himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 (edited) I am aware some of you pretend buying any first-generation Hi-MD unit is just uncivilized, but I am willing to be vulgar enough to assume this responsibility.Previously, I have owned the MZ-NH600D, which was the ultimate castrated Hi-MD player. I sold that off in approximately a month and bought the MZ-NHF800, my current unit. I am keeping this unit because I love it, but want something sturdier. It is made of plastic, so it damages more easily than I'd prefer. Works pristinely, however. With MD being systematically phased out, I want to acquire several working units over a period of time and will cease selling them off.I will soon be getting an NH-1, which is made of magnesium, or an NH-900. That's made of aluminum and plastic. I don't want anything from the second or third generation, as I've resolved I will continue to use Hi-MD for playback and not just to record. Therefore, I relish my jog dial (or superior remote with the NH-1. Now, I will be recording because I am a journalist. Which of these units sounds better? Does the magnesium make the NH-1 too heavy? How heavy is it? Is it much thicker than the NH-900? Does the digital amplifier these units have make them sound much different from the NHF-800, whose sound is superb, IMO? I just ordered 5 more Hi-MD 1 Gig disks. I don't really prefer the regular discs anymore. I always see them as inferior and have so many that it's annoying. Anyone else feel this way? I had started to sell them off and will probably continue in limited quantities. They are becoming a rare find. They're just annoying, though. 3 disks when you could have one. That's what I always tell myself. I have a large music collection and want to make it mobile.I already own an NW-HD5, but still have an affinity for MD. If my player ever breaks, I can buy a new one and spare myself the time of downloading all that music to the player again. Plus, the sound of MD is just better to me. I'm still probably going to use HD5 more often because you can slip it into your pocket and go, which you can't do with 13 1 Gig disks. Even 5 can be annoying. Depends on what I am doing that day and if I am carrying my messenger bag. (I'm sure another HD is coming from Sony soon, as the NW-A is being marked down. I hope it's released stateside. I'll replace my HD5 if and when it is.)I'm sure some of you are wondering why I didn't just shell out $400 or $500 for an R-H1, but I really don't have many legacy recordings. I didn't start recording in earnest until the Hi-MD era. Beyond that, I don't like being absolutely confined to a remote for so many playback functions. And I don't like the price.(Not paying list price for either unit I'm eying, just in case people were wondering.) I don't listen to music in MP3 format (though I have a good deal of MP3s on my computer), so that's unimportant to me. Final question: Which is better for steathily recording a concert? Omnidirectional mics or unidirectional? And how good is the Hi-MD setting for loud music? I've never used it. Maybe I'll get the RH-1 some other day. Edited June 24, 2006 by himd_anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 both units you mention are very good IMHO and not going for 3rd gen is your free choice (but if you are starting to collect, don't rule the RH1 out completely...just wait for the price to drop )sound (for playback and recording) should be exactly the same for NH900 and NH1the NH1 is also heavily remote-dependant IIRCthe best option for playback (and for recording as well till the RH1 came to be) IMHO is the NH900/RM-MC40ELK combo!!you get all the goodies (except for the timestamp feature of the NH1) and you have a fully featured unit should you decide not to use the remote, and a very practical scrollwheel on the unit...I would advice you to get the NH900/RM-MC40ELK now, then wait for the RH1 to drop in price a bit and forget about the NH1 (unless you really want it as a collectors item), as the NH900 actually has something to offer over the RH1 (in terms of ease of use for playback), while the NH1 really is just the predecessor of the RH1 (so you get all the NH1 has + a bit more if you just have a bit of patience). besides, if you really want a collectors item, forget about the NH1 and go for the DH10P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 There were some final questions I had. Which is better for recording a concert? Unidirectional or omnidirectional? At first thought, you'd say I only want what comes off the stage. But the speakers will likely not just be on the stage. Some will be on the sides, I am sure. This is an open-air event in a park. Do you recommend using that loud music selector on the units? Does it actually record live music better?If I concealed the tip of the mic under a polo, do you think it would cause too much interference? Should I set the sensitivity on low or high? Never recorded a concert before, but this one means a lot to me. Thanks. Oh...what would be a quality, affordable unidirectional mic? I have a superb omnidirectional one and a very good one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 best to keep this thread focussed on your main question NH1 or NH900 and as for the mic type and placement questions... read up on some posts/threads by A440, dex otaku (recently posted a very thorough znd easy digestible thread on all things recording), greenmachine, myself and I'm forgetting a bunch of ppl here as all of those things have been answered over and over again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I would advice you to get the NH900/RM-MC40ELK now, then wait for the RH1 to drop in price a bit and forget about the NH1 (unless you really want it as a collectors item), as the NH900 actually has something to offer over the RH1 (in terms of ease of use for playback), while the NH1 really is just the predecessor of the RH1 (so you get all the NH1 has + a bit more if you just have a bit of patience). besides, if you really want a collectors item, forget about the NH1 and go for the DH10P Thanks, your post was very helpful. LOL @ the last line, though. I hate the battery life on DH10P, plus I'd really rather use my regular digicam. I don't even think the DH10P even does line-in recording. Bad enough it doesn't do mic recording. I probably will do just what you said with the NH900, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 PS: mods this is one for the "find your minidisc"-sectionPPS: and that second question...should you still need to ask it again after reading/searching a bit... is for the "live recording"-section I guess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I will soon be getting an NH-1, which is made of magnesium, or an NH-900. That's made of aluminum and plastic. Which of these units sounds better? Does the magnesium make the NH-1 too heavy? How heavy is it? Is it much thicker than the NH-900? Does the digital amplifier these units have make them sound much different from the NHF-800, whose sound is superb, IMO? I will agree with Volta a lot on what has already been said but to answer some of your specific questions:Both units sound much the same too me. But both have the HD amp and should sound better than the NH800. I am lucky enough to have both NH900 / NH1. Magnesium makes the NH1 ultra light. It is also a bit thinner than the NH900. That said magnesium is a slightly softer metal than the aluminum used on the front of the NH900 so I think overall the NH900 is slightly more rugged. Ultimately if you want looks and aren't bothered about not having an add-on battery then get the NH1, but perhaps the best option functionality wise would be Volta's NH900 / 40 ELK combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 (edited) I will agree with Volta a lot on what has already been said but to answer some of your specific questions:Both units sound much the same too me. But both have the HD amp and should sound better than the NH800. I am lucky enough to have both NH900 / NH1. Magnesium makes the NH1 ultra light. It is also a bit thinner than the NH900. That said magnesium is a slightly softer metal than the aluminum used on the front of the NH900 so I think overall the NH900 is slightly more rugged. Ultimately if you want looks and aren't bothered about not having an add-on battery then get the NH1, but perhaps the best option functionality wise would be Volta's NH900 / 40 ELK combo.I'm sorry, moderators, if I've misplaced this thread. I actually thought I was doing it right this time. I know you had to move another I made before.Rich, your post, although VERY informative, caused more confusion. LOL! I'm thankful for it, though, because I have a more accurate view now. I assumed NH1 would be more rugged. I actually thought it would be heavier, too. lol I am SO CLOSE! I thought the NH1 remote had something similar to a jog dial on the side. That roundish button that looks sort of like the old volume adjusters on the cassette walkman? Plus, I thought I might also use that remote for my HD5, since the 40 ELK won't show the artist/album info on the HD5. I already have that remote. It's great for changing vol. and switching between sound presets, but I can't go album to album or view that info on the remote. If I'm mistaken, then NH900 seems the way to go.Another snag is that I have already bid on an NH1 and cannot retract the bid. I can buy the NH900 outright and sell the NH1 if I win, which I may do. More indulgently, I may try both on for size and then decide, but that would diminish the price of either I wanted to sell. Edited June 24, 2006 by himd_anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 The NH1 remote is the 3 line 40ELK not the one line 38EL that comes with the NH900. The 40ELK does indeed have a jog dial on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Low Volta Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 no harm done ... and just to say, the RM-MC40ELK IS the NH1's 3-line remote... the NH900 comes with the RM-MC38EL(K) and it does have a scroll wheel (only on the remote, not on the NH1's body)I bought it separately (and would advise you the same, get the NH900 and buy a RM-MC40ELK separately... as this will work fine with the HD5 and also with the RH1 should you decide to get it later) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 no harm done ... and just to say, the RM-MC40ELK IS the NH1's 3-line remote... the NH900 comes with the RM-MC38EL(K) and it does have a scroll wheel (only on the remote, not on the NH1's body)I bought it separately (and would advise you the same, get the NH900 and buy a RM-MC40ELK separately... as this will work fine with the HD5 and also with the RH1 should you decide to get it later)I could see myself winning the NH-1, buying the NH900, wanting to keep the NH1 remote, selling neither unit, and then paying it all off. LOL! I hope I have the strength to sell off the NH1, because I do believe I'll win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 Ok, I bought the NH-900. lol I'll tell you what I decide to do with either of them very soon, because I believe I will soon have both in my possession. The NH1 isn't coming as originally packaged anyway, and I know how the 900 is maneuvered because I have the 800. So, I'll maneuver the NH1, compare, and decide on that. Thanks for all your help. I know I probably seem daftly indecisive, but that's because I am. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky191 Posted June 24, 2006 Report Share Posted June 24, 2006 I'm a fan of the scroll wheels on the units aswell. Much easier. Pity the screen is so small. I got the MC38EL so I could use my MH700 in the dark. But find I don't really like using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2006 I agree about the scroll wheel on the unit. It's too bad Sony wasn't generous enough to provide us with a unit convenient enough to have a scroll wheel actually on it and a large, luminescent screen for use in the dark. You have to choose one, the other, neither, or both only on a remote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Do the NH-1 and NH900 use the same battery? I need to know. I want some extras, but the listings I see advertise the NH1 but not the NH900. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylen Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Do the NH-1 and NH900 use the same battery? I need to know. I want some extras, but the listings I see advertise the NH1 but not the NH900.Nope. NH1 uses Li-ion and NH900 uses NiMH gumstick/AA adaptor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 (edited) The final story:I am getting the NH900 and have ordered the remote that accompanies the NH1 separately. The bidding war on the NH1 intensified feverishly, and I was unwilling to pay such a steep price. For less than $100 more, I could have actually had an RH1 from MiniDisc Canada. So, my Hi-MD units will be limited, for now, to the NHF800 and NH900. (I found the DH10P for $195. It actually IS starting to look tempting, but at a max battery life of 14 hrs? Jeesh. Take one picture, and that thing is down for the count, I suppose.)Question: Does anyone know the exact model number of the NH900 battery? I want to order extras now. Edited June 26, 2006 by himd_anxiety Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Question: Does anyone know the exact model number of the NH900 battery? I want to order extras now. The supplied battery is the NH-10WM, the higher capacity ones are NH-14WM. Watch out for lots of fakes of the latter on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Shaking my head @ me. I waited till the last minute and got the NH1 ANYWAY. So, now I have a nice 40K remote to sell for $72.00 USD everything included if anyone is interested. Believe it or not, that makes it cheaper than any you will find on Ebay after everything totals up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaylen Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 lol It's OK. Don't shake your head. You've got that MD disease. I'd go ahead and put up an ad in the Classifieds section for that remote. There are a lot of new RH1 owners who may have an eye out for that 40ELK. Congrats on your NH900/NH1 combo and welcome to Team Gotta-Have-More-Than-1-MD-Unit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobt Posted June 26, 2006 Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 Welcome, and congratulations on your puschase as well. With my experience on the NH1, I think you will probably find t will be your main unit, and the 900 your playback unit, although with the 40 remote the unit is very versatile. I find that the time I actually have the unit in hand staring at it looking for songs is very minimal, usually it is in a pocket or on a belt holder and the remote is the only thing visible. I get asked all the time what knid of MP3 player I have when they see the remote, and they become even more impressed when I show them the NH1, it is impressive.Tell us in a few days how you like your unitsTTFNBob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
himd_anxiety Posted June 26, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2006 lol It's OK. Don't shake your head. You've got that MD disease. I'd go ahead and put up an ad in the Classifieds section for that remote. There are a lot of new RH1 owners who may have an eye out for that 40ELK. Congrats on your NH900/NH1 combo and welcome to Team Gotta-Have-More-Than-1-MD-Unit.LOL! See, yoy understand. I just had to have it. I guess I'm a full-fledged member of MD-holics anonymous now. You know what I honestly cannot wait for now? To do line recording from MDs that have recordings I took from DVDs and the like. I will just do that and then upload them to the computer. Then I will put them on HD5. I didn't want to have to play the DVDs again and deal with pausing and editing to cut off where different songs started. No thanks. 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.