Kevin,
If you had hiss with the Sony too, you may be getting it from somewhere besides in the processing. Just guessing here but it seems logical. You mention having at least some hiss with everything you used. I'd be looking elswhere if I were you.
From what I've seen, there are others apearing all right but they all cost more. And how much more are they actually giving for the extra money? How much of it is just hype?