Fitting for Trekkers
Written: Oct 02 '01
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Pros: Excellent features; MD recordings identical to CD.
Cons: CD playback don't justify price
The Bottom Line: Overall a great package, but CD playback lacks the final bite.
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| MichaelHatton's Full Review: Sony MXD-D40 Mini Disc Player |
Product Overview
A CD personal is probably the best way to lumber your music collection, however with the MiniDisc era it has become more fitting to use these mini discs rather than the Compact Discs. What you’ll only need is a MD personal to play them. However, a player is fairly cheap, but a recorder model will often cost a little more. And then recording using the personals are often fraught with problems, such as not having connections from a hi fi. So a system like this MXD-D40 will offer better convenience. The concept has been around a while, Hitachi and Pioneer have had their turns with the RMD100, and the Pioneer MJ-D508. The concept is simple. Take a standard CD player, split the digital feed from the transport mechanism throw that to a MiniDisc recorder and you have a ready made recorder.
The unit shadowed in classy black and finished highly with a flat face, and large front LED screen look superb. The two transports are located either side of the unit, with the CD on the left and opposing right the MD. On the front, onto which a embossed from panel lies, are the controls which detract its first impressions, the controls include two jog dials symmetrical Play/Pause/Search/Track buttons separated by the LED screen. One thing which seems odd, is the way the CD transport operated with a tray, while the MD one uses a slot loader, why not both tray? Over on the right is the ‘phones socket accepting 5.5mm jacks with volume control.
The next stage in designing a CD to MD recorder is to pop a few neat features that make recording easier and quicker. Alls you’ll need to do is to pop in your favourite CD, press the Synchronize button to commence recording. While you can opt for that technique, you can also set a number of features going to either record specific parts of the CD or record at a more compressed mode. It offers up to three hours of high compression onto a standard 74 minute MD. What is quite bizarre is that it’s actually faster to synch the recording of the entire CD, then add titles and delete some tracks last.
Since its cost is in the £300 area, it isn’t exactly aimed straight for those who opt for little micros, rather ones who don’t yet own a CD player, but do desire one since their tape and turntable recording combos ain’t been going terribly well. So adding this to such a system takes, what, about ten pounds of interconnect cable and a spare mains socket? While you can use an external CD player if you feel to, as it includes a digital output (optical) input and output as well as in(x2)/out analogue RCA sockets at line level unbalanced.
Since it’s using a versatile format, MD, it’s able to record in many different ways to get a huge amount of music onto the 74 minute disc. Firstly is can record at high speed, selectable as either 4x or 2x LP2/LP4. It can also record in mono, using “R ATRAC” recording, and using its brand new MDLP MiniDisc Long Play technology to allow 320 minutes of recording ability. Along its front includes a recording level, which may be useful if recording “quite” microphone soundtrack from a CD-R or external source.
The overall operation is smooth and precise, controls and labels can be clearly read, it means that anyone can use it, with or without the special features, like random or the faster speed dubbing.
As it is specifically crafted for the higher spec hi fi setup, it must be took serious as both a CD player and a MiniDisc player/recorder. While it would never reach the class in the +£200+ bracket of CD players, it sounds remarkably like the £140 Sony CDP-XE530 CD player, and Sony’s MX-G750 MiniDisc recorder at £150. Recordings are, however, identical to the originals, but, these samples are played on the deck, but are identical because of the CD players lack of spirit, so testing with an external CD player may justify its real performance. The overall misdemeanour is that the CD player isn’t brilliant, which points to the identical sounds from MD recordings. Thus the player within doesn’t fill potential in the price range.
While there are no major quarrels in CD performance, it doesn’t sound so-so justifying its’ price. But the recording is quite special, clarity and precision are top. I’d not recommend the speed boosts, which develop more distortional tonality, and less clarification for recording.
During usual reviewing using a number of top albums, Ash Free All Angels, Muse Origin Of Symmetry, Radiohead OK Computer & The Bends. The overall impression is a clear and detailed presentation, but it lacks power and weight. Acoustic guitars are crisp and sharp, the metallic jingle sounds just right in pace, but yet lacks under-drone. Bass drums are left a little thin and light, but remain controlled and attacking. Cymbals and other such instruments are clear and sizzling, they do sound great. But the overall impression is it sounds clear and attacking, but lacking in real grunt, I doubt the system I use’s the cause.
The playback with MD’s are great, all the presentation lacks on the whole is the grand mastering of bass, but it looses little through limitations of the CD player.
Recordings from the unit are great, but it offers no surprises in general with CD playback. But it’s convenient, great to use, looks classy, and overall a great recording tool. It would probably work for anyone, but may only appeal to enthusiasts because of its’ high price.
Features | Review
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Details
---Model, Make: MXD-D40, Sony
---Price Range: £280-£330
---Type: CD to MD recorder
---Terminals: Analogue RCA in x2 | Analogue RCA out | Digital Input | ‘Phones Socket
---Special Features: 4x/2x Dubbing | ATRCA R recording | MDLP mode | Direct PC link | Twin Jog Dials | MD titling | 20bit DAC
---Accessories Included: Remote | PC link cable
---Weight & Dimensions: 4.7kg 430 x 120 x 290 mm
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Performance Review
20%Ease-Of-Use: 5/5 ●●●●●
Features are all accessible and easy to commence, no major failings.
20%Build-Quality: 5/5 ●●●●●
Solid chassis, strong front fascia, good overall layout, fairly large but acceptable.
20%Concept: 4/5 ●●●●○
A neat idea, but £150 separate system may be a better idea for sound quality.
40%Sound-Quality: 4/5 ●●●●○
Good recordings, but only limitation by the ambler CD play.
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Score Mark-Up
---Features. Review. 4.40/500 ●●●●○
---Product Overview 4/5 ●●●●○
Overall:
4.20/5.00 ●●●●○
Recommended▄
~+-+~
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 299.89
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MichaelHatton
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Location: Darlington, England
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