D-321 Headphone Out - Very Surprising

[insomniac]

Very surprisingly weak that is.

I just picked up a D-321 and the line out is terrific. But the headphone out is ridiculously weak. Even at max, it feels too soft for regular listening. This is using with the Sony V6. And I don't really consider myself to be someone who listens to his music that loud. The headphone out is definitely weaker than on my D-FJ401, which is a relatively recent model. And compared to my D-11, it doesn't even get half as loud.

Very suprising to me considering this is a vintage player with generally positive user reviews. The line out with my mini-meta amp sounds great though. And I love the build quality. But it's really a shame about that headphone out.

 

[Notorious P.I.G.]

ha, ha. I just got one and had the same issue.

Check the AVLS on the front. You'll probably find that it is set on 1 or 2. Turn it off.

Acutually, the D-321 has some power. It's pretty nice for a true portable (ESP).

I like it better than the D-777 for some CDs. But as others have said, it doesn't have the sound-stage that the 777 has.

 

[insomniac]

Wow, thanks for the tip! I hope it makes a drastic difference because it is just ridiculously soft right now. I will try it as soon as I get home.

 

[warubozu]

Also if you don't plan on carrying the D-321 around while you are listening to it, try turning off ESP. This will also help improve sound quality.

 

[Gojira]

Yeah, definitely sounds like AVLS. I have a now virtually dead D-321 where the AVLS is now locked on all the time. I even completely disconnected the switch. I am going to try desoldering the AVLS switch and putting a jumper across it eventually. Hopefully you won't have the same problem and will be able to turn it off. It's not just the volume either. It removes all dynamics from the music, makes it sound worse than modern players. Now I just have to find my other D-321, which I think is totally dead. These old players...

 

[insomniac]

Yup, that was it. Sound is SIGNIFICANTLY louder. What's the purpose of AVLS anyway? No less 2 levels of it. Can't you just listen at softer volumes?

 

[Oddball]

It's for tech-savvy parents a tech-dumb kids. The parents make sure that Junior isn't blowing out his eardrums (as they all are these days) by switching it on. Also, it's probably to counter anyone trying to turn up their PCDPs up too loud in a loud area and making themselves deaf.

I think it's mostly for parents, but I think it's a bit unecessary. No one I know uses it.

 

[bong]

yeah... that pesky AVLS.

anyway, i find the D-321 to be powerful enough to drive many headphones, it can go mighty loud. the sound quality is also very very good, but i feel the D-777 has a better headphone out; definately warmer than the D-321, which can sound a bit sterile at times.

i have a quastion for all you D-321 owners. i'm the original and only owner of my D-321 (since my brother bought it at J&R for my birthday in 1994) and my unit has NEVER been able to play CDRs. how about your D-321s? thanks in advance...

 

[PeterR]

Quote:

Originally posted by bong yeah... that pesky AVLS. anyway, i find the D-321 to be powerful enough to drive many headphones, it can go mighty loud. the sound quality is also very very good, but i feel the D-777 has a better headphone out; definately warmer than the D-321, which can sound a bit sterile at times. i have a quastion for all you D-321 owners. i'm the original and only owner of my D-321 (since my brother bought it at J&R for my birthday in 1994) and my unit has NEVER been able to play CDRs. how about your D-321s? thanks in advance...

Yeah, surprising how loud 4mW@32ohms can be, isn't it

My 321 plays CD-Rs just fine.

 

[Fish Tank X]

Quote:

Originally posted by bong yeah... that pesky AVLS. anyway, i find the D-321 to be powerful enough to drive many headphones, it can go mighty loud. the sound quality is also very very good, but i feel the D-777 has a better headphone out; definately warmer than the D-321, which can sound a bit sterile at times. i have a quastion for all you D-321 owners. i'm the original and only owner of my D-321 (since my brother bought it at J&R for my birthday in 1994) and my unit has NEVER been able to play CDRs. how about your D-321s? thanks in advance...

Most likely you're just using really crappy CD-R's.

Go out and buy some high quality Taiyo yuden CD-R's and burn them at 4x, and they'll likely play just fine.

 

[Canman]

Quote:

Originally posted by bong i have a quastion for all you D-321 owners. i'm the original and only owner of my D-321 (since my brother bought it at J&R for my birthday in 1994) and my unit has NEVER been able to play CDRs. how about your D-321s? thanks in advance...

My D-321 plays CD-R's no problem. I use normal TDK CD-R's from Costco. Maybe yours has always had a weak laser?

 

[bong]

nope... i've used all types and brands of CDRs, everything from no name crap to high end mitsubishi japanese import CDRs, and every burn speed from 1X to 40X; nothing works. maybe it is a weak laser.

but the unit plays regular CDs just fine. ever since i got my first 2X CD-R burner my D-321 refuses to play CDRs.

oh well... it's still a nice unit; and my very first discman so it has some sentimental value.