Sony MZ-RH1 Hi-MD Walkman MiniDisc/MP3 Digital Music Player

I'm a cellist. This product worked for about 2months, then only worked half the time. Slowly, the percentages of working recordings decreased, and it started to make my md's unreadable.

While it worked, the sound quality was excellent; truly cd quality if you have a good mic.

I guess I got unlucky... but what I would like to mention is how I was dealt with over at customer service. I sent it in once, when it was returned they had not fixed the problem. And, when I tried sending it in again... they said it would cost almost 100 dollars to repair because it had gone out of warranty... I'm just mad they didnt fix it the FIRST time I sent it in. I did not risk spending 100 to have the same mistake happen again, so as it is,,, I'm down a music recorder and looking for another one.

This thin piece from SONY is really expensive toy for musicians, field recorders and so on. Hi-MD format allows you to record about 32hours of audio. You can upload pictures/data to the disk. Which is amazing. Every HiMD is like flashdrive. It is really intiutive like all other Sony stuff. What is possibly disadvantage is that the supplied software (sonic stage) in new version does not allow to convert already encoded mp3 files :(( previous version allows to do anything from/to the device (i have also mp3 player) After upgrade i can't re-encode any mp3 files, only the source wavs. So if i have something let's say 320VBR mp3 file on disk/library i can't upload it to any of my devices in let's say 128VBR. This is due some "right managment" The library is unsuable. I usually create m3u file and import exact tracks at once. DB is TOTALLY slow, even the "tagging" is like >> I have to check all other files as well << And this trick is totally slow. Sometimes the DB became unreadable, so i lost several times my library. After this i use listen "muzikcube" library/play software and to move any track to HiMD i use exact playlists. I do not understand why sony does not start selling the PC component drive which allows to record/read the data from MD/HiMD discs directly. Also some plugins for other software like iTunes/MuzikCube and so on. I also miss the software bundle for MAC and as well for LINUX. If will use only my iBook i will be retarded on service from SONY. So that's I put only 4 stars, due the SW issues. cheers -vh-

I bought this hoping to speed upload of music (and also comedy) that I have on various media (cassette, reel-to-reel, LP) and painstakingly recorded onto standard minidisc using a minidisc deck (JE630).

The range of features is very impressive. I particularly liked the ability to choose bit rate for conversion when transferring via sonic stage to Hi-MD. This enabled me to store 42 1/2 hour radio comedy programs (Goon Shows) on a single MD.

I had some problems which I reported previously, and which report I now unreservedly withdraw. Something isn't 100% right for me but most probably it's not the MZ-RH1. (No - I wasn't contacted by anyone at Sony, this is merely in the interests of public transparency and honesty).

I would caution all users to make sure that they check the sound quality of what is being uploaded and saved.

Too bad, I can't give it 5 stars any more, the software wouldn't let me alter that for the review.

the only downside to this player is without the remote, you cannot scroll through the album menu, you have to fast-forward through each and every track on the entire minidisc. and with 25 albums on one disc, it can be frustrating. but with the remote, it's awesome. very sleek and stylish. i love the feel of the metal casing and the look of the screen. AWESOME product.

I read all the reviews and, since Sony has stopped production, decided to buy this expensive toy before it disappears from the market. The sound is excellent (I listen to classical music and opera,) even if the player is connected to AA battery-powered, cheap Sony speakers (SRS-T55). The Sony MZ-RH1 is small, easy to operate, and very elegant looking. I agree, Sonic Stage software is hard to use; however, I have figured out ways of working around some of the problems other people have mentioned in their reviews. I'll be glad to share this information in another forum.
I have owned two older Sony Net MD and HiMD walkmans, both still work. The oldest one, bought five years ago, had an input jack and I was able to record my classical music tapes on minidiscs. Unfortunately I gave it away. Now I'll be able to transfer the rest of my old tapes to minidiscs.