What MD media do you use?

[dcg]

Just got a Sharp M90 for Christmas thanks to input from head-fi (my first MD Player). I did a search, but can't find any threads on what media you all use. So, out with it: what brand, where do you buy them, and is the improvement a sound quality issue or more of a durability issue?

 

[leon]

Most people think it's a durability (and no-freak-dropouts) issue. While it seems less warranted, there is a crowd who believe in sound differences; I'd say you can overlook that.

I quite like Maxell's Pure Platinum for design. It's now replaced by the Music Gear, which has the same shell but different graphics.

http://www.minidisct.com/blanks/maxell.html
http://www.maxell.co.jp/products/con...md/m_gear.html

I also use the Maxell XL (no longer in production), TDK XA-PRO, and Sony Prism.

Enjoy the MT90, happy listening!!

 

[andrzejpw]

hey! I've got one too! Got it before the summer. Personally, I have 10 minidisco discs, which are just hi-space, 5 extra hi-space, and I have 1 80 min sony and 1 Sony 74 minute ES. All have been working fine.

Hope you'll be enjoying the mt90 just as much as I am!

 

[MacDEF]

If you do a search of the archives, you'll find lots of threads on this topic.

Personally, I think that for the most part it's foolish to spend a lot of money on blanks. Unless you're using the cheaper models that have plastic shutters (which are known to jam more), you won't hear any difference between $1 discs and $5 discs. I personally stick to Hi-Space (about $1.30 per disc) -- they are made by one of the largest European manufacturers of digital media, and have some of the lowest error rates on the market. I have around 80 to 100 Hi-Space discs and have never had a problem.

 

[tracylynn]

sony niege ..... yup

 

[Braver]

TDK XS-IV

all sorts of cool colors! always buy TDK for some reason. loved their casettes, so it's sortof a brand-loyalty thing

10$ for five, bit more for the 80min ones. TDK hasn't failed me yet

those Sharps are something ey? they've got a new model out for MDLP. the 800 or something. very cool looking!

 

[Trawlerman]

I usually get what ever is available.

I work for a large elctrical retailer here in the UK and the companies within our group supply the Maxell Colour MD's. So i've got hundreds of them. I've had absolutely no problems with them and have been using Maxell MD's since 1996. The only grumble that I have with them is that they have the plastic spring-loaded cover on them which seems a bit of cost cutting excerise to much but they do sound good and are most durable.



Funnily enough, the worst discs that i've used are the Sony ones. They usually fall apart or just won't work properly in my systems.

Also used the odd HiSpace disc and although I don't have any horror stories with them, I'd rather use the Maxell's.

In the end it comes down to personal preference. YMMV.




For the record I currently own the following MD equipment.

Sony MDS-JE500
Sony MDS-JE510
Sony MDS-JA30ES
Sony MZ-R900
Sharp MT-M20


Cheers
Mick

 

[meithkiller]

I've got around 50-60 MD's and most of them are Sony (regular and ES) or TDK, but I've got a few Maxell and Hi-Space too. I've had one or two bad Hi-Space discs. but most of them have worked just fine. I get most of mine online from Minidisco, they seem to have one of the best selections and pretty good prices to. To me durability seems to be more of an issue than sound quality, but as long as you keep your MD's in some sort of case you should be ok.

-Keith

 

[Azumandus]

Well I use TDK or Sony 74's for most of my cd to minidisc recordings...but when I do live recording I use sony gold 80 min just because they give you that extra shock protection.

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Since I've rediscovered MD, I am digging up this month-old thread...

So far I have never used anything but Sony 80-minute gold MDs, right now sold at Best Buy for $2.60 apiece in a package of five. However, is "gold" media any better than "color" media (of the same brand)?

 

[MacDEF]

Nope. May as well save yourself some money and get some Hi-Space from Minidisco.com (<$1.50 a piece)

 

[Moonwalker]

Hi!

I'm using Maxell normal and PRO, Sony Premium, ES and colours, TDK (3 types), Bestmedia, Memorex, many of them 74 but some 80 min. All without single defect

Moonwalker

 

[Eagle_Driver]

Nope, MacDEF. I can't order online any more, due to my varying work schedule (yep, you heard me right; I won't find out my work hours for Monday February 4 until Friday February 1 at the earliest) - and I will likely be away during the day on weekdays. And buyind MD discs in small quantities will cost much more per disc than buying big packs, anyway - DUH! Hehe, that Best Buy has a 15-pack of 74-minute "color" MD discs for $28, which works out to $1.87 per disc. But that's still quite a bit higher than ordering discs online. But, as I said, I am forced to pay far higher prices for discs, the way my work schedule is. And I don't have any neighbors whatsoever that will be available for accepting packages!

Quote:

Originally posted by MacDEF Nope. May as well save yourself some money and get some Hi-Space from Minidisco.com (<$1.50 a piece)

I've checked Minidisco.com, and that vendor doesn't carry those Hi-Space discs any more.

I see mainly Sony and TDK discs, with a smattering of other brands (but not Hi-Space), and (unfortunately) none of the media that Minidisco currently carries sell for less than $1.70 a piece. Guess what Minidisco charges for the Sony 80-minute gold media that I am currently using? $2.59 per disc (in a 10-pack)! That's barely any less than what Best Buy charges per disc for the SAME media in a 5-pack - and shipping charges will more than wipe out any price advantage of ordering online from Minidisco (at least for that particular media - $25.90 plus shipping for a 10-pack at Minidisco; $25.98 plus sales tax for two 5-packs at Best Buy).

 

[Andrew Pielet]

In Chicago I have found a store that sells 80 min Sony gold premium (with extra shock) at $7.99 for 5. On Tuesdays, they have a coupon for 1 dollar off everything over $4.99 in store. That makes it 5 for 6.99. No shipping! Has anybody found a better deal than that??

 

[legoman]

For me the biggest difference, is the MD case or whatever you call it. The early I think Maxell MDs I had, they always slip out of their sleeve (what good is a sturdy plastic shell if things slip out). The BASF/Emtec ones have a nice case, similar to the ones that come with compact cassetes.