Sony Walkman MP3 - how to amplify line out signal

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In connecting my Sony Walkman NWZ-A818B MP3 player to my hi-fi I find the output signal too quiet.

I have the automatic volume limiter deactivated, and have also checked the service menus and the european volume limit appears not to be applied either.

I think it's purely because a headphone out socket on a walkiman is designed to output a much lower volume for in ear headphones, rather than a hi-fi line out socket (such as on a cd player) which is much louder in comparison.

Is their a device I can put between the Walkman and the amplifier to increase the Walkmans line out signal ? Does an iPod suffer the same problem when connected via the headphone socket to RCA plugs on an amplifier ? Does an iPod dock increase the volume/signal strength ?

Regards,

Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

I used to have that MP3 player. Before that I had an older Sony Walkman which used the utterly awful Sonic Stage, and that had a Line Out function on. Your settings are as good as you can get for that one, but what I used to connect it to my amp (and I actually still use it now on my S Series Walkman) is a Sony dock which charges and has an audio out on the back of it. It disables the volume controls on the walkman itself so I assume it does something.

The volume I have the amp for the dock and the CD player is roughly the same so the volume must be ok.

The dock I got was from a Sony Centre and cost about £20.

 

[Anonymous]

Think they all suffer a similar problem for the reason you mention - my ipod touch does in the car and when connected via an ichord with RCA plugs into my hi-fi. Not sure if a dock would cure the problem so would be interested in other answers to this thread.

You could of course just get a headphone amplifier - try a search on other forums as to the exact name of the guy but someone will build you one to order in the U.S. housed in a mint tin for about £25-30 pound! Looks very genuine and he seems highly recommended - you can see pictures showing you the various options you can choose - look on ebay and you should find him. Bit of a faf for in-car use but good for use with a hi-fi or when using full size headphones (that assume you will be listening via a hi-fi).

 

[Anonymous]

ps - Biosciencegeek was the guy's name who can make a portable headphone amplifier in a mint tin - should come up on an ebay search if you want to go down this route.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for info, after much internet searching I looked up the Sony Charging Cradle/Dock BCR-NWU3, which has a line out function and according to some other forum posts as well, it has a Line Out with 'proper' volume. This is recommended for Sony Walkman NWZ-A818B MP3 player. Unfortunately it appears to be discontinued. A Sony Centre is looking round for one, and I've searched online.

Then Sony Centre called back, they found the newer replacement BCR-NWU5, so hopefully they'll have one in soon - this new one works with the old and new players; NW-A820, A910, SF710F, A800, and S700 S600 Series.

So anyone with a Sony Walkman from NWZ-A818 to the new NWZ-S639, looking for a line out to a hifi can check the Sony Charging Cradle BCR-NWU5.

It appears the sony player has the output pins for Line Out, but they can only be invoked when charging in the correct docking cradle.

I wish they would make it a little easier ;-)

Regards,

Kevin

 

[Anonymous]

The BCR-NWU3 is the one I have, so assuming the NWU5 is just an update then it should do the job just fine.