FORUM: MiniDisc VS MP3

I have read the helpful online reviews here and have decided that MP3s are the way to go. I am stumped, however, as to which model. Personally, I am a technophobe, but am looking to purchase a decent MP3 player as a Christmas present. Has anyone had any experience of the Sony NWHD3? If so, any feedback would be greatly appreciated, particularly regarding music quality, battery life, and most importantly, value for money! Many ...  Read the complete review

As a follow up to the excellent article posted by EazyDude, here's some more recent analysis based on how the formats compare a year on. Im currently deciding which to go for ;) MP3s 1) MP3s are not as good as CD quality sound -- choose your bit rate, 192kb just as good as CD 2) Most MP3s are not legal copies, but are free -- Most MDs are ripped from CD ;) 3)You have to get busy and find those MP3s and download them, taking time -- Now easier and quicker than going down to HMV! 4) MP3s create instant jukeboxes -- They do 5) No skipping ever on MP3 players -- Woohoo! 6) Limited memory size of protable ...  Read the complete review

I have been playing with both formats, using one of the Sony net based minidisc recorders. I think is is the 707 bought about 9 months ago from duty free in Stansted. I am very impressed by minidisc. The sound is great, and the discs have stood up to fairly frequent use. The big disadvantage is that the minidisc player is an electromechanical device, and some day it will fail. MP3 has penetrated the market much more fully and has no moving parts to go wrong. The problem with MP3 is that it is compressed, and can sound a bit funny. If you have a low bit rate, there is a price to pay. I have connected my minidisc to computer via USB, and recording is a doddle, ...  Read the complete review

I don?t own a Minidisk player, I never have and I never will. When the format was released, it was hailed as the digital substitute for the cassette tape, but I didn?t buy that argument one bit. There?s little more satisfying to the egotist than being proven right, but now that sales in Minidisk players are falling I am being proven correct. The Minidisk is not a viable alternative to any music format. MP3s are equally feared and loathed by the music fan and record company executive respectively and rightly so. In my opinion, the MP3 format will continue to increase in strength for some time and become even more of a staple for the music fan. Here?s why? ...  Read the complete review

after readings these reviews about MP3 being better, i felt i had to step in and voice my opinion (which is my first). ill state the facts: MiniDisc Cost - £100 - 240 youll get a decent redorder and player for about £150 Cost of media - £1 or less for a disc that can hold up to 320 minutes of music on using LP4 mode. thats about 5 albums on one disc - 6 if ure lucky. ill also note that their is no loss of sound quality if u use the optical cable. MP3 Cost - £60 - 200 Cost of media - youll pay about £30 for a 64MB memory stick which can hold an album on now im not being biased towards MD, i just know more about it than MP3. ...  Read the complete review