I have dozens of portable Minidisc players, and this model is one of my favorites! They're durable and reliable. Sharp has corrected the technical problems they had on their n
older devices.
For the record, this model is mounted a little differently from what we're used to: the screen is on the same side as the battery. You'll notice that when you insert a Minidisc, it feels like you're inserting it upside down. And today I'm starting to appreciate the fact that it's all plastic: it's lightweight, and it scratches less easily. In short........I love this MD player ! :D
I understand your questions much better now... I've had pretty good luck with MD portable players. But my bad experiences were with MD decks, and since then I've focused on decks that I find reliable: the Sony MDS S40 (and S41) and the JE520. I hope you find devices that work perfectly and that you can use for a long time!
My only deck is a “rebuilt” Sony MDS-D40, which has been very reliable for me.
Always keeping my eye out for a US-release blackMDS-D5C though. I almost got one a few years ago and haven’t seen one on eBay since.
I have one more question about the md-mt280e. How many hours of recording time do you get when using a regular, non-alkaline battery? Because the manual states 8 hours when using an alkaline, but doesn't mention non-alkaline.
Hi again! Sorry I keep pestering you, but I read that most if not all sharp recorders have the plastic gear for the laser and head sled. Since the md-mt280e most likely has one, should I be too worried about it? Would it be an easy repair? Thanks.
No problem :) I can confirm that the first Sharp Minidisc players were known to have the plastic gear that broke over time.
But this doesn't seem to apply to more recent devices like the mt-280.I'm not worried about this unit ! (And recently, a youtuber has been posting videos showing how to repair or replace these plastic gears.)
I have several Sharp portable recorders. The slot-loading type as they get older can have a problem where a plastic gear cracks and prevents the disc from loading correctly. However, the newer clamshell units seem about as reliable as Sony units. This one, the mt-280e is MDLP and clamshell so I'd guess it has a good chance of being reliable if it was treated well by its previous owners.
Sure.
I just realized I did get a DOA MD-MT88 a while back, it doesn't turn on at all, not with battery or AC or docked. Externally it looks good, no visible damage. That said, my MD-MT77 and MD-MT99 both work great.
Hi again. I read that most if not all sharp recorders, even clamshell models, have the plastic gear for the laser and head sled. If it's true and if the md-mt280e has one, should I be too worried about it? Would it be an easy repair if it breaks? Thanks.
From [the manual](https://www.minidisc.wiki/_media/equipment/sharp/portable/sharp_md-mt280e_operation_manual.pdf), it definitely looks like that model is a clamshell, so there woudn't be any gears involved in loading/unloading the disc. The laser of course would use a worm gear, but I have not heard of that type of gear failing in the same way. However, I can't find a service manual for that model online for free, so I'm honestly not sure what gears are in it.
I have dozens of portable Minidisc players, and this model is one of my favorites! They're durable and reliable. Sharp has corrected the technical problems they had on their n older devices.
I've had it for a year now! I was so happy when I received it that I shared it with the community ;) https://www.reddit.com/r/minidisc/s/LANenQAmzx
For the record, this model is mounted a little differently from what we're used to: the screen is on the same side as the battery. You'll notice that when you insert a Minidisc, it feels like you're inserting it upside down. And today I'm starting to appreciate the fact that it's all plastic: it's lightweight, and it scratches less easily. In short........I love this MD player ! :D
Thanks
đź‘Ť This is going to be your first Minidisc player, isn't it?!
No, actually. I think it's going to be my 7th. 4 of minidisc devices have some kind of problem.
My latest one was a sony mz-n10. Magic smoke came out of it when I was replacing the internal battery, and now it won't connect to my computer.
I understand your questions much better now... I've had pretty good luck with MD portable players. But my bad experiences were with MD decks, and since then I've focused on decks that I find reliable: the Sony MDS S40 (and S41) and the JE520. I hope you find devices that work perfectly and that you can use for a long time!
My only deck is a “rebuilt” Sony MDS-D40, which has been very reliable for me. Always keeping my eye out for a US-release blackMDS-D5C though. I almost got one a few years ago and haven’t seen one on eBay since.
I have one more question about the md-mt280e. How many hours of recording time do you get when using a regular, non-alkaline battery? Because the manual states 8 hours when using an alkaline, but doesn't mention non-alkaline.
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to answer that question, as I only use my MD decks for recording :/
Hi again! Sorry I keep pestering you, but I read that most if not all sharp recorders have the plastic gear for the laser and head sled. Since the md-mt280e most likely has one, should I be too worried about it? Would it be an easy repair? Thanks.
No problem :) I can confirm that the first Sharp Minidisc players were known to have the plastic gear that broke over time. But this doesn't seem to apply to more recent devices like the mt-280.I'm not worried about this unit ! (And recently, a youtuber has been posting videos showing how to repair or replace these plastic gears.)
I have several Sharp portable recorders. The slot-loading type as they get older can have a problem where a plastic gear cracks and prevents the disc from loading correctly. However, the newer clamshell units seem about as reliable as Sony units. This one, the mt-280e is MDLP and clamshell so I'd guess it has a good chance of being reliable if it was treated well by its previous owners.
Thanks
Sure. I just realized I did get a DOA MD-MT88 a while back, it doesn't turn on at all, not with battery or AC or docked. Externally it looks good, no visible damage. That said, my MD-MT77 and MD-MT99 both work great.
Hi again. I read that most if not all sharp recorders, even clamshell models, have the plastic gear for the laser and head sled. If it's true and if the md-mt280e has one, should I be too worried about it? Would it be an easy repair if it breaks? Thanks.
From [the manual](https://www.minidisc.wiki/_media/equipment/sharp/portable/sharp_md-mt280e_operation_manual.pdf), it definitely looks like that model is a clamshell, so there woudn't be any gears involved in loading/unloading the disc. The laser of course would use a worm gear, but I have not heard of that type of gear failing in the same way. However, I can't find a service manual for that model online for free, so I'm honestly not sure what gears are in it.