goof_chewy Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 I'm brand-new to MD recorders; but thanks to a local garage sale, I have three of them now in my possession: a Sony MZ-R50, a Sony MZ-R700, and an Aiwa AM-F70. I've decided to keep one, and sell the other two.However, I don't know how to decide. I'd like to a) record some acoustic music; and maybe also use my MD as an MP3-type player.I understand that the Sony MZ-R50 is considered to be among the best MD recorders ever made; but how is it better than the Sony MZ-R700, which was released a couple of years later? Is there a difference in sound quality re. playback and recording? I also undertand the R700 can be hacked to unlock some extra features.Thanks goof_chewy(not my real name) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A440 Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 Those are all very old-school MDs. The only way to get music into them is to record in realtime, and the only way to get music out of them is to record out of the headphone jack, also in realtime.The only one I have owned is the MZ-R700. Its update over the other two is that it records in MDLP, which lets you double the length of a disc in LP2 and quadruple it in LP4--at a loss of sound quality you will be able to hear. The R50 is supposed to be very tough and to have a very good mic preamp. Here's the page on the Aiwa. http://www.minidisc.org/part_Aiwa_AM-F65+F70.html Here's the R700 hack.http://forums.minidisc.org/index.php?showt...ld+hack+Mz-r700 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kino170878 Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 I think the R50 used a slightly older version of ATRAC than the R700 on the recording side; however the inputs/outputs on the R50 are superior. Tough call to choose between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbaldguy Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 TBH, for what little value these now represent on the used market, keep the R50 and R700. If you ever get a larger set of phones, you can purchase an amp and it will work sterlingly with your R50's dedicated line out. The R700 offers MDLP but not much else over the older R50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strungup Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 The R50 is a must keep , I have one as well and would not sell it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJ_Palmer Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 I'd keep the R700 for it's MDLP capability (handy for portable use), and the fact it takes a normal AA battery without 'sidecar' pack, and is reasonably compact. However if you have no deck and want quality line output, maybe keep the R50 (too) as a sort of mini-deck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THIS SUCKS Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 keep the 700 it has mdlp and a longer battery life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenmachine Posted February 7, 2008 Report Share Posted February 7, 2008 The R700 lacks a low sensitivity switch for the mic input. Depending on the microphone you use, the input may be too sensitive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHMW Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 I own a bunch of "legacy" (pre-Hi-MD, meaning mono/SP, LP2, LP4) units as well as some Hi-MD units, including an MZ-RH1/M200, and I am in the same situation that you are, but at any cost, I would definitely keep both the R700 and the R50, the R50 for a collector's piece, as I agree with Guitarfxr as far as its reliability and endurance are concerned, two features that Japanese-bulit units (pre-MDLP pre-2000) have over their Malaysian (Post-MDLP 2000-now) versions.Malaysian-built units also have more of a tendancy to give up the ghost faster than their Japanese-made counterparts, even though today's units have more features in them (longer battery life, MDLP, Hi-MD capability, etc.), but if I were you I would do more research on each of your units, and realize that with the R50 you now hold what is an extremely-valuable piece of electronics that will last you twice as long as today's units.TBH, I would think twice before selling either the R50 or R700, for the fact that you will eventually devbelop the old "sellers' remorse" that leads to re-acquision of a unit (and usually for more $$$ than you sold the previous one for), so I would say, based on that, to keep both, and see how the MD trade market plays itself out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strungup Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Dang BIG , ......... I dont think I couldve said it better if I tried !!!!!! well put dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIGHMW Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 Thanks dude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sector001 Posted February 8, 2008 Report Share Posted February 8, 2008 sell the AIWA... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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