Minidisc Players

MiniDisc recorders still have a couple of advantages, primarily for those with specific needs. MiniDisc models have more robust recording ability than MP3 players. Although many MP3 players are able to double as a voice recorder, they're best suited for voice memos and other close-range recording. MiniDisc players, when equipped with an external microphone, are ideal for live recordings like concerts, lectures and interviews. Recording fidelity is great (dependent partly on your microphone). Since MiniDisc recorders use cheap, removable, nearly indestructible media (MiniDiscs), it is easy to archive recordings. Current MiniDisc players can interface with your computer, so you can download recordings to your hard drive and burn them to a CD for wider playback compatibility.

There are two types of MiniDisc media. Standard 80-minute discs can record up to 320 minutes at the lower-quality recording level. Newer Hi-MD discs store 1 GB of information, up to 45 hours at highest compression. Standard discs cost about $1.50. Hi-MD discs cost about $7 each. Both can be recorded and rerecorded thousands of times, and the discs themselves are virtually indestructible.

MiniDisc recorders have excellent editing options for recordings. You can change the order of your song tracks without having to rerecord or delete tracks. Multi-part tracks can be broken into separate and smaller tracks or these tracks can be combined into a single track. MiniDisc players can be used to transfer music from legacy media like vinyl and tapes with a line-in cable. All current recorders have a line-level input; however, that's not necessarily true of earlier models. In addition, while the only current portable MiniDisc recorder has a microphone input, that's not true with some earlier models. As with MP3 players, all current portable MiniDisc units let you transfer music and podcast recordings (prerecorded online radio shows) from your PC to the player.

Available MiniDisc players and recorders

Sony is the only company still making MiniDisc players and recorders for the U.S. market. Its current lineup includes just one Hi-MD portable model and one MiniDisc deck intended for use by DJs or in a home audio system.

The Sony MZ-RH1 (*est. $335) is the only current portable player/recorder available in the U.S. It features a one-line OLED display for track and title information, unit settings, record levels and more. OLED is a new display technology that's brighter and easier to read than an LCD. The Sony MZ-RH1 measures just under 3.4 by 3.4 inches, and is just under .6-inch thick; it weighs 3.4 ounces.

The Sony MZ-RH1 uses Sony's SonicStage software for transferring music files. Most MP3 players will simply let you drag and drop files to your player, but Sony forces you to go through its software to accomplish that task. Also, while MP3 files can be uploaded directly, WAV and WMA files must be converted to Sony's ATRAC3 music format. Although MP3 files don't have to undergo conversion, many users go through the process anyway as ATRAC music playback sounds better on MiniDisc players than unprocessed MP3s, and the format's compression lets you fit more on a disc. However, it is one extra step you have to take to load music on the player. This is one reason many experts say MP3 players are often easier to use if your main interest is transferring music from your computer to the player. According to a review at MDCenter.nl, the Sony MZ-RH1 does a much better job of playing back MP3s than earlier models.

One quirk that plagued earlier versions of SonicStage is largely a thing of the past. At one time, Sony's aggressive implementation of digital-rights management (DRM) created issues that made common tasks like transferring music to a computer other than the one from which it was loaded very difficult, and even created issues with live recordings. Thankfully, newer versions of SonicStage have made DRM optional.

Sony has also now released Hi-MD Music Transfer for Mac, which allows Mac users to transfer audio files between a Mac and Hi-MD MiniDisc players. Although designed to work primarily with the Sony MZ-RH1, there is some limited compatibility with earlier Hi-MD MiniDisc recorders, such as the Sony MZ-RH10, MZ-RH910 and MZ-RH710.

The Sony MZ-RH1 has optical line-in input for recording from other digital audio gear, such as DVD and CD players. Analog line-level recordings can be made via the same input, but an optional connecting cable is required. There's also a microphone input for live recordings. The MZ-RH1 uses Hi-MD 1GB MiniDiscs for recordings. A USB connection is used to transfer music to and from the player to a computer. Unique to this unit is the ability to transfer content on older MD discs to a computer -- so you'll be able to transfer even older MiniDiscs. Included accessories are a Li-Ion rechargeable battery, headphones, a power adapter, USB cable, backlit remote control, a 1GB Hi-MD disc and a SonicStage software CD ROM. The MZ-RH1 is also available in a bundle with the Sony ECM-DS70P microphone as the Sony MZ-M200 (*est. $370) .

Users have found a lot to like about the Sony MZ-RH1. Marck Evers has posted a long and very detailed review at his website, MDCenter.nl, saying that the Sony MZ-RH1 has kept all of the strong points of its predecessors and addressed many of their shortcomings. "The MZ-RH1 is no longer meant as a competitor for MP3 players, but is aimed primarily at people looking to buy an MD with unequalled upload capability and an affordable price," Evers writes, adding that MP3 playback is improved over earlier models as well.

Sony's only other current MiniDisc offering is quite a different beast. The Sony MDS-JE480 (*est. $135) is not designed for portable use. Instead it is an audio-system component designed to integrate with a home sound system to play back MiniDiscs with the highest possible sound quality. It is also a full-featured editing deck that's ideal for DJs and others looking to create party mixes and more. The deck's powerful editing features let you divide, move and combine tracks; change the volume of recorded tracks; and insert fades. Unlike the Sony MZ-RH1, the Sony MDS-JE480 uses standard MiniDiscs.

Look elsewhere if you are interested in transferring files from your computer as the deck lacks a USB port. There's also no microphone input, nor a headphone jack. Line-level analog and digital (optical) inputs are included for connecting to cassette decks, CD or DVD players and other standard audio gear, as well as a line-level audio output for connection to an audio amplifier. While we have seen no in-depth reviews of the Sony MDS-JE480, user comments at Amazon.com and in user forums have been positive.

Older MiniDisc players and recorders

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.

Important Features: MiniDisc players

• Assess your recording needs. Making high-quality recordings is the main reason MiniDisc players/recorders remain in demand. The latest model, the Sony MZ-RH1, can record through its mic input. Then you can transfer the recordings to and from a PC or Mac computer. Be aware that older models can't do all three functions. Some can record, but not transfer recordings to a computer. Others can transfer recordings to a computer, but not from a computer. If you consider an older model, be sure to know what you're getting.

• If you don't need to make recordings of live events, an MP3 player is a better fit. Making recordings is really the major strength of the MiniDisc format. If you don’t need to record and mainly want to transfer music to/from a player for listening, then an MP3 player is a better option.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
2	Sony MZ-RH1 (*est. $335)	details
1	Sony MDS-JE480 (*est. $135)	-

There is just one current portable MiniDisc model and one home MiniDisc deck sold in the U.S., although there is broader availability elsewhere in the world. Because of that, no professional reviewers are covering the MiniDisc market. We did find a detailed review of the Sony MZ-RH1 at a MiniDisc enthusiast site based in the Netherlands, and good user comments on that model and the MDS-JE480, which is a home MiniDisc deck, at user forums and user review sites. Several discontinued MiniDisc players and recorders also have received some positive user feedback. If you are interested in discontinued MiniDisc models, the best place to look would be eBay. A few -- mostly players with no live recording capability -- are also still available from some retailers.

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