Sharp MD-MS722 Personal MiniDisc Player

This is my first experience with MD technology, and thus I cannot
compare this product with other MD players. Based on the fact that
this product is highly recommended, I may assume that it represents
the current status of MD technology.

First, the rumor that MD's sound quality matches that of CD is
totally untrue. Yes, MD doesn't have noises like record players,
or cassette decks. But the quality of sound is unacceptable.
The sound is bland, thin, one dimensional, and completely lacks
sound stage. It totally destroys the joy of music listening.
After listening to MD copy from Jim Brickman's CD, I tried
cassette copy. Wow, how come I have never appreciated musical
quality from cassette decks ? I was thinking of getting rid of
5 year old Sony 3 heads/3 motors cassette deck. The purchase of MD player
changed my mind. I also tried this MD in my car through Sony's
cassette adaptor. In car, the sound failed to provide joy of
music listening even more miserably. FM radio and cassette
are far better.

Not all things are bad, however. The best feature is the convenience
and ease of use. I was able to record/edit/play without reading
the manual. And the design, and ergonomics are superb.
I can split at any point, combine with the others, ...etc.
It was so easy and convenient. It is amazing that this kind of
editing capability is built in this small device.
I used a microphone which came with my old cassette recording
walkman to record voices with this MD. No annoying background
noise. Clear sound. I think that MD is best for dictation.

I play a few instruments, and have about 2,000+ classical music
records. I would not consider myself as a delicate audiophile,
but I can at least recognize differences of the sound from
audio equipments fairly well.
My audition setup is as follows:
Pioneer D1 (old but then top of the line).
Apogee Centaurus (Audiophile Recommended "C" - $2,000 about 10 years ago).

My conclusion. If you can recognize differences in the sound
from audio equipment and if you are able to "say" how different
(thin, dull, dry, soundstage,...etc.), I would not recommend
MD (especially, if you are the type of concentrating on music itself
(for example, you sit in front of speakers, and do nothing except
appreciating the music)).
If you are not in that category and if you like the convenience,
and you don't really concentrate on music, but you use music as a
background (such as you are working on the computer, your jogging,...etc)
I would recommend it.
A cassette recording from relatively
good cassette deck played on a good quality cassette walkman
obviously outperforms MD in musical quality area.