Sony Mz R37

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Sony Mz R37

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Finally: you´re about to read the last out of nine reviews. You still don´t need to read them all, just pick the unit that seems to be the most interesting to you. During the last few weeks I´ve reviewed the following units: Kenwood DP-5090, Pioneer DV-610, Sony CDP-470, Pioneer BDP-140, iRiver IMP-550, Sony MZ-R 55, Sony MZ-R 37, Sony NW-A 1000 and the Sansa Clip+. Stay tuned and enjoy the last review: the Sony MZ-R 37! I also implore you to read the article describing my rigorous testing methodology before you actually start reading this one.
Sony MZ-R 37
Yay!! President Barack Obama has been re-elected one hour ago (at the time of writing).. I can´t tell you how really happy I am for the American people. What better opportunity to celebrate this marvellous win with the last review, the Sony MZ-R 37? This awkward looking MiniDisc recorder was released in 1999, roughly half a year after the Sony MZ-R 55. - both however contain 90% of the same ICs. A/D-/D/A converter, ATRAC, RF amp, DC converter, System Control IC, Laser and drive mechanism are exactly the same. The amp for the line-out/headphones however is different, the MZ-R 37 apparently uses a slightly more recent IC. However, all parts have much more available space compared to the MZ-R 55, they are evenly distributed on the PCB and not so tightly packed. Both are equipped with exactly the same drive, it is clearly stated in the service manual that the MZ-R 37 inherited the fast, noisefree and reliable drive from the MZ-R 55. All of this might not interest you but you´ll find out soon enough why it´ll be important.
Sony MZ-R 37 close-up
To be honest.. I never wanted to own this unit, I acquired it by accident only. It usually sells for roughly 35,- to 70,- Euros on eBay depending on its condition; so I placed a bid of just 15,- Euros. I had nothing else to do, was bored and also convinced that I´d never get it. In the end I forgot all about it. Hence my surprise: many hours later when I checked my mails I became aware that I was the winning bidder and that I also payed only 12,- Euros for a MiniDisc recorder which - when it arrived - I found to be in pristine condition. As you can see on the photos there aren´t any scratches, blemishes or dents, it really looks like new. How incredibly stupid of me never actually considering this lovely recorder because upon the touch it feels really decent, manufacturing quality is excellent. Yes, it´s lighter and bigger than the MZ-R 55 but nonetheless everything fits nicely, feels great and sturdy. Featurewise both of them aren´t that different - the MZ-R 37 only misses an internal clock, meaning it doesn´t stamp the date of the recording onto the MiniDisc. The MZ-R 37 also has the peculiar destinction of being the last portable MiniDisc recorder sporting a seperate Line-out, all others that came after either had none or combined it with the headphone output.

Sony MZ-R 37 front
Sony MZ-R 37 measurments
Sony MZ-R 37 jitter

Now you see why it´s important that I mentioned the similarities to the MZ-R 55: they measure differently despite containing the same ICs. Jitter for example is much higher on the MZ-R 37.. which is very curious when keeping in mind that both feature the same A/D-D/A converter (AK4517), subsequently they should have the same amount of jitter. With the MZ-R 55 jitter probably won´t be audible, with the MZ-R 37 however it will: low frequency jitter reaches levels of -80 dB which might be responsible for its characteristic sound signature. Total Harmonic Distortions are higher as well: -71.4 dB (MZ-R 55) vs. -64.3 dB (MZ-R 37). Both of them are equipped with the same ATRAC 4.0 chip, enabling recordings featuring a bit-depth of 24 Bit through their digital inputs. Analogue recording and playback through their own converter however will yield only 16 Bit performance (even less if you consider the mediocre noise performance). Back to the point: will the measurment differences also lead to audible differences?

Sony MZ-R 37 die-cast drive: extremely reliable; also used in the MZ-R 50, MZ-R 55
The Sony MZ-R 37 does indeed sound different, it really isn´t a balanced recorder. Stage for example seems rather compact and full of depth on the MZ-R 55 whereas the MZ-R 37 manages the rare feat to keep the mindboggling depth while also widening the stage considerably. The MZ-R 37 doesn´t sound close to the reference, it creates more space between instruments instead, recording venues sound much bigger albeit dimly lit. Vocalists (or everything in the center) are pronounced as well, I´m able to make out Madonna more easily, it seems as if she takes an additional step towards the microphone while everything else is placed a bit further behind. It´s interesting: this is only the second gadget I´ve reviewed that does sound forward without sounding aggressive. The marvellous stage and ambience performance is indeed its most appealing sonic characteristic; even though it occasionally creates disadvantages because on already very wide sounding recordings the MZ-R 37 punches 'holes' into the virtual stage which sometimes sounds odd and a bit 'empty'. It combines this with lovely dynamic capabilities: speed, pace and rhythm are a bit faster than the original, timing is rendered exceptionally well throughout all frequencies. The Sony MZ-R 37 is one of the rare units (like the Sony D-335) that doesn´t represent the truth but exchanges it with its own, convincing character, it 'lies' so well that you won´t recognize it most of the time.
But when something is exaggerated another things suffers: the track from 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' sounds much too mellow, it looses its aggressive treble, lower frequencies are unintelligable and muddied. Deep bass is diminished as well, the same goes for treble. Transients are too lovely, avoiding a grungy or aggressive sound. Additionally, you won´t exactly marvel at resolution and precision with the MZ-R 37, details are rendered too casually for that. Despite these shortcomings this is one of the most appealing MiniDisc recorders (and one of the best 'interpreting' audio units) I´ve ever heard.

Sony MZ-R 37: bottom
There are others on the internet doing a better job of objectively reviewing… everything, but I'm going to stick to my subjective review style. I do appreciate objective reviews, and everything they have to offer, but the crux of the matter is that I do not buy or even use anything based on its specs. I never have done. Purchasing for me is an emotive experience, one where heart comes before head. My car, motorbike, watch(es), games consoles, audio equipment, cameras, lenses, are not purchased because they are the best. They're purchased because there's something about them that evokes at least a modicum of an emotive response. I like how it looks, sounds, the quirks, the drawbacks, the imperfections, the attempt, how it feels in the hand.
On that last note, let's get into my first minidisc unit review.
R37This unit was released in March 1999, but I think it looks much older than that. My first portable minidisc player was an E62, which ran off 1 AA/LR6 battery cell and looks much more like a product of its time. If I were eye-balling this bad boy, I would say it looks like it belongs around 1994. That's not to say I don't enjoy the styling. On the contrary, there's something so beautifully Blade Runner about it, isn't there? The little guy looks somehow futuristic-yet-retro.
SpecsIt is extremely light, at 160g body only, but is extremely sturdy and has an almost all-metal shell. For reference, its weight is 220g with two AA cells and a minidisc, which to me, is more useful information than its empty weight. The two AA batteries will give around 14 hours of playback, which is plenty. 
Its dimensions are 116.8 x 18.5 x 86.1mm.
Freq. Resp: 20-20kHz +/-3dB
SoundThe main thing with minidisc, was that it was a smaller and more robust alternative to CDs. CDs sound brilliant, and are essentially perfect sounding. It then comes down to your playback hardware. At home, I have a large amplifier and floor-standing speakers, but those are of course not portable. Thus, we need a way to take our music with us. I had a tape walkman back in the day, and then also an AIWA portable CD player of some description. It was great, but CDs scratched easily, are large and fragile, and skip quite a lot if you listened on the move.
Minidisc solved many of the above complaints with aplomb. Small, light, robust, and great sounding. On my hifi, I struggle to tell the difference between my FLAC files, MP3s, Spotify, Apple Music, CD, and MD. Even with headphones, unless I listen to something from one source and directly compare it to another, it's probably good enough. With MD, the portable recorders and players actually sounded quite different between each other. I'll get into this more as my review series grows, but suffice it to say that I find this Sony recorder to have very little background hiss, strong bass and an overall neutral sound delivery. It won't blow your socks off, but you can enjoy your music.
FeelI very much like how the unit feels, though it does not feel so robust, though it is. I think part of that feel is the texture of the metal. It feels thin, even though you won't easily crush the device between your fingers as it's actually 'built like a tank', as people say. Apparently, this was Sony's first 'cost reduced' portable recorder, and was sold in the US and Europe only. Japan had many more models of minidisc player and recorder, but I will get into that another time.
It feels sturdy and that's all that matters, really. The buttons have a nice click to them, but the 'back' button on my unit needs replacing really. 
As with all MD recorders of this era, there's an optical line-in for CD-quality music recording. There's also a microphone port (analog line in), and a line-out for playing on a hifi, car stereo, etc. There's also a headphone port, with the brilliant remote port, but more on that another time. The other side of the device has the DC in (4.5V, but a 5V PSP adaptor works perfectly, by the way). 
The underside of the unit is the location for multiple buttons, which is an interesting design choice, though there is a hold button to the side to mitigate erroneous button activation.
Synchro Rec allows a digitally connected (i.e. optical) source to dictate when to start recording and start new tracks. T mark allows you to do this manually. Mode simply changes the playback mode (shuffle, repeat, etc), and display changes what is displayed. Digital MEGA BASS is just that. There are two steps of bass, and I do generally like to have the bass set to its highest setting, which delivers a rich and undistorted sound. AVLS is to limit the max volume so you don't damage your hearing, but I am a maverick and never turn that on, and if anything, dislike it when any player in general has very low sound output. Luckily, this model does not. 
Sony Mz-r37 Portable Minidisc Player/recorderThe MD draw is opened via a slider, and then fully opened from the side with your thumb. It's a nice and well-made mechanism.
Sony Mz R30I recorded Eminem's new album Music To Be Murdered By using the highest playback option from Spotify, my Mac's optical out connection (new Macs do not have this), and a Sony Premium Minidisc. In doing so, I listened to the entire album, in sequence, and really enjoyed the overall experience. This is what MD is about, for me. Same as CD, tape, and vinyl, really. You take a moment and choose what you'll listen to, and then listen to it.
Sony Mz R50 ManualIt's the antithesis to the infinite music life we have with Spotify and its ilk. You have every song you ever listened to (almost) available to you, and an infinite amount more, new music, new artists… yet you feel like there's nothing to listen to. You just hit shuffle, you skip songs.
There's nothing like taking a whole album in, listening from start to finish. And doing so with a little disc spinning in your pocket, is something of which I'll never tire.
Sony Mz-r37 ManualConclusion

Sony MZ-R 37 front
Sony MZ-R 37 measurments
Sony MZ-R 37 jitter
Now you see why it´s important that I mentioned the similarities to the MZ-R 55: they measure differently despite containing the same ICs. Jitter for example is much higher on the MZ-R 37.. which is very curious when keeping in mind that both feature the same A/D-D/A converter (AK4517), subsequently they should have the same amount of jitter. With the MZ-R 55 jitter probably won´t be audible, with the MZ-R 37 however it will: low frequency jitter reaches levels of -80 dB which might be responsible for its characteristic sound signature. Total Harmonic Distortions are higher as well: -71.4 dB (MZ-R 55) vs. -64.3 dB (MZ-R 37). Both of them are equipped with the same ATRAC 4.0 chip, enabling recordings featuring a bit-depth of 24 Bit through their digital inputs. Analogue recording and playback through their own converter however will yield only 16 Bit performance (even less if you consider the mediocre noise performance). Back to the point: will the measurment differences also lead to audible differences?

Sony MZ-R 37 die-cast drive: extremely reliable; also used in the MZ-R 50, MZ-R 55
The Sony MZ-R 37 does indeed sound different, it really isn´t a balanced recorder. Stage for example seems rather compact and full of depth on the MZ-R 55 whereas the MZ-R 37 manages the rare feat to keep the mindboggling depth while also widening the stage considerably. The MZ-R 37 doesn´t sound close to the reference, it creates more space between instruments instead, recording venues sound much bigger albeit dimly lit. Vocalists (or everything in the center) are pronounced as well, I´m able to make out Madonna more easily, it seems as if she takes an additional step towards the microphone while everything else is placed a bit further behind. It´s interesting: this is only the second gadget I´ve reviewed that does sound forward without sounding aggressive. The marvellous stage and ambience performance is indeed its most appealing sonic characteristic; even though it occasionally creates disadvantages because on already very wide sounding recordings the MZ-R 37 punches 'holes' into the virtual stage which sometimes sounds odd and a bit 'empty'. It combines this with lovely dynamic capabilities: speed, pace and rhythm are a bit faster than the original, timing is rendered exceptionally well throughout all frequencies. The Sony MZ-R 37 is one of the rare units (like the Sony D-335) that doesn´t represent the truth but exchanges it with its own, convincing character, it 'lies' so well that you won´t recognize it most of the time.
But when something is exaggerated another things suffers: the track from 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' sounds much too mellow, it looses its aggressive treble, lower frequencies are unintelligable and muddied. Deep bass is diminished as well, the same goes for treble. Transients are too lovely, avoiding a grungy or aggressive sound. Additionally, you won´t exactly marvel at resolution and precision with the MZ-R 37, details are rendered too casually for that. Despite these shortcomings this is one of the most appealing MiniDisc recorders (and one of the best 'interpreting' audio units) I´ve ever heard.

Sony MZ-R 37: bottom
There are others on the internet doing a better job of objectively reviewing… everything, but I'm going to stick to my subjective review style. I do appreciate objective reviews, and everything they have to offer, but the crux of the matter is that I do not buy or even use anything based on its specs. I never have done. Purchasing for me is an emotive experience, one where heart comes before head. My car, motorbike, watch(es), games consoles, audio equipment, cameras, lenses, are not purchased because they are the best. They're purchased because there's something about them that evokes at least a modicum of an emotive response. I like how it looks, sounds, the quirks, the drawbacks, the imperfections, the attempt, how it feels in the hand.
On that last note, let's get into my first minidisc unit review.
R37This unit was released in March 1999, but I think it looks much older than that. My first portable minidisc player was an E62, which ran off 1 AA/LR6 battery cell and looks much more like a product of its time. If I were eye-balling this bad boy, I would say it looks like it belongs around 1994. That's not to say I don't enjoy the styling. On the contrary, there's something so beautifully Blade Runner about it, isn't there? The little guy looks somehow futuristic-yet-retro.
SpecsIt is extremely light, at 160g body only, but is extremely sturdy and has an almost all-metal shell. For reference, its weight is 220g with two AA cells and a minidisc, which to me, is more useful information than its empty weight. The two AA batteries will give around 14 hours of playback, which is plenty. 
Its dimensions are 116.8 x 18.5 x 86.1mm.
Freq. Resp: 20-20kHz +/-3dB
SoundThe main thing with minidisc, was that it was a smaller and more robust alternative to CDs. CDs sound brilliant, and are essentially perfect sounding. It then comes down to your playback hardware. At home, I have a large amplifier and floor-standing speakers, but those are of course not portable. Thus, we need a way to take our music with us. I had a tape walkman back in the day, and then also an AIWA portable CD player of some description. It was great, but CDs scratched easily, are large and fragile, and skip quite a lot if you listened on the move.
Minidisc solved many of the above complaints with aplomb. Small, light, robust, and great sounding. On my hifi, I struggle to tell the difference between my FLAC files, MP3s, Spotify, Apple Music, CD, and MD. Even with headphones, unless I listen to something from one source and directly compare it to another, it's probably good enough. With MD, the portable recorders and players actually sounded quite different between each other. I'll get into this more as my review series grows, but suffice it to say that I find this Sony recorder to have very little background hiss, strong bass and an overall neutral sound delivery. It won't blow your socks off, but you can enjoy your music.
FeelI very much like how the unit feels, though it does not feel so robust, though it is. I think part of that feel is the texture of the metal. It feels thin, even though you won't easily crush the device between your fingers as it's actually 'built like a tank', as people say. Apparently, this was Sony's first 'cost reduced' portable recorder, and was sold in the US and Europe only. Japan had many more models of minidisc player and recorder, but I will get into that another time.
It feels sturdy and that's all that matters, really. The buttons have a nice click to them, but the 'back' button on my unit needs replacing really. 
As with all MD recorders of this era, there's an optical line-in for CD-quality music recording. There's also a microphone port (analog line in), and a line-out for playing on a hifi, car stereo, etc. There's also a headphone port, with the brilliant remote port, but more on that another time. The other side of the device has the DC in (4.5V, but a 5V PSP adaptor works perfectly, by the way). 
The underside of the unit is the location for multiple buttons, which is an interesting design choice, though there is a hold button to the side to mitigate erroneous button activation.
Synchro Rec allows a digitally connected (i.e. optical) source to dictate when to start recording and start new tracks. T mark allows you to do this manually. Mode simply changes the playback mode (shuffle, repeat, etc), and display changes what is displayed. Digital MEGA BASS is just that. There are two steps of bass, and I do generally like to have the bass set to its highest setting, which delivers a rich and undistorted sound. AVLS is to limit the max volume so you don't damage your hearing, but I am a maverick and never turn that on, and if anything, dislike it when any player in general has very low sound output. Luckily, this model does not. 
Sony Mz-r37 Portable Minidisc Player/recorderThe MD draw is opened via a slider, and then fully opened from the side with your thumb. It's a nice and well-made mechanism.
Sony Mz R30I recorded Eminem's new album Music To Be Murdered By using the highest playback option from Spotify, my Mac's optical out connection (new Macs do not have this), and a Sony Premium Minidisc. In doing so, I listened to the entire album, in sequence, and really enjoyed the overall experience. This is what MD is about, for me. Same as CD, tape, and vinyl, really. You take a moment and choose what you'll listen to, and then listen to it.
Sony Mz R50 ManualIt's the antithesis to the infinite music life we have with Spotify and its ilk. You have every song you ever listened to (almost) available to you, and an infinite amount more, new music, new artists… yet you feel like there's nothing to listen to. You just hit shuffle, you skip songs.
There's nothing like taking a whole album in, listening from start to finish. And doing so with a little disc spinning in your pocket, is something of which I'll never tire.
Sony Mz-r37 ManualConclusionThe MZ-R37 is a well built recorder and player (I am still amazed these little beauties can record), with a great sound and tactile feedback and controls. It looks very retro, there's no mistaking this is pre-2000 in style, but is a very robust little piece of Japanese technology from the time before everything went to shit following 9/11.
Sony Mz-r37 User Manual
Sony Mz-r37spSome data are lifted from the excellent and somehow-still-going minidisc.org