"The Best MD Player - Recorder ever!!!" Hey all i got the MZ-N10 about one week ago. Ok i know it was brought out two years ago but hey. It has great sound quolity and the remote is realy handy when your on the run. I recomend this product to anyone who loves there music because you can copy a disc and delete it and use it over and over again. It is great if you just want to make a compliation of songs on your computer and just drag them to the player, its that easy.
My rateings:
Sound 10-10
Size 10-10
Battery Life 10-10
Easy to use 9-10
From Kris, September 02, 2004
"the BEST portable unit ever made!" There is only one word to describe this recorder, AMAZING!!! I bought this recorder on the second week it came out at Japan for about $425 + shipping. $359 for a brand new Sony MZ-N10 and 10 80min blank discs from audiocubes.com is a STEAL!!!
When you first open the package the first thing you will notice is how incredibly thin and light the MZ-N10 is. Its about the thickness of 3 minidisc stacked together, and it only weights 84 grams including the built-in battery!!
After countless hours of using this recorder, I think the most improvements were on the remote (RM-MC35ELK). Now the volume knob is on the left side, the back-lit LCD can now display two lines (group name & song title/artist), and the ability to display Kanji (Chinese characters). On the bottom ob the remote, theres a STOP button, track knob if you push to the right/left (PLAY or PAUSE if you push it in towards the remote), and finally the GROUP search buttons (which I think is a very neat addition). The remote has the ability to control everything the recorder can (except for REC). But what most people dont know is the animations, the remotes LCD screen displays different neat little animations for every different sound mode you select (very cool looking!). With all the new features added to the new RM-MC35ELK remote, this remote is actually smaller and lighter than the RM-MC12ELK (from Japanese MZ-N1s), the RM-MC35ELK is almost the same size and weight as the RM-MC11ELK!
Now back to the MZ-N10 itself, it is currently the fastest minidisc recorder in the world! If your computer has USB 2.0, the N-10 will record at 64x (records a 4 min song in about 2 ½ seconds on LP4). The 3-line LCD display has the ability to display Disc name, Group name, and Song title at the same time. The Jog-knob on the left-side of the unit makes changing songs/settings easy and fast. Sony claims max play time of (SP/LP2/LP4): 42/52/58 hours, but to me, I feel the battery last longer than that. (I used for about 6 hours straight and it only charged itself for 15min till the battery is full!)
Now lets talk about the downsides.
=1= if you compare the MZ-N10 with any other minidisc players, you will notice the 3-line display on the N10 appears to be kind of dim (changing the contrast level does not seem to really help much), but thats not really a problem because you can still see the characters pretty clear.
=2= beware! Theres no English manual nor English software. But if you had any American version Sony NET-MD, you will be able to use the English version OpenMG or SonicStage. If not, I was able to download both English version OpenMG and SonicStage and they worked fine (please dont ask me where)
=3= you might be willing to save your MZ-N10 instead of yourself during an accident :)
From «cyrex», June 19, 2003
"Cheers… to a decade of excellence" Introduction
At the Consumer Electronics Show, ratings don’t mean squat. Too many products are present for judges to experiment with. The best way to measure a product’s hype is by the amount of finger smudges and prints found on it. CES 2003’s most handled device was unquestionably Sony’s MZ-N10.
If you’ve even considered buying Apple’s iPod- a machine with mediocre sound quality, bulky form, ugly style that Versace would condemn, and an irreplaceable battery that will lose its charge in less than two years, Sony’s MZ-N10 will make you wonder what the hell you were ever thinking.
MZ-N10
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Minidisc format, Sony added the number ten to all 2003 models. Obviously, more than this numeric change was made. All of the new models are lighter, more futuristic looking, and easier to use than their immediate predecessors. The MZ-N10, the new apex of the Net MD Walkman product line, now sits on the throne once occupied by the five-star MZ-N1.
Bundled with the N10, you’ll find SonicStage music management software (version 1.5), MoodLogic music management software, backlit remote control, lightweight headphones (short cord), USB cable, AC power adaptor, digital recording cable, charging/data transfer cradle, dry case for “AA” battery, and instruction manual.
A New Generation of Minidisc
It’s been a decade since Sony introduced the Minidisc format. Since then, the medium has been adopted by audiophiles the world over because of its compact size, CD quality sound, and convenience. Sony’s conception of Net MD, a remarkable innovation, essentially turned Minidisc Walkmans into MP3 players. Adding other exclusive features such as MDLP, which allows the user to store five hours of music on a single disk, further popularized the medium. It’s no wonder that Sony Net MD Walkmans are now the world’s best-selling MP3 players.
Style
Unique styling is definitely a forte of the N10; it’s Sony’s most attractive Net MD Walkman yet with its sleek, cybernetic body. Don’t forget that Sony engineers have an eye for beauty- everything they make is endowed with unprecedented aesthetics. Even the company’s logo has been proven to be attractive to the human eye. The N10 is definitely the best looking audio device available- perhaps with the exception of Sony’s NW-MS70D.
Ease of Use
Minidisc players tend to cater to advanced users because they do much more than your average audio player. In addition to playing music, the N10 can record from almost any source (radio, PC, CD players, tapes, records, etc.) and function as a voice recorder (requires separate microphone). Such tasks require a little bit of experience, but the comprehensive instruction manual should answer all of your questions.
Playing music is seamless with Sony’s patented jog dial. Instead of having separate buttons for functions such as play, rewind, fast forward, and stop, Sony integrated them into one easy to use switch. You’ll no longer need to feel for the rights buttons to press.
Although the LCD screen on the Walkman itself is not backlit, the supplied remote is. It allows the user to perform all of the unit’s functions without having to access the unit itself. You’ll be able to control the Walkman even if it’s tucked away in a pocket or bag.
A technology called the GROUP function is available with the N10. With up to five hours of music, managing so many songs won’t be easy. Sony’s GROUP function categorizes songs into separate groups (artist/album/genre) for seamless maneuverability.
The patented jog dial, GROUP function, and backlit remote give the N10 a perfect “ease of use” score. A touch of genius available only from Sony.
Durability
Sony was the first company to make all-metal portable audio devices. The competition needs to get with the program. Plastic just doesn’t cut it- a drop will crack most units open. Again, Sony isn’t afraid of being different. The N10 comes with a full magnesium jacket and ionized scratch resistant coating. Needless to say, a shell made from one of the strongest Earth metals makes this unit virtually indestructible. Drop it on concrete, throw it against a brick wall, step on it, and your N10 will continue to operate perfectly. This gives it a perfect “durability” score.
Portability
What do you get when the creator of portable audio (Sony) decides to take on the nearly impossible task of improving upon the N1? A smaller and lighter package. This year, the gumstick-style cell was thrown out. It brought the weight of the N1 to over 110 grams. Since built-in cells are about half the mass and weight of typical cells, they are preferred in portable audio applications. The N10 weighs only 84 grams making it a little bit more comfortable to carry than the N1. An innovative optical pickup and motor allowed Sony to reduce the thickness of the unit by 2.6 millimeters- making it 33% smaller than the N1. Consequently, carrying the N10 is as comfortable as carrying a Minidisc.
Skip-free G-Protection Technology from Sony makes the N10 the ideal companion for active users.
The size/weight factor gives the N10 a perfect “portability” score.
Cell Stamina
At an impressive 58 hours of longevity, the N10’s cell should last over a month with normal use. This figure varies depending on what type of playback the user chooses and whether or not one “AA” is used in conjunction- expect less playback if you’re not using LP4 mode or if you’re running entirely on the built-in cell. For information regarding the different listening modes, see the section labeled Sound.
To charge, the user can either place the Walkman in the charging/data transfer cradle or connect the charging cable to the device.
Sound
Minidisc is revered for its near CD-quality sound. The N10 is able to achieve unparalleled sound reproduction integrity with minimal distortion if music is recorded at higher bit rates.
ATRAC3, the format used for playback on high-end Walkmans, offers excellent sound quality and takes up minimal space. With ATRAC3, bit rates of 132kbps, 105kbps, and 66kbps can be achieved. There obviously exists a correlation between storage and sound quality; higher bit rates require more space.
A function named MDLP allows for two additional types of playback- LP4 and LP2. The former will allow about five hours of music to be stored on one 80-minute Minidisc while the latter will hold two-and-a-half hours.
In addition to Net MD recording, the N10 can record from any sources with a standard audio plug such as radio, CD players, tapes, records, etc. The sound quality of the recording is just as great as the original thanks to the included digital cable.
The N10’s world of audible range awaits you when combined with the included lightweight sport headphones (MDR-A34SP).
A six-band graphic equalizer (Heavy, Pop, Jazz, Walkman Unique), four digital presets (studio, live, club, arena), and two custom equalizer settings allow the user to adjust the amount of bass, midrange, and treble.
Sony invented portable music, and its reputation for highest sound quality is no wonder.
Software
In an effort to unify brand identity, Sony has abandoned OpenMG. SonicStage music management software is its less restrictive alternative. The software allows users to transfer tracks from CDs or the Internet (MP3, WMA, WAV) to the N10. First, the user must change the format of tracks from the aforementioned sources to a format compatible with the N10 (ATRAC3). For information regarding these formats, see the section labeled Sound.
MoodLogic software was designed to allow more interaction with one’s music. It is basically a mix software that senses the beat, rhythm, and tone of tracks and arranges them into a smooth, conformed mix. For instance, if you want to create a dance mix, MoodLogic will automatically choose dance songs on your computer and arrange them so that their beats flow easily. This software is ideal for deejays.
Sony managed to tweak the transfer rate to a speedy 64X which enables the user to send an hour of music to the unit in under a minute. Just connect the USB cord to the charging/data transfer cradle and drop in the Walkman.
The learning curve for using the software isn’t too steep, and if you need assistance, there is a handy tutorial to guide you.
System Requirements
IBM PC/AT or compatible
OS: Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional
CPU: MMX Pentium 450MHz or higher
RAM: 128MB or higher
Hard Disc Drive Space: 260MB or more
CD-ROM Drive (with Audio CD playback capability)
Sound card
Internet access
USB port
Display: 16 bit color, resolution 800 x 480
Conclusion
Let this be a lesson to the competition. Sony cannot be outpaced. It’s 2003, and the Sony magic is finally back.
The company that invented portable music enjoyment has returned. So see through the phony imitations. With the MZ-N10’s many exclusive features such as a magnesium shell, jog dial, incredible battery stamina, and MDLP function it’s not hard to see that the world’s greatest portable audio device has landed.
Stayed tuned for the finest in every field of consumer electronics from the company that started it all- Sony.
To purchase, go to Sony’s official website at:
www.sonystyle.com From Derek Cheung, May 18, 2003
"It's the best MD player out there." I have the Sony MZ-N10 for about a month now, and all i can say is it's perfect i love every little bit of it.
When you hold this baby in your hand it's like holding the entire MD history in your hand, it has every feature there is to offer on a MD system. From Golden, February 03, 2003
We're currently upgrading our user review system; so we won't be accepting new reviews for now. MZ-N10 Net MD Walkman Specs
Interface(s)
Original USB
Released date
September 2002
Platforms
Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP
