service mode for NWZ-A818

[arkham_asylum]

Hi

Can anyone help me here? You see every audio device being sold within the European Union must have a maximum volume limiter so as to not damage a users hearing in the long term. I need access to this service mode to remove the volume limiter on my sony walkman because at the moment changing the volume from 20 to 30 on the player does almost nothing.

Can anyone help, i've tried the code for the NWA-818 but that doesnt work.

Thanks.

Edited December 9, 2007 by arkham_asylum

[Ascariss]

There is no volume limiter for EU countries on the 818 units, not any of the newer models, check in the options to see if AVLS is turned on.

[arkham_asylum]

Hi.

Avls is off. From what i know its illegal to sell digital audio players without this maximum limitation and I doubt sony would implement it in the Nwa series and not the Nwz-a series. Every portable device in the EU has this limitation, except if its grey imports

Anyone?

[Ascariss]

according to this thread the sound cap was stopped with the older HD units.

http://www.atraclife.com/forums/index.php?...=4345&st=40

if the models are still capped, then there is no method to uncap them currently, as there is no service manual for the 818.

[arkham_asylum]

Well that would be great is thats the case! Like i said its theres almost no difference in volume between 20 and 30. Can any american user confirm if theirs behave in the same way?

[Ascariss]

there is quite a difference between 20 and 30, I rarely listen to 20 myself, too loud, and I usually stop at 14/15 and even then it's loud. you shouldn't be listening to music over 20. My unit is from the US.

[juli_]

None of the models from the 7xx series and onwards is volume capped (as far as I know).

[arkham_asylum]

True. I dont really go past 16 myself, and to be honest i dont need the extra volume at all. Its just that i want the player the best it can be, without restrictions.

On some websites people claim the player isn't locked, some sites claim it is. Either way thank you all for your help!

[TheReaper]

You can see the code for service mode in the service manual I posted here yesterday for 800 series. I think it should be the same code. My player was not volume capped. I mean, I entered service mode and the setting to the volume limiting option was OFF by default. Hope I hepled.

[arkham_asylum]

Unfortunately the code doesn't work for the nwa z8xx versions I guess i'll just wait for the service manual to show up sometime.

Thanks anyways!

[TheReaper]

It worked the second time I tried it on my player. Give it a try again.

[Ascariss]

Anyone know what cpu/chip the older 800 series uses? I can't seem to locate the info in the service manual.

[arkham_asylum]

I've tried loads of times and cant get it right?? Do you have the nwa or nwz-a version? Ascariss have you tried the service code on yours?

Edited December 12, 2007 by arkham_asylum

[Ascariss]

nah, tried, doesn't work on mine.

[arkham_asylum]

Thanks for trying. Ah well thank you for everyone trying to help me out, i'll just wait for the service manual to show up sometime.

[lambsbread]

I have the same problem with my NWZ-A818. There is no difference when the volume is at 20/30 compared with 30/30. I have checked the service manual for the NWZ-A818 and the access method is the same as for the NWZ-A808 that has been posted here.

However, like the other users i cannot seem to access the service menu.

1. Turn Power On.

2. Hold "Back" until the home menu appears.

3. Set "Hold" on

4. While holding down the "Option" button, press Up-Right-Down-Left-Up-Play-Up-Left-Down-Right-Up-Play

5. Set "Hold" off

However, after this step nothing happens. Can anyone who got this to work see anything I am doing wrong?

If anyone wants, I can attach the service manual for the NWZ-A818.

Thanks a mil for any help!

[arkham_asylum]

Hi.

Well i've tried the code countless times and then some! it just doesnt work. Im just waiting for someone to figure this out and post a video on youtube lol.

Also can someone please tell me what exactly they mean by: "Note: Perform the test mode in the state of 3.6 V or more in the

battery voltage." Do they mean the battery should be fully charged before performing the test or what?

Edited December 29, 2007 by arkham_asylum

[firbird]

just wondering if anyone's cracked this yet? I'm in the UK and there's no difference in volume between 20 and 30 and 20 isn't nearly enough if I'm in a loud place...

Thanks

[paugustin]

There is no crack yet but I found that the service manual of the A82x series that just came out also wowrks for A81x series. You can access the test menu and see that european versions (or at least my french model) are volume limited (spset : on). Unfortunately there is no way in the test menu to change that setting.

in order to get to test mode :

1. Turn the power on.

2. Press the [bACK] key for 1.5 seconds or more, the home menu

is displayed.

3. Slide the [HOLD] key to set the hold on.

4. While pressing the [OPTION] key, press the key as following

order.

→ → [D] → [D] → [R] → [L] → → [D] → →

[D] → [R] → [Play]

5. The set reboots when the [HOLD] key is slided to set the hold

off, and the color bar is displayed in the liquid crystal display.

6. Enter the test mode when the [bACK] key is pressed in the

state of step 5.

Note: The destination setting and sound pressure regulation setting cannot

be executed by this test mode.

[GauntMan]

Confirm this working om my NWZ-A818. However mine has volume limit set to off, and is uncapped despite the fact that I bought it within the EU. I bought it in Sweden som maybe not all EU countries have this limit enabled.

Edited April 24, 2008 by GauntMan

[ceres]

Confirm this working om my NWZ-A818. However mine has volume limit set to off, and is uncapped despite the fact that I bought it within the EU. I bought it in Sweden som maybe not all EU countries have this limit enabled.

Same here with a unit bought in Germany.

[GauntMan]

I´ve read on some iPod forums that the volume limit i EU is due to some regulation in France not permitting to loud volume. All my former iPods had the limit even though they were bought in Sweden. Maybe Sony has adapted the limit to the countries that apply the limits.

[firbird]

I just tried that, and on mine it says:

Other SPSET

EU [ SPS: OFF]

So I'm guessing that means the volume level is not blocked...? But then why can't I turn it up past 20, AVLS is off, any other reasons?

[paugustin]

firebird : where are you from ? Volume should go up to 30. Even my capped model goes up to 30. Have you checked all the settings ? Try to reset stock settings, maybe it will help.

[firbird]

I'm in the UK. Volume does go up to 30 but there is no difference in volume at 20 and 30. I'll try resetting the settings to see if that makes any difference...

any suggestions for decent quality in ear headphones that don't cost the earth? I might use a different pair for the train...

Edited April 28, 2008 by firbird

[juli_]

I'm in the UK. Volume does go up to 30 but there is no difference in volume at 20 and 30. I'll try resetting the settings to see if that makes any difference...

any suggestions for decent quality in ear headphones that don't cost the earth? I might use a different pair for the train...

Both the Denon AH-C551 and C700 pair really nicely with the Sony. The sonic differences between the 2 are that the C551 has slightly less treble extension and slightly more bass impact. But the C700 is definitely not short on bass. However, if you're sensitive to treble in any way, the C551s are a really good bet. Both phones play very loud, and I rarely listen to more than 15/30 with either of them. If you go to Head-Fi and do a search for both of them, you'll find quite a lot of information.

You can get the C700s from Amazon UK for £70 (half the price they used to be last year!), but they don't stock the C551s.

You can get the C551s from eBay for about £50. I have 2 new pairs of them now along with the C700 (have to have backups!!) and I like them both equally. The C551 has a smaller aluminium housing than the C700 which makes the fit better for people who like to wear them over the ears.

Anyway, if you get time, go and check Head-Fi, as both pairs get really positive reviews. If you end up wanting a pair of C551s (and don't want to go the eBay route for whatever reason), I can sell you a pair of mine. I don't really need 2 pairs of C551s, I was being greedy

[TooManyUserNamesToRemember]

I'm in the UK. Volume does go up to 30 but there is no difference in volume at 20 and 30. I'll try resetting the settings to see if that makes any difference...

any suggestions for decent quality in ear headphones that don't cost the earth? I might use a different pair for the train...

I'm in the UK and mine certainly has a difference from 20 to 30. Even with a volume limiter, surely you'd hear such a difference? The limiter would squash the peaks, but the quieter bits would still get louder, no? So perhaps yours has a very odd fault?

Pleased to hear that mine has no limiter. Apparently Apple has imposed the French limit on all EU IPods.

'Course, 50 years from now only the French will be able to hear anything.

[GauntMan]

'Course, 50 years from now only the French will be able to hear anything.

From what I´ve read the limit is 100dB and thats reasonable but a 100dB from in-ear will not be 100dB from large openair headphones. My big headphone was almost useless with the iPod and not all of use use in-ear all the time.

[lambsbread]

yeah, i bought mine in CDG airport so it is:

OTHER SPSET

FR [sPS:ON]

guess there's no way around that...

[aafuss]

Bought my A815 in Australia-on the box a label says "CE7" and volume goes upto 30 too.

[Tinderbox (UK)]

Hi.

No volume limit on my 2 week old UK bought NWZ-A818 , volume changes all the way up to 30.

Regards

John.

[oeurf]

Hmmm sorry if I've missed it but is there a conclusive answer to this query yet? I have an A 808 and A 818...the ATRAC 808 has considerably more volume than the 818 which has the annoying habit of 'dipping' the volume at high frequencies. I have checked that the awful AVLS is turned OFF. Infact the atrac version beats the windows version hands down for both sound quality and stability of playback