Music On the Go
Written: Aug 15 '02
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Pros: Convenient size, excellent sound, fast NetMD transfer, looks cool. :-)
Cons: Sony's software is an interesting challenge to figure out.
The Bottom Line: If you're looking for an inexpensive, portable music solution, MD players are the way to go. And this Sony model is one of the best ways to get there.
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| mkuehn's Full Review: Sony Net MD Walkman MZ-N707 Personal MiniDisc Play... |
I was looking, as many of you may be, for a portable music solution. I wanted an MP3 player, but couldn't afford the Apple iPod I really wanted, and didn't want to buy a cheaper MP3 player with limited storage.
Then I came across MD players. The storage media is cheap, and holds a lot of music, the player is small, and try as you might, the thing just won't skip!
Transferring music to a MiniDisc is pretty straightforward. You either use the Simple Burner software which copies whole CDs or selected tracks to disc, or Sony's OpenMG Jukebox, which, although sometimes difficult to use due to poor translations of the original Japanese messages, converts media files (like MP3) on your hard drive to the OpenMG format and transfers them to disc. Either process is quick, certainly much, much better than the old style 1:1 copying process where a 60-minute disc would take 60 minutes to copy! (The RealOne Player also supports transfer to this device, and does so in a cleaner, easier-to-user manner, although lacking some of the features of the OpenMG Jukebox.)
You also get a choice of sound qualities when you're transferring music. LP4 is the lowest quality, and is good for things like spoken word. Trying to listen to music encoded in LP4 mode is difficult; it's like listening to SACD and then switching directly to an AM broadcast. You can really tell the difference, and at least to me, it's too annoying to ignore. LP2 mode, however, is completely acceptable for music, and still allows you to get 160 minutes on an 80-minute disc. You'll only notice the compression artifacts if you listen closely in a quiet environment, or your music contains lots of cymbals, which seem to distort quickly. The highest quality LP mode only gets you 80 minutes on an 80-minute disc, but the quality is almost identical to the source. I haven't been able to tell the difference.
Playback is easy, too, although some of the controls take some getting used to. The wired remote is handy if you want to keep the player inside your coat or backpack. While the controls are minimal, they're more than enough to control the player. I also haven't had the player skip yet, even while shaking it to attempt to get it to skip. I was worried it would skip like a CD player, but nope, it doesn't.
Battery life is more than acceptable. Using the included rechargeable battery, I only charge maybe once a week (and not because I have to...there's still plenty of charge left for a couple more days, I bet!), and that's after listening for two hours on the way to work each day.
The included auto adaptor and cassette tape adaptor are an excellent addition if you do any driving at all. They'd probably run you another US$40 if bought separately.
Overall, if you need to have music with you at all times, a portable MD player is the way to go. You get lots of music on a disc, long battery life, skip-free playback, and best of all, your favorite tunes whenever you want them.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 199
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Epinions.com ID:
mkuehn
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Member: Matthew Kuehn
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 2 members
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