Walkman NWZ-S764 Low Volume Problem

[sagacio]

at least now we know for sure that there is the service menu!
we just have to find the right combination

[CrowdAds]

[Pantera_Neagra]

yeah... but :| how? ) brute force is really not a solution... It was just a mistake of mine with demo menu

[GFC56]

How can you tell if this model is volume limited before you buy it.

[skip252]

The volume cap is only on Sonys that are sold in the EU. There's no cap on Sonys anywhere else.

[mastel]

Ok, i have found the combination to enter the service menu:

You have to be in home menu with the player put on hold,
then press the keys in the following combination:

[◄] [Vol -] [Vol +] [►] [BACK] [PLAY] [►] [PLAY] [BACK] [◄]

This worked on my Sony NWZ S764 with the newest firmware

mastel

[sony sam]

Well done mastel

Personally not bothered about increasing the volume, but it does make me wonder if there's anything else useful in there.

[Jeven]

Recent models in the EU perhaps don't have a volume cap - I can listen to my E474 at 12 out of 30 and it's plenty loud enough.

[skip252]

From reading the manual there's a volume cap on newer models but it's implemented differently. With the newest models if you go past a specific level, 16, you get an alarm and warning you have to cancel before you can continue to increase the volume. After 20 cumulative hours the alarm and warning are repeated and the volume automatically returns to the level that's considered safe. If you turn it off the volume level will automatically be reset to the level that's considered safe.

This seems a much more adult way to implement the volume cap. The way the mandate reads is that the default volume needs to be at or below certain levels. This does that but leaves the final decision to the user. You get warned but you are still able to blow your ears out if that's what you prefer.

[The DarkSide]

BruceBanner MODE!!!

[Jeven]

I haven't noticed any warning kick in after 16, but maybe it's after 5 minutes or so of listening at that level.

Beyond 14 is too loud for me anyway with my earphones.




Edit: Been playing around with the E474 and the volume warning does kick in at 16 if you have AVLS (Volume Limit) set to ON. When it's OFF, you can go right up to 30, or whatever volume you choose, with no warning, so it's an user-enabled volume cap. I understand this is different than previous Sonys in the EU.

[skip252]

I'm perfectly willing to accept your personal observations. It's how we've come to find what's in the various manuals doesnt always match what happens in real life.

Originally Posted by skip252

From reading the manual...

I don't have one so I'm limited to going by what's said there.

Not having a EU limited Sony or seen any credible measurements as to what one puts out I can't say if one would be loud enough for me. I have heard several other players that were supposed to comply to that standard and I could live with it most of the times.

It's those few minutes every once in a while I decide to crank it up that would be frustrating. I know listening at those levels continuously would damage my hearing in the long run. I also know short term exposure doesn't help but shouldn't cause permanent damage. I prefer having the choice instead of having the nanny state decide that for me.