Older MiniDisc Players, Recorders

Discontinued models still available

Discontinued players continue to be available through auction sites such as eBay and through enthusiast sites such as MiniDisc.org., and experts say if you're looking for something simple, these are a good bet. If you are mainly interested in recording lectures or tracking your progress on a musical instrument, you might be interested in the Sony MZ-R55. This was one of Sony's players from 1999, and while you won't be able to transfer files to your computer, you will be able to make recordings to standard MiniDiscs with a microphone. We saw this player going for between $35 and $80 on eBay, and it's a popular suggestion in MiniDisc enthusiast forums.

If you are interested in a basic player for on-the-go music enjoyment, some discontinued models like the Sony MZ-DN430 (*Est. $55) remain available new from some retailers. You'll be able to download music from your computer to this player, but there is no microphone input for recording concerts or lectures.

The trick to shopping for a used or discontinued player is assessing your needs and checking for accessories. While MiniDisc media is still widely available (especially online), used models may be missing hard-to-find cables or power adapters, so be sure to check. Also, not all older models can interface with a computer, and not all can make line-in or microphone recordings, so be sure to ask. Finally, most older players use older versions of Sony's SonicStage software, which can mean DRM issues and a more complex music transfer procedure. Macs are not supported with older MiniDisc models.