The Price Certainly Justifies What You Get
Written: May 26 '01
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Pros: Records, Super Small Size, MDLP, Battery, Adj. Playback Speed; ALL THE NEWEST STUFF
Cons: PRICE!!
The Bottom Line: It has ALL the newest and coolest features.. It won't be dated or replaced for at least two years.. Smallest recorder on the market right now...
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| TheNihcman's Full Review: Sony Walkman MZ-R900DPC Personal MiniDisc Player |
Being an avid minidisc fanatic, and owning more than 12 Minidisc portables within the past three years, I can safely say that the MZ-R900 is the best Sony MD portable recorder on the market right now.
A key feature that is becoming the newest thing in Minidiscs is MDLP technology; something that the MZ-R900 supports. This allows you to record in three different “speeds”; Standard (74/80 min per MD), LP2 (~148/160 min per MD) and LP4 (~296/320 min per MD). Now many of you are going to ask how recording in LP4 mode will affect the quality of the sound. I’m gonna tell you straight out… Even though the quality is not as good as it would be in “Standard” mode, recording in LP4 mode is recording the equivalent of a 160kps MP3… (for you non-MP3 people, the average MP3 is 128 kps) and the quality of this sound still sounds damn good.
Now one of the key elements that I look for in a Minidisc portable is durability. I cannot stress how important it is to have a portable Minidisc that is durable, as they are often dropped, mishandled and face the wrath of many “accidents.” As for the MZ-R900, it is probably the most durable (current) Minidisc portable on the market. Unlike the cheaper MZ-R55 or the MZ-R70 / MZ-R700, it doesn’t feel paper thin, and the Magnesium Alloy casing is quite thick and durable. However, the coloring (not sure if it’s painted or oxidized colored) easily comes off with a scratch, so watch out, as this is not really suited for everyday use.
There are also many really COOL features that this MD possesses. It has the capabilities of many Home MD Decks, and then some. First off, the coolest feature is the fact that it has a variable and adjustable playback speed! You can change the speed of the playback from 80% to 110%. Sorry, but for you people who want to make Barry White sound like the Chipmunks, it’s not possible. The difference in speed only makes it sound like a guy with a girl’s voice, or a girl with a guy’s voice. The difference isn’t enough to make the Chipmunks sound like normal people, nor Barry White like the Chipmunks. It also has a date stamp, so you can date when you recorded your MD. Another amazing feature is the fact that it has two jog dials!
As for playback, this MD is nearly flawless in terms of sound quality. Again, depending on the recording speed, the quality will vary, but in just about any mode, it’s top-notch quality. Another cool playback quality is the fact that it has 8-Step Adjustable Bass and Treble, meaning that you can change the bass and treble while you listen from the remote. There are a total of 64 possible Bass-Treble combinations to compliment the music you’re listening to. For you people who like to blast your music so people across the room can hear it, the maximum volume is more than enough for you, so you can keep your little portable amp at home.
Nowadays, shock protection isn’t as much of an issue as it was back in the MZ-EP11 days because just about all MD’s have 40 second skip protection now. But I noticed something quite interesting with the MZ-R900. On LP4 mode, the shock protection works for a little more than 2 minutes – great for you athletic people who run or jog or bike with MD’s.
The remote of the MZ-R900 is cool too. It’s a long, cylindrical remote where the volume control is “hidden” so you can’t accidentally blow your ears out by leaning on your remote. By “hidden,” I mean the new format of the remote. To adjust the volume, you must pull the end of the remote outwards, exposing a “hidden” control. Adjusting the volume is then achieved by twisting forward and backward. To change the track, one would twist forward and backward while the remote is pushed in. Although it was a good idea for Sony to “hide” the volume control, reverting back to the twist motion to change the track, as opposed to the push/pull system on the MZ-E75/MZ-E80/MZ-E90 remotes, makes it nearly impossible to change the track/volume with one hand.
The one downside to this MD is the MAD HIGH COSTS!!! It retails for $400, but can easily be purchased for low $300’s on eBay. For you college people looking for a MD recorder/player, this may be a tad out of your price range. But if you have the money, don’t hesitate to pick one up! It has all the newest features, and won’t become aged for at least two to three years!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 270
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TheNihcman
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Location: New York!
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