Ascariss

I would tend to agree, wait for it to come out, I myself have already decided to picl up the new player reasons being I like to shop from brick and mortor stores rather than online. Somehow I find it easier to go to the store to return the product or exchange it rather than mailing it in. Now I am sure you see the advantages and disadvantages of both players. you mention you don't like the larger 3000 version, perhaps the smalelr 1000 version? If you really need 20 gigs and are not liking the A3000, then go with the HD5, it is a great product for sure, but looks wise, a bit boring for me. I bought my MZ-N10 in 2003 and got a discount on the 3 year extra warrenty so whatever happens to it, I get something in return at the store. If the new units don't get here before the end of december, I may have to pick something else up, most likely a HD3 or one of the smaller flash players from sony. Release date for the UK is the 7th supposedly, earlier or the a week later in japan I believe, don't quote me on these dates though. If you think you can wait another 2-3 weeks to check out the new A3000, then hold out on buying that hdd player for now. It makes sense for amazon to lower the price once the new A3000 comes out, but if they feel they can sell it at the same price as it is now, with no change in demand, they will.

Well I've been using them one week now and all I can say is bravo on the sound quality sony. Wasn't expecting to keep getting better as I kept listening to them, but apparently tey do. Of course like all things, they are not perfect sadly. the right ear cable is too long and the left one is too short, and you can't adjust them, sony needs to seriously think about why people would need such a huge cord around the back of their neck. The fit is great and they feel confortable all day. The extension cord is good, but either it is too long for me, or too short. lol but that is personal. so far they have faired well in the toughness dept. and the little carrying pouch that came with the phones is perfect to store the extension cord and the phones. The plastic carrying case/holder thingy is useless in my opinion and seriously isn't needed if you ask me. Unlike other headphone I have used, when I turn up the volume the sound remains clear and distinct even with heavy bass. With the EQ even turned off on my MD, they still sound great, but I generally use them all the time with the the EQ turned on. My friend got the exact same pair for his ipod, bu they are white. He swears by the sound quality and I can now see why. One good aspect and bad at the same time is the almost complete cut off of outside noise when using them, for one, you don't hear people talking on the bus or wherever, but then when you are listening to them, they are a no no when talking to people. One peculiar thing I've noticed is that when walking when it is quite windy, there is a slight whistling sound in the phones, it isn't very apparent, but it has to be strong wind, which is a slight problem at my uni during this time of the year. I've tried them with my PC and the sound is great, complete isolation from the outside, rather nice to use for sound editing of songs and mixes. I am glad they have lived up to my expectations, because at 90 bucks, they better be. I would advise shopping around the net for a better price, I haven't seen these anywhere except the sony store in vancouver and as always they charge a premium, 90 bucks with taxes in this case. If you seriously want some great 'phones check these out, I know some people have complained about the build quality with wires fraying and buds dying, but I have a hunch these people are not treating their phones with care, if you want to chuck your phones around get a cheap pair, not expensive ones.

I don't think it will be an ipod killer, but it should eat into the sales of the ipod. People are slowly realizing that there are alternative DAPs out there than just the ipod. I for one do not need a FM radio, that is the point of the player, to listen to your own music files instead of the radio. Don't need voice recording, have MD for that, if I needed something better, I would get a device that only is designed to record, smaller and better than either the MD or new player. Games, this is the first time I hear of this, my cell phone has games, I haven't played them in months now. Next 20 gigs is enough for me, the market research has been done, most people do not have the player even half full, the study is posted somewhere here or on minidisc.org. My friend owns the older ipod, 30 or 40 gigs can't remember, he doesn't even have 3 gigs on it. 1500-2000 songs is plenty, if you are able to go through all these songs in one day, I would be amazed. I got tons of house music songs, that range from 6-10 minutes in length, and even though when I get my A3000, I won't be converted to atrac, since it will be faster to just transfer the mp3s. with native mp3 playback for the new players and also the older hd5 and hd3, I doubt many people will use the atrac anymore, unless they want longer battery life. As long as the player has great sound quality, above average battery life, a screen(no need for colour, I am not 13 anymore, and things like this are not really important in the long run), ease of navigation, and ease of transfer. If you really want more than this, go for an ipod, or better yet, some kind of PDA, but with limited space though.

While at the sony store yesterday, I came across these 2 different 'phones: http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/P...8n100133n100129 or this: http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/P...8n100133n100129 depends which ones you want (price wise too), but both come with a strap for small mp3 players.

the CONNECT player will allow transfer of mp3s, atrac, and in december wmas, I am not sure why you say your collection of mp3s would be void, since if I recall, both the HD3 and HD5 support mp3 playback in normal mp3 format with no need to convert to atrac. CONNECT player isn't a rebadged sonicstage, from the looks and impressions of other people, it will be more or less like itunes, with drag and drop capability. converting to atrac will in the long run make your battery last longer between charges since the atrac codec is less demanding on power. Sonicstage has its faults, but the latest version is a huge improvement over what was available. Oddly, no verison of sonicstage ever crashed for me on my pc. It remains to be seen if the new a3000 series battery will be less than what is in the HD5. Unless the HD5 battery has more mA compared to the new a3000, than perhaps yes. but then I am not sure. Here are the specs for the HD5's battery: Capacity: 880mAh Voltage: 3.7V I am guessing and hoping that sony include the same battery as the HD5, if maybe even an improved one, doubtful. Once the new player comes out, i am sure people will post their opinions on the battery life. rest assured, battery life will be better than average when compared to most players out there.

Well the clock is a nice feature, but in the end, I have on my cell phone, so I won't use it much, unless it displays it on the front regardless if is it playing or not. colour screen isn't something I need in my player, since it will only be another extra drain on the battery power, and my main goal is to get the most out of the battery. I wish I could compare them, I could only do it via paper specs, since neither the HD5 or HD3 are on sale in any store here in vancouver. the hd3 looks a bit better than the hd5, which I already mentioned looks like a love chold between a gameboy and the ipod, but the hd3 is getting a bit old now, and I don't think I want to buy older tech now a days. In addition the new players come with the CONNECT player which hopefully will be a much better piece of software than sonicstage.

Thanks for the info, I will most likely go remoteless or use my old 33 series if I really need it badly. I decided against both the HD5 and the HD3, will buy the new A3000 model.

Would tend to agree, my older D-EJ925 has a non glossy finish and it has held up rather amazing these years, same for the MD I own. Edit, damn I just noticed the AD adapter specs, why didn't sony include that in my MZ-N10.

Well, I started with regular headphones that came with my discman. I believe the ones that came with the discman were the MDR-E805. http://publish.it168.com/2004/0514/images/166653.jpg Best picture I could find, but I am sure you guys know how they look like. Well I never liked them (not confortable), so I decided to get some other ones. I went for some 20 dollar ones. I was new to the music player game back then, so I picked up something along the lines of the MDR-E818, but there was no silver on the side of the phones, all black. Those eventually broke, and I got a new pair, actual MDR-E818s. Once I picked up my MZ-N10, I also got some crappy 'phones. The MDR-E805, they came with the unit, it was an instore display model, last one, seeing as I got almost 80 bucks off the price and then another 40 off for 3 years warrenty, I didn't complain. Well, I used my cruddy and trusty old MDR-E818s until I got sick and tired of them last week. I was going to pick up some MDR-E828LPs but didn't like the design since they would keep falling out like the 818s. I strictly avoided any 'phones with volume control on them, since i have my remote, so that would be pointless. I wanted to buy some MDR-E931s or mdr-e888lps. Well haven't seen these sold anywhere in vancouver individually, I know that one set comes with the flash players, plus I didn't want to buy off the net. So I went nuts, and decided to go and buy some new MDR-EX71SL. Well at first, the medium sized ones were not that confortable, but the smaller sized inserts are perfect. One, they stay in my ears no matter how I move my head, and they sound amazing, the old 'phones can't even compare. Hopefully I can provide a full out review of them, once I have gotten accustomed to them, and eventually when my new NW-A3000 arrives.

Well, I usually listen to complilations of house music, mostly the latest stuff. Currently here is my playlist: 1. Michael Grey - Borderline 2. Stunt - Raindrops 3. Liberty X - Everybody Cries (Bimbo Jones Mix) 4. Starsailor - Four to the Floor (Thin White Duke Mix) 5. Faultline - The Colossal Gray Sunshine (Paul Oakenfold Remix) 6. Reflekt ft. Delline Bass - Need To Feel Loved (Original Mix) 7. Lee Cabrera ft. Mim - I Watch You (Ian Carey Mix) 8. Madonna - Hung Up (Stewart Price Extended Dub Mix} 9. Yilmaz Altanhan - Eighties (Ozgur Can Mix) 10. Hard-Fi - Hard To Beat (Axwell Remix) 11. Ian Carey & Mochico ft. Miss Bunty - Say What U Want (Ian Carey Dub Mix) 12. Axwell Feat. Steve Edwards - Watch The Sunrise (Vocal Dub) 13. Martin Solveig ft. Lee Fields - Jealousy 14. Deux - Sun Rising Up (Radio edit) 15. Alex Gaudino & Jerma pres. Lli'love - Little Love (Club Mix) 16. Alex Gaudino ft. Ultra Nate - Bittersweet Melody (KTF Vocal Remix) 17. Black Fras - Moving into Light 18. Steve Lawler - My Sound 19. Mylo ft Miami Sound Machine - Doctor Pressure 20. DT8 Project ft. Andrea Britton - Winter (Max Graham Sidechain Mix) 21. Rachel Starr - Til There Was You (John Creamer & Stephane K Remix) 22. Ernesto Vs Bastian - Dark Side Of The Moon (Original Mix) As you may have noticed, lots of my songs are remixed.

Well I was at the sony store today, picking up new 'phones (Sony MDR-EX71SL), when I decided to ask the sales guy if he knew if they had new mp3 players coming in. He said yup, they are expecting the new HDD players in a couple of weeks.

I doubt sony will upgrade the HD1/2/3s since I don't think it is econimical or to their advantage. The HD5 on the other hand made sony some profit and I am sure they will continue to support that unit with future upgrades and etc. With the release of the new players, my bet is that sony will first focus on the new models. If you don't like the look of the new players, and etc, I recommend getting a new HD5 while you can, it is basically like your HD3.

I want one now. Even though it is bigger, and heavier than an Ipod and may only have 20 gigs, the option of this player remembering what songs you played during the last 3 years is shockingly amazing. I know of many times that I wish what songs i had on my MD disc say 8 months ago, well this new feature could be nice. I am wondering though how it will work as well. Thanks for the video Ishiyoshi. On a side note I made a quick wallpaper of the A3000, which I have been using as my desktop for a while now. http://premium1.uploadit.org/ascariss//bg3.jpg I made it in 10 min, so it isn't the greatest.

True, the prices are high, but it is a sony, they are always a premium brand. I will get it regardless of the price. When it comes to a colour screen, iI don;t need one, all i need is long battery life, excellent sound quality, ease of use, and a playlist. hopefully the new a3000 will satisfy all of these points.

$250 canadian? or US?

I know, I am just going with the high end of the chance it wll cost a bit more than I am expecting. If it comes in under 350 canadian with taxes, i'll be a happy camper.

Not sure about that, most UK sites have it on pre order with it shipping oct 31 or early to mid novemeber. I would assume this is the same case here on this site. But then again you could email them and ask. 350 Can is a bit expensive, but then compared to the older HD3 and HD5, it does seem to lie in the same range.

Agreed. I am already planning on buying the new A3000 but the lack of any information is really dampening my spirit.

Call me crazy, but is there a power mode on it? Similar to Minidiscs? for example my minidisc has 2 power modes quick and normal. while in the quick mode, the battery remains on even when there is nothing on the screen. The point of this is to have a quick playback when you press play. The normal mode is when the battery shuts off after and turns back on when you press play. but in my MD even in quick mode, the battery turns eventually off after 17 hours and switches back to quick mode after a few minutes when play is pressed again. I am no expert on the Vaio pocket, but this could be the problem.

Now I know what I was going to ask. What about transfer of mp3's coded at 192? Is the CONNECT player drag and drop? or is there no infor on that yet?

Thanks for the reply Ishiyoshi. I am most likely going to get the A3000 when it comes on sale, either here at a sony store or online. Buying a HD3 would be pointless now since the new model is only less than a month away. As for the connect player, my guess is that people who buy the new units, will have a CD shipped with the new connect player as well. So likely early to mid novemeber for the connect player. Unless sony expects people to use SS3.2 until dec. Which I hope the don't.

So I am on the Sony UK site checking it out when I ran across this: Data compression ATRAC3 66 kbps YES ATRAC3 105 kbps YES ATRAC3 132 kbps YES ATRAC3plus 48 kbps YES ATRAC3plus 64 kbps YES Atrac3plus 256 kbps YES I am guessing it will be play the other atrac compression right? price is 199 pounds on the Sony UK site with vat, which is 417 can. That is rather expensive, I paid that for my MD 2 years ago, I am hoping when it arrives here, it will be cheaper. at least in the 350 CAN range.

Ok, I am curious to where those people who have pre-ordered one are doing this from? The only place I have found it is here: http://cgi.ebay.ca/BRAND-NEW-SONY-NW-A3000...1QQcmdZViewItem and it is rather expensive. I am tempted to skip the HD3 and HD5 and go with with the A3000 since it can handle playlists and the newer atrac bitrates. I also found it on amazon.co.uk but I am not sure if they will ship it to canada. So where are you guys ordering this and for how much?

Well, even though I haven't ordered my HDD unit (lack of time and school) I will be shortly. Still, I am one of the few people in my group of friends who has a minidisc, everyone else has either an ipod, ipod mini or now nano. Sure you can change the look of the mini, but it nots very creative looking or well advanced if you ask me. The colours apple released remind me of halloween candy I used to get long ago. All my music players have been sony from the very beginning, my first walkman was a sony. Eventually I got out of music and returned back in last 2 years of high school with a sony discman and minidisc. Both of which were top of the line when I got them. I still have the discman (not atrac though) but it is amazing. Sound is great and the thing basically mimics a CD. As for my minidisc, everytime I show it to people who haven't seen one before or have heard of them, are shocked at the small size and well cool look of it. Not many music players have remotes and those that don't always come with LCDs on them. Sure I've seen panasonics discman with a remote and their MDs, but most people get the discman which is only good if it can play CD-RW's, and you can only fit a max of 80min on a cd, unless it is a mp3 cd player (which are pointless imo) Most of Sony's products look great, and the select few I have had, have a solid built and haven't busted yet. My discman still works like a charm, and there isn't even a scratch on it, and it is a 2000 model used everyday for almost 3.5 years. My MD is a 2002 and it is beginning to scratch in some places although nothing major. Must have something to do with the fact I use it even more than the discman. Battery life is another feature, my MD outlasts any ipod out there for length of time i listen to it. The addon dry battery case can last me almost 1.5 weeks of using the MD to school, at school and on the way back. Which is 1.5 hours of commute each day, and roughly 5-6 hours of classes and breaks. There are some days I am listining to it 10 hours non stop at school. Why turn it off when all the prof is doing is writting on the overhead for an hour. The remote is next, I know I mentioned it, but without it, I would go nuts, not sure I will get used to the HD3 with no remote, unless I use my old one. I won't tell you not to get an ipod, if you feel that is what you want, go ahead and pick one up. I am sick of it, since a ton of people have it at my school, the local bookstore is an apple dealer, so no surprise there. It went from something special, which nobody had, to everyone owning one. Rather premium there huh.

Kurisu, I noticed you mention that you have the HD3, I wanted to know your personal opinions on it? Has it fared you well compared to MD?