Question about anti-skip/ESP buffer on iMP-550 & iMP-900

[adam917]

Is there any way to make it continuous (so the CD doesn't stop spinning at buffer full and just keep the buffer full at all times) for MP3/WMA playback? I'm asking because I know the iMP-900 has a 64-MB buffer (and the iMP-550 has a 16-MB buffer) and it would take over 6 minutes to completely fill the buffer on the iMP-900. I use 320 kbps MP3s. Since I walk with the player in a pouch, it's nearly impossible (without standing still for the amount of time required to fill the buffer each time it spins up) for the buffer to get full.

I heard of different anti-skip modes on these units, like ET (etiquette mode?), Shock-Free (I believe this is the one I have it set to right now, with the circle-like picture next to the folder name), and standard (shows a folder picture next to the folder name). Does anyone on here know - in detail - as to how each of these modes works with MP3/WMA-CDs?

This is probably the only thing that Sony does better via G-Protection: skip protection. It really _can't_ skip even whilst you're running, thanks to the other ways (on top of a memory buffer) that it handles physical vibration.

Thanks very much to anyone who can give me information on improving the iMP-900 or '550's skip protection.

[KHRoN]

actually iMP-550 has bigger buffrer than iMP-900... 64MB vs 32MB
moreover it rather works like that (if only I can remember):
- you start player, it spins up
- it loads as much FULL songs into buffer as it can (it takes a couple of seconds) and it stops
- music plays since buffer is empty
- then it spins up once more and load as much... and so on

SO it IS protected when it is not loading... I think it has nothing like "G-Shock" (to prevent laser miss-reading)

[edit] and BTW SONY's G-Shock is the best, because it REALLY protects against shock

[KHRoN]

I've found it old email from iriver

...Thank you for your email.

The ability of anti-shock of iMP-550 is better than the one of iMP-900.
iMP-550: 80 sec or 320 sec (with worse sound quality)
iMP-900: 40 sec or 160 sec (with worse sound quality)
If you have further enquiries, please feel free to contact us again.
Regards
Leo

ONE | TWO
... and many threads on MisticRiver ;]

[adam917]

Originally Posted by KHRoN

actually iMP-550 has bigger buffrer than iMP-900... 64MB vs 32MB
moreover it rather works like that (if only I can remember):
- you start player, it spins up
- it loads as much FULL songs into buffer as it can (it takes a couple of seconds) and it stops
- music plays since buffer is empty
- then it spins up once more and load as much... and so on

SO it IS protected when it is not loading... I think it has nothing like "G-Shock" (to prevent laser miss-reading)

[edit] and BTW SONY's G-Shock is the best, because it REALLY protects against shock

It can't take 'a couple of seconds', unless the CD was spinning at ~16x. These discs spin at 1x, and with 320 kbps MP3s, the loading speed into the buffer would be around 4.41x. So the '550 has the bigger buffer, eh? Are you sure that it's really _64_ MB and not 32 (making the '900 have a 16-MB buffer)?

The confusing thing is when iRiver quotes buffer memory in seconds of MP3 playback. There's no mention that a specific bitrate is mentioned (180 seconds of 320 kbps is more MB than 128 kbps).

PS: You mean _G-Protection_ with Sony.
PPS: Music won't play if the buffer is empty. It plays from the buffer.

[adam917]

Originally Posted by KHRoN

I've found it old email from iriver



ONE | TWO
... and many threads on MisticRiver ;]

What is assumed with those times? Are those times in CD-DA or MP3? If CD-DA, 80 seconds equals ~13.45 MB. If the 320 seconds of CD-DA are uncompressed, it would = ~53.83 MB.