Life for HiMD format

[sfbp]

Does this unit not look like it supports Atrac3+ and therefore all the HiMD formats? Makes me think that one could buy this and have a super backup for all MD's. The unit has OPTICAL OUT (hooray!) so presumably one could get all the sound files back if worst came to worst and one didnt have a single HiMD unit to play them on.

And a lot cheaper than Onkyo.

I would laugh like the proverbial drain if Sony followed this up with the same thing with a DVD drive that would play all archived Atrac3+ files.

Maybe someone is going to tell me that this item doesn't exist, or is crippled (again) by copy protection, or.....

Sigh, it is discontinued. SonyStyle are looking for me to see if there is a replacement with Digiout and Atrac3+ playback.

However there is a CMTHPR99XM - here are the specs (couldnt find it online).

HARDWARE

Display

LCD

Speaker System

3-Way Bass Reflex Type

Speaker Dimensions

1.6" (4cm), 0.8" (2cm) (Super Tweeter)

Woofer Size

5.9" (15cm)

Remote Control

Remote Commander® Remote Control

AUDIO

Digital-to-Analog Converter

1 Bit

Frequency Response

CD: 20-20000Hz (±0.3db)

Formats Supported

CD-DA, CD-R/RW, CDs with MP3/ATRAC3®/ATRAC3 plus™ Audio Playback Capability

Tuning

Auto Scan Radio

Antenna System

AM: Loop Antenna

FM: Lead Antenna

Frequency Range

AM: 530-1710kHz

FM: 87.5-108.0MHz

CD Play Modes

Program

Shuffle

Repeat

Station Presets

30 (10 AM, 20 FM)

Sound Enhancer

DSGX (Dynamic Sound Generator X-tra)

Equalizer

7 presets (Rock, Jazz, Classic, Hall, Live, Movie, Flat)

Tuner Type

FM/AM Superheterodyne Tuner

POWER

Power Requirements

AC 120V, 60Hz

Output Power

170W Total (85 W + 85 W (6 ohms at 1 kHz, 10% THD))

Power Consumption

145W

Battery Type

Remote: "AA" x 2

Power Handling Capacity

With 6 ohms loads, both channels driven from 120-10000 Hz; rated 85 W per channel-minimum RMS power, with no more than 10% total harmonic distortion from 250 milliwatts to rated output.

CAPABILITIES

CD

Player

Radio

AM/FM

Clock

Yes

Component Compatible

Yes

GENERAL

Type of Use

Desktop Micro System

Disc Changer

5 Discs

Tray Type

5 Disc CD Changer with CD Pop-Up Loading Mechanism (Semiconductor Laser 780nm)

Inputs and Outputs

Analog Audio Input: 1 (Rear, Stereo Mini)

Headphone Input: 1 (Front, Stereo Mini)

Antenna Terminals: 2 (Rear)

Optical Audio Digital Output: 1 (Rear)

Convenience Features

Power Save Mode

Timer Events; Record/Play/Sleep (Wake-up or Fall Asleep To Music-Select from 10 Timed Shut Offs)

Weight

Speaker: 2.8 Kg (each x 2)

Main Unit: 7.6 Kg

Dimensions (WxHxD)

Speaker: 180 x 296 x 245mm (each x 2)

Main Unit: 198 x 275 x 341mm

Supplied Accessories

Instruction Manual

Remote Commander® Remote Control (RMSC3)

Batteries x 2

FM Lead Antenna

What does anyone think? Comments really welcomed.

[THIS SUCKS]

it does not say anything about playing or recording md's maybe it only means that it will play atrac3+ cdr's?

[sfbp]

Groan. I just tried making an Atrac CD. I figured they might let me try it in the device. Can't even get one track onto the CD.

Can it really be that I am not allowed to put anything on that CD except PROTECTED Atrac3+? (i have all unprotected which I tried, as well as .wav).

In addition (and part of the reason I was going to go in and look at it) the store swears up and down there is no digi-out.

Help!

(yeah it seems for sure that I have to reprotect all the files I want to burn to Atrac CD. Yuch - cannot even play them from SS to make sure they are burned on the CD correctly). Off to store to have a look at this beast.

[sfbp]

Just got back from the store (Sony Style).

1. The replacement (they had exactly 1 and then no more) CMTHPR99XM plays my Atrac CD

2. No Digi-Out, even though it is in the online specifications - no mention in instruction manual or sign of the connector on back

This is the ONLY one they had that plays Atrac3 or Atrac3+ of any kind.