Sharp MD-X5 Mini Audio System

UPDATE AT END

I bought this system because minidisc.org reported that it was on sale at eTown.com for $100 (with free shipping!). I did a little research on it at minidisc.org and here at epinions.com, and despite some pretty bad reviews I bought it anyway. Well, it's been 2 weeks so far; here is my assessment:

The unit is small when looking at its face, but it's still quite a deep unit. The speakers are fine and deliver reasonable sound for such a small package. The five preset sound fields are different from each other, but are of no use really (as with most preset sound fields on these types of systems). At this point, I just use the system to record radio and to input titles. I have not had any troubles with TOC readings or stuck MD's or CD's. Maybe I'm lucky- maybe it's inevitable. Here are some pro's and con's:

PROS
*keyboard input
*MONO recording mode (great for radio)
*easy CD to MD recording (full disc and/or track)
*input level knob
*small size
*easy to set recording timer
*price
*digital in
*easy to read display
*display can be dimmed
*radio reception good (subjective- mine is near a window)
*can type in MD titles while recording

CONS
*gets hot easily (even when fan is running; and even when turned off)
*when OFF, there is a stupid swimming fish in the display
*some functions via remote are not intuitive
*no digital out (too much to ask?)
*display dimmer does not go to OFF
*no mute
*must go through several steps for sleep timer
*some MD's take longer than others for the TOC to read (good discs: TDK)
*"time remaining" does not have "minus sign" (just the word "remaining")

OK, so I'm nitpicking a little bit. If you can get this system for less than $125, do it. The keyboard titling is worth it alone- and you have another MD/CD system in the house. I do consider myself lucky that I have not had any major problems with this system yet; but remember: people usually make their voices heard when they have a complaint (and rightfully so) but rarely when they offer praise. I will definitely place another review if my system suffers from any of the known bad-TOC symptoms. Until then...

PS. This item "would not make a good gift" (epinions rating) because who would really give someone a gift where there were some known problems associated with it? This is still a decent system

***UPDATE: Jan 2001***

I promised an update and here it is. I eventually experienced the stuck MD problem after about a month. It just wouldn't update the TOC and it was sitting there doing nothing (except flash "TOC Read"- which it wasn't doing!). I believe all of the problems with this unit stem from inadequate cooling- the fan just does not generate enough of a cool environment (when the fan works at all! I do have to nudge it sometimes through the grill in the back). Luckily for me, this unit is not my primary MD unit so I have the luxury of unplugging it when I don't need it(it's in the kitchen)- it gets HOT when left plugged in for a couple of weeks (I've really only used it to title MD's via the keyboard link and to keep me company when cooking a huge meal). I haven't had a problem with it now that I leave it unplugged until I need it. Would I buy it for $100 again- you bet. But it would still make an awful gift or first-time shelf unit.

For all of you who don't know how to fix the "stuck MD problem":
Since I couldn't turn off the unit when it was trying to write a TOC, I just unplugged the unit while it was standing-by. I then pressed in the "RESET" button in the back for a count of 20 (I used a pen). Plug the unit back in and presto, your MD "should" eject with ease.

Suggestions: I wouldn't leave an MD in there when turning off the unit (you just never know). Also, I've read that some of the MD problems are caused when you pull out an ejected MD before the eject mechanism has completed "pushing" it out. Solution- wait a moment to make sure that the MD has been fully ejected. Hey, you never know...

Thanks for reading my review