Features:

• Trace-back recording (formerly only available on MD decks) stores 5, 10 or 30 (user selectable) seconds of audio in memory while in REC-PAUSE state; when the user presses REC, recording actually begins 5, 10 or 30 seconds prior to the button press.
• Record breaking battery life: 120 hour playback, 64 hour recording.
• World's first MD recorder with 1-bit digital amplifier (uses 4 conductor headphone plug and jack).
• MDLP support (but not NetMD).
• "Favorite Playback" allows selection of up to 10 favorite tracks that are played when in Favorite Playback mode. These tracks are remembered for up to 9 different MDs in the recorder's memory.
• Playback Speed control in 5 steps: -30%, -20%, 10%, +5%, +15%
• First Sharp recorder with Treble control. Bass boost functions as it did on previous units, but treble adjustment is now available (in 5 steps: -2, -1, 0, +1, +2) after bass setting is selected.
• Equipped with a charging stand.
• Alarm timer from 1 to 99 minutes (to avoid missing train stops).
• New group mode function starts a new group when group button is pressed during mic recording.
• Backlit LCD remote.
• Microphone sensitvity setting (HIGH/LOW) incorporated into recording level control.
• Available in Silver, blue and pink.
• In common with all modern Sharp portable recorders:
  • Synchro recording for digital and analog (LINE/MIC) sources.
  • Character Stamp (Sharp feature since MD-MS200 that provides quick title text transfer from original to newly recorded disc)
  • Recording level control may be adjusted while recording is underway.
  • No automatic recording level setting.

Variants: Unit is badged "MD-DR480" in Singapore (Asia?). Euro variant is sold without charging cradle as the MD-DR470. Discussion of variants

Links:

• AVWatch Japan announcement (mech. trans)
• Sharp press release (mech trans page 1 and 2).
• Minidisc T-Station page.
• Minidisco page for the unit.
• Sharp MD-DR480 photo gallery (Minidisc Australia)
• Mike Sloan's photos of the Blue MD-DR7.
• my-minidisc.com page for the unit.

Reviews:

• Tina and Okinawa Joe's review.

Accessories: Backlit LCD remote, Headphone, NiMH battery, AC adaptor (auto-sensing 110-240AC in Asia), externally attachable AA drycell case, Charge stand, Manual. In Europe: optical cable (TOSlink to 3.5mm), analog cable (RCA to 3.5mm), carrying case. MD-DR480 (Asia): additonal ear buds (as well as headphones), AD-USB1 analog PC-Link (USB->analog) adapter, optical cable (TOSlink to 3.5mm), analog cable (RCA to 3.5mm) 4-Pole ->3-Pole conversion cable.

Specs:

• Output: Headphone: 8mW+8mW (32 ohms, RMS), Line 250mV (10Kohms)
• Input sensitivity: MIC H: 0.25mV (10kohms), MIC L: 2.5mV (10kohms), LINE: 100mV (20kohms).

User Manual: MD-DR7