2004 Vs 2005 Hi-md Units

[Taaronk]

So here is my question:

Are the 2005 Hi-MD models everything they're cracked up to be?

As I have been researching the new units trying to decide which one I wanted, I actually just upgraded from an MZ-NH700 to the MZ-NH900 instead of a 2005 model.

It seems to me that everyone was so excited about the native MP3 playback (which isn't a realy big deal to me) that they diddn't seem to notice that Sony stripped a bunch of features out of the units. For example, I havn't read anything about speed controll options on the new units. I had a whole list of things I was curioius about on the new units and just want to ask the community if anyone has the new units and what their impressions are. Do the product descriptions I've read just neglect to mention certain features, or are they really missing things like speed controll?

Any imput would be appreciated.

[dex Otaku]

Listed specs won't really be finalised until those of us who are really fussy about making sure the info is correct get the units in our hands.

It's hard to do this before they're actually released, and still hard to do this after they've been released and we don't have them ourselves.

Commercial sites that sell the equipment often take a great deal of time to update specs with what are actually listed in product manuals. Sony themselves still don't have full specs listed, from what I can see, which is rather telling.

As far as whether gen1 or gen2 units are better, I'd say the only important differences are:

* gen2 has native mp3 playback

* gen2 no longer records in netMD mode [i.e. from live, realtime sources]

Given another few weeks the specs on most sites online [including the minidisc.org equipment browser] will likely be updated one item at a time to reflect reality.

I don't think you made a mistake in buying an NH900, indcidentally. The only reason I'd upgrade to a 2005 model is to get the OLED display on the RH10.

I could personally care less about fluff features like speed control, virtual acoustic engine, and such - things I would never in a billion years even think to use, let alone actually need. I do find it annoying that we can't even get the details of what the units do until Sony get around to, say, posting PDFs of the product manuals [which are occasionally wrong].

[Rocpuppy]

I could personally care less about fluff features like speed control, virtual acoustic engine, and such - things I would never in a billion years even think to use, let alone actually need.  I do find it annoying that we can't even get the details of what the units do until Sony get around to, say, posting PDFs of the product manuals [which are occasionally wrong].

←

I have asked the question about speed control too. But have not found an answer. I bought the NH900 instead of one of the new models because of speed control. It comes in real handy when learning guitar riffs and solos. The NH900 does everything I need and I like the metal face.

[dex Otaku]

I started a new thread asking owners of the RH10 and RH910 to please scan and upload/attach the spec pages from their manuals.

Perhaps soon we'll have more definitive answers to your questions.

See http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showtopic=9418

Apparently the RH10 does not have speed control.

[Taaronk]

Yeah,

I wouldn't call them 'fluff' features, as some of us have a practical applications for them.

I agree that the OLED screen is tight, but my backlit remote is just fine for me. I just find it annoying that Sony would remove good features in exchange for native MP3 playback. Why can't it do both? It just dosn't make a whole lot of sense to me.....Sony keeps taking one step forward and then another back. Sittly, silly Sony.

[Christopher]

I won't be upgrading to second generation Hi-MD this time around, sadly. The NH900 with RM-MC40ELK does everything I need to, and with ATRAC3plus Hi-SP conversion [for one album] and transfer now almost at three minutes or less on my computer* I really cannot see anything more I need. *.mp3 is nice, but these were built to play ATRAC3/plus - it's the only way you get the sweet battery life. Sure, OLED is nice, but the 40ELK does everything I need it to.

The DH10P keeps calling me though, just because I love those queer units.

[KJ_Palmer]

I'll also not be buying into the second generation Hi-MD units. The NH900 does everything I could ask of an MD recorder (and then some). There's only the digital camera of the DH10 to tempt me - couldn't give a hoot for MP3 playback, and frankly £300+ for a 1.3M pixel camera (OK, plus a few extras... ) isn't worth it.

Perhaps if some of the 'standard' high-end features had been kept, notably line out, the RH10 or 910 may have swayed. But that and the lack of 'legacy' support (SP, LP2 recording etc), and the low European output (2.8mW), and unit size, means I'll happily stick with the best of the first generation for now...

[mrsoul]

The biggest factor for me is the OLED because I DON"T want a remote when I record shows. Most of the shows I record I do not stealth and therefore the remote is just another wire to get tangled during setup and breakdown. I already have 2 mic wires and the Reactive SPA-2 to deal with during setup. It's just more complicated with a remote. When I used the 40ELK I always had to turn my head or get close to read it and the LCD was never anywhere as bright as the OLED. The OLED allows me to get the info I need (quick time check and level check) by just looking towards it. The Reactive Sounds SPA-2 even allows me to not worry as much about levels since I just look for any clip light flicker from time to time.

The NH900 always felt too plastic to me and I wasn't impressed with the Jog wheel or that piece of plastic that covered the USB hub. The RH10 feels heavier and more solid. The USB port is protected by the slide door and even the AA compartment actually looks like it fits. When I put the AA on the NH900 it always looks like it doesn't fit and could easily break off. The recording battery life seems to be improved with the RH10 but it's also a new NH14 I am using, not the cheap NW10 they include with the NH900. I think the OLED improves battery life when compared to powering the LCD and the 40ELK on the NH900.

So bottom line for me: OLED, battery life and better build made the RH10 the better choice upgrade.