pushing the MD performance to the top

[AdamZuf]

hey ppl

i would like to know if another MD player-recorder can sound really better then my sony mz-r500.
also would like it to have as much volume as possible.
i know the MD method is ATRAC, but are there any differences between the recording quality of different MD units?
(or, can a recorded minidisk that was recorded with sharp sound different then sony?)

and to the other question: digital recordings.
i got from eBay something called "usb pc-link", which they say is "better then xitel DG2". well, i can't compare its digital recording quality to others because i have no option to do that.
the analog output truely SUCKS. but it's not the most important thing..

in digital mode, is the sound processed only by this device (that uses as a soundcard)?
is it the mp3 player?
or should i ask, how does all of this works exactly?

can the xitel considered audiophile level?

what do you guys suggest in general for getting the maximum out of the digital recordings?

 

[Superbaldguy]

The MZ-R500 was one of Sony's low-end MD recorders, and was very lacking in many areas. The newer, high-end models have an EQ control which helps the sound, dramatically. Also, if output is a problem, the new Sharp MD-DR7 has more juice (8 mW @ 32 ohms) than any Sony and has become a bit of a cult classic, already, here, and over at the MiniDisc T-Board.

 

[guzzler]

i really don't think you can beat MD for compressed audio, even in LP2, the quality is phenomenal! I've only heard good things about the DR7, but I'm a Sony man through and through! I can only comment on the N1 which I own, but I swear by it now, hardly leaves my side!!

g

 

[Duncan]

Get a kick-ass home deck, and a high quality MD player...

Listening to an MD that Bangraman gave to me at our last mini-meet... Wow! - I really didn't realise that MD had so much clarity! - makes my portable recordings sound decidedly flat... even through the E10... but that one MD in the E10, with the E888s... Wow, amazing SQ... and with the efficiency of the E888s, you don't need any more in the way of volume IMHO...

 

[Superbaldguy]

With the sound of newer PCDP's being so piss-poor, MiniDisc sure is easy to live with, thanks to a lot of improvements in the format since I bought my MZ-R70 in November 2000.

 

[AdamZuf]

Superbaldguy,

thank you, but i don't want to ever touch the EQ. but sure i thank you for recommending an MD player.


Duncan,

so you say that recording with the home deck sounds much better then with the portable unit?
BTW, E10-is a sony MD, and e888 are phones, right?

still, nobody answered my question about how the digital recording works..and about the Xitel.

 

[AdamZuf]

BTW, can you guys recommend a cheaper MD that sounds really good? (other than the sharp)

i have no need for fancy options...i don't need a remote even.
as i think i said...a mic input would be nice.

also, are there any MD players with line out?
is line out better to use when i use a corda?

 

[Mystyler]

Are you in the market for new or used?

Anyway, check these out:
Sharp
MT888
MT180/190 <---Best bet for a new unit
SR50/60/70/75
*MT831* <----Classic, in regards to design, features and sound
MS722
MS702MK

Only the MT180/190 and MT888 have MDLP, none have NetMD and have **at least** Sharp ATRAC 5. They also feature (AFAIK, the MT831 for certain) auto line out, i.e. when the load is great enough, headphone out will auto switch to line signal.

Sony
R37 <---"Budget" R50, with the same internals, AFAIK
*R50* <----Classic, in regards to design, features and sound
R55 <---Last recorder with dedicated line out, battery life SUCKS though, and some have annoying bugs

Yes, it is advisable to use line out for your corda.

All the above Sonys have separate line out, no MDLP, no NetMD and ATRAC 4. (Edited, thanks to gloco)

Correct me if I have gone wrong.

Oops, in regards to the Xitel digital question, what exactly do you want to know? All digital recordings done via USB should sound exactly the same. I know my Sony PC-LINK (rebadged Xitel DG2) sounds great...

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystyler Sony R37 <---"Budget" R50, with the same internals, AFAIK *R50* <----Classic, in regards to design, features and sound R55 <---Last recorder with dedicated line out, battery life SUCKS though, and some have annoying bugs All the above Sonys have seperate line out, no MDLP, no NetMD and ATRAC 4.5. Correct me if I have gone wrong.

I have the R50 and to my ears it records in Atrac 4.0, at least when i compared it to my deck which records at 4.5 in high speed dubbing, the sound quality was a big improvement with the deck. I used to have an older MD deck which recorded in 4.0 and that's what the R50 most closely resembled in sound reproduction when i made a copy with it via the optical out on my DVD player. I'll give it another try and see if i get different results.

 

[Mystyler]

gloco, you are indeed correct.
In fact all of the above Sony models use ATRAC 4.

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystyler gloco, you are indeed correct. In fact all of the above Sony models use ATRAC 4.

Now i want one that records in Type R, lol. Maybe i should take a look at one of those sharp's via ebay.

 

[Mystyler]

gloco, Type-R decks are killer pieces of audio gear. Maybe you should grab one of those cheap on ebay too!

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystyler gloco, Type-R decks are killer pieces of audio gear. Maybe you should grab one of those cheap on ebay too!

Ahh, i have a deck! Now i need a portable that records in Atrac 4.5/Type R and also features MDLP...i think lugging around 5-6 MD's is starting to wear down on me.

 

[Mystyler]

Pft, ditch the ATRAC 4 deck!

Seriously, there are *stacks* of shmancy new Sony recorders around that feature Type-R, if not Type-S (like the N10...).

 

[gloco]

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystyler Pft, ditch the ATRAC 4 deck! Seriously, there are *stacks* of shmancy new Sony recorders around that feature Type-R, if not Type-S (like the N10...).

LOL! No no no...i have a Type R deck, the Atrac 4 deck is sitting in a closet, no longer used. I have a Sony MXD-D5C, which is a 5cd changer/1 MD deck with MDLP recording as well as high speed dubbing at 4x (switches to 4.5 which still sounds great). I really don't ever need to upgrade to a newer deck unless Sony comes around with a whole new Atrac that will blow away this deck. I'm probably gonna splurge for a Sony MDLP since i like the fact that i can set the presets up, i don't think any Sharp's offer that, right?