Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
Simon Gardner wrote: Hi Leo, My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital output. I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp via the MD deck. Not necessarily - you could get one of the little digital convertor boxes. Providing it keeps both of it's outputs on you could, for example, have the optical coming in from your CD player, send an electrical signal to your MD deck and an optical signal to your amp. The Midiman CO2 from Core Sound looks ideal: Last time I was in Rat Shack I noticed that they're offering a TOSlink "Y" splitter. This should do the job. About $15 as I recall. John -- John De Armond [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://personal.bellsouth.net/~johngd/ Neon John's Custom Neon Cleveland, TN "Bendin' Glass 'n Passin' Gas" - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
I think you could do a simple test to determine if your MD unit is passing an unaltered digital signal or not, assuming you have DTS capability. Put a DTS CD in your CD player, pass the signal through your MD recorder, then attempt to decode the DTS signal after it's been through the MD unit. If it works, you're getting a pure signal. If it doesn't, you're not. (Haven't tried this yet myself.) - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
Hi, I've just joined this list so apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn't see a mention in any FAQs or webpages. I'm thinking about getting an MD-deck, mainly to record CDs to MD. (I currently use a Discman and an MZ-R55 connected via optical, and have an MZ-E90 for playback.) My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital output. I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp via the MD deck. Does anyone know which MD decks, if any, support this? I have seen one or two which have optical output as well as input, but the typically sparse webpages don't say whether the output is only for the MD deck itself or whather it will relay the optical input to the output when the MD isn't in use. Many thanks for any information, Leo -- - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
Hi Leo, My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital output. I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp via the MD deck. Not necessarily - you could get one of the little digital convertor boxes. Providing it keeps both of it's outputs on you could, for example, have the optical coming in from your CD player, send an electrical signal to your MD deck and an optical signal to your amp. The Midiman CO2 from Core Sound looks ideal: http://www.core-sound.com/co2.html $70 including shipping. From the look of it, you could hide it away pretty easily. Does anyone know which MD decks, if any, support this? I have seen one or two which have optical output as well as input, but the typically sparse webpages don't say whether the output is only for the MD deck itself or whather it will relay the optical input to the output when the MD isn't in use. I'll have a look at my brother's Pioneer deck (afaik, it's got optical in and out) and let you know. I suspect it'll act in the same way as a tape deck, ie. only relaying when the deck is recording or on record pause. -- Simon - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
On Tue, 27 Jun 2000, Simon Gardner wrote: Hi, My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital output. I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp via the MD deck. Does anyone know which MD decks, if any, support this? I have seen one or two which have optical output as well as input, but the typically sparse webpages don't say whether the output is only for the MD deck itself or whather it will relay the optical input to the output when the MD isn't in use. I'll have a look at my brother's Pioneer deck (afaik, it's got optical in and out) and let you know. I suspect it'll act in the same way as a tape deck, ie. only relaying when the deck is recording or on record pause. I have a JA20ES w/ 2 outputs (TOSLink/Coax) and 3 inputs (2TOSLink/Coax) and I use it as a "digital patching matrix", and yes, you have to press the record button (try it w/o a MD :) so that it acts as a -AD DA- or AD-DA converter. I also have a Megachanger connected to the MD, so that I could switch (the amp remote can't) easily between CD or MD with the MD remote. I noticed that almost all new sony models (when I bought the JA20ES it was the only deck with that I/O variety) have TOSLink/Coax output and 2TOSLink/Coax inputs now. That lets me use my deck also as a digitizer when recording old vinyl records, selecting the analog input from the amp tape out, and then feeding digitally my soundcard to the PC harddisk (the link, a coax cable is about 20 meters) and viceversa, to listen to the PC via my hifi; it's a matter of switching between inputs with the I/O selector (what a shame it isn't controlable w/ the remote). hope it helps, *---(*)---**-- Francisco J. Montilla System Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
Francisco J. Montilla wrote: [snipperdesnap] I have a JA20ES w/ 2 outputs (TOSLink/Coax) and 3 inputs (2TOSLink/Coax) and I use it as a "digital patching matrix", and yes, you have to press the record button (try it w/o a MD :) so that it acts as a -AD DA- or AD-DA converter. I also have a Megachanger connected to the MD, so that I could switch (the amp remote can't) easily between CD or MD with the MD remote. The fact that you have to set the MD deck to Record for it to pass through the signal makes me suspect that the signal goes through an ATRAC encoding/decoding cycle. In other words, it's passing through the signal that would come from the MD, not the original PCM signal from the CD (record monitoring, not signal pass-through). Probably an improvement over bad DACs, but not quite the best possible signal. ,xtG .tsooJ - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
On Tue, 27 Jun 2000, J. van de Griek wrote: Hi, I have a JA20ES w/ 2 outputs (TOSLink/Coax) and 3 inputs (2TOSLink/Coax) and I use it as a "digital patching matrix", and yes, you have to press the record button (try it w/o a MD :) so that it acts as a -AD DA- or AD-DA converter. I also have a Megachanger connected to the MD, so that I could switch (the amp remote can't) easily between CD or MD with the MD remote. The fact that you have to set the MD deck to Record for it to pass through the signal makes me suspect that the signal goes through an ATRAC encoding/decoding cycle. In other words, it's passing through the signal that would come from the MD, not the original PCM signal from the CD (record monitoring, not signal pass-through). Probably an improvement over bad DACs, but not quite the best possible signal. I couldn't believe that. Being SONY, I must admit I considered that at first, but don't think so. I don't think the JA20ES has bad DACs, being a hi-medium end deck, what the h***... The fact of having to push the record button (then AD- -DA or AD-DA appears on the display) isn't specific from MDs I believe, DATs and other digital recording equipment works the same... Another issue is, do you think an MD ATRAC chip is capable of coding/decoding simultaneously? I don't think so. what do you guys think? greets, *---(*)---**-- Francisco J. Montilla System Network admin [EMAIL PROTECTED] irc: pukkaSevilleSpain INSFLUG (LiNUX) Coordinator: www.insflug.org - ftp.insflug.org - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
Joost van de Griek wrote, | The fact that you have to set the MD deck to Record for it to pass through | the signal makes me suspect that the signal goes through an ATRAC | encoding/decoding cycle. In other words, it's passing through the signal | that would come from the MD, not the original PCM signal from the CD (record | monitoring, not signal pass-through). Probably an improvement over bad DACs, | but not quite the best possible signal. That was argued greatly to no conclusion in alt.audio.minidisc. The situa- tion was one of daisy-chaining the optical connectors of Sony MD decks. One faction held that, as Francisco Montilla has said, the ATRAC chip could not both encode and decode simultaneously in real time; the other side held that since daisy-chained recordings didn't add SCMS generations and one SCMS-pen- ultimate source could be recorded to any number of daisy-chained recorders, all producing SCMS-final copies but none refusing to record, Sony would not pass up a chance to discourage the practice by spoiling the results with ad- ditional ATRACking. I suggested that people do listening tests; nobody did except me, and with my tin ears I couldn't tell the difference. Sony MD decks in monitor mode do apply sample rate conversion to digital input and do strip out (why?) track number information; in record or record/pause, the output signal preserves track number information and, apparently, does not resample. In both cases, the SCMS bits of the output match those of the input. (Note: I'm not sure whether track number information is stripped in monitor mode if the original input is from MD; it certainly is if the original input is from CD. Other brands may function differently; my Pioneer CDR recorder, for example, does not remove track number information in monitor mode.) - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
RE: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough
I'm sure my Sony JE-520 has an optical input and output, as well as a co-ax input. The problem is I understand the JE 520 specs vary depending on the version - I think in NZ we get the UK version - certainly that was the case with my Sony CDP 930. I imagine if you want to hear the CD changer through the amp's DAC via the MD deck you will need have record-pause activated on the MD deck - but I've never tried it - certainly this is the case when patching another deck through the analogue in and outputs of the 520. richard -Original Message- From: Leo Davidson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, 28 June 2000 12:10 a.m. To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: MD: Digital CD-MD-Amp passthrough Hi, I've just joined this list so apologies if this has been asked before, but I couldn't see a mention in any FAQs or webpages. I'm thinking about getting an MD-deck, mainly to record CDs to MD. (I currently use a Discman and an MZ-R55 connected via optical, and have an MZ-E90 for playback.) My problem is that my Sony CD megachanger has a pretty bad DAC and sounds a lot better when connected to my Amp via an optical cable. If I get an MD deck I want to connect the CD changer to it in the same way to get digital-quality MD copies, but the changer only has one optical/digital output. I guess I need to get an MD deck that has optical input and output and is able to act as a passthrough so the CD's optical output can reach the amp via the MD deck. Does anyone know which MD decks, if any, support this? I have seen one or two which have optical output as well as input, but the typically sparse webpages don't say whether the output is only for the MD deck itself or whather it will relay the optical input to the output when the MD isn't in use. Many thanks for any information, Leo -- - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To stop getting this list send a message containing just the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
