First Peeved Impressions of MZ-NHF-800

[A440]

I'm starting to think Sony really hates people who actually use MDs to record.

I got the NFH-800 because I didn't want to be stuck with gumstick batteries or an external case. Duracells or bust.

But be warned: on the NFH-800 Sony has gotten rid of the simple, reliable, hard to misuse, one-finger slider REC switch, so that I now have to push REC and ENT to start recording on the NHF-800. It's going to take some doing to start the recorder in a pocket. (EDIT: VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.)

Record Volume automatically reverts to AGC and as far as I can tell it can't be set to default to manual. So its REC-ENT, then PAUSE, then hold down the Menu button for more than 2 seconds, then click down to REC SET, then click down to RECVolume. Yeah, right, I can do that in a dark club.

And could the remote be any more useless? Bad enough that Sony never put a Record button on its remotes, but the NHF-800 also REMOVED the track-mark button.

Meanwhile, I like the sound of both PCM and Hi-SP for the few comparisons I've done, though concerts will be the real test. (EDIT: AND HI-SP FLUNKS, SEE BELOW) Until I run out of old-school MDs to reformat I'll be using Hi-SP for time reasons. (ACTUALLY, BACK TO LP2.)

[dex Otaku]

The NHF800 and NH700 are almost identical. I've found that with the 700 you can starting recording by pressing rec+play or rec+pause as well. That way you don't end up with those 2-second tracks while trying to switch to manual record levels. After a couple of weeks of trying to do this awkward 3-finger rec+play+pause thing [that worked but isn't great sincethe buttons are so small and close together] I was pleasantly surprised to find out about the rec+pause thing.

I just remember [for manual rec levels] that it's menu for 2 secs, 5 pushes down, enter, 1 push down, enter, and it's on. I've done this in very dark places several times now and not missed on it once, thankfully.

The 3-line remote for the NH1 also works with all other Hi-MD models. I don't know if it has the track mark button but it does at least have backlit record level meters.

[Qwakrz]

No track mark button on the NH1 remote (looked for it but no)

It has Display, Backlight, Playmode, Repeat, Sound, Sound Set, Menu joggy thing, Vol +-, Stop and a little thinggy the same as the old R900 units where you push in for play / pause and move left or right for forward & back. Prefer this to the twisty thingy on the other remotes. The NH1 has a T Mark button on the unit though

Backlight LCD is a big plus in very dark places (not very bright backlight though) and it can be forced on in the menu's

Oh, im in a thingy mood today :wacky:

[mutant1345]

well also its not like there will be no more remotes made spacificly compatible with hi-mmd i mean theres only one remote out there and its designed for the nh1 and then there are the universal ones that justt work with the other units basic function....there will likely be a HI-MD remote for editing and basic functions (clrrect me if im inaccurate)

[A440]

Since the NHF-800 remote also has the radio in it, it's probably the one we're stuck with until the next round of models. This is something Sony should have gotten right the first time instead of regressing.

If Sony really had its act together they'd make a recorder's remote: REC button, TRACK button, Volume/Level buttons, Manual/AGC switch, and backlit level display along with Play, FF, REW and HOLD.

No, I'm not holding my breath.

[A440]

Forget what I said about being satisfied with Hi-SP, too.

Recording a loud show with high sensitivity, standard AGC and my RS Headphone Volume Control isn't even as good as LP2. The drums got a horrible phased whooshing sound. Someone on these boards speculated that Hi-SP is actually Realplayer encoding, and maybe they're right.

So, for the vaunted Hi-MD so far: no discs available that are big enough to use PCM (not even from sonystyle now) and if we do want music that can be quickly uploaded as promised (but not yet delivered), there's worse encoding than for standard MD modes. Gotta hand it to Sony for a complete bait-and-switch.

Maybe someone should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

[Christopher]

You've seen this, right A440?

http://forums.minidisc.org/viewtopic.php?p...ighlight=#30326

Additionally, if you truly desire Hi-MD discs, you can order some from Audiocubes for about $9 a pop. I can also search around and find better prices if necessary. How much would you pay per disc?

[Leland]

etronics also claims to have them in stock for 9 bucks in 1, 5 and 10 packs.

http://www.etronics.com/product.asp?stk_code=sonhmd1g

[A440]

Mad props to Marcnet now that I've had time to try HiMDRender.

Leland, I've seen a lot of bad feedback about etronics claiming things are in stock when they're not. But since the physical store is in NYC, maybe I'll drop by and see if the 1G discs are actually there.

Meanwhile, even the stated 7.99 list price for the 1GB discs is highway robbery when I can get 80 min discs for $1.60 each in NYC. Yes, I'm sure I'll succumb eventually. But I'm staying grumpy for a while.

[jadeclaw]

I think, the 7 to 9 bucks per disc are simply because of the low yield.

When the production process runs more smoothly, the price will definitely go down. Just give Sony the time to iron out the problems.

[Christopher]

The production process isn't under any sort of scrutiny. They're simply teasing the market and seeing if people even wanted the discs in the first place - why else would they only market the NH600 in most retail stores? They don't want to throw too much money in what could be a massive failure.

Well it ain't, and we want our discs! :rasp: