SV-3700 problems and idiocies:
(and personal dislikes)
- Unreliable level metering; namely, the "over" indicators don't always
light when they should. They don't light at all during playback OR
DURING RECORDING FROM DIGITAL INPUTS.
- Recordings made via the _Analog_ inputs have the 1st SCMS bit set
if digital I/O format is set to S/P-DIF.
- "Forgets" the current program number when one is erased, or when one is
added from "Play" mode [must always use "Renumber"]
- Transport shuttles the tape 5-10 seconds away from wherever you stop it,
coming out of ff or rewind at any of the fast-wind speeds.
- Writes an ID every time a recording is started unless you fool it by
starting a recording in "Auto" mode with no signal, then switching out
of auto before any program is present
- No way to erase or record past an end-id mark
- No indicator for emphasis flag
- Outputs digital out of EITHER the AES/EBU or the S/P-DIF but not both.
- AES/EBU digital spec not properly adhered to
- Crashes egregiously if it doesn't get its particular flavor of subcode
- Doesn't pass end-to-end audio when stopped
- Tape is always wound against drum, even when in STOP mode
- Headphone output has serious HF rolloff due to wrong valued caps in
buffer amp section
- Digital fade in/out is useless with its 3dB steps
- Program number display does not display current number while using "skip"
(the SV3500 has a separate readout for the "Next" program to skip to)
- Older units click at -12dBfs in the analog outputs due gain switching in
the DAC.