NW A3000 Playback while charging

[Bawbagg]

Whenever I plug my NW A300o into either the mains adapter, or a USB port it just displays the "Connecting" stuff, and won't respond to any buttons. Most importantly, I can't get it to play back.

This is a real PITA for me - I travel a lot, and need to charge it in the evenings while in hotel rooms from my laptop. This means I'm unable to listen to it while charging.

I've just got my NW A3000. I got it on an extended warranty replacement for a Rio Karma - which was a great little player, with simply a simply fantastic user interface. I love the sound quality on my NW A3000, and I love the battery life. I'll now make a list of the things that irritate me (all of which were present on my Karma):

* Can't listen while charging

* Slightly slow interface (Accessing.......)

* Slow to advance to next track (c'mon guys - why not cache the last and next tracks??)

* Artist link doesn't work "Compliant software......"

* Star rating doesn't work "Compliant software"

* No scroll wheel for flicking through artists

* Doesn't automatically strip "The" from Artist names

And lots more niggles. Don't get me wrong, I'm really pleased with it - it looks great, sounds great, has a great battery life, and (most importantly) it isn't an iSheep. It's just that it could be sooooo much better.

I'd really appreciate if anyone could help on the listen while charging thing.

Cheers,

BB

[Ascariss]

I can listen to mine while it's charging, I do it all the time, when I go to sleep. compliant software means connect player, i am assuming you used sonicstage then, if you want those to work use sonicstage, or wait until sony releases the new sonicstage with the ability to work 100% with the new a series.

[Bawbagg]

I can listen to mine while it's charging, I do it all the time, when I go to sleep.

I called into a Sony store at the weekend, and asked some questions. They gave me a new helpline number for (what they said was) Sony Walkman. I just called them, and they confirmed that NW A3000 is not designed to playback while charging. They were surprised you could do this.

compliant software means connect player, i am assuming you used sonicstage then, if you want those to work use sonicstage, or wait until sony releases the new sonicstage with the ability to work 100% with the new a series.

I thought I was using Connect - however after discussion with helpline, I now found I'm using Sonicstage for Connect, which explains why my features don't work, and also explains why I've not really had any problems. I'll sit tight, and wait for the feature rich version of Sonicstage.

That said, Connect must be really bad - because Sonicstage isn't very good at all.

Thanks for your reply Ascariss,

Cheers,

BB

[Stu-Pid]

I've got the NW-A1000 and can confirm that you can listen to it while charging. It may be different on the 3000 (although I highly doubt it) but on the 1000 the menu is not accessable for about 5- 10 seconds after the charger is plugged in, but after that the main menu appears as normal.

Have you upgraded to the newer firmware?

[Ascariss]

Ha, sony store, they hardly know their stuff sometimes. as stu-pid said, the menu appears but will disappear soon after and just charge.

its just like with MD it runs via AC not the battery.

in addition, the new update to CP that just came out actually helped me, and there are some issues addressed with overall stability of the prorgram improved. It didn't hang once on me last night when moving stuff over.

[sh33p]

I've got the NW-A1000 and can confirm that you can listen to it while charging. It may be different on the 3000 (although I highly doubt it) but on the 1000 the menu is not accessable for about 5- 10 seconds after the charger is plugged in, but after that the main menu appears as normal.

Have you upgraded to the newer firmware?

does it work using both the AC charger AND the usb charger, or only the AC charger?

I have the A3000 with the 2.01 firmware and when I plug in the AC charger it just stops responding..

[Stu-Pid]

I must admit that I haven't tried listening to it while it's plugged into my PC via the USB (not sure why you'd want to, unless you're PC doesn't have speakers??), but using the supplied AC charger I haven't experienced any problems while it's connected to the mains.

[rodc]

I have just been given a NW-A3000, and have this exact same issue. Prior to the firmware upgrade to 2.01, I could charge the unit from the mains adapter, and access menus etc. Since the upgrade I cannot use it at all when plugged into the mains charger. The charge light briefly comes on, and then goes off, and it says connecting for ever. Charging doesn't take place either. No issue charging it from a PC once drivers etc are loaded correctly.

I cannot charge the unit from the small docking station via the mini-usb 5V DC in lead that the station comes with. Works ok with the multi-connector connected to a USB port on a PC.

Awaiting a reply from the dedicated helpline, promised feedback within 5 working days.

[Ascariss]

it has to be able to play back while charging, there is no ifs or buts, reasoning being, how else would the speaker system you can buy work? running off battery? sure but i am sure that isn't that case.

[sh33p]

Yes that is correct, it can be played back only through the AC mains charger. I think the player has to be on before it charging cable is plugged in. The Connecting screen will flash for a while and then the main menu will return.

I would like it to be playable when connecting through the USB charger in the event of a lack of a wall socket and there is no other way. And then I remembered GYM. =D

However, and as wanting as this may be, I wish there was an option to enable playback thru EITHER the player's line out OR the computer when USB charging.

I must admit that I haven't tried listening to it while it's plugged into my PC via the USB (not sure why you'd want to, unless you're PC doesn't have speakers??), but using the supplied AC charger I haven't experienced any problems while it's connected to the mains.

My laptop has terrible speakers. I have the Sony SRS-T77 which is very nice and sounds far better than my laptop speakers. Additionally, the headphone/line out on my computer is much quieter than that on the NWA3000.

Edited February 3, 2006 by sh33p

[rodc]

My issue has now been escalated to a higher team within Sony.

The unit unit never returns to the menu screen when plugged into the mains adapter, but charges fine connected via USB on a Windows XP system.

[M@cer]

I use the cradle and I can listen en charge at the same time. I only have a problem when the usb port is also connected, than the connect funtion is working and no sound come out my A3000...