MD-DR7 Review - Page 3 - Audio T-Board - Internet's Friendliest Board on Audio and Electronics

January 22nd, 2003, 08:50 AM

Skagen, i might by going to nyc soon, so do u know any good places to buy md? most of the time china town is a rip off, although u ca bring the price down a little... anyway, i personally find the dr7 ugly, well actually i find all sharp ugly with the exaption fo the 831... but i bet they sound good. although i dont know if i could live with something i find ugly (lol, i have a terrible ugly 505 , so i guess i answered my own question), i think if i buy a new unit it will still be that white pana 220...

~EO

Rumz · January 22nd, 2003, 10:06 AM

Oh the DR7 sound is hands down better than any Sony I've owned, as is the DS8. This is of course my opinion but I've been listening to Sonys for a few years now and and these new Sharps for a matter of months (not quite a month for the DR7 yet, but it's comparable to the DS8 save the 8mW output, which IMO helps produce even more detailed sound--whether or not it provides a lot of volume over the DS8 remains to be seen, I think it depends really on the disc you're listening to and the headphones you're using in conjunction with the unit). Like I've said another thread, even with my EX70 buds I pick up details on the DR7 that I didn't previously hear with other units, esp. Sonys.... it sounds so much better with the D66s too. Besides being detailed the sound is very well balanced (no real need for EQ, though you can tweek the bass and the treble if you want).

Now I also think the DR7 shines for it's live recording features, as many other Sharps do... it really depends on what you need. I've found it a lot easier to use for live recording and find I have a lot more control (adjusting the mic sensitivity/recording level in small increments rather than just having the "high/low" settings that my Sony R900 had... that and that recording level adjustment is not buried in some menu, it's right there at your fingertips).

In general, MD sounds worlds better than any PCDP that I've ever had, so I can't really complain about ANY of the MD units I've had. So it really comes down to what you really want in an MD unit. For me, I looked at the N10 and the DR7-- and the N10 was what, $70-$80 more expensive than the DR7 and the only significant thing to me that the N10 had over the DR7 was NetMD-- not enough to justify the extra expense (besides, once you go Auvi it's hard to go back

).

I guess what sold me on the DR7 was the 1-bit digital amp + 8mW output, and the live recording features.

I haven't done any SP recordings via the optical in to compare the atrac with Sony's type R (supposedly Sharp's is inferior), so this and lack of NetMD are the only disadvantages of the Sharp (sure the N10 is slimmer too). If you don't need NetMD then there's really no doubt in my mind which is the better purchase

You could of course wait to see if a NetMD enabled DR7 comes out later this year, then there'd really not be much to ask for

(I hope this post is coherent-- typing really quickly while at work, lol)

Skagen · January 22nd, 2003, 10:46 AM

Rumz,

looks like you have an MZ-R900 which i what I had and didn't really love the sound. I've heard that the R910 is only marginally better. So if you've heard the DR7 sound and think its far better, then the DR7 may be what I'm looking for. Now I've just gotta try to find one a bit lower than $280....

Einolu,

the best place I've found on Canal St so far is at 324 Canal St (downtown side, 1/2 block west of Broadway), when I was shopping for a CD walkman. I wasn't looking for an minidisc at the time but I noticed that they had many MD's to chose from also- including that white Panny MD 220 recorder that you mentioned.

The positive of 324 Canal: IMHO they had a selection comparable to that of any japanese online importer, which is rare in NYC stores. The selection - for CD players at least - was definitely a cut above the average Canal St store. Some were priced pretty well (when you factor in shipping costs online), others were okay. But basically I was able to chose from any portable CD that was audiocubes.com website - and walk out the door with it if I liked it.

The negative of 324 Canal: they don't budge much from the sticker price, they only take cash, and they still charge you sales tax! Most places on Canal St will usually give a nice price for cash - since both sides can avoid taxation on the transaction.

Other places worth checking out:
1) I've been told that near the corner of Canal and East Broadway (very different from Broadway), there is an electronics store that also has a good selection of Japanese import stuff. That area is a bit out of the way (Canal St, but far east of the Manhattan bridge), so I don't know it that well, but I'll check it out when I go back to NYC in a week or so.

2) Main St in Flushing (Queens - #7 train) is another Chinatown area where people spend a lot of money and it is worth checking out for electronics.

Someone I know claims to have an inside track to good deals at an electronics place in Chinatown. I asked her to look into the DR7 and the R910 for me. If she seems to coming up with exceptionally offering prices, I can ask about the MR220 as well if you want.....

Rumz · January 22nd, 2003, 12:10 PM

Yeah, the DR7 sounds better. I guess I have to remember that I wasn't paying that close attention to it until I started surfing the t-board, at which point i bought a DS8. When I go back to the R900 it's kinda scary!

Just be patient, I'm sure the price will come down with time, unless you're able to strike a deal somewhere.

tbdoah · January 22nd, 2003, 09:22 PM

IMO, the DR7 sounds suprisingly clearer than my older R900 that I've since given to my sister. The difference is clearly obvious when listening, and upgrading for that price is a bargain.

For a top of the line unit, a less than $300 price tag is simply amazing.

For all you guys out there with a blue DR7, is it just me or does the back side of the unit's blue color prettier than the front's purpleish-blueish hue?

me · January 27th, 2003, 12:10 AM

It's just you - hey, people have done the review for me! Next time I think i'll just say 'it's good' and leave the other people to do the review

Bah, i'll get around to it sometime. I don't feel like it yet though.

In regards to the post about price - it's a Japanese model, so japanese prices you will get

. But if you keep doing that, you'll end up with a unit costing about $50 as that's what it costs to build. Price means nothing and this thing smokes any R909 out there. Pay the US$60 for it. If you thought oslo had rotten prices, me + zeph live in NZ, $1099 for an N1, $999 for the R909. My DR7 for $440 = bargain!

And i'd better not give my opinion of netMD.. Well, I will actually. NETMD SUCKS.

me · January 27th, 2003, 01:52 AM

4. Sound Quality - Edited 24 May 2003

I've been listening to the DR7 a lot the last few days - with good reason! It sounds very nice. Take these sound quality impressions with a few cubic metres of salt, as I can't 'hear' like head-fiers, and only own MDR-D22 eggo's which are inferior to most of head-fi's recommended phones. I'm still not going to upgrade. So ha. And if you are a head-fier, prepare to be disappointed. As usual it's the 'add In my opinion, with my equipment 'n music' etc. Ah yes, my music: Utada Hikaru: Automatic, Melt-Banana: Circle-Jack, Offspring: Burn it up, L.A.P.D. And the Brilliant Green: Terra 2001 (yes, I like that album a lot, so I listened to the whole album)

I'd say the DR7 is incredibly detailed. It's one of those upgrades that makes you want to listen to your music all over again. When I did, I kept finding more details that i'd missed before, things like cymbals 'lasting' longer, rhythms becoming far clearer. Kind of like coming into focus, like a short sighted person getting glasses. Yeah, it's more detailed than my R37 or PC1, and the PC1 was one of those amazing upgrades, too. In between tracks the DR7 is dead silent. I thought my R37 and E900 were too, but obviously not. The first time the track changed, I thought the unit had turned off. Nope. Just silent. Nice. With bass boost set to 'off', there's still a nice sprinkling of bass. It goes deep and doesn't meddle with the rest of the spectrum. Next: Bass boost level 1. Now there's a LOT of bass, but it doesn't alter the mids and treble, just the bass. Levels 2 & 3 give huge bass, don't alter the rest of the spectrum, but overpower it. It's fun to listen to. I found levels 2 & 3 were somewhat blurry but could just be my headphones. Someone else needs to do a sound review. My 'phone sucks. Har har.

The treble boost is nice. It's only available if you use bass level 1 or greater though, so you had better like your bass. I find this combination of 'bass +1 and treble +2' is the most detailed setting. You can change the bass via the remote but not the treble. The treble boost doesn't make it scratchy or hissy, feel free to proove me wrong if you have better 'phones than I. If I could rate my units weediness as body figures, i'd give my R37 'anorexic like', DR7 'skinny' and PC1 'normal'. That's not to say the R37 sucks/is weak, but it fails in comparison to the other two units. Not surprisingly, the DR7 isn't as good as my decks headphone out. (heh, 8mW vs 28mW, both at 32 ohms), but with bass 1 and treble 2, it comes close. Pretty good for a portable, don't you think?

Update - with the D66, I find that treble 2 and bass 1 is too "bright" for my tastes, in fact sometimes I turn the treble boost off. This could be either my hearing becoming more perceptive, or the D66 is just a "brighter" headphone. By "bright" I mean the treble is exaggerated a little too much.

A little volume comparison: The E900 at 10/30 is comparable to the DR7 at 12-14/30. This does not mean the E900 is a stronger portable, but that the volume ranges differ, if that makes any sense. I believe I stated this in my E900 vs. DR7 thread, but here it is again: The DR7 is louder than the E900 at full volume. I guess Sony figures people listen to the portable in the middle of the scale and that would give it an edge over competitors. I don't know

Serge944 · January 27th, 2003, 02:33 AM

Yes, im definitely getting a dr7. I was considering an n10, but first of all, i hate Sony. Second, it doesn;t look/sound as nice and doesn;t have enough power to power my headphones. Forget netmd, ill just end up getting a deck in the future.

Nice review, ME.

yayaba · January 27th, 2003, 04:51 AM

Does the DS8 have the same sound quality/output as the DR7?

me · January 27th, 2003, 05:35 AM

No, DS8 *slightly* worse - no treble control, 5mW vs 8mW h/phone out. Still sounds amazing to my ears. Dunno why I got a recorder, but hah, oh well!

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January 22nd, 2003, 10:06 AM	#22
Rumz Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 5,125	Oh the DR7 sound is hands down better than any Sony I've owned, as is the DS8. This is of course my opinion but I've been listening to Sonys for a few years now and and these new Sharps for a matter of months (not quite a month for the DR7 yet, but it's comparable to the DS8 save the 8mW output, which IMO helps produce even more detailed sound--whether or not it provides a lot of volume over the DS8 remains to be seen, I think it depends really on the disc you're listening to and the headphones you're using in conjunction with the unit). Like I've said another thread, even with my EX70 buds I pick up details on the DR7 that I didn't previously hear with other units, esp. Sonys.... it sounds so much better with the D66s too. Besides being detailed the sound is very well balanced (no real need for EQ, though you can tweek the bass and the treble if you want). Now I also think the DR7 shines for it's live recording features, as many other Sharps do... it really depends on what you need. I've found it a lot easier to use for live recording and find I have a lot more control (adjusting the mic sensitivity/recording level in small increments rather than just having the "high/low" settings that my Sony R900 had... that and that recording level adjustment is not buried in some menu, it's right there at your fingertips). In general, MD sounds worlds better than any PCDP that I've ever had, so I can't really complain about ANY of the MD units I've had. So it really comes down to what you really want in an MD unit. For me, I looked at the N10 and the DR7-- and the N10 was what, $70-$80 more expensive than the DR7 and the only significant thing to me that the N10 had over the DR7 was NetMD-- not enough to justify the extra expense (besides, once you go Auvi it's hard to go back ). I guess what sold me on the DR7 was the 1-bit digital amp + 8mW output, and the live recording features. I haven't done any SP recordings via the optical in to compare the atrac with Sony's type R (supposedly Sharp's is inferior), so this and lack of NetMD are the only disadvantages of the Sharp (sure the N10 is slimmer too). If you don't need NetMD then there's really no doubt in my mind which is the better purchase You could of course wait to see if a NetMD enabled DR7 comes out later this year, then there'd really not be much to ask for (I hope this post is coherent-- typing really quickly while at work, lol) __________________ quack... Last edited by Rumz; January 22nd, 2003 at 10:08 AM.

January 22nd, 2003, 10:46 AM	#23
Skagen True Elite Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 451	Rumz, looks like you have an MZ-R900 which i what I had and didn't really love the sound. I've heard that the R910 is only marginally better. So if you've heard the DR7 sound and think its far better, then the DR7 may be what I'm looking for. Now I've just gotta try to find one a bit lower than $280.... Einolu, the best place I've found on Canal St so far is at 324 Canal St (downtown side, 1/2 block west of Broadway), when I was shopping for a CD walkman. I wasn't looking for an minidisc at the time but I noticed that they had many MD's to chose from also- including that white Panny MD 220 recorder that you mentioned. The positive of 324 Canal: IMHO they had a selection comparable to that of any japanese online importer, which is rare in NYC stores. The selection - for CD players at least - was definitely a cut above the average Canal St store. Some were priced pretty well (when you factor in shipping costs online), others were okay. But basically I was able to chose from any portable CD that was audiocubes.com website - and walk out the door with it if I liked it. The negative of 324 Canal: they don't budge much from the sticker price, they only take cash, and they still charge you sales tax! Most places on Canal St will usually give a nice price for cash - since both sides can avoid taxation on the transaction. Other places worth checking out: 1) I've been told that near the corner of Canal and East Broadway (very different from Broadway), there is an electronics store that also has a good selection of Japanese import stuff. That area is a bit out of the way (Canal St, but far east of the Manhattan bridge), so I don't know it that well, but I'll check it out when I go back to NYC in a week or so. 2) Main St in Flushing (Queens - #7 train) is another Chinatown area where people spend a lot of money and it is worth checking out for electronics. Someone I know claims to have an inside track to good deals at an electronics place in Chinatown. I asked her to look into the DR7 and the R910 for me. If she seems to coming up with exceptionally offering prices, I can ask about the MR220 as well if you want..... Last edited by Skagen; January 27th, 2003 at 01:18 AM.

January 22nd, 2003, 12:10 PM	#24
Rumz Sith Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Salt Lake Posts: 5,125	Yeah, the DR7 sounds better. I guess I have to remember that I wasn't paying that close attention to it until I started surfing the t-board, at which point i bought a DS8. When I go back to the R900 it's kinda scary! Just be patient, I'm sure the price will come down with time, unless you're able to strike a deal somewhere. __________________ quack...

January 22nd, 2003, 09:22 PM	#25
tbdoah ze end of ze world Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 4,809	IMO, the DR7 sounds suprisingly clearer than my older R900 that I've since given to my sister. The difference is clearly obvious when listening, and upgrading for that price is a bargain. For a top of the line unit, a less than $300 price tag is simply amazing. For all you guys out there with a blue DR7, is it just me or does the back side of the unit's blue color prettier than the front's purpleish-blueish hue? __________________ \| myspace \| ISS Forums \| Last.fm \| Current: N1, NX10, CX8, JA20ES \| 20 GB 3G iPod, 60 GB 5G iPod, NJ3B 10 GB Past: R50, R5ST, R70, R700, R900, S1, E10, E75, MS722, MT15, SS323, MT831, DR7 MacBook Pro! Team APPLE!!

January 22nd, 2003, 08:50 AM	#21
einolu Guest Posts: n/a	Skagen, i might by going to nyc soon, so do u know any good places to buy md? most of the time china town is a rip off, although u ca bring the price down a little... anyway, i personally find the dr7 ugly, well actually i find all sharp ugly with the exaption fo the 831... but i bet they sound good. although i dont know if i could live with something i find ugly (lol, i have a terrible ugly 505 , so i guess i answered my own question), i think if i buy a new unit it will still be that white pana 220... ~EO

January 27th, 2003, 12:10 AM	#26
me Ultra Guru Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 6,707	It's just you - hey, people have done the review for me! Next time I think i'll just say 'it's good' and leave the other people to do the review Bah, i'll get around to it sometime. I don't feel like it yet though. In regards to the post about price - it's a Japanese model, so japanese prices you will get . But if you keep doing that, you'll end up with a unit costing about $50 as that's what it costs to build. Price means nothing and this thing smokes any R909 out there. Pay the US$60 for it. If you thought oslo had rotten prices, me + zeph live in NZ, $1099 for an N1, $999 for the R909. My DR7 for $440 = bargain! And i'd better not give my opinion of netMD.. Well, I will actually. NETMD SUCKS. Last edited by me; January 27th, 2003 at 12:15 AM.

January 27th, 2003, 01:52 AM	#27
me Ultra Guru Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 6,707	Sound Quality 4. Sound Quality - Edited 24 May 2003 I've been listening to the DR7 a lot the last few days - with good reason! It sounds very nice. Take these sound quality impressions with a few cubic metres of salt, as I can't 'hear' like head-fiers, and only own MDR-D22 eggo's which are inferior to most of head-fi's recommended phones. I'm still not going to upgrade. So ha. And if you are a head-fier, prepare to be disappointed. As usual it's the 'add In my opinion, with my equipment 'n music' etc. Ah yes, my music: Utada Hikaru: Automatic, Melt-Banana: Circle-Jack, Offspring: Burn it up, L.A.P.D. And the Brilliant Green: Terra 2001 (yes, I like that album a lot, so I listened to the whole album) I'd say the DR7 is incredibly detailed. It's one of those upgrades that makes you want to listen to your music all over again. When I did, I kept finding more details that i'd missed before, things like cymbals 'lasting' longer, rhythms becoming far clearer. Kind of like coming into focus, like a short sighted person getting glasses. Yeah, it's more detailed than my R37 or PC1, and the PC1 was one of those amazing upgrades, too. In between tracks the DR7 is dead silent. I thought my R37 and E900 were too, but obviously not. The first time the track changed, I thought the unit had turned off. Nope. Just silent. Nice. With bass boost set to 'off', there's still a nice sprinkling of bass. It goes deep and doesn't meddle with the rest of the spectrum. Next: Bass boost level 1. Now there's a LOT of bass, but it doesn't alter the mids and treble, just the bass. Levels 2 & 3 give huge bass, don't alter the rest of the spectrum, but overpower it. It's fun to listen to. I found levels 2 & 3 were somewhat blurry but could just be my headphones. Someone else needs to do a sound review. My 'phone sucks. Har har. The treble boost is nice. It's only available if you use bass level 1 or greater though, so you had better like your bass. I find this combination of 'bass +1 and treble +2' is the most detailed setting. You can change the bass via the remote but not the treble. The treble boost doesn't make it scratchy or hissy, feel free to proove me wrong if you have better 'phones than I. If I could rate my units weediness as body figures, i'd give my R37 'anorexic like', DR7 'skinny' and PC1 'normal'. That's not to say the R37 sucks/is weak, but it fails in comparison to the other two units. Not surprisingly, the DR7 isn't as good as my decks headphone out. (heh, 8mW vs 28mW, both at 32 ohms), but with bass 1 and treble 2, it comes close. Pretty good for a portable, don't you think? Update - with the D66, I find that treble 2 and bass 1 is too "bright" for my tastes, in fact sometimes I turn the treble boost off. This could be either my hearing becoming more perceptive, or the D66 is just a "brighter" headphone. By "bright" I mean the treble is exaggerated a little too much. A little volume comparison: The E900 at 10/30 is comparable to the DR7 at 12-14/30. This does not mean the E900 is a stronger portable, but that the volume ranges differ, if that makes any sense. I believe I stated this in my E900 vs. DR7 thread, but here it is again: The DR7 is louder than the E900 at full volume. I guess Sony figures people listen to the portable in the middle of the scale and that would give it an edge over competitors. I don't know Last edited by me; May 24th, 2003 at 01:00 AM.

January 27th, 2003, 02:33 AM	#28
Serge944 Auvi Team Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 293	Yes, im definitely getting a dr7. I was considering an n10, but first of all, i hate Sony. Second, it doesn;t look/sound as nice and doesn;t have enough power to power my headphones. Forget netmd, ill just end up getting a deck in the future. Nice review, ME. __________________ player/recorder: MD-DR7 -> Sennheiser HD-590 net md/titling: MZ-N505 room system: M-Audio Revolution -> NXG coaxial -> M-Audio CO2 -> NXG optical -> Sd-nx10 -> Monster THX speaker wire -> Energy Connoisseur C-1

January 27th, 2003, 04:51 AM	#29
yayaba Celebrate & Dance so Free Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: UC Davis; Davis, California Posts: 430	Does the DS8 have the same sound quality/output as the DR7? __________________ Units: Player: Sharp MD-DS8 Auvi Recorder: Sony MZ-N505 for NetMD and MDLP 'phones: Sony MDR-D22 Eggos Frodo "I wish none of this had ever happened..." Gandalf "So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you."

January 27th, 2003, 05:35 AM	#30
me Ultra Guru Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Auckland, NEW ZEALAND Posts: 6,707	No, DS8 slightly worse - no treble control, 5mW vs 8mW h/phone out. Still sounds amazing to my ears. Dunno why I got a recorder, but hah, oh well!

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