[renesis_au]

Hi, I've got a question, what's the cheapest way to get a portable line out? Since in the future I am considering getting a decent pair of headphones and an amp, I may need a line out to utilise the amp properly.

I currently have a panasonic MD recorder but to my knowledge it has a headphone out not a combo, but if anybody thinks it is good enough let me know. Basically I am looking for a cheap and portable unuit.

I was thinking of getting a used MD that atleast has netmd as I'm tired of 1x recording, but I've got to do a bit of research to find which MD's have a line out or not.

Thanks

 

[D-EJ915]

Hmm, NetMDs with line-outs...

You can do a hack on the MZ-N510 to upgrade it and it allows you the "line-out" option, the first generation of Hi-MD units (NH900, NH1) have a line-out option but the new ones (RH910, RH10) don't.

You can search at www.audiotstation.com (formerly minidisct) and forums.minidisc.org for more info

 

[LFC_SL]

CD player?

 

[firefox360]

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-EJ915 Hmm, NetMDs with line-outs... You can do a hack on the MZ-N510 to upgrade it and it allows you the "line-out" option, the first generation of Hi-MD units (NH900, NH1) have a line-out option but the new ones (RH910, RH10) don't. You can search at www.audiotstation.com (formerly minidisct) and forums.minidisc.org for more info

THANK YOU D-EJ915!!! I managed to unlock two thing on my MiniDisc sofar. The 3-Band Equalizer/Crappy Surround Settings, and also the line-out thing. Doesn't seem like anything else interests me so far though...

 

[renesis_au]

Cool, so I could use a netMD as my line out option? I already have an MD so would it be recommended for me to use the RH510 as a recorder and home player, and my panasonic as a portable player? How good is the line out quality relative to other players, ie. PCDP, mp3 players, etc?

 

[Sinbios]

Is it plausible to open a player up, get rid of the opamp, and short In+ and In-?

EDIT: Stupid of me, just short the jack connections with signal, where ever they are...

 

[renesis_au]

That may well be a cheap way, but I don't possess the knowledge to do that kind of thing. May have to go for a cheap PCDP, any recommendations? How good are any flash based players at being a source for an amp, say a ipod shuffle or creative muvo tx?

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renesis_au That may well be a cheap way, but I don't possess the knowledge to do that kind of thing. May have to go for a cheap PCDP, any recommendations? How good are any flash based players at being a source for an amp, say a ipod shuffle or creative muvo tx?

There was a thread months back about a $1x.00 cd player purchased from a local convenience store that had a line-out. It also featured no skip protection, IE even less distortion to the source sound from the CD.

Flash players are okay with amp, but players with actual line-outs like the Rio Karma or Ipod will sound superior with amp. When going straight out of a headphone-out of a player, the sound gets processed through the player's own amp and then processed again through the actual external amp itself. Not the absolute cleanest amped sound, but it's fine.

 

[Twombly]

The Karma has no line-out. There's the RCAs on the dock, but it's just the normal output locked to volume 29.

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twombly The Karma has no line-out. There's the RCAs on the dock, but it's just the normal output locked to volume 29.

i see. so it's just an RCA headphone-out with locked volume?

 

[renesis_au]

About the cheap PCDP with line out, will the actual quality of the output be up to scratch due to the "covertors" used even though it goes through a line out which bypasses the inbuilt amp? Or will it be equivalent to say a PCDP from Sony or Panasonic?

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renesis_au About the cheap PCDP with line out, will the actual quality of the output be up to scratch due to the "covertors" used even though it goes through a line out which bypasses the inbuilt amp? Or will it be equivalent to say a PCDP from Sony or Panasonic?

I questioned this myself, and quickly came to the conclusion that not all pcdps are created equal. The processing hardware inside still makes a difference in sound output line-out or headphone-out, or else everyone would be buying $15 imports at the local drug store.

--

At the moment, I'm struggling between purchasing a $60-70 Sony PCDP with line-out or a $100+ one which is supposed to be higher in sound quality. I'm probably going to dish out for the cheaper one, because I haven't even heard the sound out of a really expensive one before. Besides, I still gots no golden ears.

 

[renesis_au]

So in your opinion would you recommend getting a cheaper PCDP like the Sony's you are talking about?

 

[gshan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by renesis_au So in your opinion would you recommend getting a cheaper PCDP like the Sony's you are talking about?

It's really hard to say. I think it depends on how critical of a listener you are, or how good your current gear is that you're used to.

 

[GSTom1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twombly The Karma has no line-out. There's the RCAs on the dock, but it's just the normal output locked to volume 29.

Are you sure about this? I thought the Karma had true RCA line-outs on the dock and it was the iRiver H-Series' line out that wasn't true since it is volume adjustable?!?