Pioneer Players

Features: Clamshell disc loading. Backlit remote, 40 second shock memory. Can be connected to Sharp MD compo system for MD copying (analog) including track titles. Digital X-Bass. Autoplay option (MD starts playing upon insertion). Controls on back panel. Unique LiIon gumpack rechargeable cell that recharges in main unit with AC adapter, even while in use. Available in silver, blue and pink. (Kenwood model has carrying strap, Sharp does too?).

Links:

• Japanese info on Sharp's MD-ST521 MD player.
• Japanese announcement and photo of Pioneeer's PMD-R55 and PMD-P5 portables.
• Japanese info and pictures on Pioneer's PMD-P5 and 'R55 portables.
• Onkyo's photo and Japanese information for their MD-P20 clone of the unit.
• Japan Direct has some clear shots of the unit.
• Japanese info on Kenwood's DMC-K5, a clone.

Specs: Freq. Resp.: 20-20kHz +/-3dB, Headphone amp: 5mW+5mW into 16ohms.

Reviews:

Features: Clamshell (not slot-in) disc loading. MD ''jacket size'' and thickness of 2 MD jackets. 40 second shock memory. Back lit remote. 8 hours playback on single LiIon battery. 6 hours on single AA cell, 14 hours on both together. Available in white, blue and yellow. Clear plastic ("skeleton") remote. Headphone amp: 5mW + 5mW (32ohms). Power: 3.6v (LiIon rechargeable), 1.5v (1 AA cell), 4.5v (car adapter), 5.0v (AC adapter). Includes: remote, LiIon rechargeable, AA case, headphones (button?) AC adapter, carrying case.

Links: Sharp's Japanese page and news release for the unit. Nic Boyde's page for the ST501 and Onkyo MD-P10 [Sharp MD-ST501 clone]. Nick Riley's photos and comments on the Sharp MD-ST501 portable player. Sharp's Audiofair Report with pictures and blurbs on the MD-ST501 portable player. Pioneer's Japanese announcement and photos of their PMD-P3 MD player (a Sharp ST501 clone). The PMD-RMX1 variant comes with fancy ``DJ'' headphones. Tugrul Tanyol has conducted a comparison of the Sony MZ-E35 and Sharp ST501 portable MD players.

Notes: Pioneer PDM-RMX1 includes ``Original Dynamic Headphones'' for DJ use.

Reviews:

Features: Slot in design. Allows "MD->MD Edit" function (see ST60 above). 3 postion digital bass boost. 4 step battery life indicator. Katakana/roman display. Random play. Auto play function starts playback when disc is inserted. In car (AD-SS70CU [car mount base], AD-CT13 [cassette adapter], AD-CA20X [cigarette lighter power adapter] - all separately sold), resumes play at beginning of last song in play when car is started. Provides 10 hours playback on LiIon rechargeable (AD-MS10BT), 27 hours when coupled with (separately sold) external battery case (AD-SS70BC) carrying six (!) alkaline AA cells. Charge time: 3 hours. Available in silver, blue and grey.

Links: Sharp's English summary page for the SS70. Alan Jaffray's review of the SS70.

Reviews: