The Personal Hi-Fi Blog: April 2016

~~~ AM-F70 ~~~
PORTABLE MD RECORDER

MiniDisc [MD] is a magneto - optical disc-based data storage device initially intended for storage of up to 74 minutes and, later, 80 minutes, of digitized audio. In the form of Hi-MD, it has also developed into a general-purpose storage medium. MiniDisc was announced by Sony in September 1992 and released that November for sale in Japan and in December for the USA and Europe. The music format was originally based exclusively on ATRAC audio data compression, but the option of linear PCM recording was later introduced to attain audio quality comparable to that of a compact disc. MiniDiscs were very popular in Japan but made a limited impact elsewhere. {wikipedia}

Introduction

December 1998 Aiwa introduced the AM-F70, Minidisc recorder: 1/1998 it cost 42,000 Yen ($299) As the World's first illuminated LCD on the main unit as well on the remote. 20 Bit Digital to Analog converter. DSL - Aiwa's famous Bass boost. Multi-Jog dial for Volume & Labeling and for Track selection. Can title while Playing a Track. Special "one Track Record" function. Multi-function input (Optical, Mic, Line). 40 Second Shock memory. the Unit is fully illuminated; suitable for working in dark environments (Live concerts, Car, DJ etc.). Synchronous-Recording, sampling rate Converter. Battery charges only when UNIT is in stop mode. Manual and Auto-level Control Recording. comes in 3 unique metal colors: Gold, Black, Blue.

Features

40-second shock memory,
Sampling rate converter.
20 bit DAC/ADC.
Synchronous start recording from digital and analog sources.
Date and time stamp recording.
manually adjust the recording volume during recording.
Time mark function can automatically make a track mark every 5 minutes.
High speed (2x) playback mode for mono or stereo recordings with no pitch change.
DSL - Dynamic Super Loudness.
Large style jog dial for inputting disc and track titles (up to 50 characters).
Repeat 1, all, shuffle and 25 track program play mode.
Optical input.
Title search function allows another track to be selected by name while the unit is playing.
Divide function has rehearsal mode (as MD decks do) that repeatedly plays 3-second segment at divide point, allowing divide point to be moved with AMS knob or << and >> keys (edit point step size is 60ms).
Back-lit LCD on the main unit and on remote as well.
Remote control 10 character LCD
Control buttons on the body are illuminated.
3 step battery life indicator on the main body as well as remote.
Colors: Black, Gold, Silver and blue.
The US, UK & European units omit neck strap and one point microphone.
US units replace earbuds with 'swoops' (HP-M038), behind-the-head street-style headphones.

Variants: The Aiwa AM-F65 has been released in Europe, it is nearly identical to the AM-F70 but has no back-light on the main unit's LCD panel, has no LCD panel on remote, and comes without dry cell case (for AA x 3).

Aiwa AM-F70 British Ad

Aiwa AM-F70 Owners Manual: Playback and Recording; Basic Operation.

Aiwa AM-F70 Original Remote control

Sound Quality

The AM-F70 is a very unique and cool player, overall performance has excellent clear sound without any enhancement, a very good sound stage with very nice channel separation. Analog and digital sounds are also very good thanks to Aiwa's unique DAC. The AM-F70 has A Unique DSL Bass 1-2. it has a warm sound moreover with different characteristics for different styles of music thanks to the DSL circuitry. The Aiwa AM-F70 doesn't just looks good it also sound pretty good. The only downside in minidisc is: unfortunately, the low-level sound which is barely satisfying, however, Aiwa amplifying level is better than any other minidiscs it employs a 10 mW per channel with 16Ω impedance....more to follow.

Power source

Recharge time: 2 hours.
14 hours playback, or 5 hours of recording, on a rechargeable battery.
28 hours playback, or 15 hours of recording, on a single AA external battery.
57 hours playback, or 19 hours of recording, on a rechargeable battery and the external battery case.
3 x AA size battery using the supplied Battery Pack.
1 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery.
Adapter DC 4.5 V