Sharp MD-MT877 stuff.....
Written: Oct 12 '02
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Pros: Large display window, stronger bass than sony units
Cons: Tiny buttons/poor button layout, less Edit options
The Bottom Line: This is a solid MD unit. But like i said, there are so many different kinds of MD units, it depends on what kind of features you're looking for.
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| cbmass520's Full Review: Sharp MD-MT877 Personal MiniDisc Player |
If you're in the market for a new minidisc unit and are relatively new to the MD format, you're probably wondering what the best unit on the market is. The short (and long) answer to that is that there is no one perfect MD unit out there. Different units (from different brands) all have different subsets of features, and--most likely--no single model will have absolutely everything you're looking for. Some people naively assume that since Sony developed the MD format, it would follow that Sony units are the best... and this isn't always the case (although it may hold true depending on your needs). Sharp units are generally known for having stronger audio outputs, but they also have their drawbacks (don't allow you to edit tracks during playback, among other things). The MT877 is a very good unit, but in terms of improvement over the previous generation (the 831), Sharp really didn't make as many improvements to this generation as Sony did with the R900 (although you could easily argue that Sony probably needed to make more improvements to the R90 than Sharp did to the 831).
The MT77 was released in Japan in November 2000, and has already made its way into the European market as the MT877. The US model of the MT77 (called the MT877) was scheduled for release in the US in late May 2001. IĄŻm assuming that you have to go to stores that specialize in minidisc players, because IĄŻve never seen this model in places like Best Buy. But in reality MD players arenĄŻt that popular yet. MD players are actually kind of rare still, or at least in this part of US.
ItĄŻll literally take me hours to include all the bit of details, so I will focus on a few important topics.
Sharp Sound vs Sony Sound vs...
Admittedly, comparing sound quality between different models of MD units is the most difficult thing to put into words when writing these reviews. The sound on the MT77 is excellent, the bass is deep and well rounded, and the overall sound is very "warm". When comparing Sharp units to Sony counterparts, the general consensus is that Sharps have stronger outputs with slightly deeper bass, while the Sony units sound clearer over the entire frequency (the bass on the MT77 is boomier than on the R900, but some people feel that this kind of "muddies" the mids and highs, and thus prefer the sound of Sony units). Different brands all have slightly different "signature sounds", so if you're looking for the ultimate answer to which brand "sounds better", all I can offer is that it is ultimately a choice of personal preference. If you have used Sharp MD units in the past and like the way they sound, the MT77 should not disappoint.
Bass Boost Settings/Bass Distortion
The MT77 has three bass boost settings (0, 1, 2, and 3). While the newer Sony units (including the R900) allow the user to adjust both the bass and treble settings, you usually end up setting the bass and treble to levels that are very similar to the normal bass settings available on the Sharp units. To avoid bass distortion at the higher volumes, the bass level will gradually attenuate as you increase the volume above 23 (the max volume is 30).
Included Earbuds
They suck... ^_^ Slightly better than the R900's included earbuds, serious listeners will probably not ever use them anyway. Aesthetically, they come in a transparent design that matches the cord of the remote, but I would have preferred a black cord on both. Best earbuds I have ever used are the Sony MDR-E888SP's. People have recommended the Etymonics to me, but those are a bit pricey... The Sony MDR-EX70's are okay, they provide good isolation and good bass, but I don't like the overall sound nearly as much as the 888's. Anyway, the discussion of earphones is another matter...
General Design
Sharp has given the MT77 a very slick design that most people either love or hate. As usual, the unit looks smaller in person that it does in photos and snapshots. The display window is nice and large, and has a two-line text display, which is a nice addition (unfortunately Sharp did not implement this as well as they could have, as only the 2nd line can be changed by the user, and the first line ALWAYS shows the disc name). All of the buttons are aligned on the left side of the face, and as you can probably see, the buttons are small. Normally I am not one to complain about the size of buttons on portables (I thought the size of the buttons on the R55 and R900 were just fine), but the buttons on the MT77 are small and not spaced out very well. The unit opens on the left edge, which is where the disc is inserted (a bit awkward unless you're left-handed). The door must still be pulled open after you slide the eject lever--no "one-touch eject" on the Sharps just yet... Input/output jacks are on the top edge, while the rechargeable battery hatch and external battery case connections are on the bottom edge of the main body. There is nothing on the right-hand edge save for the small metal loop for an optional hand strap (not included with the MT77 strangely).
Colors
The MT77 is available in two colors, blue and silver. The blue model is the one I have and has a pale, iridescent touch (the color is borderline feminine). As far as I know, the blue color is only available as a Japanese import. The UK model is [so far] only available in silver, and the US model will only be available in silver when it is released here in May. With the blue model, the color looks different depending on the angle that you view it from. Comparing it to the blue colored R900, the MT77 generally looks a lighter blue, but at certain angles, it appears to be darker.
The numbers on battery life can be a little tricky, as the different modes (SP, LP2, LP4) all have different battery lives. Often times the press releases for the newer MDLP units claim insanely high numbers for battery life, but often those numbers are for the LP4 mode, which most people will rarely use for music. Below is a pair of tables that show the battery life for both the Sharp MT77 and the Sony MZ-R900, for each of the different modes. You may note that while Sony has the higher quoted battery life, Sony also is known to greatly exaggerate the numbers on battery life, so the difference between the two units really isn't as big as it might look on paper.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 320
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Epinions.com ID:
cbmass520
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Reviews written: 2
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