Sony MZ-R50

sony_mz-r50_main.jpg

Name MZ-R50
Manufacturer Sony
Released 1997/10
Device type portable
Recorder Recorder
MDLP No
NetMD No
Hi-MD No
Radio No
Dimensions 109.5 x 19.7 x 77mm
Weight 190g (Body Only) 240g (With Batteries)
ATRAC ver 4
Battery LIP-8
Sidecar battery 2xAA
Voltage 6
Power cable Center positive
Price (launch)
¥48 000
-
Inputs 3.5mm line in (optical multi), 3.5mm microphone
Outputs 3.5mm line out (analog-only), 3.5mm headphone
Control Remote (Sony)

Recorder with remote controller, and long battery life (for the time of its release, around 7 hours playback).

Available in silver, blue, and orange. The orange model was only sold in Japan.

The remote for Sony's higher end CD Walkmans from the same time period(D-E01/D-EJ01) will function properly with the MZ-R50 including the backlight function.

Some older R50s have a flaw in them that apparently allows you to turn the digital copy protection feature (SCMS) off. By inserting a 24K resistor in to ports 2&4 (counting left to right) of the remote port, you can put the unit in to test mode, and access a menu that lets you turn off SCMS.

See Sony's R50 dodges SCMS via the Wayback Machine for more details

ATRAC Chip: CXD2652AR
Optical Pick-up Type KMS-280A
MD Machanism Type MT-MZR-50-143


Content adapted from: Minidisc.org MZ-R50 Page

Additional feature information from: Official Press Release (Archived)

Search for the MZ-R50 on eBay

ianz, 2023/03/30 04:44
The R50 is a nice machine that I have avoided because the LIP8 batteries are harder to find than hen's teeth. The R35 and R30 models are very similar but use the still available LIP12 battery.
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  • equipment/sony/portable/mz-r50.txt
  • Last modified: 8 months ago
  • by jdub