・SL-MR10

024   |   Panasonic   |   '95  09

Panasonic's Debut

Panasonic, an indispensable name in the MD history, initially chose to compete with DCC (Digital Compact Cassette). In the past three years, after the outcome of the specification battle was settled, they also entered the MD market and released their first product the SL-MR10.

The prototype of the player seems to have originated from Victor XM-R1. At that time, Victor was a subsidiary of Panasonic, and this product might have been produced in an OEM arrangement due to time constraints.

The player has a conventional and straightforward design with clear button layouts. Its conservative and restrained appearance, along with the extensive high-density text printing, is quite different from Panasonic's usual bold and advanced style. Instead, it somewhat resembles the design aesthetics of Panasonic's high-end audio brand, Technics.

The use of a large-capacity lithium rechargeable battery allows for up to 180 minutes of recording or 220 mins of play. When using  AA x4 batteries in conjunction, the recording time can be extended to as much as REC 6.5 / play 8hr, taking its overall battery life to the next level.

What makes this player stand out is the dual LCD, comprising the main unit and the remote control. The main unit features a large screen capable of displaying up to 12 characters, making it easy to read. In addition to displaying English and numeric characters, it also supports displaying and inputting Japanese katakan.

One of the highlights is the bright LCD display, which can simultaneously show track information, usage status, sound settings, battery level, and more. However, one downside is that the remote control is integrated, so if it gets damaged, the headphone and remote control need to be replaced together.

However, it is priced about 20% higher than Sony's offerings at the same time, so its sales volume may not meet overly high expectations...

MD-MS100