amham

It is not the digital out that imparts the quality, that is the starting point. It is the external DAC and headphone amp. See www.ibasso.com or http://cypherlabs.com/ for well respected devices.

Once again, thanks for your reply. No doubt this has been previously covered many times in numerous discussions and I appreciate you commenting once more. For ultimate quality I use an iPod Classic 160gb connected to a portable DAC/headphone amp via the digital out 30pin connector. One can only dream of what may have been with Minidisc and a similar arrangement. Regards

One additional question sir, My assumption is ATRAC3plus 352 is the highest quality (read: less loss) available. The help files seem to indicate that ATRAC3 encodes at 10 times compression versus ATRAC3plus at 20 times compression (with CD as reference).

Thank you for the clarification.

Hi All, I'm a longtime user of Minidisc and continue to enjoy it's convenience and sound quality. However, I have, most probably, a basic question concerning OpenMG Audio(ATRAC Advanced Lossless) with my MZ-RH1. I notice when ripping to my library (using SS 4.3.01.14050) the files are written at 3 times the size as when transferred to Hi-MD and are labeled Advanced Lossless under properties. When I query properties on the file written to Hi-MD they are one third the size and DO NOT state Advanced Lossless. I'm using ATRAC3plus 352 as the transfer mode (no other higher quality choice). Am I missing a basic tenet of this format? Can I transfer the "Lossless" mode to Hi-MD? Thanks!

The object of this exercise is to extract high quality sound from a bedside system using portable sources such as the RH-1, CD, DAT, etc. using headphones and a headphone tube amp. The PC needed to be a laptop for size considerations. The DacMagic is used as a upgrade to any PC/Laptop soundcard, none of which I am aware provides significant SQ compared to a good DAC. I believe I have achieved that, albeit at some expense. However, this IS a hobby and as an aging Boomer with some means, not an unreasonable expenditure.

Yes, HI-MD RH-1 connected to the USB port, DacMagic connected to another USB port and listening to the decoded digital audio stream from the audio out of the DM. All works, including 1.411 and all Sony encoded MD rates via SonicStage. In fact, I can connect an external hard drive and decode the WAV files, Hi-MD, MD and any other encoded music file (with the appropriate software) simultaneously! iTunes, SS, Windows Media, etc by simply switching back and forth. In fact, I can even simultaneosly copy a CD onto my hardrive (using iTunes or SS) at the same time using my faster laptop (Dual Core T7250) with no hesitation, skips, breaks, etc. Very pleased! The DacMagic is starting to smooth out and widen with more "burn-in time. However, no comparison to my Benchmark USB, which one would expect for the difference in price. The DM is satisfactory for my nightstand system...but I am a little disappointed at this stage.

Received the DacMagic and it allows for any Hi-MD portable (I have several) to play via USB/PC and SonicStage 4.3. Of course, also SonicStage standalone. This then negates the need for a Hi-MD deck with digital out. I'm using an old laptop with XP, 256mb, 933mhz Pentium III, USB 1.0 as the music server and it works fine. BTW, I've never been a believer of "snake-oil" cables, burn-in, cable direction, etc., however, the DM needs to warm-up for several hours before it sounds decent. Out of the box cold it sounded very poor.

Thanks for the response.... I'm about to receive a Cambridge DACmagic and would like to decode all my digital devices through this, hopefully, superior device. To my ears the analog out of the RH-1 is strident and it needs significant help. Of course, this is also due to the op-amps and associated circuitry. It is a portable device and not designed for "hi-end" sound but it is the only Hi-MD device that I have for playback and I know of no HI-MD deck with an optical out. I prefer the convenience of MD and find it a superior compression algorithm, at least to my ears (at 352k only).

Is it possible to use an RH-1 playback into a PC using USB in the Hi-MD mode and then run the digital PC output into a DAC thus allowing for the DAC decoding the D to A? Bottom line, I'm looking for digital out of a Hi-MD MD without a digital out connection...thanks

WTB: Onkyo MD-105FX. Please state condition, price and payment method (PayPal debit preferred).