question before purchase

[Tiesto]

I've been thinking to get a new Atrac device either a HDD or a MD player. I'm not sure about the HDD because it might put to sleep all my MD gear/media, but I think I will end up buying it in a near future. So I want to know a few things:

-the HD5 can display the remaining time of a track?

-the new firmware update enables drag and drop?

-there are too many gaps when you walk with the player?

-the battery performance for Atrac @ 132k is quite good?

-the player gets warm too easily?

Well, I think that covers all my doubts for the moment. Thanks in advance for any advice.

p.s. the MD player would be the EH930 but it is only available from audiocubes

[Guest Stuge]

-the new firmware update enables drag and drop?

You cann`t drag & drop via windows Explorer.But For mp3 files you can use MP3 file manager..

there are too many gaps when you walk with the player?

Depends upon your usage.If you are runner or go to gym then it might skip .fOR PURPOSE running IT IS BETTER TO HAVE FLASH BASED PLAYER.You will not have any problem if you walk normally..

-the battery performance for Atrac @ 132k is quite good?

Yes...(@ 132kpbs around 34~35 hours in continous playback)

-the player gets warm too easily?

No..

-the HD5 can display the remaining time of a track?

It shows elapsed track but not in time format

[Tiesto]

Thanks Stuge, that was very helpful anyway the HD5 would have an indoor usage, therefore it wouldnt be in conflict with my MD gear... I hope so at least.

[mikemountjoy]

I just got an A3000B from amazon.co.uk.

-Remaing time is displayed be default.

-Connect player software allows drag and drop. You can't drag and drop

from (say) windows explorer.

-I havn't had it long enough to find out. I would be very very surprised if I had this

problem other than if I bumped into someone.

-Atrac 128k gives 28 hours, Atrac 48k gives 35 hours ( these are the published numbers)

-when its charging its not cold , just gently warm. I would describe it as a cup of tea which has stood for 10 minutes.

- I would add it has a nice weight, very solidly built and the menu navigation is very easy to master.

I've been thinking to get a new Atrac device either a HDD or a MD player. I'm not sure about the HDD because it might put to sleep all my MD gear/media, but I think I will end up buying it in a near future. So I want to know a few things:

-the HD5 can display the remaining time of a track?

-the new firmware update enables drag and drop?

-there are too many gaps when you walk with the player?

-the battery performance for Atrac @ 132k is quite good?

-the player gets warm too easily?

Well, I think that covers all my doubts for the moment. Thanks in advance for any advice.

p.s. the MD player would be the EH930 but it is only available from audiocubes

←

[ajitp]

I think that the HD5 works fairly well, i use it when biking, and it doesn't skip unless i'm on very rough terain (like going down hill in a forrest over tons of roots). HD5 navigation is essentially the same as the A-Series, and i think that if you paire the HD5 with a RM40 remote, you can see the remaining time. Greg would know more about that though.

[Tiesto]

and i think that if you paire the HD5 with a RM40 remote, you can see the remaining time.

I intend to do so, it happens that I have the rm40elk and rm39el from my trusty NH900. One question though, the HD5 can play the new Atrac bitrates?

[Guest Stuge]

I intend to do so, it happens that I have the rm40elk and rm39el from my trusty NH900. One question though, the HD5 can play the new Atrac bitrates?

←

No,Except for Atrac192kpbs &352kpbs no new bitrates are supported by Hd5like Atrac128kpbs,160kpbsetc

Secondly it will not even support new Artac Lossless

[Ascariss]

So far I haven't had my A1000 skip on me, even when running.

[Guest Stuge]

Something about Skipping:

Player(HD5,A3000/1000 OR ANY HDD) has a buffer which protects it from skipping but for sometime only or if the player recives a hard shock then it will skip definately.

You may have noted that battery life also shortnens during running because player tries to fill up the buffer which costs up battery

[Tiesto]

Those are great news about the skipping issue. On the other hand too bad the HD5's firmware update doesnt allow the playback for all the Atract bitrate range. However my main concern is the battery performance and according to the user manual and the answers posted here Atrac @ 132k (128k) is almost 30h, which is quite good.

Well, what about the A series when it will be release in the State? is it worth to wait for it?

[Guest Stuge]

Well, what about the A series when it will be release in the State? is it worth to wait for it?

Release of A-series in US is a big mystery in it self.No one knows when it is going to be released overthere but you can wait till Christmas.

[Ascariss]

So far no news on release for the US, but if you can wait until CES 2006 in early january, perhaps sony US will announce something.

Tiesto, battery performance should be rather good with the new players. I got 13 hours continuous playback on my A1000 @192kbps mp3, with some files ranging up to 320kbps as well. Remember sony claims up to 17 hours for mp3 @ 128, so 13 hours is a nice figure for 192.