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SJ-MR220

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Description:
General reviews on Panasonic SJ-MR220 MDLP MiniDisc recorder.
Read more reviews at eCoustics.com.

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Average Reviewer Rating:

Number of SJ-MR220 Reviews: 1

Fantastic sound and a delight to use.

Reviewer: Brock Macpherson (brockmacpherson@hotmail.com) from Kingston Ontario Canada November 15, 2001

It is my intention to provide a users review of the Panasonic SJ-MR220 MiniDisc recorder/player.This is not only my first MD unit but my first ever internet review.I purchased the unit about a month ago from www.micmic.com.hk for $238.00 US.I paid via PayPal and received the unit in 4 days.I was pleasantly surprised that the customs declaration indicated that the package contained "a repaired item" thus saving me 15 import duties(I live in Canada).

Included accessories were a pair of short cord ear buds,a 1350mAh "gum pack" Ni-MH battery,a wired LCD remote,an external battery pack for one extra AA cell,an AC charger and a soft dust pouch.The instruction manual is 90 pages with 12 being in English.

The unit is 78.2mm wide,71.6mm high and 16mm deep.It weighs 115 grams with the Ni-MH battery.The clamshell design has been smooth and locks the inserted disc before closing.The disc springs out for easy removal.The LCD display is basically 2-lines but there is a pseudo-Vu meter like display at the top edge.You need good lighting to see.There is a recording pause/power on/LP recording switch,a play/record/pause/power on/character type button,a stop/operation off/edit cancel button,and an entering edit mode/completing edit/changing track mark mode button.Also on the front of the unit there is the unique touch pad which controls volume,track selection,display functions,mode functions and recording functions.Disc and track titling are also managed here.On the side of the unit there is a hold switch,headphone jack,optical/analog line in and mic(plug in power) jacks.

Let me explain that I purchased this unit to supplement but not replace my CD Walkman.I was interested in both the reduced physical size of the MD player and the re-recording capabilities of the MD format.I'm not experienced with MP3s.Most of my music is transferred via wave files to burn CDs.I enjoy making compilations from my existing CD library.I have found,however,there is a growing wealth of live music from VHS tape or DVD concert material.For example I recorded the NYC Benefit Concert on VHS and transferred the music selections to my MD unit via the audio out jacks of the VHS HiFi recorder.I have also dubbed the Phil Collins Live In Paris concert DVD to MD.Music from these two sources are unavailable on commercial CDs.

The 220 can record both digital and analog signals.You just require the proper dubbing cords.The advantage of digital recording is the track marks are recorded automatically.Quite honestly I cannot distinguish an audible difference between the two methods..Perhaps it's these 53 year old ears that mellows the tonal quality.A handy feature is the "sync" start available in both recording modes.The moment the source music begins the recorder starts recording.At the end of the recording the player pauses and awaits you pushing the stop button which begins the UTOC operation.Track marks can be laid down manually during the recording process.The recording sensitivity has a high and low setting in addition to manual control.I have found that the optical out from my Sony D-EJ825 CD Walkman and DVP-F5 DVD player has just the perfect output.I've never changed the factory default of the MD recorder.The level meter seems to always show the optimum recording level is being used.

There are a host of other options and features that I have not experimented with.As previously mentioned this is a LP2 and LP4 unit.Track marking is auto,manual,3-5-10 minute intervals.The unit has repeat,random,skip,search and track/group playback options.Sound quality has four settings;normal,XBS-1,XBS-2,and train.Editing features include,divide,move,all erase,track erase,combine and grouping(set,title,and release).

I am very impressed with this player/recorder.I can't compare it with any other unit but I believe that the touch key pad gets to functions much easier that scrolling through a menu type system.I have read that the 3.5 mV headphone output is lower than other brands.There is no question that my old yellow Sony MDR-A15s seem much louder that the supplied ear buds.I auditioned the Sony 888s and they were no louder than the OEMs.Moving the volume up 3-4 notches give the bud type as much punch as the Walkman over the head style.

Thank you for reading this review.While I welcome comments please remember that I am NOT an expert on this or any other unit.I am just a enthusiastic MDer......Brock

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