Packing a CD's worth of practically CD-quality audio onto a recordable disc that's less than three inches in diameter should be enough to pique any music fan's interest. New player/recorders such as this Sharp MD-MT877 can double or quadruple the recording time of most MiniDiscs using a new technology called MDLP, making these devices a whole lot more enticing.
MiniDisc players haven't traditionally sold very well in Australia. While portable CD players and MP3 players have taken off, MiniDisc units have mostly been embraced by live-audio recording enthusiasts, who consider the small, digital recording devices to be a cheap replacement for DAT. Despite their lack of ubiquity, portable MiniDisc recorders can be worth the relatively high price for anyone who records live audio or makes mixes to carry around with them. Sharp are launching a new feature to lure more consumers into the MiniDisc camp: MiniDisc Long Play (MDLP).
Doesn't trade quality for quantity
MDLP works by slowing down the speed of the MiniDisc, which essentially reduces the sampling rate of the recording. On nice headphones, the sound seemed to thin out a little bit only as the speed was reduced from normal to LP2, then to LP4. Through our high-end test stereo, the thinning of the sound was more apparent. High frequencies were attenuated (or made quieter), especially at LP4. However, even at that slowest speed, the sound never became unpleasant. Just remember that you won't be able to play these high-capacity discs on non-MDLP MiniDisc players unless you want all your music to sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks.
While the MD-MT877's most significant feature is the variable recording speed, most folks notice the plastic charging easel first. The easel saves table space and locks the recorder in place during AC operation so that recording sessions can't be thwarted by the accidental loss of power. The stand can even automatically drain the nickel-metal-hydride battery before recharging it in order to pack the maximum charge onto the player. The battery life impressed us, lasting from 6.5 hours for full-speed recording to 15 hours for LP4 playback. A supplied battery pack holds one AA alkaline, which will run the device for even longer.
