Mini Disc or CD/MP3 Player?

[darklord]

Hi, I can't decide which unit to go for. I used to have a Panasonic cd portable and I was happy with it's sound quality. I have never had listen to Mini Disk player's sound quality before and wondering that how much music can I pack into a standard MiniDisc with the sound quality similar to a 128k mp3 file as I know very little about Mini Disk. Also which of these players have better skip protection technology as I would most likely use it when driving and rollerblading and that sort of outdoor activities.

Misi Disk:MZNF520DC

http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/ser...oductId=173747

CD MP3 Player:SL-SV570

http://www.panasonic.ca/English/audi...le/slsv570.asp
Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[vorlik]

Well, Long Play 2 (LP2) on Minidisc is (I believe) 132kbps ATRAC3, which sounds similar to 128kb mp3s. On a standard 74 minute Minidisc, you can store 148 minutes of LP2 music and on an 80 minute Minidisc, you can store 160 minutes.

As far as anti-skip goes, Minidisc players virtually don't skip. I can shake my MZ-N510 vigorously and it keeps playing, skip free.

 

[h-man]

I find that the sound quality of LP2 mode exceeds the 128 mp3 standard (even encoded using lame), and minidisc very very very rarely skips (i haven't managed to get my Sharp IM-DR580 to do this yet). It might be worthwhile waiting for the new Hi-MD players to be fully released. The Hi-MD discs will have a 1GB capacity and you will be able to record in Hi-SP (256) mode, which sounds awesome.

 

[Zanth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by h-man I find that the sound quality of LP2 mode exceeds the 128 mp3 standard (even encoded using lame), and minidisc very very very rarely skips (i haven't managed to get my Sharp IM-DR580 to do this yet). It might be worthwhile waiting for the new Hi-MD players to be fully released. The Hi-MD discs will have a 1GB capacity and you will be able to record in Hi-SP (256) mode, which sounds awesome.

I agree here. LP2 does sound better to me than 128 mp3 standard even if the LP2 was made from 192 kb/s mp3s.

I am excited about Hi-MD units, but not their battery life nor their restrictions on natant mp3 playback. As for skipping, I own an MZ-S1, it won't skip, I've tried hard.

 

[dura]

Quote:

I agree here. LP2 does sound better to me than 128 mp3 standard

Me too; Lp2 has a very nice sound!
I know, I just switched from a Sony MD-501 something to an ipod mini.
Sound-qualitywise the sony wins easy: more enjoyable sound (silky treble, rubber bass, reduced dynamics that gives you a fuller sound in surroundings with backgroundnoise) , and I think music and music players are made for pleasure; the again, ask an audiophile and he'll (99% ceretain it's a he) prefer the mini soundwise, more faithfull to the source. ***** the faithfull source, I say, it's all about fun and emotion.
But...the ipods have these hi-tec 21th century interfaces, which will let you enjoy music much more, on a more intuitive way.
And soundcharacteristics are not the whole story when it's about playing the right song at the right time....

Perhaps the best of both worlds might be the coming Sony NW-HD1 (despite all the no-mP3-I-won't-buy-it-noises)?

 

[bangraman]

Given the choice between MP3/CD and MD, the choice for an active lifestyle is pretty clear: MD. But why not the microdrive HDD players too? Contrary to what some people say, they're pretty robust... in fact, although the MD media is more robust than HDD, it's fair to say that the HDD player as a whole is more durable than an MD recorder.


If you compare LP2 with 128K MP3, LP2 is slightly more convincing as it has less overtly noticeable artifacting. At 256K however, MP3 & ATRAC3+ are neck and neck.


From my personal point of view, I prefer to control the experience with the front end, i.e the choice of headphone, starting with the most faithful source that I can practically lay my hands on. It gives me the maximum flexibility regarding 'fun' or 'serious' rendition. If I have a faithful, somewhat flat source to start with, I can deploy the MDR-V700DJ (or Portapro?) to get the 'fun' MD/iRiver sound (increased bass, more mud, modified highs), while the Etys will give a more accurate-feeling experience than inferior sources can muster. If you start with an inferior source, you consistently get an inferior sound, it's entertainment factor notwithstanding. The iPod Mini also has far more scope for headphone compatibility than the MD's (<>80 ohm phones with reasonable efficiency are perfectly OK on the Mini, while MD's may struggle to power them), which are significantly down on power compared to the Mini. Since we are a headphone site and life here is about amassing phones, the Mini comes recommended

 

[darklord]

Thanks every one for replying. Hum!! So when would the Hi-MD come out? 1 GB of storage sounds great (for MiniDisc that is). It would be even better that if the next generation of MiniDisc can also act as mass storage devices

At this time I'm also considering flash based MP3 player with expandable memory capability. I had a chance listened to a RCA LYRA RD1080 unit, although this unit only has <80 db noise to signal ratio I was happy with the sound quality( it was a 128k mp3 file that I listened), and it come with FM and was very affordable too.

I know that most of you experts would perfered something like iPod or iRiver HDD unit but it just that I belong to a different tax bracket than most of you guys. High price tags and the non-user replaceble battery on those units kinda deter me from being interested of them.

Just one question: What's the different between SD and MultiMedia Card?

 

[vorlik]

Hmm... Maybe you should look into a Creative Muvo² microdrive HDD player. It has a user replacable battery and comes in 4gb and (I think) 1.5gb capacities.