nearly certain of buying RH1 but need advice..please!

[d_luxe]

hi to all md aficionados

i'm a new member of this site and i'm glad (and surprised)

that the md format still seems to have a strong following!

i have not used md since the late 90s..the recording was just too

tedious.

i've recently grown tired of the poor sound quality of mp3 players,

and happened to come across the rh1 on the sony website. i was also interested because

i want to start recording some demos and live sessions. (is the recording quality really cd quality good???)

i was planning on buying it this week, but wanted to ask you guys a few questions.

1. are there any other significant himd recorders due for release anytime soon?

are they likely to be better than the rh1? although the rh1 seems to hit all the right spots..

2.i'm in the uk, and i've read somewhere that european models are differnt to the japanese models,

ie the volume may be limited. is this true and if so, is japanese import the only way to avoid this?

3. can anyone recommend me a good shop to buy the rh1 (or any other that may be suggested) on tottenham court road

or anywhere in central london please?

4.also, i'm thinking of buying an e10 (cos it looks so damn good)..will it play himds?

5. finally, can you recommend some good earphones please.

apologies for the long thread and many questions.

i'd be more than grateful for your advice!!!thanks

[Richard]

Hi there - welcome to MDCF.

* Moved to Find Your Minidisc

[A440]

Sony hasn't announced any further MD recorders, and its new products tend to appear in spring and summer, so you'd have a long wait ahead of you for any new Hi-MD that might arise. Most Sony-watchers have been treating the RH1 as a fond farewell to minidisc.

How about importing from the USA? Might be cheaper than Japan. I don't know if the RH1 has volume limitations in Europe or not.

E10 won't play Hi-MDs. You could record in the RH1 on SP, LP2 or LP4 if you were dead-set on using the E10.

http://www.minidisc.org/part_Sony_MZ-E10.html

I use Shure E4 (total isolation earplug phones) and Sennheiser PX100 (open) portably with my MD units. At home, Grado SR125. Shure E3 are also quite good. But it all depends on your budget and your ears. There's a whole headphone forum below, and you can go entirely insane and read www.head-fi.org .

Finally, if budget is a consideration you might also think about the MZ-NH700 from places like http://www.minidiscaccess.com or eBay.

The NH700 won't upload old MD recordings like the RH1, and you have to go through some extra menus to set Manual Volume each time you record. It's also uglier and doesn't have a backlit display. An advantage, to me, is that it takes a regular AA battery rather than the RH1's flat rechargeable gumstick, though of course that makes it a little bit fatter. But like the RH1, it will record to PCM--which is, yes, CD-quality reproduction of whatever comes through your microphone.

Last time I was in London I was totally appalled at the prices charged there for electronics. I have a feeling you'd do better via mail order from abroad.

[d_luxe]

sorry bout posting on the wrong place and cheers

thanks for the reply. i think i'll go for the rh1 as it seems worth the extra money over the 700.

(everyone's praising it so much)

my friend told me i might find a good price at gultronics on tottenham ct.rd so i'm gonna check them

out. meanwhile, found some on ebay $300~370.00 is the lower region of $300 a good target price?

some dude's put up a few for sale...and here's the link for one which is priced around $2600!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MZ-RH1-B-JE-LIM...VQQcmdZViewItem

is he insane or is their something real special about jap editions?

anyhow, i checked out on the web all the earphones you listed and today went to a shop to try a couple..

they said i can't try any of them out..so i thought i'll just buy a pair you (and others) most recommend.

i don;t mind spending on earphones cos i do have sensitive hearing, but i'm no professional musician or

audiophile. i will be doing some live recordings and singing demos with the rh1 though,, and i definitely

need good bass.

for reference, the last pair i really enjoyed with my cd player (and lost with it) was sony mdr ex90 (lp or s something...i can;t remember)..they looked sweet too. i'm embarrased to say though i never diverged away from

sony products, and i want to try other brands which i hear are better..just dunno which ones are for what purpose.

can't wait to get my hands on the rh1.. >_< its been so long since i last owned an md..miss the old days

.was so much fun fiddling around with the discs and labelling them hehe

thinkin bout going crazy and buying an e10 as well and two pairs of earphones

anyway, sorry all.. shall stop drooling on (will be like this till i actually get everything..)

have a good day!!

[Richard]

my friend told me i might find a good price at gultronics on tottenham ct.rd so i'm gonna check them

out. meanwhile, found some on ebay $300~370.00 is the lower region of $300 a good target price?

some dude's put up a few for sale...and here's the link for one which is priced around $2600!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MZ-RH1-B-JE-LIM...VQQcmdZViewItem

is he insane or is their something real special about jap editions?

I think you're right he is insane - the only thing different about the Japan Sony Style limited edition compared to the silver Japanese edition is the color. The Japanese black limited edition can be imported for around $426 USD from PriceJapan. The standard Japanese silver edition could be picked up again from PriceJapan or if on eBay look for a seller called "buyfromjapan". He has a rock-solid reputation and sells the silver edition for $338 plus shipping.

The euro model is slightly volume limited 4.5w vs 5w output of the other editions but it is hardly noticeable. Again it may also be possible as A440 says to import from the US to get around this.

There are likely a few stores on Tottenham Court Road that have the RH1 - possibly Gultronics, the Sony Centre Galleria further up the road (although it will likely be more expensive there) and maybe some others. It's been a while since I was there. Let us know what you find and if you need any further help.

[Stuge]

some dude's put up a few for sale...and here's the link for one which is priced around $2600!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sony-MZ-RH1-B-JE-LIM...VQQcmdZViewItem

Aww ..thats Toooooooo expensive .Cost higher ,then Qualia

Audiocubes is selling RH1 for $335(Silver edition) .

Edited December 6, 2006 by stuge

[d_luxe]

thanks to all the above guys!..really, thanks for the info & advice.

and MDCF itself is so helpful and fun ><

sorry for being dumb (my endless questions must make u fume),

but is there any difference between a "normal" black rh1

and the japan sony style limited edition black rh1...apart from the volume limitation?

i just wanted to know before i go and buy the pretty thing tomorrow.

thanks for the help again. ..oh, anyone recommend real bassy earphones yet?

have a good day all

ps. found a random md player at home.looks kinda nice and it doesn't seem to be in the gallery.

will put it up in a min so have a look!

[Richard]

thanks to all the above guys!..really, thanks for the info & advice.

and MDCF itself is so helpful and fun ><

sorry for being dumb (my endless questions must make u fume),

but is there any difference between a "normal" black rh1

and the japan sony style limited edition black rh1...apart from the volume limitation?

i just wanted to know before i go and buy the pretty thing tomorrow.

Thanks for your comments the only other differences between the Japanese black edition and the normal black RH1 (volume aside) is that the Japanese limted edition comes with a Kanji capable remote (displays Japanese characters) - the US / Euro model remotes only display roman characters. The other difference is the black JP RH1 has an extra USB cable ( 1 long & 1 short vs. 1 long only on all other models - silver standard Japanese RH1 as well). That's about it, as far as I'm aware...