I just got this machine, and I'm very happy with it as far as looks, feel, etc. But there seem to be a few things strange about it. First of all, everyone already knows that they don't like SonicStage, but the machine itself actually seems to be acting f'ed up. As far as I can tell with my as yet limited experience with the machine (mainly because of all the confusion about ripping and transferring) the equalizer and other audio processing features work great with ATRAC files, but have no effect on MP3 files. This seems strange to me. I'd prefer to use MP3s, but I guess it's kind of hard to figure out now, since the equalizer is fairly important to me. Something about the ATRAC files seems slightly plastic or something compared with MP3s. I'm not really that discerning as far as different bitrates, but I feel I'd rather use MP3s especially since they're such a standard, and now I feel like I might have to use ATRAC, which I don't even mind necessarily, except that they won't encode at my preferred bitrates, and basically give you a choice of 192Kb and 256Kb.

Has anyone else noticed this problem? The MP3 thing happens whether I encode with sonicstage's native encoder or a third party software, and also when I use the MP3 file manager to transfer them instead of SonicStage.

This is a known "problem" (or just another attempt of Sony to cripple MP3 playback on their DAPs to promote their own ATRAC format). As far as I know no hack exists to solve this issue. I'll take a look on some forums for you if I have the time.


Watch out with these kinds of statements on this forum. You're supposed to backup such claims by providing blind test results. However, from my own tests in the past I know that ATRAC3 LP2 (128 kbs) generally does not sound as good as MP3 @ 128 kbs. The new ATRAC3+ (256 kbs) should be transparent though, so I'd advice you use that. It should even be gapless on the HD5, which MP3 isn't!

This problem does not exist on my NW-E507 (or any other memory based players). As far as I know it is specific to MiniDisc models only.

Hm, I thought I've heard once that this problem also existed with the HD5.

The no-audio-processing problem for MP3s does exist on the NW-HD5. I know from experience. Thanks for the help, guys.

Sorry about the subjective description of ATRAC; I know people on this forum are more scientific about the comparisons, and I've only done a little bit of subjective testing which is not necessarily that accurate. I may be sort of imagining the difference.

By the way, another thing that's just plain mysterious is that, depending on which number of Kbps you use, it will either encode in ATRAC3 or ATRAC3Plus. Yes, that's what it does if you try to use sonicstage. It's very strange because they seem to encourage the use of 132Kb as a solution for portability, and yet only as ATRAC3 instead of the new format.

No problem.


Yes I've heard that. Quite annoying it is. I don't think Sony wants to encourage you using 132 kbs, but they seem to think that transcoding your 128 kbs MP3 file to ATRAC3+ 256 kbs is a waste of bits. Which it absolutely isn't, because transcoding to 132 kbs ATRAC will further degrade the sound.

Have you tried the newest SonisStage (3.2 I think)? Maybe by now you can choose the output format freely.

3.3 is the latest version of SonicStage, and it has a wider bitrate selection for ATRAC3(plus) devices like the HD5.

MiniDisc users are totally shafted - their devices have never had good MP3 support, and now they don't even have "full" ATRAC3plus support.

[Edit: Typography]