MDS-480 (Please Discontinue Cassettes and keep MD)

[gccradioscience]

I have went to Crutchfield.com and seen that they discontinued the Sony MDS-480. Why? Is sony being another problem why they cannot

sell media and decks in stores??

We need to file some petition to get sony to sell the minidisc equipment and walkmans. Minidisc right now is being preserved and my collection is put away. We shouldn't lose MD equipment cause of some unkwown stupid reason cause of the economy falling downhill or some copyright issue. If that's the case then discontinue the cassette tape and replace it with minidisc. Minidiscs were supposed to be the replacement for cassette tapes and Digital Audio Tapes and Digital Compact Cassettes, but Sony wants to sell real old technology such as the cassette tape, cause I see tape decks still in stores. I cannot believe we are in the year 2008 and I am still recording with old school cassettes and having trouble making live recordings with the computer. Like we said its Sonys fault for not selling the decks cause of stupid DRM reason or something. I feel like I am living in 1992 with sony not helping customers get what they need. Sony, This is not 1988 this is 2008!

Edited June 7, 2008 by gccminidiscuser

[kino170878]

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProductCate...MiniDisc+Player

MDS JE480 and MDS JE780 are decks that are still being sold by Sony UK. Maybe you can try importing as you live in the States.

[gccradioscience]

http://www.sony.co.uk/view/ShowProductCate...MiniDisc+Player

MDS JE480 and MDS JE780 are decks that are still being sold by Sony UK. Maybe you can try importing as you live in the States.

Sounds fine, but will they still be available to get into the states? Minidisc is not illegal to import anyways its through the Customs its possible, but another thing is that getting one that runs on 120 V AC will be an issue so I might have to get a voltage converter to run on 120 V from 220 Volts 50 Hz. If I can get my hands on one I will get the MDS-J780 for the home office cause thats where MD's are mostly being recorded from the PC. The MDS-JE480 is good for just live recording like off of a CD or mp3 in the living room, the other model is good to accompany with the PC. I have sonic stage, but still do not use it too much. I will see about doing that, but I have to convert pounds into dollars or that new currency Euros to Ameros.

Adam E.

[sfbp]

Sounds fine, but will they still be available to get into the states? Minidisc is not illegal to import anyways its through the Customs its possible, but another thing is that getting one that runs on 120 V AC will be an issue so I might have to get a voltage converter to run on 120 V from 220 Volts 50 Hz. If I can get my hands on one I will get the MDS-J780 for the home office cause thats where MD's are mostly being recorded from the PC. The MDS-JE480 is good for just live recording like off of a CD or mp3 in the living room, the other model is good to accompany with the PC. I have sonic stage, but still do not use it too much. I will see about doing that, but I have to convert pounds into dollars or that new currency Euros to Ameros.

Adam E.

Take a look at the service manual, if it's here. Or look at some other model if not. I had a quick look and it seems very common for these types of equipment to be essentially one wire different (2 or 3 taps on the power supply) between voltages. I realise this may not be good from warranty POV but realistically you won't get warranty service in another country anyway.

So likely you are stuck with getting a different mains plug for the cable (or replace the whole cable) and that's about it.

Hope this helps.

[BIGHMW]

We need to file some petition to get sony to sell the minidisc equipment and walkmans. Minidisc right now is being preserved and my collection is put away. We shouldn't lose MD equipment cause of some unkwown stupid reason cause of the economy falling downhill or some copyright issue. If that's the case then discontinue the cassette tape and replace it with minidisc. Minidiscs were supposed to be the replacement for cassette tapes and Digital Audio Tapes and Digital Compact Cassettes, but Sony wants to sell real old technology such as the cassette tape, cause I see tape decks still in stores. I cannot believe we are in the year 2008 and I am still recording with old school cassettes and having trouble making live recordings with the computer. Like we said its Sonys fault for not selling the decks cause of stupid DRM reason or something. I feel like I am living in 1992 with sony not helping customers get what they need. Sony, This is not 1988 this is 2008!

I agree.

MiniDisc is the the best thing Sony ever invented and for them to discontinue the format altogether is total BS. I can't believe that they are sill making cassette tapes/decks and not MD/Hi-MD (except for the MZ-M200 and who knows how long that will stil;l be around), although I have gone to the NW-HD5 for playback/listening purposes (same great ATRAC/SonicStage friendliness as MD/Hi-MD) I still, even 10 years later (my management, Len Enders got me into it in 1998) prefer MD and Hi-MD for everything alse, and my RH1 as my legacy MD uploader to load up tracks for my new HD5 as well as Hi-MD for my lineup of Hi-MD units (most of my collection is either stored away, either as backups or as an investment that can return BIG $$$ later on for all of you fellow collectors out there on the MDCF and ATB.), and I think that Sony has made another one of their boo-boos as far as marketing is concerned.

Sony had a great thing going and they (once again) turn their back on it. Ideas are meant to be worked out to full potential, not put to sleep due to something like pressure from the recording industry or any of this DRM crap.

Since 1998, MiniDisc (and eventually Hi-MD) have been nothing less than a godsend for me especially when it comes to recording "on the spot" (live) or for setting up recordings to make custom CDs (try doing that with a cassette, let alone edit or rearrange or erase tracks), that was the whole reason behind MiniDisc in the first place, since 1992, it has set the standard for digital recording for even the consumer let alone experienced professionals worldwide. It is a slap in the face of advancing technology by going backwards like a bunch of hicks in a redneck small town, instead of working to make it even better.

[bobt]

I agree.

MiniDisc is the the best thing Sony ever invented and for them to discontinue the format altogether is total BS. I can't believe that they are sill making cassette tapes/decks and not MD/Hi-MD (except for the MZ-M200 and who knows how long that will stil;l be around), although I have gone to the NW-HD5 for playback/listening purposes (same great ATRAC/SonicStage friendliness as MD/Hi-MD) I still, even 10 years later (my management, Len Enders got me into it in 1998) prefer MD and Hi-MD for everything alse, and my RH1 as my legacy MD uploader to load up tracks for my new HD5 as well as Hi-MD for my lineup of Hi-MD units (most of my collection is either stored away, either as backups or as an investment that can return BIG $$$ later on for all of you fellow collectors out there on the MDCF and ATB.), and I think that Sony has made another one of their boo-boos as far as marketing is concerned.

Sony had a great thing going and they (once again) turn their back on it. Ideas are meant to be worked out to full potential, not put to sleep due to something like pressure from the recording industry or any of this DRM crap.

Since 1998, MiniDisc (and eventually Hi-MD) have been nothing less than a godsend for me especially when it comes to recording "on the spot" (live) or for setting up recordings to make custom CDs (try doing that with a cassette, let alone edit or rearrange or erase tracks), that was the whole reason behind MiniDisc in the first place, since 1992, it has set the standard for digital recording for even the consumer let alone experienced professionals worldwide. It is a slap in the face of advancing technology by going backwards like a bunch of hicks in a redneck small town, instead of working to make it even better.

I don't think I could have said it better

Peace brother

Bob

[BIGHMW]

Thanks Bob. I meant all of that too.

[bobzilli]

Keep in mind that many people still use cassettes and even buy new prerecorded ones in countries outside the US and western Europe

[Lopar-XL]

I still use cassettes myself, along with my MDs, and even a SD card recorder. It all depends upon the situation and what I intend to do with the recording. I like the analog warmth of cassette, and my recorder has the all-important pitch control wheel and tape speed selector, which I use to play around with my field recordings. I still prefer using MD for music most of the time. I'll concur with your disappointment at the lack of continued support for MD technology. I'm keeping mine for as long as I can, though.