lufs Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 I intend to buy a Hi-MD unit, and the MZ-NH900 seems to be the 1 for me, as I see it now. Here are a couple of things I would be glad to get answers to before making my decision whether to buy or not: 1. Does the MZ-NH900 produce a background-“hizz” in the sound when it is turned on, while playing music or paused..? And now I do NOT mean bass, but I mean the same kind of hizz that so many cd-/mp3-/md-portables nowadays have (because of a cheap amp/audio-out..?). I remember that my old MZ-R91 (back then the flagship of Sony’s md-line..) did have a totally clear sound, but a few other cheaper models did not; they produced a background-hizz.. This is NOT ok for me, as I listen to very “delicate” music/sounds at times, and I have Etymotic plugs that don’t hide *anything*.. 2. Does the MZ-NH900 have ANY motor noise while playing? If any, then how disturbing is it..? (I know this is a very subjective question, but I’d be totally content to get some very subjective answers! :smile: My old MZ-R91 had a motor noise that came on every half minute or so (to save battery life..) and it was loud enough to be VERY disturbing to me when I listened to “quieter tones”..! I know Sharp MD-units haven’t had motor noise for ages, but Sony can’t seem to figure out the mechanics, it seems.. :wacky: Someplace I read, however, that also Sony’s models have become a little quieter now, but what is the truth..? Thanx! -Teddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latexxx Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 It does produce some motor noise when you turn it on or seek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted October 29, 2004 Report Share Posted October 29, 2004 I just tried to find a hiss on my NH900. With MX550 earbuds, I started at 10-15/30 (normal listening level) - no hiss when paused/stopped or in quiet places. I turned the volume right up to 30/30 - still no hiss. I plugged in my HD25-1 headphones (very sensitive) still no hiss at 30/30 and lower. My conclusion - no hiss on my NH900 (that I can detect). Motor noise, as Latexxx says is there, I don't find it loud or frequent enough to be annoying though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarCapt Posted October 30, 2004 Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 My NH-900 hisses momentarily when recording is inititated. Otherwise, I've not experienced any. (Relativel new user.) SC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lufs Posted October 30, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2004 Thanx to everyone for the answers! :smile: I now trust that the NH900 doesn't produce a noticeable hiss, but about the motor noise I would still like to ask more precisely.. KJ_Palmer wrote: "Motor noise, as Latexxx says is there, I don't find it loud or frequent enough to be annoying though..." -About how freguent is it, once in a minute..? KJ_Palmer, if you would listen to some very peaceful music through your HD-25 headphones, volume at 10, MD-unit about 1 meter away.. Would you hear the motor noise if you tried to listen for it..? Thankx, Teddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 lufs - I can't hear the motor noise at all with my HD25-1. They're closed headphones and pretty much shut out all outside noise. Really, I wouldn't worry about it, it's only noticeable when you first load a disc. Once you settle down you won't be aware. I usually have mine cased up - for protection, not for the noise - if you do so and use the remote, I'm sure you won't hear a thing (motor noise), even with open headphones... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lufs Posted October 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 Ok, thanx again for the clear answer! :smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyther Posted October 31, 2004 Report Share Posted October 31, 2004 Why would you worry about motor noise if you're using Etys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeriyn Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Why would you worry about motor noise if you're using Etys?Maybe they are worried about mics picking up the mechanical noise of the recorder? ... can an NH900 even power Etys? The hissing that some cheaper DAPs produce comes from either cheap opamps, cheap capacitors or both, or maybe something's not grounded well in the headphone amplifier... I haven't ran into an MD unit yet, even the very cheapest models of Sony (N505, et al) don't produce a hissing noise. Sony MD units, especially cheap ones, have a lot of motor noise. However, my R900 was louder than my N505, my N10 was quieter than both, but my DS8 is utterly silent. I'm talking about playback noises and start-up sound, not recording since the DS8 can't record. :grin: It is ironic to note that my JE330 deck is much quieter than either my late R900 or my N505. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuz Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 ... can an NH900 even power Etys?I dont know about the 4p/4s's but i've a set of er-6's here (blessed relief from that annoying drone on plane trips) that do ok out of the nh9000 if that helps as a reference. More subjective comparisons on motor noise.. when it's seeking its not quiet at all. Background noise here is my notebook fan (a p5020) running kinda idle and me clacking away on the keyboard. The fan is a low hum (very low) and the nh900 seeking is only marginally more noticeable than my keyboard clacking.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffS Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 I've been using er-6is for a few months now and my 510 can drive them perfectly fine. Actually I have yet to find a source that couldn't power them. Hoping to upgrade to an nh900 in a few months. -Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lufs Posted November 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 >Why would you worry about motor noise if you're using Etys? Trust me, my old MZ-R91 did indeed have a motor noise every 45sec that penetrated even the Etys and it was annoying enough if I listened to any kind of peaceful music at lower volume.. >... can an NH900 even power Etys? I own the ER4-P's, and they can be powered with ease by *every* decent portable thing.. :smile: (as far as I know they were created very much with this in target..) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyther Posted November 1, 2004 Report Share Posted November 1, 2004 Yeah, ER-4P/6/6i will run fine out of any portable. I fact, in terms of relative loudness I'd say they're more efficient than D66s. Seems we've got an Ety following here. Now I don't recall my R90 making much noise at all. With my ER-4s (both foamies and triflanges), even the air conditioner becomes nothing more than a mere background hum, so I'm gonna jump the gun and say either your R91's defective or you're not getting a good seal with your Etys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aeriyn Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 Hmm. My Shure E2cs are supposedly very efficient, yet my DS8 has trouble driving them to a decent level. Please bear in mind that my hearing was damaged by ear infections when I was young, so what may be loud to you may not be loud to me. I believe that the 4-conductor design, when shorting the negative channels across themselves by using a 3-conductor headphone, results in some kind of power drop... I've heard people saying that Sharp 1-bit recorders' headphone jack can't function as even a ghetto line output. However I think my hearing may be getting better; I don't have my DS8 on 21/30 most of the time anymore. Usually around 15/30 in a quiet room, 18/30 in public places with ambient noise. Or maybe my JE330 is just recording things louder than that stupid N505 did... This is sort of off topic, I know. :sleep: Skyther, the ER-4Ps have 24 ohm impedance... wouldn't that make them harder to drive by 5mW headphone amps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skyther Posted November 2, 2004 Report Share Posted November 2, 2004 Hehe. ER-4s aren't anywhere the same as your E2cs. There's a big difference in the isolation abilities of the 2. Impedance doesn't mean much if the drivers are sensitive enough, and the ~20dB isolation just makes your music sound relatively louder to environmental sounds so it appears louder. And yes, decks are better at reaching the maximum recording levels so that may explain why the N505 records at lower levels. All MD enthusiasts should really own a deck. :happy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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