Sony Soundgate LAM-Z05 Mini Combo System: Comments and Setup

[melmel]

I bought the Sony LAM-Z05 mini combo unit last month, and I want to say a few things about it. I'll talk about the setup too.

I do not do any live-recording with my portable minidisc devices. There are better tools for that nowadays. What I need is to have a good setup so that I can SIMPLY record my CD's into the stereo SP format. The Z05 fits my needs.

On the back, there is a speaker-port, a headphone-out port, and a USB port (more on this later). The speaker-port is some Sony proprietary port. The headphone port is the standard green 3.5mm one. The USB port is for your computer and NETMD.

There is a "lid" on the top of the Z05, and it can open to both sides. The MD slot is on the left and the CD slot on the right. They suck in your discs like car players. The sound quality is good! It's not going to blow you away, but given their size, they are great speakers. There is bass and it has some Sony technology to project the sound up and around. I think the unit is good for rooms up to 100 sq feet.

It also has several pre-set EQ settings available (rock, pop, jazz, etc.) and a "Matrix Surround" feature. I like this feature. The music becomes more dynamic with a better soundstage. I really enjoy the sound from the unit and the speakers.

The Z05 can do normal 1x dubbing from CD to MD and also 4x high-speed. I use 4x every time, and it takes 12-15 minutes to record a CD album. Great! However, I want to say that one time there was a problem. In one album, on the very first note of the first song, there is a hard acoustic guitar strum. When I listened to the MD, the strum was missing the bass strings. It's as if the guitar player only strummed the first three strings (E B G). I went back to the Z05 and re-recorded in real-time, and it was fine again with the full strum. The point is, I am sure that there is some quality variation (and loss) when recording in high-speed mode.

I will use 4x, but if you have the time, 1x is still preferred to ensure the best quality. The unit can record in SP, LP2, and LP4.

You can title songs and albums on the unit with the remote control. It took me 10 minutes to figure things out, but it's not really that hard. The last button on the remote toggles between entering Katakana and English characters. Creating groups and moving tracks also work.

At first, I was going to get the Z03, because its design "seemed" better. The Z03 felt cuter and rounder, and the Z05 seemed boring and too boxy. But later I realized that the Z03 actually feels cheap and fragile. It looks like it is about to break, and its colors tend to fade off the plastic. The Z05 has a better finish, and the clear plastic parts and metal buttons are more durable. The metal base for the unit and speakers also help. It actually feels expensive and strong, unlike the Z03.

Do not get the white version of either the Z03 or Z05. The white becomes yellow after a few years.

I'll continue with the computer setup in the next post.

[PhilippeC]

The point is, I am sure that there is some quality variation (and loss) when recording in high-speed mode.

I will use 4x, but if you have the time, 1x is still preferred to ensure the best quality. The unit can record in SP, LP2, and LP4.

Tagazok ! Comtraya ! Okey Dokey ! congratulation ! How much do you pay it ? I can get such a bookshelf here (phamcu) http://www.5giay.vn/...i-minidisc.html or here http://www.5giay.vn/...ui-kenwood.html . 1T3 = 62US$ , 1T5 = 72US$

i always suspect what you said : "some quality variation (and loss) when recording in high-speed mode", like SimpleBurner or SS transforming "SP" in LP2

phamcu has also the LAM-X1 and use it exactely like you, plus Hi-MD modes.

.... even here : http://muaban.hiha.vn/HOT-Hang-noi-dia-Nhat-moi-ve-Dong-ho-treo-tuong-co-Quat-co-May-nghe-CD-co-v-v-tp103681.aspx

[PhilippeC]

somebody know this one ??? SONY Celebrity MD-7000 ?

[melmel]

Tagazok ! Comtraya ! Okey Dokey ! congratulation ! How much do you pay it ? I can get such a bookshelf here (phamcu) http://www.5giay.vn/...i-minidisc.html or here http://www.5giay.vn/...ui-kenwood.html . 1T3 = 62US$ , 1T5 = 72US$

Not sure about the first two words. Exclamations? Bara bing bara boom?

Anyway, I paid $120. I bought it from a Japanese friend in Japan. It's 90% new, in silver. I checked your two links, and they only have the Z03. I really do not recommend the Z03.

phamcu has also the LAM-X1 and use it exactely like you, plus Hi-MD modes.

.... even here : http://muaban.hiha.v...v-tp103681.aspx

The LAM-X1 is still very pricey, even in the used market. But I can see how it can be useful and convenient. The design is a little bit too much for me, though.

It's unfortunate that minidisc devices are found in a company that basically sells cheap crap.

Edited August 22, 2012 by melmel

[PhilippeC]

It's unfortunate that minidisc devices are found in a company that basically sells cheap crap.

No you are wrong, there is at last ONE company that sell ONLY expensive hIgh-end units AND even a minidisc car player... McIntosh

[melmel]

Maybe you misunderstood me. I was referring to the link to the company in Vietnam.

http://muaban.hiha.vn/HOT-Hang-noi-dia-Nhat-moi-ve-Dong-ho-treo-tuong-co-Quat-co-May-nghe-CD-co-v-v-tp103681.aspx

That company sells cheap crap like fans and rice cookers. Minidisc systems are there too. This suggests that minidisc systems belong in the same "category" of cheap crap.

That's unfortunate.

[PhilippeC]

There are thousands of vietnamese who sell electric stuff in their house. Some are very specialize, like phamcu (MD decks & Hi-MD bookshelves) or the other guy with with all that big (but NOT dirty) stock. It is only when they have a lot of place (sometime only the garden or the terrace...) in their house that they diversify. They are NOT disturb by all that mess in their house because it is business. People said "MD is not popular" (they prefer their phones with super crqp sound). And you have also to understand this cheap crap is expensive for most of these people.