Source: MiniDisc Wiki contributors · September 3, 2026 snapshot · CC BY 4.0, except where otherwise credited.
Attribution and changes
Adapted from “Sony MZ-E50”. Links, layout and file names normalized; missing database fields restored; remote embeds replaced with links. Manufacturer manuals and separately credited photographs retain their original attribution.
| Name | MZ-E50 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sony |
| Released | 1996/10 |
| Device type | portable |
| Recorder | Player |
| MDLP | No |
| NetMD | No |
| Hi-MD | No |
| Radio | No |
| Dimensions | 99 x 13.5 x 73.5mm |
| Weight | 76g |
| ATRAC ver | 3 |
| Battery | Not recorded "Gumstick" |
| Battery notes | Not recorded |
| Sidecar (depr) | 1xAA |
| Voltage | 1.5 |
| Power cable | Center positive |
| Price (launch) | $450 |
| ¥48 000 | |
| - | |
| Inputs | Not recorded |
| Outputs | 3.5mm headphone |
| Control | Not recorded |
Diecast magnesium casing. At least some are marked MZ-E50L. Similar in performance to the MZ-E30.
The design started in 12-1993 with a handpicked team of 67 people by Director Fukushima. "Because his first aim was to realize a dream, no projected sales price was set at the start of the unit's design. The goal of the project was to make a smaller and lighter MiniDisc player, cost was a secondary consideration."
A magnesium alloy was adopted for the unit's case and a titanium sheet for the part where the disc is inserted. This was more expensive in both material and processing cost than before, but the material is lighter and harder. The optical pickup saw a dramatic weight reduction from the usual 23g to 3.5g.
The component company which makes parts within Sony flatly rejected Fukushima, saying ``We can't make such parts,'' because they were too small to ride on an automated assembly line. Sony Bonson's (walkman manufacturing division) business director Kazuhiro Ueda however took up the challenge and by using factory workers to hand assemble the parts managed to make the optical pickup 1/7th the size of the conventional pickup.
Content adapted from: Sony Press Release Minidisc.org translation of original Sony Press Release MZ-E50 Minidisc.org page Story of the E50's creation
Manuals
No manuals found.
Photos
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Additional specifications and references
| Web Md | No (not NetMD) |
|---|---|
| Manual | |
| Region | Japan |