Home > Consumer Reviews > Sony MZ-N505 Blue Net MiniDisc Walkman

Finally the new generation of Sony Net Mini Disc's have arrived.
On first impressions the minidisc is extremely light. New features include the ability to group tracks together, user variable recording level and LP4 record mode giving approx. 320 minutes of recording time.
But the number one feature in my opinion is the ability to copy across music as files at high speeds via a USB link. It comes with its own software for connectivity, copying from CD to MD and even labels the tracks for you - no more fiddling around with the device controls. The only detraction is the inability for Windows Media player to recognise the device, although maybe this is a configuration problem.
All in all its a great product, and with the risk of sounding too gushing, full marks to Amazon, I ordered the product midday on the 19th and it arrive midday on the 20th, in two words - buy one.

The MZ-N505 is small and compact, barely much bigger than a minidisc itself. If it didn't already look fragile enough to begin with, the fact that the body casing is made from sturdy plastic, rather than a hardier metal shell, does make you extra careful about where you leave it. A wayward foot or posterior could well do some permanent damage to the poor thing!

Long-term durability aside, the MZ-N505 has a lot going for it. All your basic minidisc recording/playing/editing functions are here and accessible via the main unit or the remote stick. The main unit's buttons are a bit plasticky too, lending the unit a sort of Tomy-esque feel, but they respond well and accidental proddings of neighbouring buttons rarely happen. (Both the main unit and the remote stick have a "hold" function to lock off the controls too.)

As with any MD unit worth its salt these days, there are LP2 and LP4 recording modes, but alas no high/double speed synchro transfer function for ripping CDs optically. However, the unit does make up for this by allowing you to rip and transfer a CD via the OpenMG Jukebox software at 32x speeds, more of which later.

Sound playback quality is top notch, assuming you've a decent pair of headphones or earphones. The earphones supplied with the unit are the cheap, generic sort that Sony throw in with all their portable audio gear. They get the job done, but they become uncomfortable to wear after about ten minutes. On top of that, the sound can be a bit thin and tinny and the bass response disappointing, even whilst using one of the unit's two built-in bass boost modes.

To get the best out of the MZ-N505, you're better off discarding the bundled earphones and investing in a decent pair of headphones. The Sony MDR-G63LP Street Style headphones are just the ticket and ideal for a portable.

Elsewhere on the main unit, you've got a 3V DC power jack for the bundled power supply (an absolute essential if you're going to be doing a lot of recording or transferring from external sources), a headphone/remote jack (headphones and remote stick supplied), dual line-in/optical input (optical cable supplied) and USB port (USB cable supplied). The eject button is logically placed and, thankfully, won't eject the disc if the unit's recording/writing or transferring data via USB.

Of course, the MZ-N505's biggest selling point is its versatility as a Net MD player. Sony's OpenMG Jukebox software is supplied on CD, although it's a somewhat unwieldy and archaic application. To list all the associated niggles would require more space than I have available for this review, suffice to say that the software does what it should 70% of the time and will infuriate the hell out of you for the other 30%.

Anyone expecting to just drag a whole bunch of MP3s over to the unit in record time is going to be disappointed. The MZ-N505 doesn't natively support the MP3 format -- instead, MP3 files have to be converted into the MD's native ATRAC format. These ATRAC conversions are then recorded onto the disc. Anyone short on hard drive space had better beware, because you essentially end up with the same track on your system in both MP3 and ATRAC format. (Pay careful attention to dialog boxes and configuration screens too, otherwise the software may end up inadvertently deleting your original MP3 files at some point.)

The whole MP3->ATRAC conversion process seems to take an age, certainly much longer than a CD->MP3 rip. On the other hand, the ATRAC data is transfered to minidisc at 32x speed, so at least that side of things is fairly nippy.

Be careful when transferring MP3s that are of a particularly low bitrate (ie, anything below 96kbps) if you're using one of the LP recording modes. The sound quality isn't so hot (you're effectively ending up with second generation lossy compression). If at all possible, re-record the track directly from your original source via the line-in/optical jack. You're limited to a 1x speed transfer rate, but you're getting a good quality first generation compression.

Despite the poor (but adequate) software and a rather naff pair of bundled earphones, the MZ-N505 is a wonderful little unit with a lot going for it. Learn to live with the software's shortcomings (at the very least you can put it to good use for titling your recordings), buy yourself a decent set of headphones and you're all set. The ability to arrange tracks into groups is another major plus, especially if you're planning on filling up all 320 mins capacity of an 80 min disc in LP4 mode. With the mains power plugged in, the unit is also capable of recharging its own battery!

Thoroughly recommended as a first-time purchase for MD newbies looking for a portable rather than a deck, as a supplemental portable unit for MD veterans or as a worthy alternative to an MP3 player.

The MZ-N505 is small and compact, barely much bigger than a minidisc itself. If it didn't already look fragile enough to begin with, the fact that the body casing is made from sturdy plastic, rather than a hardier metal shell, does make you extra careful about where you leave it. A wayward foot or posterior could well do some permanent damage to the poor thing!

Long-term durability aside, the MZ-N505 has a lot going for it. All your basic minidisc recording/playing/editing functions are here and accessible via the main unit or the remote stick. The main unit's buttons are a bit plasticky too, lending the unit a sort of Tomy-esque feel, but they respond well and accidental proddings of neighbouring buttons rarely happen. (Both the main unit and the remote stick have a "hold" function to lock off the controls too.)

As with any MD unit worth its salt these days, there are LP2 and LP4 recording modes, but alas no high/double speed synchro transfer function for ripping CDs optically. However, the unit does make up for this by allowing you to rip and transfer a CD via the OpenMG Jukebox software at 32x speeds, more of which later.

Sound playback quality is top notch, assuming you've a decent pair of headphones or earphones. The earphones supplied with the unit are the cheap, generic sort that Sony throw in with all their portable audio gear. They get the job done, but they become uncomfortable to wear after about ten minutes. On top of that, the sound can be a bit thin and tinny and the bass response disappointing, even whilst using one of the unit's two built-in bass boost modes. To get the best out of the MZ-N505, you're better off discarding the bundled earphones and investing in a decent pair of headphones. The Sony MDR-G63LP Street Style headphones are just the ticket and ideal for a portable.

Elsewhere on the main unit, you've got a 3V DC power jack for the bundled power supply (an absolute essential if you're going to be doing a lot of recording or transferring from external sources), a headphone/remote jack (headphones and remote stick supplied), dual line-in/optical input (optical cable supplied) and USB port (USB cable supplied). The eject button is logically placed and, thankfully, won't eject the disc if the unit's recording/writing or transferring data via USB.

Of course, the MZ-N505's biggest selling point is its versatility as a Net MD player. Sony's OpenMG Jukebox software is supplied on CD, although it's a somewhat unwieldy and archaic application. To list all the associated niggles would require more space than I have available for this review, suffice to say that the software does what it should 70% of the time and will infuriate the hell out of you for the other 30%.

Anyone expecting to just drag a whole bunch of MP3s over to the unit in record time is going to be disappointed. The MZ-N505 doesn't natively support the MP3 format -- instead, MP3 files have to be converted into the MD's native ATRAC format. These ATRAC conversions are then recorded onto the disc. Anyone short on hard drive space had better beware, because you essentially end up with the same track on your system in both MP3 and ATRAC format. (Pay careful attention to dialog boxes and configuration screens too, otherwise the software may end up inadvertently deleting your original MP3 files at some point.)

The whole MP3->ATRAC conversion process seems to take an age, certainly much longer than a CD->MP3 rip. On the other hand, the ATRAC data is transfered to minidisc at 32x speed, so at least that side of things is fairly nippy. Be careful when transferring MP3s that are of a particularly low bitrate (ie, anything below 96kbps) if you're using one of the LP recording modes. The sound quality isn't so hot (you're effectively ending up with second generation lossy compression). If at all possible, re-record the track directly from your original source via the line-in/optical jack. You're limited to a 1x speed transfer rate, but you're getting a good quality first generation compression.

Despite the poor (but adequate) software and a rather naff pair of bundled earphones, the MZ-N505 is a wonderful little unit with a lot going for it. Learn to live with the software's shortcomings (at the very least you can put it to good use for titling your recordings), buy yourself a decent set of headphones and you're all set. The ability to arrange tracks into groups is another major plus, especially if you're planning on filling up all 320 mins capacity of an 80 min disc in LP4 mode. With the mains power plugged in, the unit is also capable of recharging its own battery!

Thoroughly recommended as a first-time purchase for MD newbies looking for a portable rather than a deck, as a supplemental portable unit for MD veterans or as a worthy alternative to an MP3 player.

I had an MP3 player (Rio 600). It was my friend. I took it around with me. Then i saw this, and the MP3 is no more.

Minidisc is truly an excellent format. The discs are robust, cheap and offer a huge amount of storage (buy sony's own and you get 80 mins per disc - that's 320mins compressed). But the true beauty of this player is the Net MD feature.

For those of us with large mp3 collections, instead of a measly 64mb or 128mb - 2 hours tops - of music on the go, the mindisc allows you to take around 320mins PER DISC. and these discs are tiny. Transfer is really easy to do, and while the software isnt pretty, and can often be dam' awkward to use, it does do the job with very few hitches (and is certainly better than the stuff you get with the rio).

The battery life must be mentioned. The battery included is rechargable (charger included), and gives at least 70hrs of playing time even now, after 6 months of heavy usage. Beats the socks off the 10hr battery life of most mp3s.

Its resilient too. Mine survived being dropped onto concrete. A friend of mine dropped his into the toilet. It survived. Wonderful stuff, this technology.

Lastly before the (few) negative points, with an optical cable, you can take music from your CD collection too, if you want the very best quality. Personally, I can't tell the difference. the bass boost is excellent, msuic transfer is fast, it sounds good.

However, the MZ-N707 is about. And more [money] on amazon gives you a digital "microphone in" jack - noticeably absent on the MZ-N505. However, the visuals of the NZ-M505 are (in my opinion) far nicer, and having used both, I'm glad I saved a bit of money and got this one.

After years of suffering jumpy, easily scratched CDs, I had to think of either an MP3 or a MD player.. For some reason I couldn't cope with the unreal, untouchable MP3 player and I am now the happy owner of a Sony MZ-N505. It is a versatile player allowing you to shuffle recordings, combine tracks into groups and true to it's interactive Net claim, it specialises in working through your PC to deliver faultless sound quality, important if you are a musician.. The supplied earphones resist every attempt of a manic drummer to dislodge and the USB cable is, for once, long enough to keep in place at your PC without having to slide it out of the workstation every time.. All in all, a professional piece of kit..