Is the Tascam MD-350 one of the greatest MiniDisc decks?

[@stevesloan7132]

I really like mine. And the display is great! Thanks for the video rundown on functions.

[@quanchyplimp]

Haha!, Black Lace were the resident band at Haven Holidays site in Hastings (Coombe Haven). My caravan was right next to the bands caravan, a nice bunch of guys, but didn't mind practicing at 3am, keeping me and other staff awake. I came here because I like tech stuff of old, but have never owned or desired to own a mini disc, interesting though.

[@f1remandg]

Excellent review! Concise to the point, covered a wealth of information in an honest way, all points raised were relevant covering a logical progression.

[@jhschmidMD4]

Nice video. I have one of those mid tier Sony mini-disc Recorders that you mentioned, (MDS-JB980) but I've had no issues with it (aside from a gummy rotary encoder) for all the years I've owned it. However my other lower tier Sony as well as Walkman version have not been so great. The Tascam looks very nice, and has the same features as on my Sony.

[@GreySectoid]

Just bought myself one as well, cannot wait until it arrives. It will be my second deck after JE-520. Minidisc are addictive.

[@Zimmy_1981]

omg yesssss, hope you"re enjoying the new deck

[@angelodagnolo984]

You just got another sub! Great content but please use flux when soldering 😁

[@pwrestoration]

That's one thing I just never have bothered with. I'll take a look 👍

[@ianz9916]

I bought a Sony MDS-JE780. That has a keyboard port, MDLP, pitch control, timer, headphone volume control and can also be connected to a PC as it is a NetMD model. There is no dedicated record level knob but you can use the remote control, which has level + and - options, during recordings. Being a European model it only has 1 digital optical in but it also has a digital coaxial in. The non-European models have two digital optical in ports but no coaxial one. By default the recorded tracks have a 2 second space between them but you can reduce this to 0 which is really convenient if you are trying to split a concert into tracks but don't want the blank space.

[@pwrestoration]

Ah I might take a look at one of those, the keyboard port for me was a huge plus and saved a lot of time and effort!

[@kylehazachode]

The Tascam MD-CD1MKIII has been my workhorse for years now. Got it from Sam Ash (rip) for $245.

[@pwrestoration]

Listening to Megadeath on mine right now!

[@ianz9916]

I have a couple of pretty basic Sony decks. They are both MDS-JE330 but I suppose I've been lucky because I've had no problems with either of them. One of them was thrown in for free with a load of discs that I bought. I use the portable NetMD models to title my tracks. It may not be as direct as plugging in a keyboard but it is a damn sight quicker than using the remote control.

[@GreySectoid]

I use the web app to write minidiscs, it automatically saves the track names as well, at least from flacs.

[@ianz9916]

@@GreySectoid As far as I'm aware the web app doesn't support HiMD discs and in order to run it I'd have to remove the Sony drivers that make SonicStage work.

[@JetmanUK]

I like Tascam/TEAC's kit, so I am sure this would be a nice MD deck. I have a Sony MDS-JE330 and it's pretty good. Do I need a second deck? Hmmmm Haha

[@JetmanUK]

Update - I bought one of these and tried a PS/2 to USB converter with a Microsoft keyboard. No luck, no keys worked. I know the keyboard is OK, but I can't say for sure what the issue is, whether it's no PS/2 to USB would work, my keyboard not being compatible or even if the converter I have is faulty. I can say that after having no luck with the converter I found an old PS/2 keyboard at my Dad's and that works just fine.

[@scotthornberg4807]

Very cool unit, makes me want one. When you record music from your mobile phone to minidisk or cassette tape, do you use go from the headphone port through the receiver and then to the recording device? Or do you go straight to the recording device. I'd think the output signal from the mobile would need amplification first.

[@pwrestoration]

Yes generally the headphone port, but I also have a Bluetooth device too. Neither have amplification, it's just enough

[@IAmKAZMO]

Just got one in mint condition! Hooked it up to my Bose F1 812 with Sub and OMG..... IT'S AMAZING! 👏😍

[@magicscorner]

Nice one! Do you know if that can accept 48k/24bits optical input ? Or in other words, can that record the WideBitStream? Thanks

[@pwrestoration]

I don't know I'm afraid, it'll be in the users manual that's available online for free in pdf format 😁

[@magicscorner]

@@pwrestoration I checked all available documentation from the manufacturer and sometimes they say 48bits sometimes 44.1 only, nothing about 24bits. Also one documentation says atrac v.3 when the other says Atrac v.4.5

[@magicscorner]

Hi again, I bought the deck and just checked what it supports: 44.1 and 48kHz are supported, 16,24,32 bits are supported

[@omrirechani1104]

How do you digitally 'feed' it with Spotify audio? what are you using for "playing-out" Spotify.. ?

[@pwrestoration]

3.5mm jack to RCA in the input side. The other option would be the optical in from some kind of streaming unit. Either way, to be honest Spotify is quite hit and miss with quality and levels. For a good example try and listen to Purple Rain on Spotify. Each song is a totally different level

[@omrirechani1104]

@@pwrestoration totally agree about the subpar audio quality at most time. Thanks for the answer!

[@ChuckRowe]

Question... Why do the eject to write TOC and then re-insert the disc? Can't you just do everything you have to do on that disc then eject it? I've seen several people complete a single operation, then eject to write the TOC. That just seems like a lot of unnecessary wear on the loading mechanism. Thanks!

[@pwrestoration]

I can't remember to be honest, I think that's the nature of this deck. It writes the TOC upon eject

[@owenhitchens420]

I just scored an MD 350 but has a problem loading the disc could it just need a belt replacement? Any tips would be greatly appreciated 🙏

[@pwrestoration]

Does it just not like to accept the disk or won't read it?

[@yhonmontes]

Hi Can you share with me the instructions you have on top of the keyboard? Thanks

[@pwrestoration]

Search for the user manual on Google - the full set is in there 😄

[@johnr4459]

The problem with some sony decks eg 440 940 etc is the drive has a belt which dies after some years like they do in tape decks, thats what people will complain about, others like the 520 930 etc dont they are gear driven, there are two ways to replace belt, the easy way and the traditional hard way, some belt decks are bought stuck in stand by, mostly there is a little present inside, easy to remove if you know what you are doing, thats because the belt died with the disc between in and out and hasent hit sensor on other end so next time the deck is switched on it dosent know what to do so stays in stand by, bye the way have you looked into using it as a dac, like you can with sony decks, shame that pioneer hasent got a digital out, if it did the md deck would make it sound a lot better,

[@Synthematix]

The Sony JB930 is the best sounding md deck ever made

[@pwrestoration]

I mean they literally all sound exactly the same. But ok! 🙂

[@Synthematix]

@@pwrestoration lol, No, the dac in the 930 is the best dac on the planet, trust me they certainly do not all sound the same, the panasonic md recorders tend to sound lacking recorders that are type R or S with NO MDLP nonsense are the best recorders A strong second place goes to Onkyo

[@professorvoluck9311]

@Synthematix It’s ridiculous to say the best Dac on the planet. Any MD deck with an optical out can be connected to a modern Dac and it will sound better. DAC’s have advanced tremendously in recent times. MDLP players came with later Atrac versions but there is no audible difference in SP.

[@jodiefuerteventura6652]

Do people still buy these i have one thanks for the info about it 😊 liked and subscribed 👍

[@pwrestoration]

Yes they go for good money!

[@jasejj]

Think these are basically Sony under the skin anyway aren't they, in terms of mech and DAC/processing etc. As you say though cheaper and better built, win win.

[@Dutch-linux]

my Sony MDS-JE530 has pitch control

[@pwrestoration]

Aha but can you use a keyboard! 😍

[@KR1275]

@@pwrestoration Sony had a few deck with key board connection (640, 980). By the way the transport in the Tascam is a Sony as well.

[@pwrestoration]

@@KR1275 ah that's cool, however try finding either one of those decks today, and for this price.. it's like they never existed! eBay is actually blank!

[@KR1275]

Those decks must be made of real gold.

[@pwrestoration]

@@KR1275 To be fair they will have all the perks and none of the ES tax. Maybe that's why people are holding onto them, or Sony didn't make many. Don't get me wrong I'm a big Sony fan!

[@sacflies]

Is it true that there are no belts in this deck?

[@pwrestoration]

From looking at the transport it all seems to be gears, but I've not had it to pieces

[@xymons]

Both Tascam 350, Onkyo 105x and Denon F100 all use same mechanism, no belt on it.

[@sacflies]

@@xymons Just have to worry about the plastic gears breaking or wearing out. I've had tape decks where the gears broke.

[@freszevenbergen]

Die wil ik hebben