Rating: 
Summary: Notice a difference?
Review: I've seen this player and ive seen others(most are larger). The sony an compress files to give much more music per md and has MUCH longer battery time than any i've seen yet. All it needs now is a seperate wired remote control. With that it would be perfect.
Rating:
Summary: Great Re-Invented Recording Format
Review: Sony introduced the MiniDisc format to the U.S. in 1992 - it was not a big success, even though Minidisc was highly successful in Asia and, to a lesser extent, in Europe. Since then, Sony has had several major advertising campaigns to promote the format. I've always been intrigued by it's exceptionally small form factor, and it's re-recordable disc format. Improvements to the compression encoding known as ATRAC have made the minidisc a more than capable replacement for the cassette tape, with faster and easier access to song selections, editing capabilities that are computer like, and quality sound (particularly when recorded using the optical input). And yet - America (and I) were not convinced enough to take the plunge. The early units were expensive, and the blank media costs were way too high ($10-15 or more). But recently, Sony introduced a series of new Minidisc player/recorders in the U.S., of which the RZ-500PC is the least expensive, that can be attached via USB port to your computer to copy compressed music files. And, to make the format even more enticing, they engineered the unit to be able to record up to 320 minutes of stereo sound on a single 80 minute disc. And the disc prices were lowered to the range of a quality cassette (about $2). These changes are what finally convinced me to try the format. I gave my wife a suggestion to buy the MZR500PC for me as a Christmas present. Fortunately, she followed my suggestion. I haven't had this much fun with a new "toy" since I got my first stereo. The recording and editing functions are astounding. For example, because of the scattered bit type recording process that it uses, you can record a series of songs, then remove one, replace it with another, and not effect any of the other recordings. You can change the song sequence, or, if you just want to re-record the whole disc, it can be erased completely in only seconds! It has a feature, active only when recording optically, called "Sync-Record" that puts the unit into pause when the record and play buttons are simultaneously activated, and as soon as it senses sound, it starts recording! When the sound stops, so does the recorder. Great stuff! It's only drawback when compared to MP3 players or MP3/CD players is that it records in real time (an hour's worth of music takes an hour to record, whether its compressed music files from your computer, CDs recorded from your stereo, or cassettes recorded from a player). The MZR500PC is a great way to enjoy truly light, portable, quality music. Get it, use it, and I'm sure you'll get to like it as much as I do. Take the plunge!!
Rating: 
Summary: Deceptive
Review: The item does not come in a box but in a plastic bag;
It does not come with a receipt of puchase wich is important in order to use the warranty, thei did not give me any paper confirming my purchase;
There is no possibility of returning this item even though the box stiill sealed.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Choice
Review: The Sony MZR500 is an amazing MD player, with functions to please almost anyone. I'll outline some of the pros and cons of this model:PROS:
- text capability
- MDLP (which allows for up to 5 hours of music onto one MiniDisc)
- FULLY Mac compatible (with iTunes, anyway)
- excellent sound quality
- repeat function
- unbeatable price
- PCLink included
- small size allows for maximum portability
- excellent battery-life
- easy recording CONS:
- records in real-time
- comes with cheap, flimsy earbuds
- no remote-control
- small buttons may provide some problems for big-handed people
- small display This model is a perfect choice for a first-time user, or even an electronics savvy audiophile.
Rating:
Summary: For folks on the go.
Review: This little MD player is one of the greatest audio investments I've ever made. I can't figure out why folks are buying MP3 players. These MD recorders, especially the MZ-R500, seem to be the best kept secret in the world of mobile personal audio. One complaint however... I don't like the fact that the recorder always defaults to "automatic" recording volume level. You will quickly find out that the auto volume feature doesn't let enough sound in. It also makes "mush" out of live albums as it compensates too much for the crashing percussion instruments. I found this out when I recorded the live version of Orange Blossom Special by Johnny Cash. I thought something was wrong with the MD recorder. When I set the recording volume manually, the mush went away. It must be set to manual each time you record, from song to song or album to album. Any time you start recording, in other words. All other settings the user makes stays put, just this ONE feature resets to auto. Quite frustrating. Once these small issues are figured out, this is a fantastic little gadget. Certainly meant for folks on the go. Simply start it playing and slide the "hold" feature in place. All the buttons are now disabled and can't be hit accidentally. Drop it in your shirt pocket and go! This thing does NOT skip either! Cheers.
Rating:
Summary: this MD Rocks
Review: this MD is the best thing i ever bought!! it is so much better then a mp3! you get 5 hoursd on one disc and you can get a disc (which is rewritable) for about one dollar. it doesn't skip at all it is great for running skateing or anything else. If your thinking about getting one of these, do it because the are awesome!!
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Feelings
Review: This was a gift so I can't complain too much. It's not the unit I asked for (the Sharp model). I had one of the old Sony MD recorders - cost me alot of $. It quit working a few years ago. I think it was the MZ-R1. I needed something to play the 30+ MDs I had. For the average user, this unit is fine. It works as advertised for the most part. The PCLink barely works on my PC. There's a conflict with the USB drivers. PCLink is designed to take over the speaker output so if you can get it to work, you can't leave it connected. I'm planning to get a Y-adapter so I can connect both my speakers and any recording device at the same time. There is no Line Out connection so you have to use the headphone jack if you want to hook it up to a stereo system which I often did with my old MD unit. The MZ-R500 also seems to operate more slowly than Sony's older recorders. The controls are not as straight forward as they used to be. Erasing MDs and tracks are more difficult than before. It wasn't something you could easily do on the old unit. The menu on this one isn't organized in the best way. On the plus side, you are able add titles with this unit. The battery seems to last forever - on one AA battery. Sony used rechargeable battery packs in the past - with a battery pack that used 3 AAs that could be used as a backup. The controls are a bit small for people with big hands but it's not impossible. I just have to be careful.
Rating:
Summary: MiniDisc / MegaCool
Review: This was my first MiniDisc player/recorder and I still use it for dubbing CDs and MP3s. It's small size is great for when I'm travelling around town on the bus or making a long winded trip via air. You can track your tunes out just like with an AudioCD, putting about 20 tracks on one disc. The lower compression recordings don't sound great, but it's better than sitting on that bus listening to some freak yelling obscenities. Most recently, I upgraded to an iPod and just drag and drop one months worth of songs onto my 10gb unit, but I prefer taking the MiniDisc on longer trips---it's durable and expendable.
| 
