Sony MZ-S1 S2 Sports Net MD MiniDisc Player

The MZ-S1 Net MiniDisc Walkman is a larger, chunkier, and heavier MD player than most, because it's a rugged sports model. It comes complete with a large latch that clips securely over the rubber-sealed disc slot, rubber covers for all the ports and socket, and a tough, wipe-clean case that won't scratch. The earbud headphones are light and unobtrusive, too, but the strap only prevents you from dropping it rather than letting you carry it easily.

You can run, jog, and shake or drop the case without interrupting the music, and all the controls are on the side, falling naturally under your thumb when you hold the player one-handed. Play, stop, fast forward, rewind, and volume are all combined in one five-way control; only pause is separate. Although the edges are a little sharp for comfort, the control makes it easy to get the track you want without looking at the player, and it's almost impossible to change the volume by accident; if you do there's an automatic volume control to stop it from getting too loud too suddenly.

You do need to look at the player to record or edit track names, but as you can only record from an external source like a CD player you're not likely to be on the move at the time. There's an optical cable in the box for digital connections but you'll need a second cable for analog sources. Alternatively, you can plug the USB cable into your PC and transfer tracks you have stored as MP3 or WMA files. You get the same choice of single-, double-, or quadruple-length recording, which puts over five hours of music on one minidisc, and you get about 50 hours play time from a single AA battery. The OpenMG JukeBox software is a little complicated because you have to check tracks in and out of your library to transfer them, but you can create multiple playlists and convert CD tracks directly. You can't transfer tracks from minidisc to MP3, though.

You're paying a slight premium for the rugged, go-anywhere portability of the Net MiniDisc Walkman, but the controls are simple and the sound quality is excellent. --Mary Branscombe, Amazon.co.uk

Sony MZ-S1 S2 Sports Net MD MiniDisc Player Features:

• Record MP3s or CDs at up to 32x from multiple sources (PC, CD, radio, and more)
• Plays back in ATRAC3, supports MP3, WMA, and WAV formats
• Easy one-hand joystick navigation; bright backlit LCD display
• Up to 54 hours' playback on one AA battery (in LP4 mode)
• Water-resistant design with reflective casing; includes music management software, reflective hand strap

Customer Reviews:

• Best sports audio system: Esta diseñado para eso. El ipod por ser un disco duro, puede sufrir daños
  con el movimiento. Creo que es el mejor sistema digital para gimnasio o hacer jogger
• DURABLE WITH GREAT QUALITY: I have used this item for a few years now. The switches/buttons are very durable. I think as portable's go-this will last longer than most.
• best portable music player i've had: i've used several different MD players before but i've enjoyed this one the best. my biggest complaint about others was skipping and the software. when i bought my it was version 1.2. which is a pain because of the checking in/out system. this problem was eliminated later versions of the software. one important thing is to make sure to update the software. i can cos problems with burning discs. i like MDs in general because unlike cds they're very hard to mess up (i.e. scratch). this on also eliminates skipping problems.
• Somewhat useful md player: I bought this md player thinking it would be great for running and using on public transport. It has been great to a certain extent. Its ok for running though after a while it can get a bit heavy and isn't easy to hold on to if you get a bit sweaty - what is? Its perfect for popping in my bag and listening to to drown out the sound of screaming children on the bus!
  
  However, the first time I used the software it crashed my computer and I had to get a friend to fix my computer! I haven't risked trying again. Life's too short.
  
  I work in theatre and there is a plethora of md players around so I've been lucky enough to burn mds at work though it isn't always convenient. If the software hadn't been so questionable I'd have a lot more to listen to. I'm thinking of getting a mp3 player as they are so much smaller and lighter and more practical. Until then I'm happy to carry on with my md player.
• Very Good Player that will do it's job: I received this minidisc player a couple of years ago as a bday present and it hasn't let me down yet. Sound quality is clear as CDs. Easy and simple to use with a joystick to use as the button to play/stop/ff/rew. With the software (SonicStage), I can get over 30 songs on a single disc. Doesn't eat up batteries so don't worry about that. My only problem with the product is the bulky size which doesn't allow for simple transportation. Other then that, very good and useful player.