just done digging for you all:

The N510/N710 are updated versions of the 505 and 707, most notably the inclusion of Type-S ATRAC. Also, a cradle is included

The N10 is apparently a replacement for the N1, I thought it was just a 10th anniversary thing, obviously not! Again, the major difference (aside from design) is the Type-S ATRAC...

The prices quoted for each of these units are on a par with the models they are replacing, so an N1 is still going to be superior to a N710/N510 (going on cost alone as indication of quality, not always a good idea I know!)

The other advantage over the N10, apart from battery life but still regarding the battery, is the replaceable battery. I know a lot of people who have been worried about the non-replaceable battery of the *10 models...

PodMan, I assure you, you won't be disappointed!

I've started writing up some notes for the review

g

There are other opinions here, of course, but my sense is that the ATRAC3 LP2 codec included in Type-R recorders is already very good. It sounds much better to my ears than MP3 at comparable bit rates (circa 132 Kbps). I don't think there is much difference, if any, in the headphone amps of the 2002 Sony machines, and there is certainly difference in the codecs. Maybe Type-S LP2 will be that much better... I am not sure how much room there is for improvement at the same bit rates, but I think I read that the Type-S LP modes are supposed to improve quality through quiet passages.

I am still pretty new to the MD format, but am so far absolutely pleased with its musicality and fidelity to original sources. The 5 by 5 amps in the Sony players sound more powerful than that too, somehow. Great stuff.

yeah from my experience with mp3, the real quality difference has always been in the encoding stage, not the decoding. but oh well, we'll see. I don't like the new battery on the N10. given the choice between the N10 and the DR7, i'd probably pick the DR7.

also, guzzler, is there any hissing on your N1? like try setting volume to 0 and press play. do you hear absolute silence? On my N505, there is this very audible hissing that is always present (especially noticeable on quieter tracks) that drives me crazy. I have asked around on various forums, and this problem doesn't seem to be prevalent, although there are many instances of it. very strange. I hope the N1 doesn't have any hissing.

Odd. My 505 doesn't have the hissing problem. Curious, what firmware revision you may have? I'm not sure how it could matter, but if there were a trend...

my N1 is quiet all the way down to volume 0. Tried it on some HD600s are some reasonably good Technics speakers... all the noise I could here was straight from the amp...

g

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[size=medium]ROFLMFAO!![/size]

you might want to check out some the stories at head-fi concerning etronics....

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oh have you tried it on very low impedance headphones? I've plugged HD580s into the N505 and the hiss is gone, but when I plug in something like an EX70 or D66 into it, there is very noticeable hissing.

also, does the battery on the N1 exhibit the memory effect? Coming from an ipod with a lithium polymer battery, I have always kept it topped off whenever I can, but that's not a good thing for NiMH batteries is it? I've read some posts at the minidisct forums where people just take out the battery when they are transferring in the cradle.


my firmware revision for N505 is version 1.3 i think.

Okay... checked a few things on my 505. Firmware level is 1.4.

No audible hiss with Sportapros. I wasn't sure about it when I hooked up Sennheiser HD497s, but I was enough in doubt that I may have been imagining some really low-grade hiss.

Inaudible noise floor is pretty difficult to achieve with any kind of amplifier, and I doubt Sony would do it in a mass-produced MD walkman. Anyone with this unit and other phones care to compare?

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I was gonna mention that: the N1 charges WHENEVER you put it in the cradle! This, as stated is not good for the NiMH battery, which does however last a ridiculous amount of time. However, if you just plug it in (ie not in cradle), its fine. I've yet to find out if the cradle will work without the DC input, so it works off the USB power supply.

Regards low impedance phones, I don't have any! And hiss does of course with any amp; if was thinking more in terms of INCREASE in hiss!

hope that clears some stuff up...

btw, I've kinda given up the idea of a review due to the fact that the N1 is being discontinued. Sorry to anyone who's been awaiting one! Hopefully you can tell my opinion of the player from my posts =)

all the best,

g

hmm this is very strange. i finally found a headphone that doesn't exhibit any noticeable hiss on the N505. strangely enough, it turns out to be the D22SL. on the D66, there is very audible hiss. but so far, with the D22, hiss is kept at a minimal. i need to listen for it at volume 0 to determine its there. maybe its not impedance at all, because the D22 is rated at 24ohms which is lower than the D66. I know its not the D66's problem because it doesn't hiss when plugged into other sources. Even the EX70 hiss when plugged into the N505.

I've read the N1 can transfer without the power cable plugged in at the cradle. its similar to how my N505 can transfer with a battery. it just uses the internal battery's power.


on a side note, my N505's fast forward switch is broken as well. Pressing it rapidly or holding it down causes the N505 to move backwards instead of forwards. I've found that holding the area between Play and >> causes it to fast forward smoothly though. I asked around on the minidisc forum and another user said he had the same problem as well. This problem showed up after a few months of use.

I think quality control at Sony must have been asleep when they checked this particular batch of N505. I really hope the N1 turns out to be more consistent in quality.

just a quick note, I tried my HD600s without an amp and was pleasantly surprised: the N1 is powerful enough to drive them up to acceptable levels (for me anyway, I listen quiet!). I also tried connecting the HD600s to the line out (you have to manually choose between Headphone Out/Line Out, cos they use the same slot): if you're building an amp for it, input decoupling caps are a must, a could hear the buzz caused by the DC offset unamplified, MAJOR damage if that was amplified!

g

yup. you dont need the ac adapter plugged into the cradle to transfer stuff. usually i dont plug in the ac adapter; i use the cradle and charger seperately as to not shorten the life of the NiMH gumstick battery. I've had my N1 for more than a year now, and it's still running just fine : ). i was actually going to listen to it, but my D-2 was sitting there next to it begging to be used instead. The battery life has dropped a little bit though. I remember when i first got it it felt like the battery would last forever. now it seems like i actually need to charge it every two or three weeks. anyways, the N1 is a great machine.

the sony NiMH batteries are rated to last about 1.5 years. They only cost about £14 to replace though! the Li Ion batteries sharps use are horribly expensive but don't have the memory effect and last a little longer

g