▸MD-S50

034   |   Sharp   |   '96  03.03

Sharp's Restoration

According to a Sharp press release, MDs have rapidly gained popularity among young demographics in the Japanese market. Comparing to the previous year, in '95, the demand in quantity and value surged by over 300%, especially notable growth in combined products like home audio systems. Sharp predicts a subsequent rise in portable MD to meet the demand for on-the-go usage. Keeping in mind the necessary performance for portability, compactness, and battery life, the MD-S50, designed to cater to the new tastes and trends of the youthful demographic, has been introduced.

Its pocket-sized and lightweight design owes credit to the utilization of a three-way hologram laser for an ultra-thin optical head, a mechanism almost the same size as the disc, and an exclusively developed core component. This combination not only ensures a diminutive size but also a lightweight body, weighing only 150 grams with the battery. The mechanical chassis, made of high-rigidity resin, integrates the motor assembly to achieve a compact and lightweight structure.

Sharp, known for its dynamic approach, has revamped its design language for the new year. The fresh aesthetics and unique trapezoidal window bring a slight asymmetry yet a stable and lively balance to the overall appearance. What remains unchanged is the elegant and generous form. Beyond its portability, its efficiency in battery life is improved. With dual LSIs for digital signal processing integrated into a single chip and an efficient circuit design, it consumes about 35% less power compared to its predecessor, the MZ-S25, offering an upgraded battery life of approximately 4 hrs, a 200% improvement.

The new remote control features a compact LCD screen displaying alphanumeric characters and kana, proportionally smaller in comparison to the overall device. It adopts a detachable 3.5mm standard jack, supporting the use of headphones from various brands. Additionally, it comes with X bass 3 levels. It offers a choice of four power sources (battery, home DC, external battery box, car power). However, the separate purchase necessity for the external battery box (AD-S50BC ¥2,500), an indispensable but high-power-consuming accessory, seems to be a perplexing marketing strategy.

MZ-R4ST