Jump to 1998. The compression software has been upgraded and perfect audio copies are finally a reality. No matter what promise a future recordable DVD (or CD recorders for that matter) format has, nothing will beat MiniDisc recorders for ease of use, recording, and reliability. Linear recording by burning CDs or DVDs simply seems archaic when compared to the MiniDisc format.

One caveat: the iPod has changed everything for music organization and listening, MD offers a great sounding recordable solution, but the iPod blows everything away.

Performance
HTadvice.com's comparison of MiniDisc's sound quality versus that of a CD/DVD player is admittedly unbalanced. Pitting the cheapest Sony MD player / MD portable combo against a Pioneer THX Ultra DV-05 DVD player is unfair. This is not a DVD player to be taken lightly. It was one of the best DVD players out there, and has exceptional audio performance. The MD combo purchase came with a MiniDisc deck, and a portable MD player. This combo retails at $350-$400, but the test unit was on sale for $250. At this price, the MD deck didn't come with a remote so a Sony universal remote for $15 was used to handle most of the functions needed.

The MiniDisc deck was connected to a high-end Denon receiver using $60 left and right Monster Interconnect cables (no digital out is offered on this low-end MD player). The Pioneer DV-05 was connected for CD listening using the same interconnects. A TosLink Optical digital audio cable was connected from the DVD player to the MiniDisc to record to the MD deck. The test speakers used were Paradigm's Reference series Studio 60 towers. These were connected to the receiver using Monster speaker cable, about $1.75 a foot.

Overall when compared to the DVD player the MiniDisc player puts out more bass. The bass wasn't muddied or lacking in detail when compared to the DVD player. There simply was just more. This is usually done in cheaper products to make up for a lack of detail in the highs. To see if this was the case listening material that had little or no bass material was used to compare the midrange and highs. Astoundingly the MD performed well, even when put up against the mighty Pioneer DV-05. The sound was a little smoother through the DVD player, but not noticeably enough to deter the most finicky of listeners.

The sound stage was very similar when listening to either the MD or DVD players. Instruments floated where they should, and main vocals were dead center. Transparency of the sound stage remained constant between the two units. The DVD player only bested the MD by being a little smoother.

The fact that the budget Sony MD player held it's own against a high-end DVD player for stereo sound quality is amazing. The only thing that equals the amazing sound quality offered by the MD deck is the easy-to-use recording features of the MD format.

Features
Without a doubt this format is the best, most user-friendly, component to record with. The MiniDisc format separates your songs automatically when recording from a CD using a digital connection. It allows you to switch the order of songs, or delete them instantly with the press of a button. Better yet, all the blank space left over is allotted together, so you'll never have to worry about having to fill empty space as you do when recording with tape decks. Imagine never having to sandwich a song between 2 others again. It's great.

Unlike the simple linear recordings of tape decks and CD/DVD, the MiniDisc format treats recordings like PCs treat data. The MD format offers a highly usable file management system that enables you to move the order of songs around at will. After testing the MiniDisc format for about a week you'll be hooked, and will never dare do linear recording again. Except for when using a VCR. Too bad MD isn't available for video recording.

You can title your tracks so they show up on the MD player's display as you listen. Imagine knowing the name of the song rather than just it's track number. On the MD budget player this took a lot of time, as text is inputted using a knob on the player to flip between letters in the alphabet. While you can get pretty fast at this method, entering song titles is a hard task that takes a little time. Higher-end MD decks offer a keyboard input that makes titling a snap.

Recording
Recording is very easy with MiniDisc. You can get sonically perfect recordings from CDs, and astounding results when recording an LP. There is no easier, more convenient way to record your music compilation discs.

CD Recording
Recording from CDs is one of the easiest ways to record music. You can simply press record and walk away from your system. When all is done you'll have an exact copy of your CD with the tracks all separated. Titling each track (if desired) is the only thing left for you to do.

If you want to make a mix tape you'll need to stick around to switch CDs. With automatic track selection, if you accidentally start recording a song you didn't want simply press "erase". The MD player will erase that track only, and your ready to start recording again. In case you do want just a portion of a track there is an A-B selection feature that tells the MD what part of the track you want to keep. With one click it instantly disregards the left over data in the track and adds it to the free space available.

LP Recording
For the average person who wants to convert their LP collection to a new format before it's too late, or to prevent wear, MD is the perfect solution. It's difficult to tell the difference between an MD recording of an LP when switching back an forth.

For LP enthusiasts enjoyment comes not from only hearing the LP, but in using it as well. So MD would not be a perfect fir for these types of audiophiles.

Recording Woes
A MiniDisc cannot be recorded to another MiniDisc digitally due to copy protection Sony has built into the units. This makes it impossible to give a friend your favorite compilation disc. This is a decision by Sony to reduce the pirating of software, but it also reduces some ease of use.

Another issue is that MD aren't everywhere like CD players are. This makes it more difficult to use the format when driving or away from home.

Price of Software
Blank MDs are available usually in packs of 5, 74-minute blanks for around $10-$15.

The Portable
The portable MD is a great addition to any MD deck. These things are just a little bigger than the actual MD disk and about 3 times as thick. The portable MD player easily fits into a pocket and is very lightweight. Portable MD players are one well thought out product and, due to it's small size, can be taken anywhere.

The battery lasts a very long time and uses only one performance Walkman battery. Intermittent play can give anywhere from 8-13 hours of play with performance batteries.

All MD units write to a memory chip so the laser can read ahead and jump around to wherever the data is located. Besides allowing the system MD deck to read ahead, this technology is the reason MD is so great for portable use. The use of the memory chip makes a portable unit skip only after a long duration of heavy impacts. This makes skipping a very rare event.

If you're planning on using an MD portable while doing heavy running spend a little more to get a unit with a bigger memory buffer. If you're using the portable during you're daily commute, or while you go walking, a more affordable unit will do.

The great thing about the MD portable is that it far outshines any CD portable. The MD portable deals with shock a lot better so you'll hardly ever get any skipping if any at all. The batteries last a lot longer the any CD portable, and it's nothing to carry 2-3 more MD discs with you due to their small size.

Conclusion
With the cheapest MD unit able to go head-to-head against a high quality DVD player on the market audio recording has finally come back in a big way. Critical listeners and the general public can master any music compilations without loss of quality.

The Bad
CD recorders have taken off, all but killing the MD format in America. MD is still hot in Japan and you can still order MD decks online, and MD discs will be available at major retailers.

This is an absolute shame as CD recording decks are a major joke. There is no reason to buy a CD recording deck at all and it is a major waste of money. The CD recorders block you from making copies of copies and record at relatively slow levels.

CD burners for computers offer far more usage than just making mix CDs. You can use them for any type of data storage you need plus you can make exact copies of any CD with no copy protection at all.

The Worst
Apple's iPod and iTunes offer the best music management, playlist compiling, and portable ever created leaving items like MDs, and CD-Rs in the dust. Compared to the iPod and iTunes, an MD player is just archaic. View iPod article.

MiniDisc Quick Take:

Pros:
1. Audiophile sound quality
2. Unsurpassed ease of use
3. Nothing will touch it as far as recording devices go
4. Recordings have no loss of quality when compared to original media using blind sound tests

Cons:
1. No keyboard input for cheaper players
2. Format being replaced by recordable CD decks
3. Low availability in America