Topic: JB3 or wait for Hi-MD ?

[Brian Skalinder]

why the hell did they have to make it look like a CD player!?

Yeah, no doubt it's a completely dufus form-factor.

But FWIW - as others have already mentioned, I think - there are people stealthing out there with gear like Sonosax SX-M2 > SBM-1 > Sony portable DAT.  IMO stealthing AD-20 > JB3 isn't all that impractical.  The JB3 isn't much bigger than a D7/D8.  Whatever you decide, let us know and have fun!

[jpschust]

also the jb3 looks like a cd player, no one is gonna suspect it really for a recording device

[zhianosatch]

AD-20? nah too big.

actually the really fucked up thing about Hi-MD is that it won't let you upload digital recordings to your PC (only those made via analogue). so for anyone with an external AD then Hi-MD is out of the question and JB3 wins this battle.

plus: since the JB3 is about 2-3 times the size of what the top-of-the-range Hi-MD recorder will be just makes the added size of the AD-20 even less reasonable.

i restrict myself to what i can fit down my pants (and no, before someone else says it, there isn't lots of spare room down there).

there are so many things wrong with this post that i don't know where to start. i'll work on it tomorrow. good golly.

[thacount1]

I'm new to njb3 and this board. I just recieved my jb3 on friday and couldn't be happier with it.  I used minidisc for 4 years and am so glad to be done with it. I own two minidisc recorders in that time and had so many problems with dropouts skipping, setting levels, disc capacity. Who knows if the new Hi-D minidiscs will have these problems.

The big argument against the njb3 is the lack of mic in. So you need to use either a battery box/preamp or an external A/D converter.

Some people have been saying that the onboard A/D converter on the line in stinks on the JB3. After reading this:

http://audio.rightmark.org/test/creative-jukebox3-rec.html

and hearing it myself I disagree. While I'm sure it's nothing like having an external A/D converter, I suspect it's every bit as good as the ones found in a minidisc recorder. Let's face it, your external preamp is going to be better than the mic pre in the minidisc, and I just don't believe that sony is breaking the bank on the converters in their portable minidiscs.

Also if you get a refurbished njb3 on ebay your going to spend MUCH less than on a minidisc reorder.

My $.06

[Brian Skalinder]

The big argument against the njb3 is the lack of mic in.

Well, it has mic-in, but David Klein and I'm sure others have done some testing and identified it's pretty darn poor.  Line-in sounds much better.  I'd be curious to hear some JB3 recordings line-in with an external preamp.  I've been considering doing a V3 analog > JB3/D100 field test to compare the ADCs but just haven't been motivated.  Maybe I'll do a test at home instead of in the field, it'll at least give some idea how they compare even if it's not a real field test.

http://audio.rightmark.org/test/creative-jukebox3-rec.html

The numbers are nice and all, but they won't tell us how it *sounds*.

and hearing it myself I disagree. While I'm sure it's nothing like having an external A/D converter, I suspect it's every bit as good as the ones found in a minidisc recorder.

Ahhhh...I jumped the gun above - good to hear it compares to MD ADCs to your ears.  Have you done any direct comparisons?  Just curious.  It may be a better stealth option than some realize as long as stealthers can run line-in to the JB3.

[Sharky]

has anyone taken their jb3 apart to see if it would be possible to reassemble it into a smaller package? Would be a good backyard project.

i would like to see a nomad jb3 taken apart. Any pictures out there?

[zhianosatch]

has anyone taken their jb3 apart

Daryan Lenz did, then sold it on eBay!  

[F.O.Bean]

has anyone taken their jb3 apart to see if it would be possible to reassemble it into a smaller package? Would be a good backyard project.

i would like to see a nomad jb3 taken apart. Any pictures out there?

smaller??? campared to a full size dat deck(dap1, d10, portadat, etc) this thing is VERY small, i am quite comfortable and happy w/ its shape thus far

[Sharky]

http://www.hardware-one.com/print_review.asp?reviews=249
doesnt look like it could be. lots of scary chips and wire inside.

[VA_TAPER]

I'd be curious to hear some JB3 recordings line-in with an external preamp.  I've been considering doing a V3 analog > JB3/D100 field test to compare the ADCs but just haven't been motivated.  Maybe I'll do a test at home instead of in the field, it'll at least give some idea how they compare even if it's not a real field test.

http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=5350
Source: MXL1006BP + CAD E-100 (Center Blend) > Behringer MXB1002 > Nomad JB3 @44.1

http://www.archive.org/audio/etree-details-db.php?id=4881
Source: MXL1006BP + EV RE-20 + ECM8000 + CAD E-100 > Behringer MXB1002 > Nomad JB3 @44.1k (Live Studio Recording)

peace, chris

[Ed.]

keep in mind that the njb3 uses a normal laptop hdd and holds 2 rather large batteries, its gonna be hard to get that thing in a smaller package.  and to all of you who say it can't be stealthed, you're wrong - cuz it can very easily be stealthed.  also, to be completely honest, i've gotten nothing but compliments when i run stealth with just DAB > Bat box > line in on it.  No it doesn't sound as good as running a pre/adc out front, but its still hands down better than an md.  and the quality is noticeable upon first listen.

ed

[Brian Skalinder]

probably the only reason for why i haven't definitely decided on JB3 is that people have said on this forum that it has a lousy AD converter, and if you are stealthing shows (like me) and an external converter isn't practical, then this is a problem.

If you haven't already - decide for yourself, here's an NJB3 / D100 ADC comp.  Too bad more people didn't listen and post their thoughts.  FWIW, results here and at STG are about 50% prefering source 1, and 50% preferring source 2.  DON'T read the whole thread if you want to wait til after you listen to the comp to find out which source is which.

[BobW]

Will a NJ 20GB record ? Or must it be a JB3 ?

Is there firmware support on the JB models ? How 'bout the hacks ?

[Chad817]

I'd venture to say that the AD in the JB3 is as good as any of the AD's in the MD recorders.  I've been running mine as a backup, analog in from my MP2, and wouldn't say the A/D is horrible.

The A/D on my jb3 sounds worlds better than my sharp 722 MD

[porphyry]

Quote from: porphyry on February 21, 2004, 01:31:36 PM
AD-20? nah too big.

actually the really fucked up thing about Hi-MD is that it won't let you upload digital recordings to your PC (only those made via analogue). so for anyone with an external AD then Hi-MD is out of the question and JB3 wins this battle.

plus: since the JB3 is about 2-3 times the size of what the top-of-the-range Hi-MD recorder will be just makes the added size of the AD-20 even less reasonable.

i restrict myself to what i can fit down my pants (and no, before someone else says it, there isn't lots of spare room down there).
 
 

there are so many things wrong with this post that i don't know where to start. i'll work on it tomorrow. good golly.

well... come on then, let's hear it.