MDLP player with digital out: Recommendations for ebayUK search?

[windbag]

A newbie post to this forum.

I have a bunch of LP2 and SP minidiscs of microphone recordings made on Sharp MD-MT831H/MD-MT88 portables over the past 8 years or so.

I'd like to play them directly into a new all-digital high-end system I am putting together.

I'm in the UK, looking to source a player with a digital output. Best would be s/pdif coax, Toslink I can use, but may need to convert to s/pdif depending on what other digital inputs I end up with (my digital preamp has 1 Toslink, three s/pdif).

[bobt]

A newbie post to this forum.

I have a bunch of LP2 and SP minidiscs of microphone recordings made on Sharp MD-MT831H/MD-MT88 portables over the past 8 years or so.

I'd like to play them directly into a new all-digital high-end system I am putting together.

I'm in the UK, looking to source a player with a digital output. Best would be s/pdif coax, Toslink I can use, but may need to convert to s/pdif depending on what other digital inputs I end up with (my digital preamp has 1 Toslink, three s/pdif).

[bluecrab]

A newbie post to this forum.

...I'm in the UK, looking to source a player with a digital output....

I've also spent time ploughing through the more than 700 models in the (superb!) database, and think I've found 8 models that seem to fit the basic requirements.

I prioritised MD decks, then {CD/MD units}, ignored bookshelf & Boombox models ,but have included [portables and pro units]:

Sony

[sfbp]

A newbie post to this forum.

I have a bunch of LP2 and SP minidiscs of microphone recordings made on Sharp MD-MT831H/MD-MT88 portables over the past 8 years or so.

I'd like to play them directly into a new all-digital high-end system I am putting together.

I'm in the UK, looking to source a player with a digital output. Best would be s/pdif coax, Toslink I can use, but may need to convert to s/pdif depending on what other digital inputs I end up with (my digital preamp has 1 Toslink, three s/pdif).

[windbag]

Thanks for the swift replies, bobt, bluecrab & sfbp.

I've added the Sony MDS-JB980,940,780 and 640 to the search list.

I was using the very fine minidisc.org database here

Looking again, it says that the Sony MXD-D40 & MZ-RH1have no digital out (would help if I could read!), thanks, guys.

So I've deleted them from my search.

[sfbp]

Looking again, it says that the Sony MXD-D40 & MZ-RH1have no digital out (would help if I could read!)

True... but the RH1 can upload over USB the SP and LP2 recordings at approx 8-15x playback speed, and with optional .WAV generation on completion.

While looking through the Sony suggestions in the database, I found a link to a

[windbag]

Just a quickie before I reply to sfbp:

I'm seeing some 940's billed as "UK SPECIAL EDITION" Any ideas what that might be/advantages?

[windbag]

I'm not sure which (if any) receivers would support this odd combination of 44.1/24 bits externally

Thanks for that sfbp.

[sfbp]

Sounds like you are right on the money, boss. I am still astounded by how good both the 640 AND Sonic Stage sound playing directly into a receiver with digi input at 16-bits 44.1. Most of the posters here (me included) were choosing on the basis of the DACs (eg the 920 has possibly the best DAC of all in a non-digital system) but you are right, it's the features that count.

One thing that crosses my mind is: does using a longer word length ever cause PROBLEMS (such as bandwidth overloading or drops)? I am not experienced at the ins and outs - I am simply happy that my current setup actually works.

I suspect QS tuned for the UK is some weird combination of filters for 50Hz and the current-at-the-time UK broadcast setup. My 980 is also "QS Tuned for the UK" and it runs fine here (Canada, 115V 60Hz) as far as I can tell. Maybe Sony are the only ones (if any) who can explain this particular piece of mythology.