Volume limit removal doesn't work!

[psypeter]

I have have just bought a new HD5 thinking that the volume hack would work but it didn't. After much searching it seems that lots of people are having the same problem with those bought recently. Any ideas?

What about if I put on the firmware would that be enough to enable it?

I've tried PM'ing kurisu - Administrator who led the topic but no reply .

Any help anyone?

Many thanks

Peter

[KJ_Palmer]

What's your problem with doing the hack, exactly? I just bought a 20GB HD5 this week, and the hack worked like a dream. It must have a been a recent model as firmware version 1.2 was already installed...

Admittedly I've done lots of minidisc hacks in my time, so I'm used to the process..

Edited October 20, 2005 by KJ_Palmer

[psypeter]

Many thanks for the reply.

I'm having the same problem as these folks:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread....ight=hd5+volume

and these:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread....15&highlight=dj

I can adjust and save the setting but it only effects the volume when you return to the setup menu and doesn't have any effect otherwise.

[Christopher]

All I can prescribe is that you reference the service manual in the downloads section and make aboslutely sure you're adjusting the right setting. It's plausible to consider that Sony may have hypothetically defeated this work around with a firmware upgrade only present in newer-made models.

[psypeter]

Thanks for your reply.

Can you tell me please - how do I find out which firmware version is on it and can I step back to an earlier one?

Thanks

Peter

[psypeter]

I have discovered I have version 1.2 firmware but this seems to be the problem. See:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread....ht=firmware+1.1

Possible to go back to 1.1?

Any one suggest where I can find it?

Many thanks

[MDKUK]

RE: VOLUME HACK

I have just bought a new NWHD5 and successfully used the volume hack. However having looked at problems people have had using it I see that it is important to confirm the changes to the setting of SP. The best way I have found in menu changes generally is to back out of series of menu steps to the beginning of a menu. In other words go from the SP menu back to the "power" display before resetting. I went back forward into the menu to confirm the original SP change before the reset to be sure.

My own reason for using the hack was not just to see if the volume could be increased but to see if it improved sound quality. Sony AVLS even at low volume uses makes the sound of the NWHD5 feel compressed and I now think the built in volume limit was having a similar effect. Now even at lower volumes the Sony sounds much more dynamic.

The one down side is reduced playback time before the battery needs recharging.

MDK - UK

Lincoln, England.

[sh33p]

SP (sound pressure limit) off draws more power than with it on even if you're not playing it any louder?

Edited December 27, 2005 by sh33p

[jd76]

Hi folks just new to the forum as well as new to NW-HD5. I have a version that was upgrade to firmware 1.2 and seem to be experiencing similair problems to others in this thread. I can get to the relevant menus etc and change the SP function but when I back out there is no appreciable sound difference. Even though I have confirmed that SP is 'OFF'. Initially when you are playing a song and first enter service mode you do hear a difference in volume levels but I cannot appear to make this stick. Can anyone PLEASE PLEASE help?

Also I see someone in this thread asked if it is possible to revert to the previous version of the firmware. Does anyone know if this is possible. It should be as it is only a flashed program.

Any thoughts inputs appreciated. Thanks JD76

[Guest Stuge]

jd76,

Welcome To "AtracLife"

Just Because of Vol Hack I never Upgraded my HD5 to ver1.2 .

I will suggest you to try this & Let me know .

1.)First Get into the Test Mode of NW-HD5.

Then Follow the Instructions given in the Picture .

I will suggest you to Choose the Destination US.

[jd76]

Thanks Stuge I have tried as you instructed and no luck. The volume is definetly louder when u enter test mode and I changed the 'Dest to US' and confirmed the changed. But when I exit it does not keep the volume setting. So I have changed the SP to Off and dest to US but no joy. I am not sure if there are a specific sequence of events that you have to follow to make this work. But I have done everything as indicated in all the posts I have visited so far. I wonder if anyone has a copy of the ver 1.1 or 1.0 firmware that can be reloaded. This must be simple enough as I have flashed phones etc in the past. Do you have or know of anyone who can help along these lines???

Thanks jd76.

[Guest Stuge]

jd76, it`s not possible to to go backward i.e You cannot change the firmware ver to 1.0 from ver1.2 .But you can still reflash the smae version .Try to reflash your firmware from US site (& kEEP YOUR dESTNATION TO US )

Edit:NW-HD5

[jd76]

Excellent thinking stuge I am impressed would never have thought of this. I'll give it a try do you have the US web site address? Do you think if I done this then I would not have to alter the volume levels at all as it was a US based flash?? thanks for all your help...JD76

[Guest Stuge]

I not sure about that .

Sorry,The link i gave was a wrong one .

click here :NW-HD5 (FIRMWARE ) US

It should work now .

[jd76]

Thanks for all your help Stuge I have downloaded the file and will keep it on the back burner. I think I have managed to remove the volume limitation. I found the following at another site, applied and appears to work:

"HD5 Volume control restriction - I have answered my own questions! if you look at the above I couldn't get these instructions to work. The answer according to www.avforums.com is that the newer HD5s may have been changed slightly. Some recommended to try and change the country code to US. I found that this finally lifted the volume restriction BUT you then have to follow the original insructions too afterwards. Please see what to do from start to finish:

To change to US first enter the service menu the same way (Start playing a song. Turn the HOLD function on by sliding the switch at the top. Then, Hold the SEARCH/MENU button and enter the button sequence: Right, Right, Left, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Up, Down. Let go of the buttons, and put the HOLD switch back to its original position. The backlight will cut out and you'll be in the service menu with "POWER" displayed. As soon as you get to this point it gets twice as loud. Press DOWN a few times to select OTHERS) Now the instructions change from above: press ">" then up and down to "DEST". Press the play/pause key and use the search/menu key until "US" is displayed, press play/pause again and then hold the stop key to exit). When you switch it back on the volume has gone back to normal but there's more.....

"I don't know if it makes any difference but at this point, with a song playing, I went to sound in the option menu and turned all the bass and treble to max in custom 1 in the 6-band equaliser menu and made sure that custom 1 and 6 band equaliser were ticked before going back to the playback screen.

After this you then follow the original instructions: make sure there is a song playing. Turn the HOLD function on by sliding the switch at the top. Then, Hold the SEARCH/MENU button and enter the button sequence: Right, Right, Left, Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Up, Down. Let go of the buttons, and put the HOLD switch back to its original position. The backlight will cut out and you'll be in the service menu with "POWER" displayed. As soon as you get to this point it won't go twice as loud as it did before. Press DOWN a few times to select OTHERS and press Right to get into the menu called "LCD NP". Keep pressing down until you get to SP SET (Sound Pressure Setting). Press Play/Pause to get into change the option. Then press SEARCH/MENU to select "ON" or "OFF" (obviously, OFF is for louder sounds). Then press play again to go back to the SP SET menu. Now hold STOP to get the player out of the service mode. When I switch it back on it was twice as loud and I had to reset the bass and treble back to zero because it was tooooo loud!! You do, as all above comments, have to go back into the player's options to manually turn the backlight on, repeat and one song playback off after doing this. Hope this is of some help"

sorry if this is rather long winded but it did help and could help others. I appreciate all the help I have had on this. Please accept my humbe thanks. Stuge if any problems arise I'll certainly apply the US firmware. JD76

[Guest Stuge]

I don`t know about this but I `m glad that your problem is solved.

[jd76]

I don`t know about this but I `m glad that your problem is solved.

Thanks to everyone who gave their opinion but a question that will probably be repeated numerous times:

How do you know if your attempt at switching the Volume limitation (OFF) worked??? what is the benchmark, or critera upon which we can definetly say yes it has been switched off?.. Just because you can no longer liten to your music with the volume fully up does not actually indicate that the volume limiter(OFF) worked. You could have sensitive hearing etc.

Any thoughts ????