Sonys MDs and PCDP... some thoughts

[guzzler]

Just reading through the threads here, it is obvious that a lot of people are turning to portable MD over CD, because of the increase in sound quality for MD and the general decline in quality of PCDP. My view is, and I'm speaking specifically Sony here, that perhaps Sony has realised that the CD is a mass market item and has now designed new models around mass market criteria, eg looks etc. However, they have improved the MD format beyond recognition, and put proper features, like powerful headphone amps, line-outs etc. Could it be that Sony are pushing the MD format to a more discerning userbase (obviously that includes everyone here!)? Anyone got any other thoughts??

g

 

[myself, aka me]

The Euro N710 says 'no' with it's powerful one point two milliwatt headphone amp

Sony seems to be concentrating on NetMD to sell their portables. That definately does not sound the best

The Japanese models seem to be improving in sound. The DR7 screams "audiophile" MD [NOT the lightest MD around, Built like a tank, 8mW headphone amp..]

The Sony E10 and N10 apparently sound awesome, too. Haven't heard them though. I think the one bit amp was put in to increase battery life without decreasing headphone amp power, and the sound quality improvement was just 'there'..

 

[Duncan]

MAM,

The more I listen to my E10, the more I think it could technically be geared as an 'Audiophile Applicance'...

There is just so much good stuff going on with the sound

Guzzler,

I've said this myself, that MD can get just as great a result out of battery life as PCDPs can... so, my call is that Sony, being market leaders are making their PCDPs sound crappy so that people can then hear MD and be blown away, and buy into the format...

Note though that the line outs of the PCDPs DO sound pretty damned good... good enough for pumping into an MD recorder...

Hmm... go figure

 

[zombietycho]

Seems alot of companies are going for abit of a sex appeal. And belive me, Sony's newest MD players are just as sexy as they come.

When you say that the PCDP quality is going down, it is probally because of G-protection (I heard that messes with quality) and them making them so gosh darn small.

 

[Superbaldguy]

I've noticed this "phenomena" as well. I think a lot of die-hards who have been using PCDP's for years are realizing that MiniDisc makes so much more sense in many way, thanks to the latest versions of ATRAC, MDLP, long battery life, and *much* better DAC's. Net MD has attracted its own following.

We seem to have learned to live with 5 mW amps since many of us own Etys or other efficient cans, and certainly find long battery life more than just a convenience. It seems that MD's day has come, finally, as a true "hi-fi" portable audio format.

 

[Howie]

What about the R910?

 

[gloco]

I remember a while back reading an article and Sony felt that with Atrac 4.5 MD sound quality can only get better than CD. I wonder if by "better," they were referring to the DAC's that are used in MD equipment in comparison to pcdp's nowadays.

 

[phonatic]

Realizing my current kit is nowhere near what many here would call "hifi"... I'd like to say I'm really pleased with even my non-audiophile N505. Its rated 5 x 5 mW seems to be sufficient to drive whatever I have with an 1/8 inch stereo miniplug, be it Sennheiser HD497, Grado SR-60 or Koss Sportapro (higher rated impedance, lower rated sensitivity than the 497, which so many seem to think can't be adequately driven without a dedicated amp).

I am starting think I can hear LP2 mode as slightly veiled, but it still sounds better than the skreeching my Sony PDCP emits. SP mode is such a pleasure to listen to, I actually find myself transferring several CDs to MD each week. MD has definitely arrived. And to think I mainly got this little gadget for recording my digital piano.

 

[Superbaldguy]

Howie,

The MZ-R910 is an excellent recorder, if you have no need for Net MD. I find its sound is slightly better than its predecessor, the R909. I'm not at all thrilled with some of Sony's new units, as they look rather cheap and flimsy.

 

[Mystyler]

You know, Sony might have had no choice with the one point two milliwatt amp - you can thank the French for it's law on portable audio. Something about not being able to produce anymore than 100dB SPL.
How the DR470 got around that I'll never know.
But saying the the FE410(whatever it is), the N510 and N710 look horribly mass-market.

 

[Watchdog]

Has anyone done a head to head comparison of MD and PCDP portables?

I'd love to read a review of that if anyone has done one.

 

[Duncan]

Quote:

Originally posted by Watchdog Has anyone done a head to head comparison of MD and PCDP portables? I'd love to read a review of that if anyone has done one.

No, but I could quite easily...

I guess you're looking at a modern PCDP (EJ1000) vs a half decent MD (N707)... yeah?

 

[Watchdog]

Actually as I have an MZ-N707 and I'm considering one of the new Sony 2003 models that would be great.

Would really appreciate your thoughts Duncan.

 

[viviorunitia4]

what do you think would be better from a sound quality standpoint? A mz-n10 or a d-ej1000? I am thinking of buying one of the two... I already have a mz-n707. would the mz-n10 be a noticable improvement? Or should I just go with the d-ej1000?

 

[Superbaldguy]

The new PCDP's will sound pretty shallow compared to any new MD unit. You probably won't see any difference between the MZ-N10 and your N707. Maybe consider the MZ-E10, as it's reputed to have quite a sparkiling sonic presentation thanks to its digital amp. The new Sharp MD-DR7 is gaining an equally loyal following, due to its 1-bit headphone amp.

None of the newer PCDP's have raving sound quality, unfortunately, but the line outs work well on those few models that feature one.