Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

Hi Max,

Good to find someone is actually hacking audio hardware like the
computer junkies do. Keep it going and post us your findings.

Seriously, MP3 is a sacrilage to sound quality at least for old timers
like me who have grown up on vinyl and recently embrassed CD audio.

Did you get a chance to play SACD's on your DVD89 box and check the
response?

Cheers

Max

Max Headroom wrote:
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

Didn't try SACD's yet, but should be ok in this machine.

***

The MP3 hack worked:

Enabling MP3 and VCD playback on Cambridge Audio DVD79/89 player.

1. Turn the player on
2. Press the Setup button on the remote, and select 'professional setup'
3. Move the cursor over the speaker setup menu but don't select it
4. Press 9, 2, 1, 0 on the remote. A menu appears
5. Set the support mode to ON.
6. Press setup
7. Turn the player off then on again.

Insert MP3 disc and enjoy.

***

Keep you informed, although info is hard to find on the internet.

CU

"max graff" schreef in bericht
oups.com...
Hi Max,

Good to find someone is actually hacking audio hardware like the
computer junkies do. Keep it going and post us your findings.

Seriously, MP3 is a sacrilage to sound quality at least for old timers
like me who have grown up on vinyl and recently embrassed CD audio.

Did you get a chance to play SACD's on your DVD89 box and check the
response?

Cheers

Max

Max Headroom wrote:
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by first unlocking
the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?" Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

Cambridge is a specialist audio company meant for some serious
listeners/viewers compared to the cheap Chinese makes meant for people
who can live without accuracy and looking are for convinience.

Take me for instance, I would rather not listen to music than listen to
an MP3 recording nor would I recommend it to anyone. I guess Cambridge
engineers think on the same lines at the same time without being phased
out by tough competition.



TT wrote:
"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?" Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"TT" schreef in bericht
...

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?" Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

So bad software is a good sign, the engineers concentrated themselves full
on the audio section.

Can you recommend the 640H , or ... ?

Max H.

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"max graff" wrote in message
oups.com...
Cambridge is a specialist audio company meant for some
serious
listeners/viewers

Having been subjected to their "seriousness" I would have to
disagree.

compared to the cheap Chinese makes meant for people
who can live without accuracy and looking are for
convinience.

We are talking about MP3 here ;-)

Take me for instance, I would rather not listen to music
than listen to
an MP3 recording nor would I recommend it to anyone. I
guess Cambridge
engineers think on the same lines at the same time without
being phased
out by tough competition.

So why hide the function?

Cheers TT



TT wrote:
"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music,
by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be
sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features
for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would
they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?"
Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a
multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was
hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while
I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor
software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and
poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
"TT" schreef in bericht
...

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features
for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would
they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?"
Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a
multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was
hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while
I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor
software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and
poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

So bad software is a good sign, the engineers concentrated
themselves full
on the audio section.

Can you recommend the 640H , or ... ?

Max H.

No! After 9 months of being plagued with software issues,
quirky attributes and a CA Tech Support (actually Tech
apologists) the dealer refunded my money. Very decent of
him I thought but then he had already gotten back several
other units and his demo was also similarly afflicted.

BTW we are talking about a so called high end manufacturer
here that told me I was being picky because the left and
right channels were swapped and I was only the third person
in the World to notice it!

IMHO the idea was quite good, the music quality was very
good BUT the implementation and the choice of Windows CE as
an operating system was disastrous.

Should I mention it actually boasted it did MP3/WMA etc. ;-)

Cheers TT

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
"TT" schreef in bericht
...

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...
Hi,

The Cambridge Audio DVD89 player can play MP3 music, by
first unlocking the
machine via the remote. Seems that the MP3 decoder
initially is locked,
depending the country in which the system will be sold.

Does anybody know more hidden of undocumented features for
this device or
other Cambridge Audio gear?

Thnx,

Max H.



The question I would really like answered is "Why would they
bother to disable it to start with and why hide it?" Any
cheap Chinese player will play DVD and MP3.

BTW I have had Pioneer DV686 for over a year that is a multi
player (SACD/DVD-A/MP3/WMA etc, etc) and nothing was hidden
on that.

But having owned a CA Azur 640H music server for a while I
would imagine that it is more a case of CA's poor software
implementation, the owner's manual being sketchy and poorly
written and just a screw up from day one ;-)

Cheers TT

So bad software is a good sign, the engineers concentrated themselves full
on the audio section.

Can you recommend the 640H , or ... ?

Max H.


I can back up TT''s claim. The Cambridge Azur 640H is indeed a HOS.
I have to applaud TT's persistence with the darn thing. If it was mine it
would be an expensive (very small) boat anchor by now.

Cheers,
Alan

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Alan Rutlidge" wrote
in message
...
:
: I can back up TT''s claim. The Cambridge Azur 640H is
indeed a HOS.
: I have to applaud TT's persistence with the darn thing.
If it was mine it
: would be an expensive (very small) boat anchor by now.
:
: Cheers,
: Alan
:
:

Mmmmmmm........me thinks you shall remind me of this
erroneous purchase for many years to come ;-)

Cheers TT

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"TT" wrote in message
...

"Alan Rutlidge" wrote
in message
...
:
: I can back up TT''s claim. The Cambridge Azur 640H is
indeed a HOS.
: I have to applaud TT's persistence with the darn thing.
If it was mine it
: would be an expensive (very small) boat anchor by now.
:
: Cheers,
: Alan
:
:

Mmmmmmm........me thinks you shall remind me of this
erroneous purchase for many years to come ;-)

Cheers TT


Nah. Made quite a few mistakes myself over the years. Some worse than
others. :-(
I seriously doubt if anyone can hold you personally responsible for
Cambridge Audio's crap gear.
Mind you, credit is due where credit is due for your persistence in trying
to get the bloody thing to work reliably.
Personally, I would have hurled it into the canal by now or used it for crab
bait. But then again I'm not known for my patience. :P

Cheers,
Alan

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Alan Rutlidge" schreef in bericht
...

"TT" wrote in message
...

"Alan Rutlidge" wrote
in message
...
:
: I can back up TT''s claim. The Cambridge Azur 640H is
indeed a HOS.
: I have to applaud TT's persistence with the darn thing.
If it was mine it
: would be an expensive (very small) boat anchor by now.
:
: Cheers,
: Alan
:
:

Mmmmmmm........me thinks you shall remind me of this
erroneous purchase for many years to come ;-)

Cheers TT


Nah. Made quite a few mistakes myself over the years. Some worse than
others. :-(
I seriously doubt if anyone can hold you personally responsible for
Cambridge Audio's crap gear.
Mind you, credit is due where credit is due for your persistence in trying
to get the bloody thing to work reliably.
Personally, I would have hurled it into the canal by now or used it for
crab bait. But then again I'm not known for my patience. :P

Cheers,
Alan

What about getting professional help ... it might help ... really !

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

"Max Headroom" wrote in message
...

"Alan Rutlidge" schreef in bericht
...

"TT" wrote in message
...

"Alan Rutlidge" wrote
in message
...
:
: I can back up TT''s claim. The Cambridge Azur 640H is
indeed a HOS.
: I have to applaud TT's persistence with the darn thing.
If it was mine it
: would be an expensive (very small) boat anchor by now.
:
: Cheers,
: Alan
:
:

Mmmmmmm........me thinks you shall remind me of this
erroneous purchase for many years to come ;-)

Cheers TT


Nah. Made quite a few mistakes myself over the years. Some worse than
others. :-(
I seriously doubt if anyone can hold you personally responsible for
Cambridge Audio's crap gear.
Mind you, credit is due where credit is due for your persistence in
trying to get the bloody thing to work reliably.
Personally, I would have hurled it into the canal by now or used it for
crab bait. But then again I'm not known for my patience. :P

Cheers,
Alan

What about getting professional help ... it might help ... really !

AFAIK TT spent hours trying to get assistance from Cambridge Audio's
technical support. Eventually they wouldn't respond to any communiqués
whatsoever. The day saved only by the fact the dealer agreed to take it
back and refund TT's money which is more than CA ever did.

As for your earlier post that they must have concentrated on the audio
section at the expense of the software you're wrong. Not only did it
perform poorly from an operational perspective it sounded rather mediocre
IMHO. :-(

I'm sure TT is glad to be rid of the POS.

Cheers,
Alan

Hidden features Cambridge Audio DVD89
 

max graff wrote:

Seriously, MP3 is a sacrilage to sound quality at least for old timers
like me who have grown up on vinyl and recently embrassed CD audio.

Actually MP3 can sound pretty good, *if*...

You use a decent encoder (eg LAME).

You keep the bitrate high enough, over 192Kbit or better still VBR.

You use j-stereo wherever possible (avoids ringing artefacts in the
surround channels if you squirt it through a Pro-Logic decoder).

You use decent hardware to play it back on.

I personally encode using LAME with options "-mj -b32 -V0 -q1". You're
hard pushed to tell the difference even in a back-to-back comparison.

As for the hardware... most PC sound cards are appalling. But an MP3
played on my iPod through the dock will sound better than the same track
played from the original CD from my old Technics player (SL-PG590).

Burn a CD-R full of MP3s and lob it in the DVD player (Arcam DV-79) and
you'll be hard pushed to tell the difference.

Or use something like a Slim Squeezebox, Turtle Beach Audiotron etc with
the digital output going straight into the AV receiver (Arcam AVR-250)
and again you'll be hard pushed to tell the difference.

--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/

IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation