MZ-1

Hello, Any thoughts concerning the D-NF430 from a performance standpoint? Is the sound strong as the 15mw per channel would imply? Is the headphone output hiss free? How is the FM and AM reception? Battery life decent with rechargables? I dont think the LCD on the unit is backlit. Is it hard to read? Any performance oddities that are extremely frustrating? Thanks! Paul

Try plastic polish such as Novus #2. Mild automobile polish can do a good job on plastic as well.

I think the USA Sony Style site shows everything about Sony's current mindset about "portable audio": Right now, the item at the top of the page is an automobile GPS unit. For MP3 players they're displaying the discontinued "bean" and "core". Other items are "boom boxes" and shower radios -- oooooh. This is not a page that should be displayed by a manufacturer that used to *own* portable audio. To me this page has either: 1. The look of death before exiting portable audio. 2. The look of trying to sell off excess unwanted inventory. or 3. (Hopefully) The calm before the storm as Sony tries to save a sinking ship (in the USA) and finally shows off a complete new line of models reflecting the rapid change of the demands of the market -- and being prepared to follow that market. Maybe they're waiting a few months (year) for the market to "settle" down so that most-desired features and styling become apparent, then move ahead. Sony doesn't need to dump 100,000,000 players on the market every two years -- that's craziness. Sony needs the ability to put 200,000 players (or whatever number) on the market every six months with updated features and technology. I suspect that Sony is bewildered by the rapid change of the market and models and there is nothing (yet) in place in the corporation to cope with it. Paul

Do we know the LCD screen resolution? I looked at the link contents and couldn't tell. The last Sony portable DVD player, to me, didn't look very good because of a coarse screen. Paul

No problem for me with Sonic Stage. It imports music, converts the music to ATRAC, places those files on the ATRAC device or disc and I have a minimum of problems. Within the defined specifications of the system, I think SS 3.4 works quite well. However, if oine tries to make it do something the software isn't designed to do, there will be lots of frustration. For me, the system works. Is there room for improvement? Certainly -- as with any software. Drag and drop .omg files just like MP3? Maybe one day, but the system isn't designed for it for it right now. Paul

One-line OLED like the "Bean". Three would have been nicer. Maybe the A608 wont make to the USA.... Paul

Nice looking (except for the handle part). No indication of video support? USB 2.0, I hope. UMS, Connect, or Sonic Stage? Paul

D-NE10 has combined optical out as well. My favorite -- the D-555 has the TOSLINK digital out. Paul

I have the D-NE10. I think it is a good player (not quite as good for CD sound as the classic D-555, in my view) and has long battery life. Better than the D-EJ1000 and somewhat better than the D-EJ2000, in my view. Paul

I've just seen the D-NF430 as well. Part of the "Loud Sound" series, as Sony describes it. The USA version has no AC and no LED remote. That's a shame. Strange that neither the 330 nor the 430 is advertised on the Sony USA site (though one can download the user manual). Paul

That's the USB adapter I have -- AC-U50A. Nice folding plug design so that it can pack in a portable bag without scratching components. Paul

I carry both the NW-E507 and the RH10. I think they compliment each other. I'd probably get the A608 (or successor larger model) when it is released in the USA. I'm excited about the RH1 as well. I hope the black version is available in the USA. Paul

I haven't found a way for ATRAC, either. I don't think there is a nomalization option in Sonic Stage. The only issues with volume I might have are some very early (1983-1985) CD's which were usually mastered with less compression and lower overall levels to avoid any possibility of distortion (back in the days when CD was fighting for marketshare). Generally, I find that the volume of the recordings transferred via ATRAC match those of the internal FM radio so I'm happy. Paul

Hello, A review of the service manual schematics shows the NW-E507 uses the Philips TEA5767 IC. The IC is for FM stereo. It can easily be seen in the schematic that the IC is used in a stereo fashion. Not a bad radio IC at all. In my experience, Philips makes superior chips for consumer radio. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the FM radio when I bought the NW-E507. Paul

May also try a earphone with increased sensitivity specification (110db/mw or greater) -- Ultimate Ears brand, for example. Don't know if those are available in the UK. The disadvantage is that they may reveal the amplifier noise. Paul

The FM stereo feature is not mentioned in the manual. However, I own the NW-E507 and can verify that FM stereo is present with the NW-E507. Paul

Hello, What is going on at Sony? The NW-A3000/1000 and NW-A608 are not at Sony's USA site and there's no indication that they're going to be. When a GPS unit is the "main feature" on Sony's portable electronics page one has to wonder about the "state of the Walkman". Best regards, Paul

Probably a headphone sensitivity/impedence mismatch. I use the PX100 and EX70 with the NW-E507 and have no/minimal noise. Many of the *expensive* in-ear-monitors have insane sensitivity specs. While the sensitivity might make the earphone much louder in low-powered devices, it will also make apparent the noise inherent in the amplifier. Personally, I find a sensitivity spec of 100db plenty for a 5mw player. Anything higher than that is probably going to reveal hiss at low volumes. Paul

Japan uses 76.0 - 90.0MHz for its FM band. Much (but not all) of the rest of the world uses 88.0 - 108.0MHz It's a real shame because Japan made some awesome Japan-market FM tuners during the 70's and 80's that were electrical works of art. Some Japan FM tuners are noted as: 76.0 - 90.0MHz plus TV 1-3. The Japan TV 1-3 corresponds to 90.0MHz - 108.0MHz. These tuners *may* have the ability to receive 76.0-108.0 in its entirity. Paul

Hello, The NW-E507 is stereo. However, the stereo switching threshold is rather high. I guess Sony has opted for a tradeoff of a clear mono signal vs. a noisy stereo signal. Still, the stereo switching threshold seems rather high. As they say, for best reception extend the listening device cord to the fullest length. I find recepiton in an urban area to be rather good. I suspect outlying areas distant from the transmistter sites may have issues with stereo reception. Paul