Sony MZ-R90 Personal MiniDisc Player

Sony MD MZ -R 90

What to say about this little gizmo?? Nothing than a little-big wonder of the tech world. As the name says I?m talking about a MZ- R90 Sony Minidisc.For someone who newer had a minidisc I was totally blown away with this little thing.
I was searching for a device that I could carry around with out thinking about it, with great or OK sound quality, with low power use. After a long time snooping around stores and catalogues I decided that MD is the THING.

Why you ask?? I?ll tell you why??

It?s so small and so light that you almost can?t feel it in you pocket and even can fit to a front pocket of your shirt.

Specs.
R90: 78.9x17.3x72mm, 105g, 148g (w/batt & disc).
Battery Life Recording Playback Recharge
Ni-MH 6.5 hr 12 hr 3 hr
AA x 1 4 hr 16.5 hr
Both 14.5 hr 29 hr
Digital cable follows with unit
Connectors:
in: digital (optical miniplug), analog (stereo miniplug), microphone
out: line, headphone
Sampling rate converter converts to 44.1kHz from 48kHz/44.1kHz/ 32kHz sources, frequency response: 20-20,000Hz +/-3dB, max output level: 5mW+5mW, AC100V.

But let?s get back to that user feeling of minidisk. First day of use seams like a hell, because it was difficult to find and press small buttons on the remote. The same problem happens when you try to find buttons on the unit. But after a some time of use it becomes so natural that you aren?t looking when using or pressing buttons.
The same day I began some MD recording. Since I had a big Sony stereo unit with digital output on the back, the recording was a peace of cake. It was so easy and natural just as if you where recording a old fashion tape. You can hook up a MD almost anywhere, TV, car stereo, PC?. When you record MD you can choose automatic or manual control of recording (sound volume). Also it possible to adjust MD to stop recording between songs ( saving space on minidisk- rec with out pause ) and what makes this MD even greater is that if you name the song on your PC-stereo it copy?s it on the MD so that when you listening md you get a name of the song on the unit and remote. You can also write it manually but it?s not so easy.
Yes you have a jog lever button but it?s still hard to do it. After recording you?re set to go out with your MD. When running or other activities you don?t have to think about
If md is going to skip or jump a song. It has a 40 sec shock resistance. I have tested my self and I couldn?t make MD to jump or skip a song.

Now to the negative side of this little gizmo.
After a some time of listening music ( as I said you forgot all about your MD in front pocket of your shirt ) you lean to get something in front of you and you hear a little crack. Ops that was something in my left pocket. Yes you guest right, the MD is broken. I was so pis? and mad. As I looked a little closer nothing was wrong with it and I could play the song but instead the unit the remote was broken. Not from the out side but from the inside. I could read all text on the left and right but in the middle there was nothing. It was so easy to broke the remote and the unit. So please be careful when you carry it around.
Battery life if ok (see spec. above) but one thing was bugging me. Recharging of battery is about 3 h but after recharging I could use it for a 4 h and then it was used up. I found a nit trick on the Internet that after recharging battery put in a empty disc, start recording for a few sec and stop. Recharge again and you will see that it?s recharging another hour. After that you can use it for a ca 6.5 h.
Headphones that comes with unit are OK, but not for a long time listening of music.
If you put a bass on max the headphones began ( after a 65 % volume ) to suss and sound is not so great. And if you aren?t use to headphones ( like me ) it hurts when you take them out from ears.

Anyway to conclude my revue of MD, get it you?ll not be sorry.