Sharp MDSR60S Minidisc Player/Recorder

by Sharp

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005444H
• Item model number: MD-SR60S
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

A great unit to consider when choosing a first portable minidisc player, Sharp's MDSR60S delivers a solid performance with 24-bit ATRAC sound, 10-second antiskip protection, and the crisp, clear sound of compact discs combined with the recording ease of cassettes.

The MDSR60S supports 24-bit ATRAC recording and playback, while digital synchro recording won't start recording until the digital input signal is received. Sharp includes a digital bass boost with three presets to enhance low frequencies, while a 10-second antiskip buffer offers some protection from skipping during active use.

The MDSR60S comes with a pair of lightweight, foldable headphones and an inline remote control--a must for portable play. Its dual-compatible battery compartment takes either an alkaline AA or NiMH battery to provide up to 7 hours of play and 4.5 hours of recording. Sharp also includes a NiMH battery, AC adapter, and carrying case.

Sharp's slim design gives the MDSR60S great portability, and it still offers an optical digital-audio and analog input (optical digital cable as well as RCA cable supplied) for added versatility, letting you feed this unit from your stereo or computer for home use.

Sharp's warranty for the MDSR60S covers a year on parts and 90 days on labor.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

122 of 125 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great MD Player at a great price, December 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Sharp MDSR60S Minidisc Player/Recorder (Electronics)

This is a great MD player/recorder will sleek looks and good sound quality. For the price, the accessories package that comes with this unit is probably the best on the market. You get a rechargeable battery, a charger, a case, an optical cable, a remote, and a pair of pretty decent headphones, and all for (a good price). Compare that with other MD units and you will see how much more of a bargain you are getting with the MD-SR60.

Sharp has always been good with recording and playback capabilities on their MD players and this unit is no different. Unlike some Sony units whose playback volume tends to be too "weak," the Sharp MD-SR60 plays recordings loud and robust. The remote is also an added bonus, although a LCD display on it would have been nice.

Aesthetically, this unit is as nice as they come. It's not the smallest or the lightest, but considering the built-in, multi-function battery compartment, this unit is pretty compact.

With the MP3 craze lately, I would definitely recommend and MD player over a MP3 player anyday. Not only can MD players record MP3 songs off your computer, but they provide many other functions as well (voice recordings, digital CD replication).

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Value for Money!, March 26, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Sharp MDSR60S Minidisc Player/Recorder (Electronics)

It's true - you DO get what you pay for. Fortunately for the Sharp MDSR60S, for what you pay, you get a whole lot. This sharp MDSR60S has to be the best value for money on the MiniDisc player/recorder market - HANDS DOWN!

Being new to the world of Minidisc recorders, I did a fair amount of research before deciding to purchase the MDSR60S. However - in all honesty - the main reason I bought it, was its affordable price. I bought it used (it was listed as a "same day return - brand new") from a reseller at Amazon.com... With the exception of the users manual which was missing (I later downloaded the pdf file online) the unit itself, the packaging and everything else was as its listing claimed "brand new".

I use the thing practically everyday. I DJ as a hobby, so I record my mixed sets directly from my turntables (and mixer) to the MD player. I don't know how I managed to get by without one for so long! The versatility of a cassette tape except with far superior recording quality and portability.

On one hand, the unit is very user friendly. All the connecting cables that you will ever need (with the exception of the cable used to record from one MD player to another) come in the box. The recording quality is excellent. I've read (here on Amazon.com) some not-too-flattering comments about the MDSR60S's headphones. Speaking as a weekend warrior DJ, I was pleasantly surprised at the great sound quality that these folding headphones produce (it's even got some pretty decent bass). Sure bigger better headphones will sound better, but for the majority of folks, these headphones will be more than adequate. The 10 sec anti-shock memory is more than sufficient for moderate use (walking, driving), however I wouldn't expect to be able to go jogging (you probably need 40sec anti-shock for that).

On the other hand, the unit does not have MDLP (Mini Disc Long Playing) technology as an option, which means that your recording times are limited to the capacity of the actual Minidisc (74mins or 80mins). A MD player with MDLP have recording times which are something like 4 or 5 times greater than a MD player without. To be fair, I wouldn't expect to find MDLP in a unit at this price. Another drawback is the very "plastic-feeling" remote, which feels and looks about as sturdy as a feather. Some people may find the operating buttons a bit small - I have large fingers and find the buttons to be on the small side, but they are certainly not TOO small.

I do recognize that (overall) the MDSR60S is a piece of equipment that needs to be properly cared for if it is to last a long time, so to that end my MDSR60S comes out of it's carry bag, only to remove or insert an actual minidisc. Other than that, it stays in the carry bag, which stays in a larger carry-pouch with the other accessories (minidiscs, headphones, spare battery etc.). I would rather the remote suffer the brunt of the wear-and-tear caused by regular use, than the unit itself. So far this arrangement seems to be working great. I've had my MDSR60S for a little over a month and the unit still looks new and works great. The remote is starting the show signs of wear -which I expect because I use it every day.

If you're looking to buy a reasonably priced *first* MD player then the MDSR60S is for you. If you require longer recording times and greater anti-shock memory and you have...more money to spend, then the MDSR60S isn't for you. I know I'll eventually (when I can afford it) want to get a SONY or more advanced model SHARP with all the bells and whistles, but for now I'm quite happy with my MDSR60S.

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent MiniDisc Recorder, May 3, 2001

By 

Kenneth B. Denson "Ken" (Chesterfield, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sharp MDSR60S Minidisc Player/Recorder (Electronics)

I bought a Sharp MDSR60S from here on Amazon, and I couldn't be happier. I spent a lot of time reading reviews of all the various units on the international MiniDisc website, and I finally read enough negative things about the Sonys (along with lots of positive things) that I decided to go with this less expensive Sharp.

I wanted a MiniDisc mostly for recording myself live, and the Sharp fits the bill wonderfully. I find the features quite intuitive, and although somewhat time consuming, even labelling disks and tracks isn't bad; it doesn't bother me that you can't label tracks while recording, like with the Sonys, but that does seem to bother lots of people. Recording is wonderfully easy, and although the buttons are small, even with my large hands I don't have trouble with them. In addition to recording vocal performances, I did try dubbing a classical CD to minidisc, and that turned out great as well. The sound quality is outstanding, and the supplied cables were perfect for me, although I did use a miniplug to miniplug cable that I already had to dub from my portable CD player.

Although other reviews say that the unit is all plastic, it feels very solid to me. I don't carry the unit around that much, and although it isn't tiny like the new Sonys, it fits comfortably in most of my shirt pockets. I don't jog or walk around with it much, but I do sometimes carry it in my pocket while listening, and I've yet to have it skip. I read about lots of drawbacks to the Sonys' 40 second anti-skip and extreme power saving techniques. I usually have it plugged in to the AC adapter, but I've gone long periods between charges when just carrying it to listen to. The fold-up headphones fit nicely in the little bag, and together with the MD player, I find that they will fit in most of my shirt pockets, as long as I don't have anything else in there. Although I didn't expect to, I like the sound of the headphones, and I find them surprisingly comfortable, although I don't usually listen for more than an hour at a time. The remote is minimal, but when I want to use it, it works fine, although I do tend to push a button when clipping it on. Backlighting would be nice on the main display, but I decided not to pay for it; similarly for a backlit remote. The one feature I wish it had was digital output, but only the highest end component units have that. I would say the feature set for the price is outstanding.

I would give the Sharp MDSR60S my highest recommendation. I love it to death.