nfc

""I want to be able to alter rec levels on the fly - and I understood that Sony units don't allow you to do that, is that still the case?"" *This* is why I am anti-Sony - and if someone could answer this for me, it might make things a little clearer. Oh yeah, and I also had a bit of a negative experience with a Sony video recorder, but that is another matter entirely.

I suppose the max would be around $300 - its not so much the *price* that bothers me, more what the unit can do. I really really REALLY like Sharps, but am having difficulty finding one. I *think* I can still get hold of a Sharp IMDR420 but I came across a thread on another message board which suggests it wouldn't be much good when it comes to uploading stuff to the PC (the thread is here hopefully) I may also have tracked down a DR580, but if this is right about the 420, is it likely that the DR580 would share the same problems? If needs be, I could use my old 866 to do the MD-PC transfer, although it's a bit of a faff getting the discs in and out of the unit now I want to be able to alter rec levels on the fly - and I understood that Sony units don't allow you to do that, is that still the case?

Why do you keep asking?? Like everyone, I would like it to be as cheap as possible!

Thanks for the link - the prices there are comparable to what I would have expected to pay in the UK when these things were still available. The only problem with ordering from the States is that I would face hefty import taxes which could possibly add an extra $100 or more to the cost. I'll keep looking - something will turn up! Cheers

To be honest, I'm not sure. I've been scouring ebay, but I'm reluctant to shell out megabucks on ebay for a secondhand unit which might not work. What I would really like is to be able to find a *new* one, but I don't think that will be possible. I can still get a MD-MT280 from Richer Sounds in the UK, but I wasn't that keen on it, it felt rather flimsy by comparison to the 866 I've been so used to. Maybe I'm just too fussy.

Hi all, am a newbie to these boards and first time posting so be gentle with me! I've been a firm fan of Sharp MDs since I got my first one around 6/7 years ago (god is it *really* that long ago!) and, when my faithful 866 decided to start playing up before Xmas thought, right, time to get a new one............ It's proving nigh on impossible to find a Sharp unit here in the UK now they've been discontinued - is there *anywhere* that still do them? Failing that, is is possible these days with Sony units to alter rec levels on the fly? I tend to do a lot of, er, field recordings I'm not worried about getting a HiMD unit, but I *do* need a mic input. If I had realised Sharp were going to pull the plug, I would have upgraded while I still had the chance