PhilippeC

I have found very cheap digital amplificator (kit I think) on the USA web (for less that 50$) but I loose the link and forget the brand name. Do you heard of such a possibility for DAC also ?

Perhaps because it is the very first Sony MD boombox or very first boombox at all. Here in Vietnam, clearly NOBODY care about very old MD stuff. I also can see that it is the time to buy the last MD blanks here because the stock in the only wholesaler I know in Saigon is falling down hardly (1,2$ each).

Is it you Levanel the one who like Dark Ambient music ?

bobt, what do you mean by << shooting yourself in the foot with paypal and US only >> ?

I cannot record with my MDS-B5 coaxial in, he has a problem. There is another optical output, a single AES/EBU XLR-3 connector; I don't know any idea to what it is supposed to be connected. I don't need to test the analog input so far I have optical recording with any of my Type-R (S) walkman. What I can tell is that I needed to decrease the level of the playback control when I connected the first time the MDS-B5 to my Cyrus IIIi. The sound was far louder than my Cyrus Dad3 CD ! But I don't know how much level db I am now on because the numbers on the screw button are too small. Another thing is that depending of the year you record a MD, recording and/or listening level is different, even sources level is different (Old CD / New CD, CD player / Computer optical out with DFX or not) so it is a big mess to compare anything without a method in a test. Louder sound look at first better. Is it why my MDS-B5 sound good to me ? I don't know, I am lost. It is why I choose my ear rather than any technical specifications. I see that MDS-B5 are expensive in America but from time to time you can find cheap ones in France for 150$ (perhaps because there is one "little" problem like mine).

That is an interesting post. When I finally got my MDS-B5 in France last summer, I was in my father's house where all my old Hi-Fi is stored. There I have an Arcam Delta 170 CD transport plus a DAC Arcam Black Box 3, an external DAC one. It was one a very first DAC built, before MD history. So, I made some test using MDS-B5 alone and MDS-B with Black Box. Sincerely, I did not notice any difference (perhaps because my original very high End Einstein amplifier was not there for the test, I had only a old 70's amplifier). As a conclusion, only meant to me that the DAC built inside the MDS-B5 was good enough than the Arcam Black box 3. From now, I never got opportunity to make further tests with a digital amplifier or a modern external DAC like the Cambridge Audio DAC Magic. My amplifier in Vietnam is a Cyrus IIIi so I don't have any optical in. I suppose that the cable between your MD deck optical out and your Onkyo amplifier has also a great importance (I have a Monster optical cable). But your question is about DAC quality (MD deck DAC versus amplifier DAC). Perhaps it is also a question of built quality and a comparison between tank built and non tank built decks optical out connected to your Onkyo amplifier is interesting too, high-end MD decks will perhaps win at least that war ! As I don't have any deck with type-S (or type-R ha ha ha), I cannot help you. I only use my MDS-B5 for listening (remember, I use my computer : Winamp + DFX Audio Enhancer + optical out for my recordings). For me the recording quality (sorry, best-sound-recording-for-me) is more important. That is why I choose to come back to SP. I have Hi-MD MD walkman(MZ-RH1, MZ-NH900) but now I use them only for recording (they have type-R). MDS-B5 explode them for the listening.

ONKYO MD 2511 Black Mint condition 120

TEAC MD-H100 Silver Mint Condition 100

UNIVERSUM MD 4096 very rare ! Silver Small scratches on top of front face 120

Technics SJ-HD501 Silver Mint Condition 100

TEAC MD H500i Silver Mint Condition 120

TEAC MD 5 Black Very tiny scrathes on the hood 120

Technics SJ-HDA710 Silver Good condition 100

TEAC MD H500 Silver Mint Condition 120

TEAC MD 8 Black Mint Condition 120

DENON DMD F100 Silver Mint Condition 130

http://shop.pressit.com/audio-minidisc-labels-60-a4-p-1025.html?zenid=hfhuk5ge6bkrdpl5a715tejbc3 for european guys... 5,62$ /60 sheets today + shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-ZS-M1-Personal-Minidisc-System_W0QQitemZ300377175295QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item45efdff4ff#ht_500wt_924 How such a boombox can reach that sort of price in USA ??? See here : http://forums.sonyinsider.com/index.php?showtopic=24325 much cheaper !

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sony-ZS-M1-Personal-Minidisc-System_W0QQitemZ300377175295QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_2?hash=item45efdff4ff#ht_500wt_924 I can't understand why such a simple boombox can reach that sort of price. I can buy a Sony ZS-M3 (M5?) here in Nhat Tao street for 30$ !

Bobt is right like you know. Everybody as his own criteria. For example I like so much the sound with DFX Audi Enhancer that I re-record most of my MDs from my computer after ripping in Flac format my Cds. Perhaps I get a little far from original sound but it is the sound I prefer. It will not be the same for classical music I think (quiet music in general), so I will correct my jugment at that moment. Also, now that I got my first deck, a professionnal one, MDS-B5, I don't listen any more to my walkman at home ! The difference of dynamic is huge. Sound better perhaps because sound is louder.

Go on ebay to get one. To know the models playing LP2 and LP4 (MDLP) please go on the equipment browser on www.minidisc.org . For a good listening, type S is recommended (Sony). But sadly to record digitally will be impossible unless you buy a MZ-RH1 to upload this way. Simply, you can arrange with someone in this forum living close to you, someone who will be able to upload your music for cheap (how much MD LP do you have? Where are you living?). However with your new player/recorder you will be able to record in real time with your computer (line in). Note that you have right now a lot of decks in the classified section (yes it is me who arrange that).

Hi Koleus, 100

I have re-recorded some of my old CDs directly from my Cyrus Player Dad3 but I notice that the MD sound on my MDS-B5 was dB far far less away compare to the same recording from Flac files with my PC Optical Out + Winamp + DFX Audio Enhancer. 20 of my recording are now on the list of re-re-recording ! I am just listening a computer-MD Eloy (progressive rock) and it is astounding compare to Paranoid Black Sabbath I have listened to 5 minutes ago ! I have read somewhere that Sony JA333ES and perhaps another deck have a function to enhance the level sound, I suppose it is also a solution.

Technics SJ-MD150 Silver Good condition 100