Sony MZ-R90 Personal MiniDisc Player
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Similar in Personal Audio Mini Disc Player
- Recordable: Recordable
- Headphones: Yes
- Remote Control: LCD
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It's HOW big?
Pros
Size, Battery Life, Customization
Cons
Quirky power stuff, record times
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
A definite for non-MP3 portables. Media is still cheap and easy to come by.
I originally hit the MD scene almost 2 years ago when a friend at the office bought one and decided to show it off. He bought a simple player that was about the size of a chalkboard eraser. After showing me how superior it was, say to home-made cassettes or burned CDs I was hooked. I quickly went out and bought myself a bundle of mini-disc stereo component and portable. I ate it up, at least up until the point where the portable stopped functioning.
I shied away from MDs for awhile after that, sticking to MP3 players and again, burned CDs. However, it got to the point where MP3 players just don't hold enough in regards to their small size. You either have to buy expensive smart media, compact flash, or Sony memory sticks. That and most MP3 players start to suffer in battery life if you encode any higher than 128Kbps.
So this past weekend I picked up a Sony MZ-R90 at my local Ultimate Electronics. I was amazed at the size. It basically is just a thick minidisk. Something I did notice is that Sony must've released a Version 2 of this package. The Sony website states that it doesn't come with a digital audio cable. However, mine did, and the box had it listed on its contents. Way to go Sony!
The recording is excellent, it is nice to have it built into something so small. You can record from any source, or even from an external microphone. Playback is also very clear. If you are a super hi-tech audiophile, it has been said you can hear the difference between a CD and an ATRAC compressed MD file...However, I don't notice it.
The attached remote is also a nice touch, as it gives you all the functionality on the unit (besides recording) while it sits in a pocket. As usual with most portable audio, the headphones are simply passable. This will be one of the first things you will find yourself buying.
My only beefs with the unit are its quirky power-on and power-off functions, and record times. Basically if the unit is off, inserting a MD or pressing a button will turn it on. However, there doesn't seem to be a way to turn it off other than letting it sit in the stop position for a couple of seconds. I know this is nitpicky, but it makes me wonder how it affects the battery life. What I mean by recording times is simple. After being spoiled by burning compilation CDs or using an MP3 player, recording onto a MD seems to take forever. When using an MP3 player, you can upload your 64MB (Approx 60 minutes) of music and be on the go, listening to your music. However, with an MD to record 60 minutes of music takes 60 minutes. It doesn't do it any faster. No such thing as High-Speed Dubbing for an MD just yet.
However, I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone who wants to have a decent non-mp3 portable player. With 40 seconds of buffer, it takes a lot to make it skip. Also with the ability to rearrange your songs WITHOUT having to re-record, is also another MD benefit.
I shied away from MDs for awhile after that, sticking to MP3 players and again, burned CDs. However, it got to the point where MP3 players just don't hold enough in regards to their small size. You either have to buy expensive smart media, compact flash, or Sony memory sticks. That and most MP3 players start to suffer in battery life if you encode any higher than 128Kbps.
So this past weekend I picked up a Sony MZ-R90 at my local Ultimate Electronics. I was amazed at the size. It basically is just a thick minidisk. Something I did notice is that Sony must've released a Version 2 of this package. The Sony website states that it doesn't come with a digital audio cable. However, mine did, and the box had it listed on its contents. Way to go Sony!
The recording is excellent, it is nice to have it built into something so small. You can record from any source, or even from an external microphone. Playback is also very clear. If you are a super hi-tech audiophile, it has been said you can hear the difference between a CD and an ATRAC compressed MD file...However, I don't notice it.
The attached remote is also a nice touch, as it gives you all the functionality on the unit (besides recording) while it sits in a pocket. As usual with most portable audio, the headphones are simply passable. This will be one of the first things you will find yourself buying.
My only beefs with the unit are its quirky power-on and power-off functions, and record times. Basically if the unit is off, inserting a MD or pressing a button will turn it on. However, there doesn't seem to be a way to turn it off other than letting it sit in the stop position for a couple of seconds. I know this is nitpicky, but it makes me wonder how it affects the battery life. What I mean by recording times is simple. After being spoiled by burning compilation CDs or using an MP3 player, recording onto a MD seems to take forever. When using an MP3 player, you can upload your 64MB (Approx 60 minutes) of music and be on the go, listening to your music. However, with an MD to record 60 minutes of music takes 60 minutes. It doesn't do it any faster. No such thing as High-Speed Dubbing for an MD just yet.
However, I would definitely recommend this unit to anyone who wants to have a decent non-mp3 portable player. With 40 seconds of buffer, it takes a lot to make it skip. Also with the ability to rearrange your songs WITHOUT having to re-record, is also another MD benefit.
