[D555]

Hello,

I've been revisiting my MZ-1 and you know what? Given that MD is a "lossy" system, I think "the original" still sounds pretty good to this day.

Overview:
The MZ-1 was the first MD recorder available to the public. General production was in late 1992 (November, I think) and rushed to the public for introduction right at Christmas 1992. I think a few units were actually airmailed to select stores so that some lucky few people would have it for Christmas. At the time I think it was a "tour de force" whereas Sony attempted to dump everything they had into it. This recorder was packed with features, some that haven't been seen since. As I recall, it was in production for only about eight months or so before being replaced by the much smaller MZ-R2. The MZ-1 has lots of good, solid, heavy construction. Sony must have taken a loss on these "Rolls Royce"-type units.

I have a mystery concerning the MZ-1. On the rear of the unit there appears to me some sort of method for attaching *something* to the unit. Battery pack? Docking station? What? There are electrical contacts and tap for a screw. My guess is a battery pack. Did an external battery pack ever materialize? I never saw one.

Plusses:
Good, strong sound, plenty of volume.
Numeric keys.
Responsive transport.
Backlit LCD display (when AC adapter used).
LCD display shows track, time, and song.
Peak hold meter.
Manually adjustable gain "on the fly".
Mic sensitivity adjustment.
Switchable "Resume".
Optical out.
Heavy, solid, construction (see minuses).
Motorized slot loading (see minuses).
NiCd refresh capability.

Minuses:
Overly aggressive bass boost (even the first setting is too much, the second one is *insane*)
Limited titleing capability.
Large and heavy (due in part, no doubt, to the motorized slot loading).
Limited battery ability (1 battery = 1 disk (on a good day)).
Expensive, unique, NiCd batteries.
Odd voltage AC adapter.
Kind of goofy case.

Comments and remembrances:

I was an "early adopter". I was waiting for it. Purchased the MZ-1 recorder as soon as I saw it. January 1993. Right after New Year's I think. May have been New Year's day. Never regretted the purchase.

Despite the aforementioned minuses, I used this recorder for years for live recordings. Even had some live tracks used by an artist on a CD. Perhaps it was the "newness" of it all, but when I showed performers the MD recorder back in the early 90's it seemed to generate interest and permission for recording was never a problem. The trick for live recording was to have multiple battery packs -- just about had the disc switching and battery switching down to a science. Some of you may remember when the first blanks were 60 mins (74min blanks were not available) and cost about $12 each. 74 mins came out a while later, finally followed by 80mins.

So does it record well? I think so. Those recordings from the "old days" still sound good to me (those recorded at a good venue, anyway). Most of the recordings at clubs and CD store "in-stores" almost always tuned out quite well. Depending upon the miking and location, the MZ-1 was able to catch a lot of the soundstage with great separation and tonal balance.

To me, the playback (heaphone and lineout) is still remarkable. While the bass boost settings are excessive, the sound has detail without the "congestion" I hear in most MD rec/players in the upper midrange. Some people upon initial listening may call it "dull". I call it accurate. To me, the proof is in the live recordings. When the recordings turned out well, the sound played back mostly captured what I remember during the live performace. What more could you want?

Other MD players have been bought and used since but, to me, the special one is the MZ-1.

Long live the MZ-1!

Best regards,

Paul

 

[Superbaldguy]

Excellent points, D555.

The very fact your MZ-1 is still working is a testament of its durability; most new MD recorders do well to last three years due to too much miniaturization and cost-cutting measures, and a lot of people are simply careless and drop their units.

The digital out is one feature that never made it into any later model, and we certainly would welcome its return.

Ditto for "true" line outs instad of the switchable headphone/line out arrangement; ever heard the R50 with an amp? Wow.

Those 60-minute blanks look kind of interesting, but, in today's world of MDLP units, seems rather dinosauric. In fact, many MDers are "growing up" on LP2 and LP4 as being the most used and some would balk at the idea of using SP to make recordings.

 

[PodMan]

i just notice that you have the N10 as well, how does the sound quality of the MZ-1 compare to the MZ-N10? does the N10 have the background hissing that seems to be standard on all their recent new models?

 

[Irreantum]

I have similar sentiments for the MZ-1. I almost bought the mz-r2 for portability but was won over by mz-1's sound. Have since compared the mz-1 with mz-r50, mz-r55, mz-r900 and still prefer the mz-1!
I believe the attachments at the rear is for the car connection pack.

Quote:

Originally posted by D555 Hello, I've been revisiting my MZ-1 and you know what? Given that MD is a "lossy" system, I think "the original" still sounds pretty good to this day. Overview: The MZ-1 was the first MD recorder available to the public. General production was in late 1992 (November, I think) and rushed to the public for introduction right at Christmas 1992. I think a few units were actually airmailed to select stores so that some lucky few people would have it for Christmas. At the time I think it was a "tour de force" whereas Sony attempted to dump everything they had into it. This recorder was packed with features, some that haven't been seen since. As I recall, it was in production for only about eight months or so before being replaced by the much smaller MZ-R2. The MZ-1 has lots of good, solid, heavy construction. Sony must have taken a loss on these "Rolls Royce"-type units. I have a mystery concerning the MZ-1. On the rear of the unit there appears to me some sort of method for attaching *something* to the unit. Battery pack? Docking station? What? There are electrical contacts and tap for a screw. My guess is a battery pack. Did an external battery pack ever materialize? I never saw one. Plusses: Good, strong sound, plenty of volume. Numeric keys. Responsive transport. Backlit LCD display (when AC adapter used). LCD display shows track, time, and song. Peak hold meter. Manually adjustable gain "on the fly". Mic sensitivity adjustment. Switchable "Resume". Optical out. Heavy, solid, construction (see minuses). Motorized slot loading (see minuses). NiCd refresh capability. Minuses: Overly aggressive bass boost (even the first setting is too much, the second one is *insane*) Limited titleing capability. Large and heavy (due in part, no doubt, to the motorized slot loading). Limited battery ability (1 battery = 1 disk (on a good day)). Expensive, unique, NiCd batteries. Odd voltage AC adapter. Kind of goofy case. Comments and remembrances: I was an "early adopter". I was waiting for it. Purchased the MZ-1 recorder as soon as I saw it. January 1993. Right after New Year's I think. May have been New Year's day. Never regretted the purchase. Despite the aforementioned minuses, I used this recorder for years for live recordings. Even had some live tracks used by an artist on a CD. Perhaps it was the "newness" of it all, but when I showed performers the MD recorder back in the early 90's it seemed to generate interest and permission for recording was never a problem. The trick for live recording was to have multiple battery packs -- just about had the disc switching and battery switching down to a science. Some of you may remember when the first blanks were 60 mins (74min blanks were not available) and cost about $12 each. 74 mins came out a while later, finally followed by 80mins. So does it record well? I think so. Those recordings from the "old days" still sound good to me (those recorded at a good venue, anyway). Most of the recordings at clubs and CD store "in-stores" almost always tuned out quite well. Depending upon the miking and location, the MZ-1 was able to catch a lot of the soundstage with great separation and tonal balance. To me, the playback (heaphone and lineout) is still remarkable. While the bass boost settings are excessive, the sound has detail without the "congestion" I hear in most MD rec/players in the upper midrange. Some people upon initial listening may call it "dull". I call it accurate. To me, the proof is in the live recordings. When the recordings turned out well, the sound played back mostly captured what I remember during the live performace. What more could you want? Other MD players have been bought and used since but, to me, the special one is the MZ-1. Long live the MZ-1! Best regards, Paul

 

[D555]

Thanks for the comments! The MZ-1 has its' detractors and has its share of negative points. Still, I think it holds up.

Podman,

I think the background hissing in general is related, in part, to the sensitivity of headphones. I think 108db is just too much sensitivity -- it reveals the background noise too easily. I posted a lenghty theory on this in the amplifiers section of this forum in response to someone having a "hissing" problem with the Grado RA-1. Grado says the amp is within spec. I think around 100db is just right. In any event, the N10 is pretty quiet with my 100db sensitivity earplugs. Only a very little hiss is heard at the lowest volume setting. Not too bad of a result these days. With 108db headphones, the hiss will be "louder". Just my two cents.

The MZ-1 is quieter than the N10.

Paul

 

[Watchdog]

My cousin had an MZ-1 and I borrowed it for a couple of weeks.

I agree the build quality seemed to be top notch, but I found the sound quality to be horribly lacking in comparison with my more modern MZ-N707. The old MZ-1 just sounded murky, muffled and lifeless. Even my cousin agreed there was a huge difference in sound quality.

 

[krayzie]

I borrowed my friend's MZ-1 and only charged it once, used it a couple of times and now for some reason it won't power on anymore even with the adaptor... sigh... but yea didn't sound so good, even worst than my tape players... love the eject mechanism and backlit display tho!

 

[einolu]

well atrac 1 was no better than tape, thats mainly the reason why md didnt take off right away (although i bet price had a lot more to do with it

).

sony imporvied the atracs really quickly though... so good for sony :O.

~EO

 

[D555]

Hello,

Well, we may have some sort of idea how it plays back after I run a RightMark test on it today.

Best regards,

Paul

 

[hawkfire]

Now this is a recorder I own.

In my opinion, the MZ-1 has a playback sound similar to that of the old Toshiba cassette walkman, the KT-VS1 and I prefer the sound of the MZR-50 anyday over that of the playback of the MZ-1.

I used to love recordings done on the MZ-1 with playback done on the Kenwood DMC-G3 as I could never bring myself to take the Mz-1 out on the road.

Sound output on these units are far stonger than that of modern MD units such as the MZR-900, Kenwood LR-7 or net MD units nowadays.

Its just too bad that these units arent ATRAC upgradable as the MZ-1 is built like a tank.

 

[dxace1]

Hello,

I've been revisiting my MZ-1 and you know what? Given that MD is a "lossy" system, I think "the original" still sounds pretty good to this day.

Overview:
The MZ-1 was the first MD recorder available to the public. General production was in late 1992 (November, I think) and rushed to the public for introduction right at Christmas 1992. I think a few units were actually airmailed to select stores so that some lucky few people would have it for Christmas. At the time I think it was a "tour de force" whereas Sony attempted to dump everything they had into it. This recorder was packed with features, some that haven't been seen since. As I recall, it was in production for only about eight months or so before being replaced by the much smaller MZ-R2. The MZ-1 has lots of good, solid, heavy construction. Sony must have taken a loss on these "Rolls Royce"-type units.

I have a mystery concerning the MZ-1. On the rear of the unit there appears to me some sort of method for attaching *something* to the unit. Battery pack? Docking station? What? There are electrical contacts and tap for a screw. My guess is a battery pack. Did an external battery pack ever materialize? I never saw one.

Plusses:
Good, strong sound, plenty of volume.
Numeric keys.
Responsive transport.
Backlit LCD display (when AC adapter used).
LCD display shows track, time, and song.
Peak hold meter.
Manually adjustable gain "on the fly".
Mic sensitivity adjustment.
Switchable "Resume".
Optical out.
Heavy, solid, construction (see minuses).
Motorized slot loading (see minuses).
NiCd refresh capability.

Minuses:
Overly aggressive bass boost (even the first setting is too much, the second one is *insane*)
Limited titleing capability.
Large and heavy (due in part, no doubt, to the motorized slot loading).
Limited battery ability (1 battery = 1 disk (on a good day)).
Expensive, unique, NiCd batteries.
Odd voltage AC adapter.
Kind of goofy case.

Comments and remembrances:

I was an "early adopter". I was waiting for it. Purchased the MZ-1 recorder as soon as I saw it. January 1993. Right after New Year's I think. May have been New Year's day. Never regretted the purchase.

Despite the aforementioned minuses, I used this recorder for years for live recordings. Even had some live tracks used by an artist on a CD. Perhaps it was the "newness" of it all, but when I showed performers the MD recorder back in the early 90's it seemed to generate interest and permission for recording was never a problem. The trick for live recording was to have multiple battery packs -- just about had the disc switching and battery switching down to a science. Some of you may remember when the first blanks were 60 mins (74min blanks were not available) and cost about $12 each. 74 mins came out a while later, finally followed by 80mins.

So does it record well? I think so. Those recordings from the "old days" still sound good to me (those recorded at a good venue, anyway). Most of the recordings at clubs and CD store "in-stores" almost always tuned out quite well. Depending upon the miking and location, the MZ-1 was able to catch a lot of the soundstage with great separation and tonal balance.

To me, the playback (heaphone and lineout) is still remarkable. While the bass boost settings are excessive, the sound has detail without the "congestion" I hear in most MD rec/players in the upper midrange. Some people upon initial listening may call it "dull". I call it accurate. To me, the proof is in the live recordings. When the recordings turned out well, the sound played back mostly captured what I remember during the live performace. What more could you want?

Other MD players have been bought and used since but, to me, the special one is the MZ-1.

Long live the MZ-1!

Best regards,

Paul

The ability to PRINT replacement battery sleds for the MZ-1 and rarer AIWA AMD-100 has created a whole new situation
for owners of these fine machines. I have been enjoying both of mine anew, and the sound is just superb even though they
were the first MD units out decades ago.

 

[e-dub]

Nice bump, lol.

 

[littlexx26]

why didn't wait for 20 anniversary to bump？