bug80

SS should have no problem with VBR MP3's, I think the problem lies with some encoders that don't write the metadata accordingly (things like average bitrate and playing time). You can try to fix the headers with a little tool called VBRfix, or the "Fix MP3 header" function in Foobar2000. EDIT: I just did a test, importing a VBR MP3 file that I've ripped using EAC and LAME --alt-preset standard. The original file played back well and conversions to LP2 and LP4 gave no problems. The bitrate of the MP3 file displayed was wrong, however (128 kbs where it should've been an average of 211 kbs).

Can anyone with a 2nd generation unit confirm rubadubdub's statement that ATRAC files sound better than MP3's when transferred? Don't get me wrong, I trust your experiences, but I just want to know if this is a common problem. Maybe the MP3 encoders in the new generation are no good, or maybe something's wrong with your unit?

Have you done a blind test yet? Not that I don't trust you, but you know, the placebo effect is with us all (I've been there). For example, make two versions of the same track (PCM vs ATRAC 256 kbs) and let a friend at "random" choose between the two, say 16 times. You can write down whether what you hear is PCM or ATRAC. If you got it right 75% of the time, you can convince yourself you hear a difference, if you got it less times right you were probably guessing.

Excellent short review, thanks. I'm thinking of buying a RH910 myself.

Go Sony!

That's very weird, since converting from MP3 to ATRAC is transcoding, an operation which generally leads to lower quality. Are you sure about that? I know that on some Sony HDD units the EQ only works on ATRAC, not MP3, maybe this is alo true for the RH10?

The "new" LP2 in SS 3.0 sounds a bit better than with older versions, although the improvements are small (see this topic). I have to test version 3.1 yet.

When upgrading to SP2, it is possible that you have to completely uninstall SonicStage before installing it back. To do this, use the uninstall procedure as desribed in the FAQ.

By the way, there's already been a topic about how many hours will fit on a MD: click here. So, if you know the length of your MP3's in hours & minutes, you can calculate it from there.

Hm strange. As far as I know there are two different versions for "kilobit": 1) Storage: 1 kilobit = 1024 bits 2) Datarate: 1 kilobit per second = 1000 bits per second I thought compression formats like MP3 used version 2 (because it actually uses a datarate), but I have to find that out in more detail. Last time I checked, I calculated the size of a MP3 using the bitrate and number of samples and I had to use option 2. * EDIT * This is what wikipedia has to say:

Don't forget that the price of the unit compared to the 1st generation is much lower because of the missing features. Am I actually defending Sony? What's happening?

Note that 1 kbit is officially equal to 1000 bits and not 1024 bits, unlike bytes. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. * EDIT * The equation than becomes: T = ((S * 1024 * 1024) / (1000*B/8)) / 3600

I seriously doubt that. Please read this topic. I haven't done extensive testing on ATRAC3+@256kbs, but this could very well be the so-called "placebo" effect, which means you think you hear a difference, because you know there should be one. Best way to overcome this is to perform blind testing. I think 256 kbs ATRAC3+ should be transparent (i.e. sound the same as the original) on 99% of the music, for 99% of the people.

I thought too this could be the reason. However, it's very strange older EU-limited models like my 510 do have an output limit, but still have customizable EQ. Maybe Sony got a warning from the EU that users can get above the limit by pushing the EQ up or something. EDIT: Now that I think of it, the 2nd generation units have a slightly higher output (2x2.8mW) than my older unit (2x2.5mW). Maybe Sony choose to increase the output at the expense of the customizable EQ?

Does anyone know the reason behind the EQ restrictions on European models yet? I haven't had any sleep this week thinking about it What was the person thinking who said "Hey, let's change that bits and switch off the ability to customize the EQ settings for our European friends. Those guys don't need that." I don't get it

If you have ffdshow try this: go to Start Menu > Programs > ffdshow > Audio filter configuration. Then, change the "MP3" setting from "mp3lib" to "disabled". This should solve the problem. If you don't have ffdshow, try uninstalling all your codecs and install them back one by one, untill SS starts freezing again. This will indicate which codec is causing the trouble.

According to Sonystyle, the RH910 still offers autofocus and flash! Wow! That's cool! Flash during playback, that is so sixties! But what does it focus on? Sony: the company with great technology and great noobs that have to sell it.

Yes, it does, it adds some extra data to the file. Mostly data that prevents you from copying it to other PC's (DRM stuff). I'm really shocked about not being able to store EQ settings.. Will this also be true for the European versions of the 910 and 710?

The point is, you don't have to transcode the files. Transcoding (from lossy to lossy) generally leads to extra quality loss. Second it saves time, and third MP3 generally has better quality at lower bitrates than ATRAC. So, you can get more songs on one disc at the same percieved quality (for instance if you encode with LAME --alt-preset standard). Copying the MP3 files directly to MD (without SonicStage) will work, but your unit won't play the files (it will recognize them as "data" instead of audio). What about the EQ? You mean you can't save custom EQ settings, or is it just a limitation regarding the "VH acoustic engine"? I just can't believe it's not possible to save EQ settings on such a high-end unit

I seriously doubt if this unit will be of any succes? I mean, most of the average listeners already have a set of decent PC speakers and most (all?) of the audiophiles have their PC already connected to their Hi-Fi system. I don't see the point of another unit.. Maybe people will buy it because it's wireless? But then again, I don't think audiophiles will trust such a wireless system. About Mac support: please Sony don't forget the penguin!!

Please noooooooooooo!

Can you list your system specifications, including the Windows version?

Have you already tried to do a complete re-install using the instructions in the FAQ?

I'm not really sure about it. I once heard about it, or read it somewhere. It would also mean, that if you set track marks in Nero, it will snap it to the nearest frame. By the way, a little off topic, but does anyone know about a freeware program with which you can set track marks (graphically) and save the result as seperate wave files? For instance, I'd like to split live recordings without using CUE sheets and the like.

I've heard that Nero uses a special to trick to make an audio CD gapless: if you have two tracks A and B, it moves a small portion of audio from track A to B, or the other way around, to make sure A has exactly an integer number of frames. That way, the transition from A to B will be gapless.