Help - Bitter Disappointment

[Microkid42]

Hi All,

I am new on here, but I recently took the plunge and replaced my ageing MZ-R909 Minidisc recorder with a shiny NW-HD3. I have been a fan of ATRAC since getting the original Minidisc recorder, and the only reason I have moved on is carrying so many minidisc discs around. I travel on the London tube, and it's a pain having to get another disc out, get the player out, swap discs and then put it all away again.

Having spent hundreds of hours listening to music recorded in ATRAC3 / LP2 format, and temporarily being seduced by the Apple marketing machine, I realised that the ATRAC format sounded way better than MP3/MP4!

Therefore, moving to the NW-HD3 seemed a no-brainer, I could still transfer all my music to the player in ATRAC 3 format, and could even up the bit rate, seemed ideal.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am so so disappointed with the sound quality and volume of the NW-HD3. The first thing I did with the volume was to enter the service mode, and check to see if the Sound Pressure setting was on, and it was already off!

I use three pairs of headphones, a cheapish pair of JVC Marshmallow in ears, Sony EX71's and a pair of PX100's. All three of these headphones produce quite a quiet sound with the NW-HD3.

Secondly, I just cannot seem to get the sound right. With the MD it was easy, I could adjust the bass and treble, and this just seemed to work well. Now on the NW-HD3 no EQ sounds dull, VR is ok for some music, but for Classical it is awful. The standard EQ seems to make everything sound hard when the treble is boosted (How I like it), and the DSP introduces a lot of hiss into the sound.

My entire library is encoded in WMA, at 192k/s and these sound great on the PC. I have tried encoding to ATRAC3 LP2 (approx 100k/s), 105k/s, 192k/s, 256k/s. None of these seem to make any difference.

I have tried encoding in MP3, and whilst I can add gain, MP3's cannot be EQ'd on the NW-HD3 so they are louder but tonally awful.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so so disappointed with the sound from the NW-HD3 that I am contemplating selling and getting a Zune!!!!

I am at the end of the road. I appreciate that sound quality is subjective, but if anyone can offer any advice, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks, Mark.

[cauldron]

Personally if I don't like a player, I would usually sell it and get something else, because that's how I am -- if I don't like something, I usually don't learn to like it.

There are a few options, but I don't know what would help, because it seems that you're disappointed by the sonic differences between MD and HDD walkmans.

In that case I think you should just switch to something else. You might want to try either an iAudio player, or the Sony S700. That'll be short on storage, but it's probably as close to the "MD sound" as a Sony MP3 player will come.

If you've got the budget to spare, there's always the dreamy RH1.

[sdfzz_]

hmmm

Refund hd3, and try a1000/a3000...they have the best sound quality in my opinion..

[Guest Stuge]

@Microkid42:Refund your player (If possible ) or Sell it and Wait for NW-A808 .

[Terence Kelly]

Well, If you're used to minidisc I think you will find that the HD3 is a bit disappointing. I bought two for my daughters and found the HD3 fatiguing to listen to. I think it produced too much distortion at high volume levels and you had to have it up nearly all the way for classical music. I have since tried out an HD5 and an HD 1. HD5 is better than the HD3, but in terms of sound, Sony got it right the first time. The HD1 has higher volume and no noticeable distortion at max volume. If you can live without mp3 support you would really like it. It matches up fairly well with my Sharp DRS7 minidisc, which is the best sounding portable unit I've ever heard.

TK

[Traksiris]

Well, If you're used to minidisc I think you will find that the HD3 is a bit disappointing. I bought two for my daughters and found the HD3 fatiguing to listen to. I think it produced too much distortion at high volume levels and you had to have it up nearly all the way for classical music. I have since tried out an HD5 and an HD 1. HD5 is better than the HD3, but in terms of sound, Sony got it right the first time. The HD1 has higher volume and no noticeable distortion at max volume. If you can live without mp3 support you would really like it. It matches up fairly well with my Sharp DRS7 minidisc, which is the best sounding portable unit I've ever heard.

TK

I do not agree with this, I live in the netherlands and all models here are volume locked. I have a HD1 and unlocked the volume and dissapointingly compared to the HD with the volume unlocked the HD1 gives me distortion/cracks in the sound.

It's not my headphones because on the HD5 I don't notice anything, but then again the HD5 has some distortion when the disc runs

[Terence Kelly]

I do not agree with this, I live in the netherlands and all models here are volume locked. I have a HD1 and unlocked the volume and dissapointingly compared to the HD with the volume unlocked the HD1 gives me distortion/cracks in the sound.

It's not my headphones because on the HD5 I don't notice anything, but then again the HD5 has some distortion when the disc runs

Well, I can only give my experience with 2 HD1's 2 HD3's and 1 HD5, all American units. None of them had audible cracking in the sound. The HD3 had relatively low volume for classical music and could not "image" the sound sharply. That sounds like what the original poster was complaining about. The HD5 gives me a good sound but its volume is lower than the HD1, but sufficiently high for comfortable listening. I can only turn the HD1 all the way up on really quiet passages otherwise it will take my ears off using a pair of Sennheiser PX100 headphones. Audible cracking might be a problem with the particular unit. The distortion I'm referring to is more subtle than that. Neither of the HD1s has the MP3 upgrade. I didn't want to risk them becoming like the HD3s.

TK

[DSP]

I think NW-HD series couldn't match up to good old MD.

I swapped to HDD when NW-A series were introduced. They sound very well.

BUT if you wan't even beter SQ, I should go for NW-S70x. They sound very good.

You could also wait for NW-A80x. If I look up the specs they should have very good SQ too!

I'd mind you that MD has a typical sound signaure of its own. If you wanna stick to that I'd advise you to get a Hi-MD unit. MZ-RH1 is a very good unit.

It's the dream MD unit

greetz

[DSJ]

The SQ I get from my A1200 with PX200s (not hugely different to your PX100s) is really good. Do you give your PX100s sufficient warm up time? I have read and noticed myself that Sennheisers need a bit of warm up time before they become a bit more punchy sounding. Some people online left their 'phones on for 12 hours after purchase to heat them up. I notice that they take around 10 minutes to warm up, and then sound fantastic with the A1200. They eat batteries like nobody's business, but I dont care for the SQ I get. Long live Sony!