Topic: SONY PCM D-50 quick defective and a Flaw in design?

[headroom]

No Support from SONY US and the device is still defective.
My MT only hung once ( drain the batt and loading again) and I taped over 20 GB 24 bit 48 KHz with no problems.

[BayTaynt3d]

Never said anything was "bad," but what I did say is I wouldn't trust a pro/paying gig/production with a single unit unless it was a seriously badass piece of gear -- and the sony, the R9, the 620, nor the microcrapper fit that description, LOL!

[flintstone]

Headroom wrote: "I was linking my brand new ART Phantombox in the Hotel with my AT 3031`s where the problem startet even with the internal Powersupply."

This is just a guess, but I'm thinking that somehow the 48V DC from the ART was routed to the recorder and damaged it.  Where (what country) did you purchase the PCM-D50?  The Sony repair people for that region should take a look at your recorder without charge.  You may need your receipt to prove where you purchased it.

Sony in USA will repair gear for a flat rate, fixing anything that is wrong.  I'm guessing that the charge for electronics like the PCM-D50 would be around $250.  If you can't get the problem fixed under warranty, I'd look for this sort of service.

I was quoted $200 to fix a Sony digital camera in USA.  I had it fixed for $8 in Manila by the local Sony repair station.  Maybe you should check with the local Sony authorized repair facility if you're still in the Philippines.

Flintstone

[headroom]

...and maybe the moon is made of cheese. Harhar...
First thing I wa checking that morning in the hotel with my digital Multmeter if there is the Voltage or a cable break.
Its not possible that Phantom Power goes to the output stage. There are  blocking caps by design hardwired. Even in the D-50 are they in the Signal Path, otherways we could not have "Plug in Power" ( aka Phantom Power 4 the poor ) Blocking caps allow only AC coming trough and not DC.
And the XLR Plugs are coded you cannot plug Out to IN Male Female system.

The defective intenal mics come  alive when I shake hit the device. But only for a half second with lot of poops an cracking sound to.

Still wating  from a serious response from Sony. I cannot phone them from my country only 800 numbers and nowhere another normal adress or faxnumber. They realy like to be coverd. Keep your profil Low. I cannot fill the form with my origin Switzerland, I have to fill in I am from "New York".   So for 4 times they asked : are you from Switzerland and bought the device in the States. Uff I dont  now if I have contact with a person wich cannot read my english??))(/&%çççZ%&/&/

I bought it from B&H and maybe I have to do the warranty  with help from them.

[headroom]

Yesterday I sent a mail to Sony Broadcast with all infos + I get a response. Today  a phone call from Sony Broadcast Switzerland, they will check my deviceand maybe they give me Warranty. Its at Sony Switzerland now for checkup. I have to wait a long time now ....

Still nothing from SONY Broadcast US.  A real pain in the a....

[headroom]

There must me more D-50 with problems arround:

http://www.bradlinder.net/2007/10/comparing-sony-pcm-d50-fostex-fr2-le_06.html
scrool down to:

Graham Riches said...
Brad, I must first apologize to you and the readers who were interested in Sony pcm d50. I must have have caused a lot of unnecessary confusion and frustration around the Sony pcm d50 - Please don't panic!!. I was still not convinced that Sony would sound so bad with external mics and therefore contacted few dealers but they reported back they had used external mics and was equal to or same quality as fostex fr2 le.

So I decided to order another one on trial basis only. This new one looked and felt identical to mine but the sound quality was totally different. With internal mics its the same as before. But with external mics (mics used: Rode NTG2, NT4, NT1A, Shure SM58/SM57, AKG CS1000s, and AT882) it is actually the same quality as Fostex fr2 le but louder and also glad to announce that it is equal to pcm d1. So why does this one sound different to mine? I believe they had been a few faulty batches which were been shipped out ( this was not deliberate but was a mistake. As they gone into production various phase checks were done and few batches missed couple of phases which led to this). Anyhow I have sent mine for replacement and once again I am deeply sorry about this Brad and the readers within this Blog.

Any how the new results are as follows:

Internal Mics:

8.5/10

External MICs:

Shure sm58/sm57 10/10
Rode NTG2 9/10
Rode NT4 10/10
AkG CS1000 9/10
AT882 10/10
Rode NT1A 10/10

The quality is very very good with external mics!!, it is infact unbelievable. The sound quality can be described as very detailed and attacking. The noise levels are equal to fostex fr2 le but better than marantz 620 which is also good. The real beauty about this product is its mic pre-amps - it can be taken very loud so it works very well with dynamic mics too!. Both Marantz 620 and Sony d50 are good but Sony this time is a clear winner!!

[headroom]

Today I can pick up my PCM 50-D, Sertronic Switzerland fixed it for free. SONY US let me down with the warranty. This toy was long time off...

[mrsoul]

Sorry for your troubles.  I have enjoyed my PCM-D50 since November in various conditions (not tropical remote yet) and have had no problems whatsoever that were not user error related   . 

This is a great piece of equipment that I am very glad to have purchased. Some of my best recordings so far on this little gem.  I have heard no other complaints of problems with the hardware. 

I'm glad you got the repair for free.  Too bad about Sony US.  Blame it on Bush/Cheney's xenophobic view of the world infesting corporate USA too. 

Best Regards,
mrsoulMark

[headroom]

Hi thanks for your kind writing.

They repaired the internal Microphone the Audio Board and another PC board. And it works again like new.

[headroom]

I was a working now with the Sony an I am very happy. The Micamp is very good and working with 2 DPA 4060, 1  Sanken CS3e and Audio Technica`s 3x 3031 6x 3032 modified by myself. Changed all Caps to Polypropylen and the  Lytics to Rubicon Z/ZL. s

For now no problems with External 48 V+ Phantom devices like ART or Rolls anymore.
I bought a second unit from "the bay". Was a bit damaged outside, description from the seller: almost like new condition, a good joke! Oh I was making a long face when I opended the box.

I decided to open it. Was surprised how stabile and thick the metal case is. The internal design is abslouty very nice clean professional, not like the Microtrack.

Deal:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150242637574
Description
Used sparingly, I have since misplaced the power supply and all other accessories, I'm only selling the unit but has been fully tested using a universal ac adapter and I can guarantee that this is in 100% working condition and the cosmetic condition is also excellent in almost like new condition.

[headroom]

Hi all just bought the Remote from SONY its without PLAY Function again what a Flaw!
Only Record ( is on hold ) press Pause and it will record, stupid !

[illconditioned]

Dear Werner,

If you get a chance, please post some larger pictures of the guts.  I'm particularly interested in how to disassemble, and also what the internal mics look like.

Yes, I believe this is a very well built unit.  I don't trust Edirol, Microtrack, etc for low-noise build, but I do trust Sony.  For design, maybe there are some mistakes, but build-wise it looks really good.

I've ordered one of these, and my goal is to run Countryman B3 with plug-in-power.  I'll report back with my results.

  Richard

[nolonemo]

Hi all just bought the Remote from SONY its without PLAY Function again what a Flaw!
Only Record ( is on hold ) press Pause and it will record, stupid !

Since the remote has no play button, I would think it is apparent that there is no play function.  Did you do any research before you bought?

[headroom]

Yes I always search the web. But the Swiss dealer could not help. And  the pic with the remote was so small so I did not  see it 

[flintstone]

Just for the record, the Sony RM-PCM1 remote control
has four buttons:  Record, Pause, Stop, and Divide.  There
also is an indicator light that shows when you're recording.

The Divide function works only during playback of recorded
files.  So I guess you have to start playback on the recorder
itself, then divide or stop using the remote.

Here's a big photo of the RM-PCM1
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/0/7/5/556075.jpg

Price of the RM-PCM1 is around $50.