How does the NW-A1000 react to a remote?

[Alphane]

Hey all,

I am desperate to get my NW-A1000 used in my car. I spend at least 2hrs everyday in my car, and I want the availability of tracks that I have on my walkman, without having to bugger about with CDs.

Now, I've been reading through this forum, and others, looking for the ideal solution to getting my walkman installed in my car.

There seems to be only 2 routes to go.

1) Get an aux adapter - and live with only being able to skip tracks via the walkman itself

2) Get an "integrater module" of some kind (a la connects2) and have full control through stereo & steering column controls.

Now - the issue with #1 is obviously whenever i want to skip a track, i will have to fumble around with the walkman itself - which isn't really the most clever thing to be doing while driving. But also, and more importantly, annoying as hell.

The issue with #2 from what I can gather, is that with the connects2 style adapter, when you connect the data port at the top of the device, the walkman instantly switches to headphones mode, rather than line-out mode, which would offer superior sound quality.

So my questions:

1 - can anyone with a remote headphone set confirm the horrible truth for me? Once a remote headphone jack is inserted, are you prevented from entering into the Line-Out function?

2 - would the sound quality difference (anyoone with experience?) be so different as to justify me leaving off the full integration for the time being and live with a simple aux imput?

3 - will there ever be an official Sony solution (as there has been for the iPod) that uses the base data connection properly? On the website, the Headunit i've been looking at (CDX-GT300) states that Walkman integration would be possible via an optional adaptor?? but no where can i find information on this!!

Connects2 seem to think they'll have the connector ready at the end of February, but it it's going to be rubbish quality, then i may as well fork out for the CDX-GT200 and live with the front aux input! (and £50 ISO leads for my car to use steering column with).

Sorry for the rant i realise it's been more of a brain download than anything constructive. Still... any information appreciated!!

Cheers,

Andy.

[MDX-400]

Hey all,

I am desperate to get my NW-A1000 used in my car. I spend at least 2hrs everyday in my car, and I want the availability of tracks that I have on my walkman, without having to bugger about with CDs.

Cool well we're working on the same project! Well for me I already know exactly what I'm planning to do though my solution is a little extreme in some ppl's view... All I need now is the HD3 (just purchased off eBay) and the Connects2 ASONWHD001 / MSC-01 adapter (probably within a month of having the HD3). However you need not be as extreme as me because you have an A-series unit... [i'll continue with that thought in a minute...]

First off you're right about your two main options. Those are the only two that should be considered acceptable, IMO, if you want to keep any kind of definition of sound quality. (FM solutions blow, lol.)

Also I'll agree 100% that using the AUX input plus controlling the unit by fumbling aroudn with it is highly annoying, so that's out.

So my questions:

1 - can anyone with a remote headphone set confirm the horrible truth for me? Once a remote headphone jack is inserted, are you prevented from entering into the Line-Out function?

This has already been confirmed for me as I asked the exact same question in another thread. One user even took a picture of the unit with the remote plugged in to show the message on the screen. So no line-out with remote. Someone had reported the HD5 works in line-out mode with a remote but that was only one report so far and it's already been confirmed that the A-series cannot.

2 - would the sound quality difference (anyoone with experience?) be so different as to justify me leaving off the full integration for the time being and live with a simple aux imput?

Yep this one's also been covered. The answer is in the affirmative as well (sound quality will be noticeably affected with volume control maxed v. line-out).

3 - will there ever be an official Sony solution (as there has been for the iPod) that uses the base data connection properly? On the website, the Headunit i've been looking at (CDX-GT300) states that Walkman integration would be possible via an optional adaptor?? but no where can i find information on this!!

Unlikely. Sony has pretty much already shown their colours with that God-awful iPod adapter of theirs. It's like they're stabbing their customers in the back with that! The thing is the only place I found the alleged Walkman interface advertised with the HUs was in the UK. Unless someone wants to start up a class-action against them for false advertising (which they rightfully deserve if they really aren't releasing an adapter) I doubt one will be made by Sony.

Connects2 seem to think they'll have the connector ready at the end of February, but it it's going to be rubbish quality, then i may as well fork out for the CDX-GT200 and live with the front aux input! (and £50 ISO leads for my car to use steering column with).

No it won't be rubbish quality, especially since you have an A-series (as I was saying before). See now you have two more possibilities...

Connects2 have not verified the operation of the A series with the current adapter (the one that goes in the phones/remote port) yet. It could be already working fine or they could just do a firmware update. Alternately Connects2 *might* decide to make a new adapter for the As because they can now utilise that bottom port (though I'm not sure if that provides display capability).

So now if they release a new adapter using the bottom connection you'd be all set. If they don't and simply continue using the current MD/HDx remote port adapter, you are still not completely screwed.

Myself, I'm going to have to hard-mod the HD3 I'm getting since there is no such connectivity port on that player for line-out and there are no stands, docks, etc. made for it. But for you, you can go one other route... You can buy the ~$50 US dock/sand for the A-series units which features Line-Out on the base. Then, you'd have to install the Connects2 adapter and then instead of running the audio RCA to the HU, you'd leave that disconnected and connect the RCA from the line-out of the stand. Downside is, of course, you have to buy that dock as well (well either that or hard-mod the unit).

Sorry for the rant i realise it's been more of a brain download than anything constructive. Still... any information appreciated!!

Cheers,

Andy.

Yeah not a problem--as you can see I went through a very similar series of headaches trying to figure out how it would work right in the end. In any case, kudos to Connects2 who is supporting us users of Sony HUs and Sony Walkmans; and @#$% ^&#! to Sony who have clearly gone and slapped us in the face by not even supporting their own products, and in favour of supporting the iPod at that!

[Alphane]

Thank you very much for the informative reply!

To summarise then, if connects2 confirm that their current adapter, or a revised version will accomodate the full features from the NW-A series, then I could purchase a docking station, and treat the line out from that as if i'd plugged in a remote?

Sounds good!

That opens up a few more thoughts for me then.

Is the line out feature optional on the docking station? ie - is it hard wired into the dock? I don't want to fork out for a station, only to have to have it as a permanent car fixture!

Also - is anyone 100% that the docking stations line out capabilities also output the track data etc etc?

Or, MDX-400, was your solution more of a fix to the lineout situation, and not the whole thang?

That said - the price of the dock is a lot less than i would have expected. A quick search on Froogle returns results of about £18-£25 (froogle search)

I guess for the time being then that this is a "wait and see" situation. I just hope that the connects2 solution is an affordable one. Someone has posted on the connects2 board in direct reply to me that the adapter they have was ~$100. As a direct money conversion, I would expect that to be around £50. But the grand 'ole UK doesn't quite work like that and I can probably expect to fork out more like £70.

So after docking station (~£20) steering wheel control unit (£50) and connects2 adapter (£50-70) along with a brand new head unit that offers connection capabilities (£100) this is a most expensive venture.

A shame that i'd thought that it would be around £150 to get me rolling.

again - any information appreciated!

Edited January 31, 2006 by Alphane

[MDX-400]

Someone has posted on the connects2 board in direct reply to me that the adapter they have was ~$100.

HAHAHA LOL!!! My real name is Roland, does that ring a bell for any reason? 'Cause I'm thinking I might have been the same person that replied to you on the Connects2 forum!

To summarise then, if connects2 confirm that their current adapter, or a revised version will accomodate the full features from the NW-A series, then I could purchase a docking station, and treat the line out from that as if i'd plugged in a remote?

Well yes, you'd still be plugging in the remote into the phones/remote port of the A1000; however with the stand you *should* be able to use the line-out from the dock regardless of whether a remote is connected or not. From the Connects2 box there will be RCA outs (from the audio it gets from the phones minijack) which connect up to the Sony HU (or DSP or MCA, depending on your system configuration). Instead of connecing that RCA set, you'd connect the output from the dock's line-out and that would take care of getting line-level audio.

Is the line out feature optional on the docking station? ie - is it hard wired into the dock? I don't want to fork out for a station, only to have to have it as a permanent car fixture!

Oh you mean does it have RCA wires permanently attached to it? I dunno I've never seen what it has for a line connection really as I've only seen pictures that did not show the connections on it. I imagine it would not have wires coming out of it (or at least not very long ones if it did).

Also - is anyone 100% that the docking stations line out capabilities also output the track data etc etc?

Or, MDX-400, was your solution more of a fix to the lineout situation, and not the whole thang?

Yes it was to fix the lineout, you'd still have to use the remote port for the Connects2 adapter; unless they make an entirely different adapter to plug in the bottom instead (which remains to be seen). But then if they did that you wouldn't need the dock either.

So after docking station (~£20) steering wheel control unit (£50) and connects2 adapter (£50-70) along with a brand new head unit that offers connection capabilities (£100) this is a most expensive venture.

A shame that i'd thought that it would be around £150 to get me rolling.

again - any information appreciated!

Well you could forego the steering wheel controls, that'll knock 50 quid off of things, lol; unless you *really* want them I'd think you could go without them, no?

However I'd say not to skimp on the HU (I think it was the GT200 you were considering? I think a good starting point is the GT705X (or last years CDX-M7805X/M7815X) but I guess that is going to be a lot more expensive, especially in the UK), but th HU selection is another story anyway...

I guess it is expensive particularly if you don't have the HU already... I *think* however that Connects2 actually makes different interfaces (for the Walkmans) for specific makes/models of cars, but you'll have to check with them if

a. that's true or not; and,

b. if they make one for your particular vehicle and factory head

The price of the interface itself, however, I'd say is very reasonable. Many of the iPod adapters that are out there (for various brands of HUs and for various factory systems) cost the same or more. I can understand how people would think $100 is expensive but for the added features and integration you get, and comparing it to similar interfaces, it's worth it IMO.

[Alphane]

HAHAHA LOL!!! My real name is Roland, does that ring a bell for any reason? 'Cause I'm thinking I might have been the same person that replied to you on the Connects2 forum! biggrin.gif

Lol - at least I am not getting conflicting advice there then!!

I guess it is expensive particularly if you don't have the HU already... I *think* however that Connects2 actually makes different interfaces (for the Walkmans) for specific makes/models of cars, but you'll have to check with them if

a. that's true or not; and,

b. if they make one for your particular vehicle and factory head

Oh my god! I didn't even consider this! my standard headunit is already set up to receive a CD changer input, but i don't have one!!! if this is a possible solution then I'm there!! I don't even care if I don't have text display pushed through my existing display, i will have head unit control over my walkman! muahah!

thanks for the advice!

on another note - i take it that the docking station will NOT require any power to use the lineout function?

If anyone has a docking station and are willing to post a couple of images of how it really looks, with some attention to where the lineout points are situated - i'd appreciate it. My local sony shop don't seem to have any docking stations in at the moment.

I wonder if the docking station is the same size as a cup holder... wouldn't that be a sweet fit for my car . . .

thanks again!