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Guide

Purchasing MD Equipment

Historical source · MiniDisc.org archive

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Requirements: Check the original guide for model, tools, software and skill requirements before following its steps.

Limitations: Applicability and current software support have not been independently verified. Preserve and follow the original warnings.

Related guides & software

Source links; check each guide’s applicability.

Preserved historical reference

Original source · Original dates and notices remain in the article. Historical advice may no longer apply.

Purchasing MD Equipment

Where can I get a MiniDisc recorder?

Many large appliance/electronics stores carry the recorders and blank discs (e.g. Best Buy (who has a serious MD promotion), Circuit City, Service Merchandise, and most electronics specialty shops). There are also mail order places that sell MiniDisc equipment. Have a look in the rec.audio Mail Order FAQ if you are wondering which places are reputable. You can also try Sony's Dealer Locator service (for the USA only) or their Factory Outlets. For Sharp equipment, call 1-800-BE-SHARP to find a Sharp dealer near you.

Price Comparison Search Engines

Aaron Satz maintains the Price Comparison Table, listing online MD merchants and their prices for current MiniDisc portables.

Used Equipment: You can browse or post to the MD used equipment classified ads.

Used and refurbished MiniDisc equipment can often be found at Sony Outlets (check your yellow pages), and is sometimes sold in online auctions such as:

Attention Suppliers: We will be happy to provide a link to your page providing you supply MD blanks, equipment or accessories. Banners are placed in exchange for monthly donations to a charity that we can agree upon, please contact us for details.

MD audio suppliers in North America include:

In South America, suppliers include:

  • Premiata Video in Po os de Caldas Brasil (260Km north of Sao Paulo) (Sony MD gear and blanks).

In Europe, suppliers include:

  • Abargain.co.uk (UK) sells MD equipment.
  • Argos (UK), a popular chain store, offers portable MiniDisc units with through their online store. (choose Browse By Category / Audio and Video / Portable Hifi / Personal MiniDisc)
  • Ask Direct (UK) offers equipment and blanks from Sony, Sharp, Panasonic and others.
  • AVLand.co.uk (UK) has a assortment of MD equipment, with detailed product descriptions.
  • AV-Store.co.uk (UK) sells a good collection of Sony MD gear (use search, product "minidisc").
  • Beyond HiFi (UK) sells MD accessories and blanks.
  • Binary Enigma (UK) importer of Japanese, US and European products.
  • CarStereoComponents (Germany) sells car audio, CD and MD equipment.
  • De Luca (Italy) sells various MD decks.
  • The Direct Shop (Germany).
  • Electric-Warehouse (UK) carries Sony portables, decks and mini-systems.
  • EmpireDirect (UK) generally has good prices on some portable MD gear, including some of the newer Sony units (Follow: Home Entertainment->Portable Audio->[select] MiniDisc Portables).
  • HiFiBitZ (UK) carries Sony, Sharp, Denon, Pioneer, Nakamichi and Marantz home MD units as well as a few portables.
  • HIFI COMPONENTS (Germany) has many brands of MD decks and portables.
  • In-Car Express (UK) offers in-dash MD tuners and changers.
  • Interstudio Limited (UK) offers new and used pro audio equipment and some MD gear.
  • LetsBuyIt.com (UK) offers some MD portable units for low prices through group buying.
  • MiniDisc & CD Solutions (UK) has a selection of MD gear and accessories.
  • MiniDiscWorld (Netherlands) offers a few MD decks.
  • Minimaniax (Germany), one of the first German Internet MD retailers, has portable MD players and recorders. (Closed, as of Aug 2002)
  • Musical Sounds (Germany) sells professional audio equipment.
  • Musikhaus Thomann (Germany) has several MD decks available.
  • My MiniDisc (Germany) offering MD portables, decks, mini systems, car units, and more.
  • Ogormans (UK) sells various MD portables.
  • Peterka in Rapperswil Switzerland has various MD equipment.
  • Quality Electrical Direct (UK) has good prices on MD equipment.
  • Radio Waldecker (Germany) has various Sony MD gear including the RM-D11P titler.
  • Richer Sounds (UK) has several good MD bargains.
  • Rowtex (UK) sells Sony MD portables for promotions and incentive plans.
  • Singer Audio/Video in Switzerland has MD portables, decks, and car audio.
  • The Sony Shop in Lausanne Switzerland.
  • Superfi (UK) sells a wide range of Sony MD decks and portables.
  • Techtronics (UK) carries Sony Minidisc decks.
  • TechnikDirekt (Germany) sells a variety of MiniDisc equipment.
  • Unbeatable.co.uk (UK) has good prices on decks, portables, in-dash receivers, and blanks.
  • Victor Electronics, "UK's Largest Supplier of Minidisc Product," offers an extensive line of MD products.
  • Weibel HiFi (Switzerland) offers a selection of MD gear.
  • In Paris
    • Europ photo son video - 18 faubourg Poissoniere, 75010 Paris - 01 47 70 67 62 (you can buy by phone, they deliver all over France), MD equipment, some blanks but the price is not great.
    • Concurrence - 19, Place de la Madeleine 75008 Paris - 01 42 65 35 99, MD equipment (they give no price info by phone).
    • Fnac - several addresses in Paris, MD blanks.
    • Cobra - 66 ave Parmentier 75011 Paris - 01 49 29 10 80, Sony blanks.
  • Amsterdam: For travellers going through Amsterdam airport, consider checking out the electronics store. They have a good selection of MD players and recorders at excellent prices and offer a worldwide guarantee. Remember that the adapters are 220 volts. -E.B. Scheuer


Japan-Direct will purchase and ship any equipment
available in Japanese shops per your request.

Australasian suppliers:

Attention: Import duties and surface shipping alternatives should be borne in mind by those importing electronics goods to America.

  • Bluetin (Singapore) has surprisingly low prices on MD portables (e.g. MZ-R900: US$267+shipping).
  • David Console Shop (Hong Kong) offers low prices on both MD players and recorders.
  • Digitmall.com (Hong Kong) sells portable MD gear.
  • Hat-In (based in Japan) offers several different varieties of MD gear.
  • MD Portal Based out of Singapore, offers deals for MD portables and accessories for shipment worldwide.


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  • Minidisc Australia offers MD and Sharp portables, blanks and accessories.
  • MinidiscDirect.net (Australia) has a selection of MD portables and accessories.
  • VIP, a Russian MD dealer and information page.
  • HyperJack, in Osaka, offers low cost MD portable sales, complete with post paid 1 year warranty coverage. (Michael Petnuch offers a review of Hyperjack).
  • Micmic, based in Hong Kong: MD decks and portables.
  • Nic Boyde no longer offers his sales service, but Nic's extensive snapshots and information on MD portables is still available.
  • Japan Direct, mail order from Japan (MD portables). Japan-Direct will purchase and ship any equipment available in Japanese shops per your request.
  • Kimiwa, international mail order from Osaka, Japan, accepting payment by credit card. (Sony MD and electronic goods).
  • Mydo, a Japanese retailer selling Sony and Sharp portables at reasonable prices. They accept credit card payment. Details are scanty, but they accept English language email.
  • Melting Pot, located in the US with mail order from Japan. (Sony MD and electronic goods). Payment by credit card possible.
  • Maxfire (bookshelf systems (including the latest Sonys) and portables), direct import from Japan.
  • KNG Market Japanese domestic sales only.
  • Dynamic Audio, Tokyo, again Japanese domestic sales only.
  • Electronic Shopping Mall, mail order from Hong Kong (MiniDisc portables and other electronic equipment). Payment via credit card.
  • Hitek in Melbourne, 03-94821744, (MDS-JE510, MD blanks).
  • The Chatswood Sony Centre in Australia (Sony MD decks and portables) (their MD page points back at us!).
  • MDCity (Australia) offers MD equipment at competitive prices. Not Recommended -- A customer has been waiting 3 months for a reply after sending hundreds of dollars. -eaw
  • Team Digital (Singapore) carries Sony and Sharp MD portables.
  • VideoWorld in Adelaide, Australia sells Sony MD decks, portables, and blanks.

Street Shopping while Abroad

A few individuals have contributed information about purchasing MD equipment while traveling:

Who makes blank MiniDiscs and where can I buy them cheaply?

As of Oct. '99 there are recordable MD blank facilities in:
  • Japan: Sony, TDK (their English and Japanese MD pages), Hitachi/Maxell, and Xeus (aka Axia).
  • Taiwan: RITEK (aka Arita, Traxdata, BestMedia, MMore)
  • Korea: Saehan (supplies Sony, Alpine, Aiwa, Clarion, JVC and Yamaha)
  • France: MPO (aka Hi-SPACE, others)
  • UK: Maxell (assembly lines only)
  • Germany: Intenso
  • Luxemburg: TDK
  • Austria: Sony
Other web pages for companies selling blanks under their name:

Wholesalers:

  • Fels Limited in Hong Kong, selling Sony and TDK MDs wholesale (min. order 2000), prices are below $1.50 each for orders of >5000 pcs. Also carrying MD storage and optical cables in wholesale quantities.

Suppliers in North America include:

European suppliers:

Australasian suppliers:

  • Shaka Media (Japan) offers their own line of MD blanks, and in wholesale quantities.
  • Blank Media in Sydney, Australia offers MD blanks at competitive prices.

An old price survey of blank MiniDiscs gives further MD blank suppliers, world wide. See the MD Data products table for other suppliers of MD Data disks.

What is available in Pre-recorded MDs?

Listings of Pre-recorded discs:

Suppliers

  • 101cd.comMinidiscMusic.com (Tennessee) offers hundreds of prerecorded Minidisc titles to US customers.
  • Sony Music Store (on eBay!) featuring prerecorded Minidisc titles from $7 to $27.
  • N5MD is a MiniDisc-only recording label specializing in experimental electronic music, their released albums are available for purchase.
  • DJMixTapes.com offers Techno, House, Trance, and Drum & Bass Dj mixes for sale on Minidisc.
  • Naxos has a Prerecorded Classical MD and New Releases section.
  • Sony's music site has their entire MD catalog online. Click view by format, then MiniDisc.

European suppliers:

Australasian suppliers:

  • Sanity.com (Australia) sells pre-recorded MDs (but not over the web, you must call or come by the shop to discover which ones).
  • Hammond Music Entertainment in Australia sells pre-recorded MDs.

Where can I get MD Accessories?

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