and understand how the host to device connection works. Connecting a Bluetooth adapter (which is a device itself) to another device would be pointless and also net you nothing at all. It would be the same as connecting the Bluetooth adapter to another Bluetooth adapter or connecting it to a mouse. Furhtermore the Bluetooth adapter would have a male "A" end on it which would definitely NOT plug into a female "B" port. Even if you plugged together some adapters and violated the USB standard in doing so, you'd just get two devices connected to each other which would do nothing. You might as well connect you USB mouse to your USB printer--because it will be the same thing lol. (Well at least it isn't as bad as trying to connect 2 PCs (hosts)with a USB A to A male/male cable (another violation of USB)--because that would blow the circuits on one or both of the motherboards, lol.) Unless this is some kind of adapter that makes wired USB devices wireless, it won't work. I've never seen that type of Bluetooth USB adapter. They are always for plugging into the PC (or laptop, PDA, etc.) to let the PC communicate with wireless USB devices, not the other way around. If there does exist such a product, then yes that may work, but not the Bluetooth adapters that are meant to plug into a PC. As mentioned that would be like plugging your mouse into your printer it just doesn't make any sense!

It *should* work with nearly every unit, but no guarantees... As asked above what unit are you planning on using it with? I've only ever heard of it not working properly on one unit the N510. Since the N510 and NF610 are very similar it would probably be the same on the NF610. The only thing that doesn't work on that unit is the start-playback-from-unit OFF. Usually on remotes, if the unit is OFF, you simply press play on the remote to power it up and start playback. However it has been reported that the MZ4R does not do this on the N510 as it should--I have no idea why. Otherwise it works fine (if the unit is already "ON", all the functions work correctly). Just as a side note, it was bundled with the MZ-R700 and N707. You had typed N700--perhaps just a typo...

Hmm version 1.6 you say, eh? Interesting... If it isn't working on the newest firmware for that unit I wonder if Sony might be catching on to all this hacking the MD community has been doing since the R700 era? Certainly they stand to lose a little money when ppl buy the lesser units if they don't need *all* the features of the high end ones, and can hack the ones they do... Could it be? Could they be catching on now and making it so hacking won't be possible on the upcoming Hi-MD units? I wonder... Perhaps they've just changed things about in terms of the service values and menus etc. thereby circumventing the hacking (perhaps even inadvertently?). Sorry that I can't help out with the hack, but I just found it a little interesting that it isn't working on the latest firmware revision...

People have speculated that Sony *may* decide to "open-up" Hi-MD to such possibilities in the future but for now it's not happening. Personally I don't really think they'll ever do something like that, but hey who really knows for sure? In the meantime the idea that "someone" should make a Hi-MD unit that plays MP3s, that idea is pretty much out the window since Hi-MD is Sony's format, just as was MD. Other manufacturers just can't start doing stuff with Sony's patented/trademarked/copyrighted stuff so any such player could not simply be made by some 3rd party company going it "on their own" so to speak. Another company could make an entirely new (and incompatible) disc using different technology or technology that Sony doesn't own within Hi-MD (or otherwise) and do that; but then it wouldn't be Hi-MD or any MD for that matter, it would just be another "MP3 player". The liklihood of survival of such a format is questionable--remember that really small disc from that company? What was it called MediaPlay or something? Can't remember now, but it didn't last very long, that's for sure.