MD systems from Japan : The good, the bad and the ugly?
This video is a companion piece to the Mini HiFi one from the other week and it temporarily draws a line under this area.
I do hope to return to the subject in the future though to look at a couple of classic systems from the 1980s.
That's quite some way off though, I’ve plenty of other things I want to get to first. In particular, I’m really looking forward to showing you something I’ve picked in the next video. I'm almost certain that no one viewing will have ever seen one before, despite it coming from Sony.
My priority now though is to take a few days off to recuperate. Putting this video together really knackered me out. The weather here has been pretty rotten for a couple of weeks, so since I’ve been stuck inside I just carried on making videos. I think I’ve done too many on the bounce now though.
Anyway I’m happy I finally got this video finished. It’s no classic, but hopefully there’s a smidgen of entertainment to be found in it. Take care and keep smiling.
Comments (53)
I'd say you pay too much for international P&P. When I had two boxes with model trains (2+4 cars) re-shipped from Japan, the service charged ¥3729. Now those components will weigh more, obviously, but £170 seems excessive.
Should've mentioned this weeks ago when you started using it, but I'm loving the newly animated intro sequence! It looks unbelievably good in 4k. Great stuff!
I'd like to take credit - but it's all thanks to a fellow patron (GraphicsMonkey).
Loving the paisley shirt
It seems to be testing some peoples video decompression, or video cards, or bandwidth, or something…
Great video, Mat. I have a rule with my hi-fi at the moment that I’m only collecting ‘analog’ formats (aside from the AirPlay receiver I have). But every time you make one of these minidisc videos I’m always tempted. Shame to hear the Panasonic unit isn’t that great, as I love the design - very early 2000s high-tech.
Hey Mat, I did something like this a couple times early last year. I bought an MD / CD / Amp combo mini system sans speakers -- an Onkyo FR-7GX in working condition. Prices at the time were better than they are now. The unit itself was 7255 yen plus shipping was around 6,000 yen thanks to Amazon JP's cheapish DHL deal, plus amazon japan pre-handles import fees (to Canada) so that was another 1000 yen or so. I got some other good deals in mini system components afterward for other HIFI setups I have around the house. Sometimes it works out well!
You’ll also have the luxury of not necessarily needing a step down transformer and having a power socket it’ll plug straight into.
Buying something, having it work initially and then slowly failing in front of you gives quite a sinking feeling. I have had 2 tape decks do this. Luckily, they were fairly cheap ones.
They had one of those "street re-cycle" events on yesterday, where people leave stuff on their walls for passer-bys, and one house had a mini-system complete with long play MD. My current player only plays standard play discs, and it was your MD video that introduced me to the LP mode (I think). Unfortunately, with no car, and a heart condition, I had to leave it on the wall. Still, I got a reasonable condition copy of Band On The Run, and a toy cat, so it wasn't all bad.
From experience with shipping stuff for business, air freight is quicker and therefore more expensive. Sending goods by sea freight is usually cheaper, although you do have to wait around 8 weeks longer (on average) to receive your goods in the UK!
I remember getting Samba De Amigo from Japan. They shipped it by boat and it took forever.
Short note on the video. 8:05 segment there is a weird flicker on the bottom of the screen. No idea if it is just my system being broken or interference pattern between your shirt but just wanted to mention it.
I noticed it as well. Any time that shirt was in screen.
I really enjoyed the system with the sliding panel. The glowing buttons really did make it look fancier than it probably is.
Almost every vintage electronics collector is envious of other countries, Mat. I'd own many more vintage computers if shipping and import costs from the UK to Australia weren't horrendous. The only workaround I know of is to go the joblot route (like with all those MD players you bought a while back). Brings the import cost per unit right down, but it's also a heck of a lot of money to spend on stuff that may or may not work.
From what people tell me finding a lot of classic tech seems almost impossible in Australia.
I wouldn't want to give up streaming and bluetooth headphones, but I do really miss the tactility of physical media... I've been so tempted in the last year to get into Mini Discs but I don't think I'd ever reach for the MD player over my iPhone when I go for a walk.
Have you considered a tiny Bluetooth transmitter? I used one when I went out for a walk with my cassette Walkman. It was a surreal and elevated experience :)
In terms of definitions, these are a step above tat? Or are they tat-adjacent? To my mind, all three devices were attempting to punch above their weight class. The Panasonic unit has such a unique aesthetic and thoughtful functionality that it almost seems like a labor of love for the design team.
The Panasonic comes across as an attempt at a poor man's B&O (at least in aesthetics if not sound quality). TBH I'd be happy to wait several months to have one shipped by sea from Japan, just for those speakers.
I've been buying some minidisc related stuff from Japanese auctions as well recently. I actually bought a mini system as well... The Sony LAM-Z03. In my opinion it looks very stylish, plays CDs and MD and it supports Net MD. I bought it through Buyee and had a similar issue with speakers as well. With buyee it basically means that you have to get it shipped via DHL... which obviously isn't cheap but it is fast and it arrived in a few days. In the end I paid 50€ for the thing + fees, 55€ for the shipping and around 40€ for the import taxes and fees. So 150€ for a nice system which sells for a lot more on ebay. I would say it was a reasonable price. Are you using a proper 100V step down converter though? I could only find the 240V->110/120V ones meant for US devices. The thing doesn't seem to mind (and I am guessing it really shouldn't) but still.
Those are very nice little systems - I’ve had an eye on them for a while.
We've seen so many different players that it's easy to imagine you standing in front of a huge shelving unit consisting of a neat 8x6 grid of components. Every time you want to listen to music you plug some variables into a custom phone app. "Cassette...Type II tape...I want to see lots of flashing lights and indicators...digital ones instead of analog...music has lots of treble. OK, that's gonna be player D-5."
I'd love to see a video in which you walk through your daily-driver audio and video gear. What's in your pocket when you go for a walk? What's playing music in your car? Which components in your hifi cabinet get regular use? And do you have a boombox or a minisystem somewhere else? (In the PC world, I find people's choices for "edge cases" particularly interesting and telling. They buy a PC or a laptop for all of the conventional reasons. But why did they buy a Kindle for reading, instead of using their phone? Or why did they buy an iPad instead of a Kindle? Why a $1000 iPad Pro instead of the much less expensive iPad Air?) I, of course, make this suggestion with the luxury of not having to consider whether the number of views would be worth the effort. :)
Perhaps when things get back to normal - or a bit closer to it I’ll see if there’s a video in this. Unfortunately for the last year the only time I’ve played music is when I’ve been demonstrating something. The proper HiFi has been gathering dust as there’s no time I could play it without disrupting the Mrs’ work.
Great video, Mat! I don't know for sure, but I'd expect shipping by ship would be cheaper than by plane, but it would take forever, easily adding weeks to months to the shipping time.
I think there might be a minimum size for a parcel - I’m sure I read that somewhere while looking into this, so that might be a factor.
Interesting Mat. I’ll not be trying the Japanese auctions - those shipping costs are eye watering.
Excellent, Mat - a real tour-de-force presentation. Just have to love the motorised panel on the Panasonic - such a cool look, 'retro-futuristic' indeed! Have a good rest - can't wait to see this mysterious unknown Sony device....
It's not terribly surprising that the Onkyo system crapped out. Any Onkyo component I've ever used has died unceremoniously and unexpectedly. Anytime one of those Hi-MD Onkyo decks pops up on the Minidisc Facebook group people talk about how unreliable it is, though I know you've had one for some years now.
I swapped mine out for something more robust. It seemed a bit cheaply made, very lightweight and plasticy.
I'm wondering...could the problem be the power source? You mentioned you're using a step-down transformer to get it from 220V to 110V. Could the step-down transformer be fluctuating in power (say, one moment delivering 100V and then surging to 135V, then dropping again)? Usually electronic equipment do not cascade fail like that unless there's an external problem (I emphasize the word "usually" as cascade failure has happened due to internal issues as well).
I’ve had components in my HiFi running from the same Step-Down transformers for years - unfortunately it was just a knackered old HiFi.
Back in the retro period we never thought about keeping stuff we buy. I either gave away of sold when I worked in the Hi Fi trade.
Excellent video and great information. Looking for a mini system here in the US that includes MD. Was considering sourcing from Japan but will shop locally. Thanks.
Another excellent video! After the Panasonic SA-PM50MD's first appearance in a previous video, I bought one from Japan through Buyee. It was a little dirty and the CD tray mechanism required a little work, other than that, everything works as it should. The speakers sound good, maybe a little boomy, but I was really surprised at how well they sound. I purchased a step down transformer, but while repairing it, I found that it is capable of running on US voltage. Shipping was expensive, at $149, but I expected that and the item cost was $60.85. I would have never known about this stereo if it hadn't shown up in your video, and it's been very rewarding getting it and repairing it so that it works as it should.
Yes, that was quite an effort, I can see that. Enjoy your break. I'm already looking forward to the surprise in the next one.
Fun video, the second and third systems both look like something out of Red Dwarf!
Would anyone like any toast?
Great video - the last device looks like the most capable one, but the "face" design is somewhat creepy - I'd feel that those glowing orange "eyes" were going to follow me round the room!
“Let the buy beware” (but in Japanese) interesting video, though. Nice to see the devices that only Japan received.
I recall you mentioned on a previous video regarding Boom Boxes that they were once refereed to by another name which is offensive ( *** box). When I was a kid in the 70's and 80's they were always refereed to as such and I never gave it a second thought and definitely never made the connection to it being offensive in any way. As the years went on the systems vanished and I didn't think about them or their name for many years until I started discovering your videos when I was looking for for camera equipment and started binge watching them all, it was at that moment by brain clicked in and suddenly realised! Weird how you can use a terminology in total innocence and never make a connection Just curious if anyone else used the afore mentioned wording without realising.
I was the same with Frankie Goes to Hollywood's song RELAX! I thought it was about not worrying about going to a party or something and just to Go and do it!
All the hard work is appreciated and evident chap. Been spoilt for videos from you recently:) Have to agree about the weather! Won't be long until we can complain about the heat and humidity.
Yes the temperature is perfect for my ‘studio’ approximately two days a year.
I'd guess that there was a weak/leaky/knackered capacitor on the CD motor.
Another fantastic video. Thanks
I'm from England and I couldn't agree more. This schizophrenic and mostly dark weather really takes its toll. I don't mind dark weather in Winter but when it's going from sunny to grey and back again every 2 minutes it gives me a headache. Also I have to say that MECHA ERROR sounds like an anime. "MECHA ERROR: THE ROMANCE KINGDOM OF SKY FUTURE!"
Another interesting watch. I'm not sure about it going visa so being more expensive, but it can certainly take a lot longer, taking 3-6 months!
Great video Mat. Felt bad that you spent all that money on the first system only for it to fail completely. The second one looked really cool though. Appreciate all the time, money and effort you’ve put into this. I’ve learned quite a bit. Hope you feel better 🙂
I've never looked at a mini system and thought "hey, that looks like something exciting that I would want to use," but that Panasonic system is positively awesome. My favorite is that sliding panel to reveal the CD tray. I'm certain I would break that from opening it over and over again in the dark under the glow of those buttons. Thanks for the great video and bringing me yet another piece of tech that I've never before seen.
Very good one this. As always: Thanks for making that video.