Sony MZ-DN430PSBLK Psyc MiniDisc Network Walkman (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)The best thing about these players? The battery life! You'll get 45-55 hours on a single Alkaline battery-and this is TRUE battery life folks. Because this little guy operates on alkaline batteries, it will truly last up to 50 hours of usage, unlike Li-ion or regular rechargeable players (like the ipod, Zen, etc). Those devices advertise 12 to 20 hours, HOWEVER, if you don't use it for a week, the battery will be dead. Rechargeables have a horrible discharge rate, and regular flash or hd based mp3 players use those stupid "instant-on" features that make the problem worse, after "power off" they go into a power-trickling sleep mode. How stupid. I can't tell you how often I tried to listen to my fully charged ipod only to find that the battery drained itself because it sat for a week after I charged it, GRRR! That problem does not exist with these players, which makes a HUGE difference. If you listen to it for an hour one night, and pick it up 3 months later, you'll have 44 hours to go! Just excellent.
Also, be sure to download the new SonicStage software from Sony (v3.3). It no longer imposes transfer restrictions. That's right, you can transfer your MP3s, waves, wma's, etc until the cows come home. And when you want to delete the tracks from the player, just delete. No more of that "check-in, check-out" crap from the early days of SonicStage. Plus the interface has been much cleaned up and is actually a joy to use (wow, I can't believe I just said that about SonicStage).
MiniDiscs are cheap folks, You can get them for about a buck-fifty a piece.
Be aware that this thing only plays ATRAC3 encoded files, which means that when you transfer songs to it, it will automatically transcode everything to ATRAC3 (regardless of your source: CD, WAV, MP3, WMA, etc-but luckily it DOES support just about every popular music format). You will get to choose the quality of the transcode/transfer (132kbps LP2 or 64kbps LP4). On average, I fit about 3 albums using LP2 mode. Sometimes I'll have to prioritize which albums I want LP2, then make the 3rd album LP4. LP2 sounds as good or better as a 128kpbs MP3.
Any bummers? Sure, there is one: The player's only power source is the alkaline battery. It does not get power from the USB port (if it did, this thing would be flawless IMHO). Unlike normal playback, recording uses mucho amperage from the battery. I recommend that for recording you stick a NiMH rechargeable in it. This will negate the problem. If you don't do that, expect to toss out your Duracell after 2 or 3 discs worth of recordings (I'm serious). Save your precious disposable Alkalines for the sweet 50 hours or so of playback.
I wrote a review more than a year ago and gave it 4 stars then, however today, a year later, I'm giving it 5. That's gotta mean something...
As little as you're likely to spend on one of these original MD (not Hi-MD), I doubt you'll be disappointed, just don't forget to download the latest sonic stage (don't even bother with the disc that comes with it, the v3.3 download will be all you need).
Later dudes-
RMaldonado

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Looking for a portable audio solution that is affordable and easy to use? Sony's line of MiniDisc players deliver precisely that, and a lot more. With sleek urban styling and excellent shock protection, the Sony MZ-DN430 offers a great way to join the MiniDisc club. Each MiniDisc-- which, by the way, costs about a buck-- can store up to 177 MB of music data, enough space for up to five hours of music.
Using the included SonicStage and MD Simple Burner software, you can upload ATRAC3-encoded music to the device. The software supports conversion of MP3, WAV and WMA formats to ATRAC3, so you can record directly to the device at up to 32x speeds. Music uploads are handled by the MZ-DN430's USB connector, so you'll need a USB-capable PC for music transfers.
While you can convert and play your own music on the MZ-DN430, the player is also fully compatible with Sony's Connect Music Store. The Connect store offers one of the most extensive music collections online. Customers can choose single tracks or entire albums from independent and major-label artists for purchase and download.
In addition to the rugged Psyc design that protects your player as you bump your way through the day, the MZ-DN430 also has built-in "G-Protection" for skip-free performance. And because the MZ-DN430 is built to be efficient, you'll get up to 56 hours of continuous playback with one AA battery.
What's in the Box MZ-DN430 Net MD Walkman, headphones, SonicStage Software, MD Simple Burner Application, USB cable, 1 MiniDisc.

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