MDX-400

No there isn't unfortunately. I asked a similar question a while back and was disappointed to hear that you have to add to the library. Since I rip to MP3 for music on my PC, I'd rather have been able to just rip right to the NW-HDx but no dice--you have to import first which is kinda silly. (I know I could just use MP3 on the HD3 but I'd prefer to use ATRAC3plus; and I don't like having ATRAC3plus on my PC because it is only compatible with SS and there are no plug ins like "what I'm listening to" for webpages, Messenger, etc.) So it kinda sucks having to import first. It was the same with NetMD but what saved you (as you indicate) was the ability to use SimpleBurner. Unfortunately as you know SimpleBurner doesn't work with NW units and Sony stopped making new versions of SimpleBurner since like v2 or something. A lot of people have expressed a desire for a new version of SimpleBurner, which would support NW units but so far Sony hasn't done anything about it

Hey yeah I saw that auction before you posted it here I think, LOL. Had a decent BuyItNow price too (though it's gone now due to bidding). Had I not bought two HD3s now (i.e. had this been a month or two earlier, lol) I probably would have been interested. Anyway good luck with the sale!

I know SonicStage, especially older versions, has had it's problems... But as others have mentioned it is in no way anywhere near as bad as Connect player. I think OpenMG v1.0 was probably better than Connect player. No, I've never used Connect Player, but I've read a lot about it; and, the fact that Sony USA refuses to release product with that software (very likely why the A1000/A3000 have not been released) says something very negative about Connect Player. Whatever this alledged SS replacement is, let's hope it isn't something like Connect 2.0 (unless they made a new Connect from the ground up, completely different than the old one). Still, I don't find SS that much of a problem... Why people say it is atrocious I'm not quite sure. Admittedly, I've had some problems with it but I don't see what is so bad about it. I guess the problems with the software not working at all/crashing a computer are pretty bad but are those still commonplace with SS 3.4? I've never had any version of SS crash on me [*knocks on wood*] so I don't know anything about that. Here's a question though, for those that have used software like iTunes... Is iTunes really that good either? I mean I've never really used iTunes in any kind of depth, but I know that I absolutely *hate* any other software developed by Apple computer. Apple makes the worst stuff... Look at crap like Mac OS and QuickTime But so many people use iPods/iTunes that I guess it has to be okay, eh? Though Sony's SS software isn't exactly stellar, I can't belive that Apple actually programmed something good either...

LOL why they haven't??? When a company discontinues an item, believe me, they do not go back and make another version of it. Sometimes you'll see an updated/revised version of a product, but if it is discontinued and they release another model to replace it? They aren't going to go back to it. I noticed a lot of people seem to continue talk about firmware updates, new accessories, etc. for players like the HD5. I always think (and am now going to say) get over it! It's discontinued, done finished, over. If you like the HD5 then you're still free to buy one (or even another one) and use it the way it is and with the accessories available. But don't think Sony is somehow going to re-release it and start supporting it with new accessories again. Perhaps Sony will design a new/another player somehow similar to the HD5 but the HD5 is discontinued period. Personally I never liked the HD5--in fact out of all of the HD1/2/3 and A-series, the HD5 is the only one I don't really like. Functionally it isn't much different, I know--I mainly dislike it because IMO it's very stupid looking/ugly. Scroll wheel is an interesting idea. I don't mind a real scroll wheel (something similar to what they have on the MC40ELK remote) but the iPod's weirdo move-your-finger-around-in-a-circle thing I don't like that at all--I prefer the HD1/3 navigation to that...

Haha cool Hey you even have an HD5 too eh? Well I guess since I only have two HDD DAPs and other people have like three or more, I'm not crazy LOL... Hey here's a question I thought of though Stuge. (I didn't think of this until I remembered about having to initialise/erase the first HD3 when I installed SS...) If I have two HD3s, how does all the DRM stuff from SS like that? What I mean is, can I simply transfer whatever I have in my library to either/both devices without any hassles? Would SS even recognise connecting two HD3s at the same time, or can you only have one connected at a time?

That's what I'm wondering... I wonder if a 40GB drive would work in one? But then again the A3000s behaviour with a 30GB drive has no bearing on an HD5 (or HD1/3)'s behaviour with a larger-than-30GB drive. Because the A3000 won't even work with a 30GB as it is, and we know the HD5 will, thanks to Simon. But I'd have to say I think, Simon, you might be the only one attempting these things, LOL. Because it is all I've ever read about it. I.e. I doubt anyone can confirm for you that the A3000 doesn't work with larger drives. It's kind of funny that the newer A3000 can't actually go higher than 20GB whereas the older units can. I have no idea why Sony didn't make the A3000 40GB or so to begin with. I wonder, if we look at the iPod's sales statistics, what size iPod is the highest seller? Would it be a 20GB model? (Does Apple even make a 20GB iPod anymore?)... Not that I care about the iPod, but I'm trying to understand why Sony would make the A3000 only 20GB, since it's their 5th Generation HDD DAP and still has the same capacity as their 1st Generation HDD DAP

...So much that I actually purchased a second one! LOL... This time I got a blue one (the colour I originally wanted). I'm thinking now I can mod the output on one (to stay in fixed Line-Out mode) and have the other if I ever need to use headphones... I'll also get to see whether this one has the alleged hiss or not (because the pink one does NOT). [Modding the headphone amp is going to be a lot harder than I originally thought though. Dismantling the pink one revealed that the internals are absolutely *tiny*--I may have to find a shop that will do it for me because I definitely don't have the equipment to solder that small scale.] Anyway here's a pic from the auction.... Going to end up perhaps $25 US more than the pink one but comes with the AC adapter (pink one didn't) and even the packaging, which is nice. It's unfortunate that Sony never marketed this thing in Canada (nor the HD5) because I think it would have been popular. I honestly don't see how the [ugly IMO] HD5 or the newer A3000 really improved on the HD3. The HD5 you get a screen but the thing looks like a GameBoy, lol. The A3000 seems pretty pricey (for the price of an A3000 I pretty much bought two lightly used HD3s) and though it has additional features and a very nice design, these are minimal enhancements... I mean Sony could have at least made the A3000 40G or something...

I don't know if the lack of EQ on MP3 files is so much a constraint made by Sony rather than a limitation of the design of the decoder or at least their implementation of it. Whether that is possible or not, at current time I'm assuming it hasn't been done given you're asking the question, LOL. It isn't likely I don't think. As I always say the iPod is the Honda Civic of MP3 players, so people/companies will always be making products for it, hacking it etc. Sony players on the other hand have very little "aftermarket" and it is not that likely that anyone will spend their time "hacking" an HD5... Especially considering the HD5 has been long discontinued and, in the US, Sony doesn't even have a current HDD based DAP on the market. That said, the processor in the HD1/3/5 (all the same main processor) is quite powerful [in terms of it's compressed audio decoding ability] and power efficient. I would imagine if people could write a firmware/OS for it, they could do a lot. I'm not sure about the ICs the iPod uses but Sony's CXR704060-201GA Main System Controller IC is definitely a proprietary processor and therefore I doubt Sony would have any imformation available in regard to it's operation.

I'd say around $50 in labour plus the part cost. Could be less, could be more. Depends on the repair facility and what they charge really (speaking of independent authorised repair shops that is). For an HD3 Sony USA's factory facilities offer a flat-rate repair program (which covers everything really) but it is $100 US meaning you're better off buying another unit, IMO. Sony factory facilities can repair it outside of the flat-rate as well, but again probably going to cost at least $50 I'd say. Oh no, I didn't say anything about not using contact cleaner.... By all means I would try that first. You can either spray some contact cleaner in the jack and some on the headphones plug [metal] and see if that cleans it. Easier still would be to just use some isopropyl [rubbing] alcohol on a q-tip and cleaning out the jack like that. Note that you'll probably have to remove some of the cotton from the q-tip so it fits in the jack easier. Also be careful that you don't get it stuck in the jack! This can happen and make things worse for you so just be careful. If your particular q-tip is too large you could also finely roll a peiece of paper towel and put that in alcohol and do the same. The truth is though, that usually a dirty jack isn't the problem (though it is possible)--usually it is a solder/connection problem If you're speaking of learning to solder then you're definitely not going to be able to do the headphones jack easily, LOL. You're right--you'll likely end up doing more damage than good! I'd get an estimate from a shop (you should be able to just tell them you need the jack replaced and have them tell you how much that would cost, just so you don't have to pay for an estimate to begin with and to give you an idea). If that is more than you think it is worth in terms of buying a replacement, then I'd buy the replacement instead. In my own personal opinion, if the repair was going to be over $60 US or so, I'd just buy another HD3 (which go for around $150 US on eBay, used)...

Yeah seems like the headphones jack either has a cold/intermittent solder joint to the board or there is a problem with the jack itself (corrosion or broken contacts inside). This isn't a common problem per se, but it has been something that has been known to happen on MD units which use similar phones/remote jacks... The likely solution is either to re-solder the jack where it connects to the board or replace the headpones jack altogether... The part number for the jack is 181859111 and comes up as $6.49 from Sony DAPC. Of course de-soldering the old one and replacing it is a little harder than it sounds. The insides of the HD3 are absolutely tiny (no wonder considering the thing is so small itself); so unless you have the proper micro soldering tools and knowhow to replace the jack, you're likely going to have to have it done by a repair centre It will likely be costly to replace the $7 part though, because of labour charges

Yes I'm aware of the lack of EQ availability with MP3 but are you really telling me you're transcoding and lowering the quality of the tracks just to use the EQ??? That's like recording a CD to a cassette just because you have a tape player with an EQ but your CD player doesn't. LOL. Well maybe not the best analogy but you get the picture. Honestly, transcoding the file just to use the EQ is a pretty futile attempt at making things sound better. I'd just use the Digital Sound Preset instead. In fact, if the EQ is anything like the EQ on the HD1/3 then the Digital Sound Preset feature isn't far off. In fact I pretty much prefer to use that instead of the EQ because it is simpler and sounds the same because I end up setting the EQ nearly the same anyway...

Hmm, I'm unsure about that. SS might have a service running at all times which could theoretically "slow down" the PC, but in reality (even if it does run a service) it probably only takes up a small amount of RAM and has a very negligeble hit on CPU performance. Problem with services of course is that they do add up, but really even if SS does run a service it shouldn't be a big deal on any modern PC. For MP3 files only, you can use MP3FM, no? Or is that not possible on the E507? But for ATRAC3/3plus you'll have to use SS, yes.

This thread begs the question: Why on earth would you want to convert MP3 to ATRAC3/3plus??? Converting one lossy format to another lossy format (transcoding) is really not good for quality... Since all you're doing is decreasing the quality of the music/file. If you have stuff in MP3 already and want those exact files transferred to the player, just transfer the MP3s directly with SS or MP3FM. If you want to use ATRAC3/3plus it is recommended to do so only via ripping right from the uncompressed/non-lossy source (e.g. the original CD) or from files found on an internet music service offering downloads in ATRAC3/3plus format (e.g. Connect).

Hmm interesting info. Yeah if the w810i really does support Connect [service], you'd think it would have to support ATRAC3/3plus... The only other alternative would be a SonicStage that transcoded ATRAC3/3plus to MP3 and then transferred it to the phone! Now that would be really a$$ backwards, considering most Sony devices from a few years ago were doing the exact opposite. Of course as you said, it may just be incorrect info and the phone may not support Connect at all But if it does I'd think it would support ATRAC3/3plus. I think it is more Ericsson than Sony, however, that has prevented the use of ATRAC on the SE phones. I think it has more to do with the fear of the word ATRAC in general scaring away most people. Everytime I mention ATRAC or a Sony DAP device to any "layperson", they always automatically associate that with "being forced to convert/use their format". We all know this is no longer true (and for most devices hasn't been true for some time) but a lot of people out there still somehow translate "ATRAC" into "incompatibility/conversion/forced use of proprietary format"... I think Ericsson might have feared the phones wouldn't sell well if the ability was there? Just a guess, but it does make some sense to introduce ATRAC support after MP3, from that point of view at least.

As the title says... Currently I'm using mainly ATRAC3plus @ 352kbps (ripping from CDs) for use on my NW-HD3. However, I'm wondering if I should consider switching to ATRAC3plus at 256kpbs instead? 352k is quite a bit above 256k (96kbps more data rate to be exact) and therefore takes up ~38% more disk space. Also it should also be reading the HDD by that much more and result in more battery power consumption/shorter battery life. Though I've loaded up a few gigs of music so far on to the HD3, I haven't really used it enough to see what the battery is like at 352k. But we do know that Sony rates the "30hr" spec. with ATRAC3plus 48k (ugh!); 352k is over 7x more data rate and likely 7x more HDD reading time. I could spend a lot of time doing quality comparisons between 256k and 352k but perhaps other people on the forum have already done this and have insight/comments? How much worse is 256 than 352? It's too bad the HD3 can't use ATRAC3plus at 320k (why it can use 352k and not 320k is beyond me but that's the way it is). Though 320k isn't that far off 352, it's at least a little lower. I do like to squeeze out as much quality as I can and a 352kbps data rate does just that, but I'm wondering if the disk space savings, battery life savings, and lower wear on the HDD might outweigh the quality loss? PS: Oh and before someone suggests "why don't you use 192kpbs?" or something like that, there's no way I'm going that low, LOL... (How people can use 132k or lower is beyond me. How Sony seems to think people will use 48k is really beyond me!)

Are you sure about that???? According to this eBay auction, you can connect to the PC with the cradle... http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-BCR-NWU1-Cradle-f...1QQcmdZViewItem You can't plug in the USB cable that comes with it for PC connectivity while it is in the cradle either--doesn't it also go in the bottom??? If the unit is in the cradle, you can't use that cable. Unless it also goes on the dock??? But that's a$$-backwards... If you can't connect the mini-B USB on the cradle to the PC for regular connectivity that is a senseless move by Sony... Why on earth would they have it take up the connector and then have a USB cable for charging only? Though I don't put it beyond Sony to do something like this, the auction does say you can sync to the PC and it does show a mini-B USB cable... Well everything is expensive in the UK, LOL But it isn't exactly cheap elsewhere--maybe Singapore but in North America it will be not much better... Look at the price of the stupid USB "mini-dock" BS attachment on the HD3, it is like $65 US from Sony DAPC USA... I think "dollars" is the answer... They want to gouge people when they lose/damage the cable! Honestly it's true. Out of the HD1, HD3, HD5 and the A1000/A3000, only the HD5 has normal DC-in and USB jacks. The HD1 uses a cradle that is expensive, the HD3 uses a stupid "minidock" that is just as expensive, and now the A3000 uses some proprietary cable. All of which cost Sony a few bucks and then they sell as replacements for much much more.

They are just as stupid-expensive on eBay! But (and I don't mean to insult anyone that has paid $60+ for this thing already...) you have to be stupid to buy one at that price. Why? Well hmm lets see... You can get a BCR-NWU1 (the dock/cradle for the A3000 with line out, DC-in, and standard mini-B USB connections) for around $60 US or less, on eBay. OR you can get the speaker stand for about $140 US or less. (The speaker dock also has USB and DC-in jacks on it). Why buy a cable for the same price as you can buy the dock for? Or why not spend some extra money and get the speaker dock (if you'd like one of those)? Really it makes no sense at all to get the cable that plugs in the bottom because it is the same price as the dock, where you get a stand, line-out connections, and can use a standard mini-B USB cable...

^Really eh? So this works? Well I guess the VAIO Pocket is a little bit different so still no guarantee... Well it seems [here in NA] you can get a 40GB Toshiba 1.8" drive for about $130 US + shipping on eBay, from what I can see. That's about the same as I paid for my HD3 to begin with. Still I don't think it is that bad, especially if you could resell the 20GB drive for even $50 US. I mean it isn't a great/easy solution (still not guaranteed to work even, lol) but not bad. Again, I don't need the capacity myself but might be worth a try for someone that really likes their Sony player but wants more capacity...

Just curious I guess, but I was thinking that since HDD based DAPs use small (1.8") HDDs in them usually of the Toshiba variety (e.g. the HD1/3/5 should all use the same Toshiba MK2004GAL 20GB drive), has anyone ever tried to change the HDD size in the player? I.e. use a different sized 1.8" drive in place of the 20G that is in there? Would the firmware handle it, or would it give error messages and/or use 20GB even if more space is available? We all know there is an HD5H, could it be that it is really just a [regular] HD5 with a 30GB drive in it, or would the firmware be different? Now I'm not really trying to get more capacity myself or anything (20GB is doing fine for me right now), but it would be interesting if the capacity could be [reasonably] increased using a bigger HDD in the unit. Whether this would be a worthwile or cost-effective upgrade or not, it would be interesting to know if it would work. Anyone have any info regarding this?

Are these cases made/sold by Sony? If they are, then Sony is retarded for not including them with the player itself. Does the A1000/3000 come with any case at all? I find it kind of annoying that Sony (and other manufacturers) continue to strip what-were-once-standard accessories from products in the name of cheapness. Remember when pretty much every MD portable came with a soft/cloth drawstring case? Those were the days. Now you're on your own to find/buy protection for your players it seems

I don't know about the VAIO Pocket specifically, but yes SS does allow you to use album cover pics for MP3-based albums, I do know that. Also, Genre works for MP3s AFAIK as well. Just transfer a few MP3 files and see if it works out okay, it should...

It's always good to receive fast payments, yes; and, most good buyers will pay within a day... But you do know under eBay (US) rules you can't actually "require" payment within a day, right? Buyer has at least 7 days to pay for an item, regardless of what you say in an auction. Just try to file an unpaid item/NPB for an auction won and not paid before that, and you'll see--you can't do it until 7 days have passed at least. (There are a couple exceptions, but barring those, you can't state in the auction payment "must be made within 1 day" and have it actually be enforceable/effective.) The only way you can be guaranteed immediate payment is to use a BuyItNow with the immediate payment feature (meaning the buyer essentially has to pay before they can even use the BuyItNow feature). Well this has changed in a sense... Since PayPal was taken over by eBay, PayPal insurance on eBay purchased items is actually over and above standard eBay ($200) purchase insurance (I think PayPal insures up to $1000 now on eBay purchases). Back then, however, you would have had to go through eBay insurance; but it wouldn't matter either way because there is a $25 claim deductible so a $15 item wouldn't be covered no matter what you do (and shipping isn't covered at all, just the item price). Indeed, getting payments quickly is always good. With PayPal of course you pay for it, but that's to be expected. Some complain about their fees being too high but there aren't many alternatives and none as popular or widely used. PayPal and eBay alike eBay are fairly indispensible services despite what they charge. From a business standpoint, it was pretty much a no-brainer for eBay to buyout PayPal like they did a few years ago.

I saw this thread on the forum recently: http://www.atraclife.com/forums/index.php?...96&hl=hours And thought it was an interesting creation... I was thinking of constructing or buying something to hold my HD3 in my car at first myself... I looked at a lot of commercially available solutions and found that Belkin Tunedok for the iPod was pretty well suited for me. I think the HD3 is about the same width as an iPod so I think it would probably fit okay in the tunedok and it is rotatable so the HD3 could sit fine horizontally as to see the display properly (so not a problem since it was designed for the vertically oriented iPod). But then I thought I did not want to give up one of my cupholders and also thought looking down in that area might be a little distracting while driving. I do plan on getting the Connects2 adapter soon (right now I'm using my XA-300 AUX-input adapter, which sounds great actually but offers no display/control); but even then with the interface, navigating on the HD3 itself will still be necessary at times... Anyway I decided now that I'm going to try to mount my HD3 to my sunvisor and run cabling through the A-pillar. That will let me have the HD3 right on the visor and simply have to flip it down to see/use it. My idea to mount it, so far, is to use some strong velcro affixed to my silicone skin and another peice on the sunvisor's plastic mirror cover. Either that or perhaps a Sony HDCASE1 attached to the visor and simply inserting/removing the HD3 from the case. However, I'm interested in other ways people have mounted/located their units for car use as perhaps that will give other ideas. A Future Shop employee suggested I use one of those non slip mat things (which would work okay with the HD3 if a silicone skin is on it), but to that I replied "there is no way the player is going to stay on there with the way I take corners" LOL...

Well I ordered the pink one and it came in the mail recently... Must say it is a perfect fit, it even has a thinner section on it to allow for the HD3s USB/power adapter thingy. It's quite nice and the pink skin on the pink unit looks good... I didn't realise the silicone skins were actually so thin--I guess that is why they are called skins, lol... It's a pretty much perfect fit and offers great surface protection Now all I need is a screen protector thingy... My only "complaint" is the lanyard/handstrap things that came with mine. There are two sizes which is nice, only the wriststrap size is waaay too small to fit around my hand (and I have pretty small hands as it is); the second size is about 3x that size, so it is more like a neckstrap only I don't know who would want to try to carry around an HDD player on their neck! Sure the HD3 is small, but it isn't exactly light; plus I don't think having it dangling around your neck while playing is the best idea either. Anyway, all in all definitely worth the ~$12 CDN. paid for it (incl. shipping).

No I've never seen it in real life but by looking at the pictures it doesn't seem all that large (considering the size of it relative to the inserted iPod, which I have seen/held before). I can see that it is a good bit bigger than a lot of the other sound dock things. No, as I said I haven't seen or used the IM7 personally. However I have seen/heard the Bose Sounddock thing and it is a POS, lol. But that's like anything Bose, pretty much all overpriced junk. "Friends don't let friends buy Bose" and "No highs? No lows? Must be Bose!" are the common sayings about Bose, lol. Bose is one of the biggest and most successful marketing scams for speakers. Lots of people buy Bose and pay their inflated and ridiculous prices for mediocre products. Why? I don't know; but for some reason people think Bose actually make good stuff when they don't. Well if it sounds good to you I guess that's what really matters if you're the one buying/using it. Perhaps that's true for all the sound dock things, but there are lots of mini or shelf systems you can buy that sound better (IMO) and cost less for what you get. If the Bose Sounddock is as good as it gets for iPod docks, I'm sticking to saying all the iPod sound docks are POS! Yes for convenience it is, well, convenient. I'll give you that. Again if you can make good use of something like that and enjoy it, that makes it a good purchase for you, if you think it is worth $200+ US... Well I dunno about this "future" but it doesn't matter to me personally. Music played in-home is either from my PC or from a CD changer or from an MD deck, to my receiver/speakers; I'd never try to use a DAP as a primary in-home music source. I even have a remote for my PC so I can skip tracks, etc. but I barely ever use it since just pressing the track keys on the kbd or using the mouse/screen seem to be just as easy. The wireless remote facility is nice though, if you're using a portable DAP to play music from. There are separate wireless receiver/remote packages available for iPods though, so you aren't exactly limited to using the silly sound dock things. You could use an existing shelf system/receiver/etc. and just buy a wireless remote for it. Again this doesn't help you with the Sony though. However I do remember someone created an interface for the Walkman remote port using an IR receiver that plugged into the remote port and then utilised a PIC that interpreted commands from an IR remote and translated them to the electrical signals for the Walkman. This was, however, a DIY project and was for an MD unit; but it is possible if you want to go to the trouble. I doubt Sony will release something like that. They might have a small speaker dock for the A1000/A3000 already (I can't remember now); but if there isn't one for the HD5 already there never will be one as Sony has discontinued that model some time ago now (and as mentioned there is no dock connector on the HD5 anyway).