Sharp MD•J MD-ST880

 

Sharp MD•J  MD-ST880

MDLP Dolby Headphone System Stereo Player

In 2000, Sony announced MDLP (MiniDisc Long Play), which added new recording modes based on a new codec called ATRAC3. In addition to the standard, high-quality mode, now called SP, MDLP adds LP2 mode, which allows twice as much recording time (160 minutes on an 80-minute disc) of good-quality stereo sound, and LP4, which allows four times more recording time (320 minutes on an 80-minute disc) of medium-quality stereo sound. The bitrate of the standard SP mode is 292 kbit/s, and it uses separate stereo coding with discrete left and right channels. LP2 mode uses a bitrate of 132 kbit/s and also uses separate stereo coding. The last mode, LP4, has a bitrate of 66 kbit/s and uses joint stereo coding. The sound quality is noticeably poorer than the first two modes but is sufficient for many users. Tracks recorded in LP2 or LP4 mode play back as silence on non-MDLP players. Sony announced they would cease development of MD devices, with the last of the players sold by March 2013 {wikipedia} 

 

 I n t r o d u c t i o n

On July 7, 2001, Sharp Corporation released the MD-J "MD-ST880," the first portable MDLP player with a mobile "Dolby Headphone System." - a sound field effect created by the well-known Dolby Company. Its sleek and sophisticated appearance gave it the nickname "the butterfly" player. With a two-line color variation remote control and the longest play time available, it instantly became very popular. Available in silver (-S) and black (-B), and the retail price was 28,000 yen.

The Sharp's MDLP compression decoding unit is equipped with the fifth-generation power-saving LSI, and the high-speed disc allows the battery life to reach the world's longest, 130 hours (@ LP4). The heart of MD, the ATRAC3 coding, uses a 0.18 μm processor with integrated DRAM to achieve that.

 

Using the gum-type nickel-metal hydride battery, the MD-ST880 can operate continuously for roughly 26 hours (SP), 35 hours (LP2), and 44 hours (LP4) on a single full charge thanks to ATRAC's most sophisticated LSI technology. When used with an alkaline battery, it can use a single charge for up to 130 hours (LP4), 98 hours (LP2), or 70 hours in SP mode. With a single AA alkaline battery, it will last roughly 38 hours (SP), 60 hours (LP2), and 75 hours (LP4). It takes roughly 3.5 hours to charge using the included charging stand.

Main features:

Digital Amp: The MD-ST880's sound quality aspect uses the polarity power audio circuit used in audio to replace the capacitor that affects the sound quality. Also, the volume adjustment uses an Analog Attenuator circuit, which can fully exert the ATRAC performance even at low volume. The MD sound quality core uses 22-bit ATRAC to perform compression and decoding calculations, and it helps it obtain clear and wide high-quality sound. Achieving natural and clear sound quality with little deterioration in the quality of 22-bit processing. Dolby Headphone System: Reduces the feeling of "sound is ringing inside your head" that you get when using headphones and delivers the same immersive sound as if you were listening through speakers. You can enjoy natural, comfortable sound that doesn't tire your ears even when listening for long periods of time. 

Dolby Digital. Immersive sound temple with Dolby Headphone System. You feel the sound in your head when using the headphones. The digital signal processing gives you a sense of realism so you can enjoy a natural and comfortable sound. The sound scene reproduction that suits one's taste can be enjoyed from three kinds of modes with a different combination of the size and the effect of the echo of the room. Three modes: STUDIO—standard effect on voices, for all music and movies. LIVE—Especially for music—effective for playback. DOME—Effective for concerts and music. You can also combine Sharp's "Digital X-BASS" for bass enhancement with 3-mode bass along with Dolby Digital.

Two-line LCD display navigation remote control: Sharp's unique two-line navigation LCD remote control is multi-functional. The upper and lower rows of the LCD are deliberately divided by color. It has the powerful ability to display the song name or album name together (first line) with the track and time information at the same time (second line), which is better than the inconvenience of other MDs that require frequent switching. Also, it has a menu call button and decision keys, making it easy to operate like a cell phone.

On top of that, the smart three-colored LEDs embedded in the butterfly shape change color in response to the MDLP, charging, and playback modes. Sound skip guard memory for up to 160 seconds (at LP4) and "Intro playback," which plays each song for 5 seconds, are part of its advanced features.

Sharp's MD-J ST880 rare brochure, Aug 2001

Rare Japanese Catalog, Nov 2001

Sharp ST-MD Review

Hello everyone, Today I'm sharing a classic piece of audio equipment with you—the SHARP MD-ST880, a double-sided, ultra-thin metal MD player. This device is not only an iconic product from the early 2000s but also a favorite collectible for many music lovers. We will review it in detail, analyze the brand background, appearance design, sound quality performance, etc., and the user experience. Now let's explore its charm together!

The brand story: Be Sharp

SHARP is a well-known Japanese brand that has long been recognized for its superior products and inventive technology. Additionally, SHARP performs exceptionally well in the audio domain. The MD-ST880, a SHARP classic, embodies the company's passion for music as well as its ongoing technological advancements. This MiniDisc's design concept aims to provide users with a more enjoyable and pure music experience.

Appearance: A work of art on the move.

Speaking of the MD-ST880, its distinctive "butterfly" design is its most striking feature. When you turn on the Minidisc, the LEDs on both sides slowly unfold like butterfly wings, which is both beautiful and practical. This design not only increases the convenience of operation but also makes the MiniDisc look more appealing. The body is made of double-sided metal material, which not only enhances the overall texture but also makes the MiniDisc more durable. With a total thickness of just 12.9 mm, the MiniDisc is lightweight and portable. It's convenient to have in your pocket or bag at home or on the go.

In addition, the color matching of MD-ST880 is also very classic. The combination of black and turquoise or silver and turquoise looks low-key yet stylish. Holding it in your hand, it feels like holding a work of art, and every use is a pleasure.

Sound quality: pure sound quality, a music feast.

Sound quality is one of the most important indicators of an audio device. The MD-ST880 performs very well in this regard. It restores a more delicate and lifelike sound quality by utilizing SHARP's proprietary audio processing technology. Whether it is the steady bass or the clear treble, it can be perfectly presented and also can be enhanced with Sharp's "X-Bass" feature.

In addition, the MD-ST880 supports the Dolby Headphone system. With SHARP's professional tuning technology, every song can be presented with the best effect for a total of audio excitement.

User experience: easy to operate and rich in functions.

In addition to its excellent sound quality, the MD-ST880 is also very easy to operate. 

The front of the MiniDisc is equipped with four LEDs and one button, each LED presenting its playing status in a different color, and the one button is dedicated to the Dolby effect. All other operating buttons are concentrated on the top side of the player, with a reasonable layout and comfortable feel. Even first-time users can get started quickly. The remote control has a clear LCD display in two colors that can display all the currently playing modes, like song, album, group, time, etc., information. 

Finally, it should be noted that the MD-ST880 has a number of useful features. For example, it supports A-B repeat playback, which is very suitable for learning or practicing musical instruments.

Summary: A classic MiniDisc worth owning.

Overall, the SHARP double-sided metal ultra-thin MD player, the classic butterfly MiniDisc MD-ST880, is a classic audio device that combines beauty, sound quality, and functionality. Whether it's a player for daily use or as a collectible, it's an excellent choice. If you are a music lover or someone who enjoys nostalgia, you might want to consider owning the MD-ST880; I believe it will bring you a unique musical experience.

MD-ST880 Packaging

MD-ST880 Japanese Manual combined with English Manual

MD-ST880 with accessories

Technical

Specifications:

• Format: Minidisc digital audio system MDLP. 

• Reading method: Non-contact optical reading method (using semiconductor laser) 

• Audio compression method: ATRAC/ATRAC3 (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding).

• Number of channels: Stereo 2 channels / monaural 1 channel. 

• Sampling Frequency: 44.1 kHz.

• Frequency characteristics: 20 to 20,000 Hz (± 3 dB).

• Wow & flutter: Measurement limit (± 0.001% W.PEAK) or less.

• Output terminal: Headphone (32Ω) / remote control terminal combined use.

• Maximum practical output: 5 mW+5 mW (32 Ω) 

• Power supply: DC 1.2V

Included nickel-metal hydride rechargeable battery (AD-N55BT).

DC 1.5V: Included dry battery case (commercially available AA alkaline battery) Dry battery 1.5V x 1.

DC 5V: Attached AC adapter (100V AC, 50/60 Hz) (with attached charging stand). 

• External dimensions: 71 (width) x 12.9 (height) x 77.7 (depth) mm 

• Weight: Body 71 g, and about 96 g including rechargeable battery.

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Sharp MD-DS70

 

Sharp Auvi MD-DS70

Portable 1-bit ΔΣ Dolby Surround MDLP Player

In 2000, Sony announced MDLP (MiniDisc Long Play), which added new recording modes based on a new codec called ATRAC3. In addition to the standard, high-quality mode, now called SP, MDLP adds LP2 mode, which allows twice as much recording time (160 minutes on an 80-minute disc) of good-quality stereo sound, and LP4, which allows four times more recording time (320 minutes on an 80-minute disc) of medium-quality stereo sound. The bitrate of the standard SP mode is 292 kbit/s, and it uses separate stereo coding with discrete left and right channels. LP2 mode uses a bitrate of 132 kbit/s and also uses separate stereo coding. The last mode, LP4 has a bitrate of 66 kbit/s and uses joint stereo coding. The sound quality is noticeably poorer than the first two modes but is sufficient for many users. Tracks recorded in LP2 or LP4 mode playback as silence on non-MDLP players. Sony announced they would cease development of MD devices, with the last of the players sold by March 2013{wikipedia} 

 

 

Meet The Amazing Sharp MD-DS70 Dolby Surround Player

You can choose your favorite sound according to the genre and situation. A discerning portable MD that makes the most of the high-quality sound of a mobile 1-bit digital amplifier.

MD-DS70 Highlights:

+ Mobile 1-bit digital amplifier.
+ DSP Sound & Equalizer.
+ 205 hours of continuous playback.
+ Deep Digital X-Bass.
+ Smart Play.
+ Up to 160 seconds Skipping Guard Memory.
+ 4-pole plug headphones.
+ MDLP group mode.

Digital Sound Processing features:

High-definition ΔΣ modulation circuit that ensures the dynamic range within the audible band.

The quantization noise is moved outside the audible band by ΔΣ modulation processing, producing a 1-bit digital signal that maintains the dynamic range within the audible band.  

Achieving clear sound with good clarity, full-bridge type output stage.

Mobile 1-bit digital amplifier adopts a full-bridge type with independent output stages for +/- (plus/minus) audio signals. As a result, distortion caused by factors such as voltage fluctuations and noise components cancels each other out, making it possible to reproduce music that is more faithful to the original sound.

Equipped with a Dolby Headphone System for immersive sound.*

It reduces the feeling of "the sound is ringing in your head" when using headphones and realizes a sense of realism as if you were listening through speakers. Adopting 3-Mode sound image:

• Studio: Standard effects for all music and movie sounds

• Live: Especially effective for music playback

• Dome: Effective for concert music, etc.

*Dolby Headphones certified virtual system for headphones. Jointly developed with Lake Technology Co., Ltd., and Dolby Laboratories.

From 65 types of sound modes, You can select your favorite presence and sound quality.*

In addition to the "Dolby Headphone System" and "X-BASS" that allows you to enjoy powerful deep bass, it is equipped with "DSP Surround" that creates a sense of spaciousness and presence, and a "DSP Equalizer" that allows you to adjust the sound quality according to the song. In addition, we have prepared 2 modes for the user's memory, which allows you to adjust the low, mid, and high frequencies in 3 steps each, change the sound to your liking and store it in memory.

DSP Surround:

LABO: Enjoy the feeling of being in a room with little reverberation.

CLUB: You can enjoy the presence of being in a club.

HALL: Enjoy the realism of being in a hall.

ARENA: Creates the feeling of being in a large arena.

DSP Equalizer:

HEAVY:    Emphasizes the low and high frequencies to enjoy sharp-sound quality.

POPS:      Suitable for a wide range of songs such as Pops.

JAZZ:      Suitable for music such as Jazz.

DANCE:  This mode is suitable for songs with a fast tempo.

VOCAL:  Emphasizes the midrange to make vocals easier to hear.

ROCK:   Produces a puffy sound suitable for rock music.

SOFT:   You can enjoy an overall gentle sound.

USER:   You can store your favorite sound quality in 2-mode memory.

* 50 modes combined with 10 modes Equalizer,  including FLAT, plus 1 mode that does not adjust sound quality at all. 16 modes by combining 4 modes including "Dolby Headphone" NORMAL and 4 modes including "X-BASS" OFF, 5 modes including "DSP Surround" OFF and "DSP setting is NORMAL, DSP surround is OFF, DSP equalizer is FLAT.

Our mobile 1-bit digital amplifier for high-resolution sound uses unique 4-pole plug headphones.

Equipped with a 4-pole plug headphone that completely separates the left and right sounds and supports the full-bridge system. High channel separation characteristics deliver realistic sound with excellent sound localization and presence. *

* Commercially available 3-pole plug headphones can be used, but in order to demonstrate the original performance of the "Mobile 1-bit Digital Amplifier", use 4-pole plug headphones. 

Body front panel:  -S is a brushed-steel finish, -B is a dark blue metallic

Mixed glossy paint finish, -R/-W are glossy paint finish.

Accessories:

+ LCD remote control 

+ Headphones 

+ Ni-MH rechargeable battery 

+ Charging Stand 

+ AC adapter

+ AA battery case 

+ Carrying case 

+ Dedicated connection cord (analog).

Comes with a compact multi-voltage compatible AC adapter that is convenient for overseas travel. Small size and light weight are realized by adopting the switching method. AC 100V-240V power supply voltage is supported. Charging stand/You can charge easily just by placing it on the charging stand like a mobile phone.

The power saving that is unique to digital technology enables long playback of approximately 205 hours.*

By using the included rechargeable battery and high-capacity AA alkaline batteries together, a long playback time of approximately 205 hours has been achieved.

* Continuous playback time when using the included rechargeable battery and high-capacity AA alkaline batteries together (in LP4 mode)

• MDLP Navi/Indicates which mode of MDLP is being played by flashing high-quality full light.

• Easy to check song titles, etc. A remote controller with a slim design that supports multilingual display. Song titles and artist names are now easier to confirm.

Sharp rare MiniDisc catalog from Nov 2003

Sharp MD-DS70 Packaging

Sharp MD-DS70 Blue Version Box

Sharp MD-DS70 Brushed Steel Version Box

Sharp MD-DS70 Glossy White Version Box

Sharp MD-DS70 Red Glossy Version Box

Sharp MD-DS70 Japanese owner manual

Sharp MD-DS70 Japanese owner manual combined with English manual

MD-DS70 Specifications

Format: minidisc digital audio system.

Reading method: Non-contact optical reading method (use of semiconductor laser).

Audio compression method:  ATRAC/ATRAC3 (Adaptive TRansform Acoustic Coding).

Number of channels: 2 stereo channels / 1 monaural channel.

Sampling frequency: 44.1 kHz frequency.

Frequency response: 20-20,000Hz (±3dB).

Wow & flutter Measurement limit: (±0.001% W.PEAK) or less.

Output terminal headphones; (32Ω) / remote control terminal combined use.

Practical maximum output: 5mW+5mW (32Ω).

Power supply: DC 1.2V: Included Ni-MH rechargeable battery (AD-N55BT) 

DC 1.5V: Attached dry battery case (commercially available AA alkaline dry battery 1.5V x1)

DC 1.5V: Included AC adapter: (100V to 240V AC, 50/60Hz) (used with included charging stand)

Dimensions: 71.2 (width) x 12.5 (height) x 78.1 (length) mm.

Weight: Approx. 99g (including rechargeable battery).

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