1kyle Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 (edited) To everybody going for 2nd gen stuff -- I'd skip it and still keep ist gen until 3rd generation comes out with some real improvement.I took my MDS-JB980 to a place which had several top of the line Mission and Acoustic Energy Aelite speakers (talking here of speakers costing over 1200 USD) and ran a test on some music recorded on the unit at LP2 with some music recorded on 2nd gen units at HI-SP. Both my Deck and the portable units were plugged into some decent Marantz Amps so no cheating there either.Music recorded on the JB980 was via Optical out on quality CD player into Optical in on the unit.Music played into the amp was via optical out on the JB980 to optical In.Music on the 2nd gen units was also recorded via Optical IN on the units.The 2nd gen units having no optical out raised a slight problem for fair comparison but 2 tests were done --first was via Line out into Line In on the ampThen another test was done using a computer and SS 3.2 with a decent sound card optical out into the optical in on the amp. Slightly better but not hugely so --and when listening to music I shouldn't always have to use a computer to get the best quality out of it.Guess what the MDS-JB980 at LP2 just blew away the HI-SP stuff. OK I know comparing a top of the range deck with portable gear isn't really fair --but I wasn't even using the top bit rate of the old unit (SP). --With SP the newer units weren't even in the same league. Note I wasn't trying PCM -- this I know would be good on any unit.So if you get a 1st gen piece of gear at least you will have compatability with the older stuff which currently is still outperforming the more modern stuff.I really would like to see what a QUALITY HI-MD deck could do --especially if it could play PCM as well -- but for the moment NOTHING is going to make me part with the JB980.It seems to me that the music industry is going backwards and catering more and more to the 'MP3' crowd.It's really amazing to me that no one has come out with a really good current music system to replace the humble CD yet -- forget SACD it's dying on it's feet.The MD could (and still can) --but some of those bozos over at Sony need to get their act together.Think it's a case of one step forward and three backwards.Cheers-K Edited August 14, 2005 by 1kyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysnap Posted August 14, 2005 Report Share Posted August 14, 2005 The MD could (and still can) --but some of those bozos over at Sony need to get their act together.←Sony's ability to shoot themselves in the foot, after launching leading edge technology, is astonishing.The Minidisc was popular long long before Pods appeared - every student in the UK seemed to have one, even when they cost twice as much as they do now. And Sony did nothing to promote MD when Pods started taking over . . .Even now, they launch the PSP, using a close relative of the Minidisc, but stupidly just different enough to be very different and totally incompatible.Sony Ericsson launch new music playing mobile phones . . which don't support ATRAC, but Apple's AAC!! Crazy.Come on Sony, you're clever people, but seemingly can't join the dots . . . . . .Andrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky191 Posted August 22, 2005 Report Share Posted August 22, 2005 Yes Sony manages to give you more and less at the same time. Its a common thread in MD history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.