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Not sure if this question will make sense. I have an old Sony Discman that I've used for more than a decade. I was attempting to use it today and on three separate discs (Stones, Blue and Lonesome, Crash Test Dummies, A Worm's Life and Smashing Pumpkins, Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness) the midrange was simply gone. Highs and lows sounded fine. Center mixed vocals were either completely missing or at a very low level. Tried them in another player and all was fine. What happened?
-Wendell
Follow Ups:
that would give a kind of loudness compensation by boosting the highs and lows. It was usually accessed by holding down one of the buttons for a few seconds.
If possible, access the manual for your model. If not, remove the batteries and let it sit for a day, then put them back in. It may reset to flat response.
Good luck and lay off the Smashing Pumpkins.
I agree with Jonesy regarding trying fresh batteries vs. using the power supply unit, since the wall-wart might be at fault. It's a simple enough test.
I think that we can rule our any problem with the digital sections of the player. In the digital realm there is no bass, middle, treble or central image. Just data. It will either work or not.
So the fault must lie in the analogue output stage or later in the chain.
I am intrigued by your description of the problem which combines a loss of frequencies in the midrange with a loss of images mixed to the centre. Sounds like some kind of phase error between left and right channels although that usually leads to a reduction in perceived bass frequencies too. I wonder if the bass is actually as good as it has been before? Are you turning up the amp to try to compensate, perhaps without realising you are doing this as you just think that you have chosen the "right" level?
So the problem is analogue not digital. It could be the output stage, connections or the input on the preamp or integrated amp.
Have you another source that you can plug into the same amplifier input? Have you another amp it can be plugged into? Can you substitute another cable? This will help track the fault down. I am assuming that the speakers are functioning on other source material as expected. You haven't recently rewired the speaker connections have you? If so have you checked for correct phasing?
Someone has suggested cleaning out your ears. Always good advice if done in a recommended fashion ( that doesn't include the use of cotton buds due to the risk of damaging your eardrums or, at best, impacting the wax instead of removing it). However if your ears are so clogged that you have trouble with hearing the midrange then you will also hear no treble at all. I therefore don't think that is the cause. There can be other issues affecting hearing obviously but if you are happy on a day to day basis in real life e.g. you can hear normal conversations OK then within the terms of your description of the problem there would seem little wrong in that area.
NT
I agree it's not the digital section. I've never heard anything like this. It's not a big deal. As John said, it's time to replace the unit. I'm just curious as to the cause. I did play the discs in another player (my computer) with the same earbuds. All works as it should.
-Wendell
Have you considered replacing the Discman? Maybe you could ask Santa for a new one for Christams! ;-)
Happy Holidays!
John Elison
using your smartphone for music playback as well? :)
Yikes. That's weird. All I can think of to try is clean the lens and the output jack. Are you using earbuds? Could they be the problem? Clean the earbud male plug as well. Also try different ear buds. Have you changed batteries lately or using a wall wart? Wall wart male plug and female power plug on discman may need a clean. Or the wallwart is not outputting correct power anymore. These are just guesses, but at least something you can try.
"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
Excellent advice- Jonesy.
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