Sony MZ-R500 PC Personal MiniDisc Player
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Similar in Personal Audio Mini Disc Player
- Recordable: Recordable
- Headphones: Yes
- Remote Control: No
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Great sound to last a lifetime
Pros
Great sound, convenient, compact, good quality
Cons
no belt attachment, too expensive to take out running
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Dependable, sleek, and high tech, it was a little expensive when I bought it.
I bought my MZ-R50 in 1999. So it is almost 5 years old this year.
Although I have not used it day in and day out, it's still seen a fair amount of use.
The unit is small, sleek, and the user interface elements on it just feel right.
The unit is able to record and playback audio but does not feature a built in microphone.
The input and outputs are:
one mic in
one double sound in and optical in (same socket works for both --cool huh?)
one headphones
one sound out.
The unit features the standard play,pause,rewind, fastforward buttons. In addition to these there is a Jog roller that can be used to select tracks and can be clicked to make selections. It is very useful especially adding titles to tracks.
The unit features very cool recording features such as silence sensing and auto adding track markers. You can add track markers at any time: during the recording, afterwards. You can add names and dates to the tracks.
There is built in Bass boost that can be only used during playback.
Microphone features a high low setting to control the sound level coming into the unit.
The headphones feature a sound limiter to protect the user's ears. Sony is big on this technology.
The sound quality is great. Most of my Mini Disc recordings sound much better than my high quality mp3 files. The difference really comes out when I plug this unit to a stereo. Mp3s from my computer just can not compete.
BEST recordings come from optical audio in. So definitely use this feature if you a player that has an optical audio out. I bet you will not be able to tell the difference between the CD and the Mini Disc.
The battery life is great. I rarely if ever ran out. The unit is supposed to run for 5 hours straight for playback and 3 hours for recording. Recording consumes more power apparently.
The unit comes with its own rechargeable battery. You would have to get the replacement for this from Sony. The unit recharges the battery when it is hooked to a wall outlet.
You can play/record/use while recharging the battery which is very convenient.
Unfortunately this version of the player does not include any firewire or USB hookups but hey that was 5 years ago.... no wonder.
I think the newer generation has a USB cradle. I am not aware of a firewire cradle.
My unit has been dependable and robust. One time it literally flew across the room when I bumped something it was laying on. My unit has a dent on it but it is still completely functional which to me is a miracle.
I have never heard this unit skip ever. I have even gone running with it. Nothing, not a zip. I think these players a skip free because of the technology used in them.
The mini disc just like any other digital media should be kept under normal room conditions. If you do this you will enjoy great sound from the mini discs for a very long time. Even my earliest recordings still sound great and a re skip free.
It came with a pair of headphones and a remote for the headphones. The remote gives you access to all the controls on the unit plus it features a scrolling display for track names etc.
Well that's about it. This mini disc recorder/player has served me well.
Although I have not used it day in and day out, it's still seen a fair amount of use.
The unit is small, sleek, and the user interface elements on it just feel right.
The unit is able to record and playback audio but does not feature a built in microphone.
The input and outputs are:
one mic in
one double sound in and optical in (same socket works for both --cool huh?)
one headphones
one sound out.
The unit features the standard play,pause,rewind, fastforward buttons. In addition to these there is a Jog roller that can be used to select tracks and can be clicked to make selections. It is very useful especially adding titles to tracks.
The unit features very cool recording features such as silence sensing and auto adding track markers. You can add track markers at any time: during the recording, afterwards. You can add names and dates to the tracks.
There is built in Bass boost that can be only used during playback.
Microphone features a high low setting to control the sound level coming into the unit.
The headphones feature a sound limiter to protect the user's ears. Sony is big on this technology.
The sound quality is great. Most of my Mini Disc recordings sound much better than my high quality mp3 files. The difference really comes out when I plug this unit to a stereo. Mp3s from my computer just can not compete.
BEST recordings come from optical audio in. So definitely use this feature if you a player that has an optical audio out. I bet you will not be able to tell the difference between the CD and the Mini Disc.
The battery life is great. I rarely if ever ran out. The unit is supposed to run for 5 hours straight for playback and 3 hours for recording. Recording consumes more power apparently.
The unit comes with its own rechargeable battery. You would have to get the replacement for this from Sony. The unit recharges the battery when it is hooked to a wall outlet.
You can play/record/use while recharging the battery which is very convenient.
Unfortunately this version of the player does not include any firewire or USB hookups but hey that was 5 years ago.... no wonder.
I think the newer generation has a USB cradle. I am not aware of a firewire cradle.
My unit has been dependable and robust. One time it literally flew across the room when I bumped something it was laying on. My unit has a dent on it but it is still completely functional which to me is a miracle.
I have never heard this unit skip ever. I have even gone running with it. Nothing, not a zip. I think these players a skip free because of the technology used in them.
The mini disc just like any other digital media should be kept under normal room conditions. If you do this you will enjoy great sound from the mini discs for a very long time. Even my earliest recordings still sound great and a re skip free.
It came with a pair of headphones and a remote for the headphones. The remote gives you access to all the controls on the unit plus it features a scrolling display for track names etc.
Well that's about it. This mini disc recorder/player has served me well.
