Sony Support A+ for RH1 faulty remote (MC38EL)

[smkranz]

The remote (RM-MC38EL - black) that came with Baby (my new RH1) was faulty out of the box...the left channel cut in and out (mostly out), and would come or go as I wiggled the end of the cable where it meets the plug, suggesting a defective contact or a broken wire inside.

Fortunately, I have two other compatible remotes to test Baby with, including another of the same model remote that came with my NH900. Both of the other remotes worked flawlessly, as well as just plugging phones in directly without the remote. It would have cut me to the quick had I determined that Baby herself was defective.

I was concerned that calling Sound Professionals (where purchased) would have probably entailed returning everything, so I opted to contact Sony first. Just got off the phone with Sony Support (called the "Sony Network Portable Audio Support Line number on the back of the RH1 manual). A helpful and nice lady walked me through her check-list, went away a couple of times, and was happy to report that as Baby is brand new and still under warranty, Sony is sending me a new remote.

**

My MZ-RH1 first impressions

I bought this primarily for recording live classical concerts & acoustic music, with the benefit of its display and retaining manual recording settings. I have not made any recordings yet, so I can't comment on those aspects...just really looking forward to using them.

PRO:

1. Clear & vivid display...hooray!
2. Slim & lightweight, but definitely not flimsy
3. Solid feel, fit & finish
4. Buttons/controls are well & logically placed, and easily accessible (* see below...)
5. Excellent sound. Slightly deeper bass perceived playing through my Shure E3c's when EQ'd the same as my NH900 (could be my imagination, but I swear... )

CON:

1. Open/Eject button is too easily activated. The button is "springy" and does have to be pushed all the way in in order to open the unit, so I don't know yet how susceptible it is to opening up in a pocket. But I'm with others who think the Open/Eject button should not protrude like this does.
2. FF/REV/ENT jog switch is easily activated UP/DOWN if it is touched inadvertently while holding or picking up the unit. Obvious solution is to get into the habit of using the Hold switch.
3. Limited playback menu and navigation functions on main unit requires use of the remote, with the added length of its cord
4. Lack of external AA battery pack requires carrying an expen$ive $pare battery for long periods of use without recharging capability.

[smkranz]

New Remote Commander received today. Oops, it's the wrong one, the non-display model that comes with the RH10, not the RH1.

Call to Sony...get transferred to someone else. Heh...she can't find ANY parts/accessories for the MZ-RH1. When she tries doing that, what comes up are parts/accessories for the MZ-RH10. How's that for cool? I suspect she was probably pulling the info from the same Sony Direct Accessories page that we can all access, because it does it there, too.

I informed her that the remote I need is the same model (RM-MC38EL) that came with an older minidisc, the MZ-NH900. She was able to find that one alright, so I'll wait a few more days to see what I receive this time. Now, what I will no doubt receive is a silver-colored remote rather than the black one that matches Baby's color. But that's not really a concern to me, and actually I kind of prefer the silver one better because the raised lettering marking the various buttons is easier (for me) to read.

What is more of a concern, though, is whether Sony - America even has parts to service the MZ-RH1 since their own support associates cannot access information to get me the correct replacement remote. If I hadn't known about the remote model # being the same as the NH900, I think it would have been a loonnng phone call.

[smkranz]

End of the story: a new MC38EL, the correct remote for my MZ-RH1, arrived today from Laredo, Texas. As expected, it is silver in color rather than black. That's fine by me. It works just like it's supposed to.

The new remote did not come with one of the ferrite cores attached to it, so I took the one off the defective black remote, and put it on the new remote.

Happy here...