Just an update post after a long absence. After 4 years of hard, nearly-everyday (and trouble-free) use - My W3s cable failed, first just beyond the strain relief at the plug, then after a frankenstein-solder repair similar failures at each earpiece - first the left which I also repaired but...

I've managed to keep the same IEMs for over 8 years (the 1st four with UM2s and the last four with W3) and simply remaining conscious of them during use has kept them in one piece. Plus a few rules like NEVER put them in your jeans pockets, etc.  Whenever I am on the go with my portable music...

I have noob2. I actually have one, but haven't used it in awhile.  To me, the E005 was the 'cold'est sounding of all my Sony portables (3 Hi-MDs, an HDP, 2 flash Atrac players & the A829) and very much like the A829 playing AAC350VBR. All the others were much warmer.  IMO you'll be right at home...

At this late stage I would only be interested in HiMD capable players (Atrac3+). The 909 is an MDLP player (MZ-R), meaning it only supports Atrac3 or SP, LP, and LP2 speeds. It will not support 1GB discs. MDLP players still have excellent sound - and they're gapless - but IMO A3+ was a big leap...

My source preference is CD (no downloads), but the majority of listening is via my portables: Atrac3+ HiSP/352kbps for the Atrac stuff & AAC350VBR for the flash player. Any files maintained on my PC are (generally) temporary.

Quote: Originally Posted by FortisFlyer75 Thanks i will try this, i use dbpower amp (registered also) to rip my tracks, i take it this is before a cd is ripped or can this be done once an album is on the X? In between actually. Once both discs are ripped to your drive move all...

Quote: Originally Posted by FortisFlyer75 Plus also when i get a greatest hits over 2 discs they show as seperate albums in the artist/ album folders when transferred to the X, how can i get them both to malgimate into the same album instead of having the two? This is even after i have...

Quote: Originally Posted by FenderP Personally I wonder why people are surprised again and again that the Japan models of the Sony walkmans have Japanese-only menus. It's been posted multiple times in multiple places. Since they support things like ATRAC (and SonicStage) that are not...

Quote: Originally Posted by mrbrad I have had the UM2 for 2 or 3 years. I like them more than any other earphone I have. I don't take them to hostile environments (pool hall, washing car) and have been trying to find an alternative. I tried RE0 and S4, but neither are close to the UM2...

Quote: Originally Posted by penartur Has anyone compared Atrac3plus to AAC? What is better on 256+ bitrates? Having an A829 and a host of ATRAC player/recorders, I've done unofficial results: I think in general AAC256 is the equivalent of HiSP (256kbps) and AAC320 or better (I...

Quote: Originally Posted by scytheavatar I am talking about the Westone 3 and UM3X. The Westone 3 I do like a lot, but still I think that it isn't that much better than the UM2 than what some make it out to be. But it's certainly a nice IEM, just that it's questionable if it's worth...

Quote: Originally Posted by RedSky0 So, right now I use a pair of 'small' Shure olives. They fit completely and utterly perfectly but they get a bit abrasive/itchy after a while so I was thinking of trying another type. In fact really they're almost perfect but obsessive compulsiveness...

Quote: Originally Posted by outlandos Thanks! So comfort wise they are about the same.. Then i should look to SQ and soundstage: i prefer fun sound over super balanced sound, so i guess the W3's will fit that bill the best? Tough call. W3s are a tough recommend from me because...

Quote: Originally Posted by outlandos I already got 5 pairs of Shure olives, so the question remaining is: Um3x or W3.. I am not going to buy custom made earbuds. I dont really mind the SQ, both should be great, but I do mind the comfort! Will the Shure Olives seal perfectly on the...

I've got the E507 & E005 (2GB) flash players. The E507 is the closest I've heard to the warmer sound of Sony's HiMD - even closer than the A1300 8GB HDD player. My present A829 is pretty good (using AAC300 or better) and at AAC350 it's a rough equivalent (to my ears, anyway) to ATRAC3+ 352kbps...

Just wanted to bump this thread. For anyone w/over the ear IEMs (or ones that you might like to convert - e.g. Ety4Ps) these are a godsend. I'm using them on my W3s as a slight tension on the cables by themselves would ultimately dislodge the W3s (shure grey softips - my UM2s rarely did this)...

Quote: Originally Posted by shigzeo no reason to get into sq debates. md fanatics are quoted as saying that md sounds better than cd and that md i better because it is digital. so, let's just not open that lol sort of debate - not when the proof otherwise exists elsewhere. Well...

Quote: Originally Posted by flibottf Impossible the erase any data on magneto-optic disc without heating it to the curie point. (check the subject on wikipedia, pretty interesting!) So I would rule out any interference erasing the disc. I would believe it's a faulty machine, or if it...

Quote: Originally Posted by Spyro It's probably been said at least once in one of these 94 pages but just another mention that any excess bass provided by EQ really screws up this entire IEM's sound presentation. If you keep the bass to a minimum (which actually may take some getting...

Quote: Originally Posted by pata2001 False. Only HiMD recorders can record to PCM. None of the classic MD recorders can record in PCM. You can, however, use the classic 80min MD disc and reformat them in an HiMD recorder to be used to record PCM. Heh, thanks, Pata. My apologies -...

Quote: Originally Posted by Spyro Okay, then the fit is wrong because I know what I am hearing. Again, I owned them for two months and tried many fit variations. This would be the first IEM I have ever experienced where I was not able to get a proper fit and that is not a good thing...

Quote: Originally Posted by R3SET The music used was indeed PCM-WAV, the same file i recorded to my minidisc using optical cable, without using LP2 or LP4 (I never use them). When i don't record using the LP2 or LP4 mode, the minidisc still compresses the file to ATRAC...

Quote: Originally Posted by R3SET Today I compared my mp3 player, the Sony NWZ-A828, to my MZ-R700 minidisc player. The same songs with the same quality were used, no compression on the MD, listening mainly with Sennheiser IE8 iem's. I just think the minidisc player just sounded better...

Quote: Originally Posted by Saigon I would say W3 is better in every other aspect other than vocals and guitars. The midrange in W3 sounds more clean but also weaker in comparison to UM2. I have no idea what is needed in stage listening, but if resolution and soundstage is important...

Sorry, no help. The first thing I did upon receiving my UM2s (and now W3s) was to remove that nuisance and simply wear them normally in front, without issues - my main reason being to obtain as much slack from the 'Y' lengths as possible. My older UM2 came with the simple clear plastic sleeve &...